Whispering_Jack
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Too many questions. #lazy
Prediction 2016 Crystal Ball
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VelvetSledge
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You know I don't work on the scale of logic Dossman
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How many wins for H&A season? 21
Final ladder position? 1
Biggest winning margin (and opponent)? 150, St. Kilda
Biggest losing margin (and opponent)? 2, Melbourne
Surprise/best win of the year? Hawthorn, 100 points
Best & Fairest Top 3? Darcy Parish, Darcy Parish, Darcy Parish
Leading Goal kicker (and how many)? Darcy Parish, 100
Which Essendon players will make the AA team (if any)? Darcy Parish
Which U/22 player will have a like breakout season (if any)? Darcy Parish
Who, of our first-year National Draft players will play the most senior games? Darcy Parish (22)
How many games will the VFL side win, and ladder position? not many, because Parish won't be playing for them.
VFL BnF top 3? Still Darcy Parish
VFL leading goal scorer? Who cares?
Who will no longer be on the list at the end of the year? Not Darcy Parish
Who will be the boom trade/FA of the year? Darcy Parish
Who will be the bust trade/FA of the year? Jake Carlisle
Who will win the premiership? Darcy Parish
Runners Up? Nobody worth talking about
Who will win the Norm Smith Medal? Darcy Parish
Who will win the Rising Star? Darcy Parish
Who will win the Brownlow Medal? Darcy Parish (66 votes)
Who will win the Coleman Medal? Darcy Parish (can't see anybody kicking more than 100 goals)
Final ladder position? 1
Biggest winning margin (and opponent)? 150, St. Kilda
Biggest losing margin (and opponent)? 2, Melbourne
Surprise/best win of the year? Hawthorn, 100 points
Best & Fairest Top 3? Darcy Parish, Darcy Parish, Darcy Parish
Leading Goal kicker (and how many)? Darcy Parish, 100
Which Essendon players will make the AA team (if any)? Darcy Parish
Which U/22 player will have a like breakout season (if any)? Darcy Parish
Who, of our first-year National Draft players will play the most senior games? Darcy Parish (22)
How many games will the VFL side win, and ladder position? not many, because Parish won't be playing for them.
VFL BnF top 3? Still Darcy Parish
VFL leading goal scorer? Who cares?
Who will no longer be on the list at the end of the year? Not Darcy Parish
Who will be the boom trade/FA of the year? Darcy Parish
Who will be the bust trade/FA of the year? Jake Carlisle
Who will win the premiership? Darcy Parish
Runners Up? Nobody worth talking about
Who will win the Norm Smith Medal? Darcy Parish
Who will win the Rising Star? Darcy Parish
Who will win the Brownlow Medal? Darcy Parish (66 votes)
Who will win the Coleman Medal? Darcy Parish (can't see anybody kicking more than 100 goals)
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Final ladder position? 7
Best & Fairest Top 3? Watson, Heppell, Hooker
Leading Goal kicker (and how many)? Daniher, 48
Which Essendon players will make the AA team (if any)? Watson, Hooker
Which U/22 player will have a like breakout season (if any)? Jayden Laverde
Who, of our first-year National Draft players will play the most senior games? Aaron Francis
Who will no longer be on the list at the end of the year? Dempsey, Pears, Cooney, Kommer, Howlett, Gwilt
Who will be the boom trade/FA of the year? Patrick Dangerfield
Who will be the bust trade/FA of the year? Chris Yarran
Who will win the premiership? Hawthorn
Runners Up? Geelong
Who will win the Norm Smith Medal? Cyril Rioli
Who will win the Rising Star? Jayden Laverde
Who will win the Brownlow Medal? Patrick Dangerfield
Who will win the Coleman Medal? Josh J. Kennedy
Best & Fairest Top 3? Watson, Heppell, Hooker
Leading Goal kicker (and how many)? Daniher, 48
Which Essendon players will make the AA team (if any)? Watson, Hooker
Which U/22 player will have a like breakout season (if any)? Jayden Laverde
Who, of our first-year National Draft players will play the most senior games? Aaron Francis
Who will no longer be on the list at the end of the year? Dempsey, Pears, Cooney, Kommer, Howlett, Gwilt
Who will be the boom trade/FA of the year? Patrick Dangerfield
Who will be the bust trade/FA of the year? Chris Yarran
Who will win the premiership? Hawthorn
Runners Up? Geelong
Who will win the Norm Smith Medal? Cyril Rioli
Who will win the Rising Star? Jayden Laverde
Who will win the Brownlow Medal? Patrick Dangerfield
Who will win the Coleman Medal? Josh J. Kennedy
I honestly reckon you'll surprise a few with a few wins. You could even get a coach or two sacked. I predict 17th.
In 2013 Swans had up to 8 injuries of best 22 for extended periods and still limped into 4th place.
Even last year in the finals without 5 out of 6 best players the finals were at least competitive.
In 2013 Swans had up to 8 injuries of best 22 for extended periods and still limped into 4th place.
Even last year in the finals without 5 out of 6 best players the finals were at least competitive.
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My crystal ball says Orazio Fantasia will have a breakout year.
Best and fairest? Mark Baguley.
Leading goalkicker? Joey.
Best and fairest? Mark Baguley.
Leading goalkicker? Joey.
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Prediction we will have a better 2nd half of the year than last year.
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I reckon we'll sneak into the top 4.
Of my reverse AFL ladder.
Of my reverse AFL ladder.
Red Black and Blue
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How many wins for H&A season? 4
Final ladder position? 16th
Biggest winning margin (and opponent)? 23 Gold Coast
Biggest losing margin (and opponent)? 130 Hawthorn
Surprise/best win of the year? Gold Coast Round 1
Best & Fairest Top 3? Zerrett, Goddard, Hartley
Leading Goal kicker (and how many)? Daniher 43
Which Essendon players will make the AA team (if any)? None, Zerrett an outside chance if he stars and the media hype him.
Which U/22 player will have a like breakout season (if any)? Fanta
Who, of our first-year National Draft players will play the most senior games? Parish, 16
How many games will the VFL side win, and ladder position? 7 and 10th
VFL BnF top 3? Polkinghorne, Morgan and Redman
VFL leading goal scorer? Eades 24
Who will no longer be on the list at the end of the year? Cooney, Kommer, Hams, Gwilt
Who will be the boom trade/FA of the year?
Lewis Jetta.
Who will be the bust trade/FA of the year?
Zac Smith.
Who will win the premiership?
Fremantle
Runners Up? Hawthorn
Who will win the Norm Smith Medal? Fyfe
Who will win the Rising Star? Jacob Hopper
Who will win the Brownlow Medal?
Pendlebury
Who will win the Coleman Medal?
Roughead
Final ladder position? 16th
Biggest winning margin (and opponent)? 23 Gold Coast
Biggest losing margin (and opponent)? 130 Hawthorn
Surprise/best win of the year? Gold Coast Round 1
Best & Fairest Top 3? Zerrett, Goddard, Hartley
Leading Goal kicker (and how many)? Daniher 43
Which Essendon players will make the AA team (if any)? None, Zerrett an outside chance if he stars and the media hype him.
Which U/22 player will have a like breakout season (if any)? Fanta
Who, of our first-year National Draft players will play the most senior games? Parish, 16
How many games will the VFL side win, and ladder position? 7 and 10th
VFL BnF top 3? Polkinghorne, Morgan and Redman
VFL leading goal scorer? Eades 24
Who will no longer be on the list at the end of the year? Cooney, Kommer, Hams, Gwilt
Who will be the boom trade/FA of the year?
Lewis Jetta.
Who will be the bust trade/FA of the year?
Zac Smith.
Who will win the premiership?
Fremantle
Runners Up? Hawthorn
Who will win the Norm Smith Medal? Fyfe
Who will win the Rising Star? Jacob Hopper
Who will win the Brownlow Medal?
Pendlebury
Who will win the Coleman Medal?
Roughead
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Leading goal scorer ~ Coleman medal
Cale Hooker (injunction) - 54
2nd. - Joey Dan. - 32
3rd. - Eades. - 23
Ahem - sorry. I'll be more serious.
1st. Daniher. 72
2nd. (EQUAL) McKernan, Fantasia. 27
3rd. Jake Long. 25
Ah beer.
Cale Hooker (injunction) - 54
2nd. - Joey Dan. - 32
3rd. - Eades. - 23
Ahem - sorry. I'll be more serious.
1st. Daniher. 72
2nd. (EQUAL) McKernan, Fantasia. 27
3rd. Jake Long. 25
Ah beer.
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My thoughts probably belong in the "Delusional Pearlers" thread which I don't check out of fear that my drivel is already posted consistently.
We should win 4 to 6 games (I'm not going to bother with who it will be against because there are always upsets due to form, injury and training loads).
I hear that we have lost 12 of our best but I think that it a better story than the reality of the situation. I don't see it as being much different to a year in which a side gets unlucky with injury (with our side basically being as strong as that which played for the second two thirds of last year). The 2016 "best 22" will be more than competitive from round 4 or so (could be earlier if the new recruits are fit enough).
Hurley, Hooker, Watson, Heppel are the group of our best players.
Hocking, Hibberd, Stanton, Myers and Colyer are best 22 but for varying reasons I wonder whether the loss of 2 or 3 of this group was not inevitable anyway or whether the loss is covered. Stanton is about as durable a player as has played in the last 10 years, easily on track to play 300, and we refused to offer him a second year for his contract (that says a fair bit in my opinion). Myers is one of my favourites but the reality is that he hardly plays at the best of times. Hibberd has been average at half back, though he could be a very good player, and Colyer is a player who I am skeptical of and who had only just established himself (as someone to provide run on a dozen occasions during a match without doing much else - surely this can be replaced). Hocking is always going to play a run with role but he's been replaced by Crowley.
Bellchambers, Pears and Howlett were only ever going to be depth.
The benefit is that it forces a midfield transition away from the big slow bodies that we have been reliant on since 2011. What we're doing with the current signings is rebuilding an inside midfield core which should provide the necessary protection for our more dynamic and infinitely more talented younger brigade. If a blend of Crowley, Kelly, Bird, Simpkin and Coghlan as inside mids can sacrifice their games (in ways that Watson, Stanton and Heppell do not and never have) for the benefit of players like Laverde, Langford, Z. Merrett, Zaharakis, Fantasia and Parish the midfield should be quite dangerous. No doubting that the three EFC players I'm being critical of here are better than the replacements but I am not sure that they are better than the aggregate of a replacement playing a selfless role which results in greater use of the younger players I've mentioned.
The biggest issue is obviously the depth of key position players and rucks. I did not realise that Luenberger had not been training which is a huge problem because a fit Luenberger will probably be the difference in a few games (for all of the flow on structural issues his absence would cause). You can't replace the quality of Hooker and Hurley but there are teams like St Kilda and the Dogs who have played years without KPDs the size and, I will go as far as saying, quality of Hartley and Brown. The defence can be protected.
If we get some luck with injuries and the players are mentally ready for the season I'm looking at 6 wins. It's depth that is the issue that prevents us from more because even with luck injuries will still cost us a number of games.
We should win 4 to 6 games (I'm not going to bother with who it will be against because there are always upsets due to form, injury and training loads).
I hear that we have lost 12 of our best but I think that it a better story than the reality of the situation. I don't see it as being much different to a year in which a side gets unlucky with injury (with our side basically being as strong as that which played for the second two thirds of last year). The 2016 "best 22" will be more than competitive from round 4 or so (could be earlier if the new recruits are fit enough).
Hurley, Hooker, Watson, Heppel are the group of our best players.
Hocking, Hibberd, Stanton, Myers and Colyer are best 22 but for varying reasons I wonder whether the loss of 2 or 3 of this group was not inevitable anyway or whether the loss is covered. Stanton is about as durable a player as has played in the last 10 years, easily on track to play 300, and we refused to offer him a second year for his contract (that says a fair bit in my opinion). Myers is one of my favourites but the reality is that he hardly plays at the best of times. Hibberd has been average at half back, though he could be a very good player, and Colyer is a player who I am skeptical of and who had only just established himself (as someone to provide run on a dozen occasions during a match without doing much else - surely this can be replaced). Hocking is always going to play a run with role but he's been replaced by Crowley.
Bellchambers, Pears and Howlett were only ever going to be depth.
The benefit is that it forces a midfield transition away from the big slow bodies that we have been reliant on since 2011. What we're doing with the current signings is rebuilding an inside midfield core which should provide the necessary protection for our more dynamic and infinitely more talented younger brigade. If a blend of Crowley, Kelly, Bird, Simpkin and Coghlan as inside mids can sacrifice their games (in ways that Watson, Stanton and Heppell do not and never have) for the benefit of players like Laverde, Langford, Z. Merrett, Zaharakis, Fantasia and Parish the midfield should be quite dangerous. No doubting that the three EFC players I'm being critical of here are better than the replacements but I am not sure that they are better than the aggregate of a replacement playing a selfless role which results in greater use of the younger players I've mentioned.
The biggest issue is obviously the depth of key position players and rucks. I did not realise that Luenberger had not been training which is a huge problem because a fit Luenberger will probably be the difference in a few games (for all of the flow on structural issues his absence would cause). You can't replace the quality of Hooker and Hurley but there are teams like St Kilda and the Dogs who have played years without KPDs the size and, I will go as far as saying, quality of Hartley and Brown. The defence can be protected.
If we get some luck with injuries and the players are mentally ready for the season I'm looking at 6 wins. It's depth that is the issue that prevents us from more because even with luck injuries will still cost us a number of games.
Last edited:
monty1104
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Given the CASing we've copped...
How many wins for H&A season? 4
Final ladder position? 17
Biggest winning margin (and opponent)? 27, Carlton
Biggest losing margin (and opponent)? 126, West Coast
Surprise/best win of the year? St. Kilda, 2 points
Best & Fairest Top 3? Goddard, Z. Merrett, D. Zaharakis
Leading Goal kicker (and how many)? Daniher, 32
Which Essendon players will make the AA team (if any)? None
Which U/22 player will have a like breakout season (if any)? Jayden Laverde
Who, of our first-year National Draft players will play the most senior games? Alex Morgan, 16.
How many games will the VFL side win, and ladder position? 16, 2nd.
VFL BnF top 3? Schroder, Eades, Ferry (no idea really, not even sure if these guys are still on the list)
VFL leading goal scorer? Thompson, 42 goals
Who will no longer be on the list at the end of the year? Pears, Cooney, Ambrose, Kommer, Howlett, Hams, Gwilt, Hooker, Dea, Stokes, Kelly, Crowley
Who will be the boom trade/FA of the year? Callum Sinclair
Who will be the bust trade/FA of the year? Chris Yarran
Who will win the premiership? Hawthorn
Runners Up? Fremantle
Who will win the Norm Smith Medal? Isaac Smith
Who will win the Rising Star? Callum Mills
Who will win the Brownlow Medal? Garry Ablett
Who will win the Coleman Medal? Jay Schulz
How many wins for H&A season? 4
Final ladder position? 17
Biggest winning margin (and opponent)? 27, Carlton
Biggest losing margin (and opponent)? 126, West Coast
Surprise/best win of the year? St. Kilda, 2 points
Best & Fairest Top 3? Goddard, Z. Merrett, D. Zaharakis
Leading Goal kicker (and how many)? Daniher, 32
Which Essendon players will make the AA team (if any)? None
Which U/22 player will have a like breakout season (if any)? Jayden Laverde
Who, of our first-year National Draft players will play the most senior games? Alex Morgan, 16.
How many games will the VFL side win, and ladder position? 16, 2nd.
VFL BnF top 3? Schroder, Eades, Ferry (no idea really, not even sure if these guys are still on the list)
VFL leading goal scorer? Thompson, 42 goals
Who will no longer be on the list at the end of the year? Pears, Cooney, Ambrose, Kommer, Howlett, Hams, Gwilt, Hooker, Dea, Stokes, Kelly, Crowley
Who will be the boom trade/FA of the year? Callum Sinclair
Who will be the bust trade/FA of the year? Chris Yarran
Who will win the premiership? Hawthorn
Runners Up? Fremantle
Who will win the Norm Smith Medal? Isaac Smith
Who will win the Rising Star? Callum Mills
Who will win the Brownlow Medal? Garry Ablett
Who will win the Coleman Medal? Jay Schulz
Last edited:
Doss
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Orazio2Joe, Hardingham left the club to play for Pascoe Vale and regardless, he is one of the 34. 
Also, a Hawthorn four-peat. That might just destroy my will to live.
Also, a Hawthorn four-peat. That might just destroy my will to live.
monty1104
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Fixed, though as much as I'd hate to see a Hawthorn fourpeat, i can very much see it happening.Orazio2Joe, Hardingham left the club to play for Pascoe Vale and regardless, he is one of the 34.
Also, a Hawthorn four-peat. That might just destroy my will to live.
