2016 Ladder Predictions

[Scholz Supremacy]

1. Hawthorn
2. Sydney
3. Port Adelaide
4. West Coast
5. North Melbourne
6. Fremantle
7. GWS
8. Western Bulldogs
---------------------------
9. Richmond
10. Adelaide
11. Collingwood
12. Brisbane
13. Melbourne
14. Geelong
15. St Kilda
16. Gold Coast
17. Carlton
18. Essendon

 

[Samthegun]

Don't know why, but I think things might go pear-shaped for us...

West Coast
Port Adelaide
Bulldogs
Fremantle
Richmond
North Melbourne
Sydney
Adelaide
GWS
Geelong
Collingwood
Essendon
St Kilda
Brisbane
Melbourne
Gold Coast
Carlton
Hawthorn

 

[Bulldog1954]

1. West Coast
2. Fremantlle
3. Hawthorn
4. Richmond
5. Western Bulldogs
6. Sydney
7. North Melbourne
8. Port Adelaide

9. GWS
10. Gold Coast
11. Geelong
12. Adelaide
13. Collingwood
14. Brisbane
15. Melbourne
16. Essendon
17. St Kilda
18. Carlton

 

[Iron]

Don't usually do these so early out but why not. Feels a bit same-ish but this is inevitable so close to the grand final.

1. Fremantle
2. Sydney
3. Hawthorn
4. Adelaide
5. Port Adelaide
6. West Coast
7. GWS
8. W Bulldogs
9. North
10. St Kilda
11. Richmond
12. Melbourne
13. Geelong
14. Collingwood
15. Gold Coast
16. Brisbane
17. Carlton
18. Essendon

 

[Demon13304]

1. Carlton
2. Brisbane
3. Gold Coast
4. Essendon
5. St. Kilda
6. Melbourne
7. Collingwood
8. GWS

9. Geelong
10. Port Adelaide
11. North Melbourne
12. Adelaide
13. Western Bulldogs
14. Richmond
15. Sydney Swans
16. Hawthorn
17. West Coast
18. Fremantle

 

[Milux]

1. Carlton
2. Brisbane
3. Gold Coast
4. Essendon
5. St. Kilda
6. Melbourne
7. Collingwood
8. GWS

9. Geelong
10. Port Adelaide
11. North Melbourne
12. Adelaide
13. Western Bulldogs
14. Richmond
15. Sydney Swans
16. Hawthorn
17. West Coast
18. Fremantle

How come ladders like these always come from melbourne fans?

 

[JohnnyFontane90]

1. Carlton
2. Brisbane
3. Gold Coast
4. Essendon
5. St. Kilda
6. Melbourne
7. Collingwood
8. GWS

9. Geelong
10. Port Adelaide
11. North Melbourne
12. Adelaide
13. Western Bulldogs
14. Richmond
15. Sydney Swans
16. Hawthorn
17. West Coast
18. Fremantle

this guy's goin places

 

[Silent Alarm]

Why do people always underrate Hawthorn in these?

 

[LeverPuller]

1. Fremantle - Still have to beat them over there to knock them off top. Add McCarthy instead of Pav and Silvagni taking on full-time duties and they look the goods again. Fyfe to be even better.
2. Richmond - Finally the year. Tigerland clicks from the word go and the army marches strong into September. But the questions for Dimma remain in the finals.
3. West Coast - The web is still highly effective but can't crack the top 2. Unlucky.
4. Hawthorn - The minor cracks that showed up throughout season 2015 show up again, but everyone just waits til September for the outcome.
5. Port Adelaide - The injuries have nowhere near the impact, the free flowing style works wonders again.
6. Western Bulldogs - A steadier which is challenged by a poor start, the Doggies return to September and argue for a home final.
7. GWS - The Giants have Mumford all year and manage enough wins to get there, but threaten top 4 for much of the year before falling away.
8. Melbourne - The Dees shock all as Hogan manages to snag a Coleman at 21 and put Melbourne into the finals for the first time in a decade.
-----------------------------
9. Sydney - Buddy's off-field woes see him miss serious football, more of the older best 22 players struggle to perform and despite fighting gallantly the Swans simply can't win enough games.
10. Collingwood - Buckley sacked at season's end as the Pies fall over in the second half again.
11. Gold Coast - The return of Gary bounces the Suns back up, although not enough to see finals footy.
12. Adelaide - Dangerfield's loss hurts them more than anyone expected...
13. Geelong - ...but his addition doesn't do much for a Geelong side now leaking goals with an aging backline and a midfield that, beyond Selwood and Danger, struggles mightily.
14. North Melbourne - Waite, Dal Santo, Boomer and Thompson all go over the hill by mid-year and the team implodes.
15. St Kilda - Another year of development marked by fadeouts.
16. Brisbane - The midfield clicks more, although Leppa ends up sacked.
17. Carlton - Crack a couple of games but the complete dearth of talent makes Bolton's first year decidedly forgettable.
18. Essendon - Woosha tries but the combination of WADA sanctions and many rubbish players sees the Dons fall over completely.

 

[Halftimehero]

Not having a go at anyone in particular, but about 50% of predictions have North melbourne missing the 8 in 2016.

After finishing top 4 the last two years, is it purely an age thing or do some posters really not rate our list?

You have finished 6th and 8th at the end of the home and away season the last two years, a few slip ups and a few injuries could easily see you miss the 8 next season.

 

[Silent Alarm]

1. Hawthorn
2. Port Adelaide
3. Western Bulldogs
4. Fremantle
5. Sydney Swans
6. West Coast
7. North Melbourne
8. Gold Coast
9. GWS Giants
10. Richmond
11. Adelaide Crows
12. Melbourne
13. Geelong
14. Brisbane Lions
15. St Kilda
16. Collingwood
    
17. Essendon
18. Carlton

 

[qldbluesman_43]

1. West Coast
2. Port Adelaide
3. Richmond
4. Sydney
5. Western Bulldogs
6. Hawthorn
7. GWS
8. North
9. Fremantle
10. Adelaide
11. Gold Coast
12. Melbourne
13. St. Kilda
14. Collingwood
15. Brisbane
16. Geelong
17. Carlton
18. Essendon

 

[Halftimehero]

1. Fremantle - Still have to beat them over there to knock them off top. Add McCarthy instead of Pav and Silvagni taking on full-time duties and they look the goods again. Fyfe to be even better.
2. Richmond - Finally the year. Tigerland clicks from the word go and the army marches strong into September. But the questions for Dimma remain in the finals.
3. West Coast - The web is still highly effective but can't crack the top 2. Unlucky.
4. Hawthorn - The minor cracks that showed up throughout season 2015 show up again, but everyone just waits til September for the outcome.
5. Port Adelaide - The injuries have nowhere near the impact, the free flowing style works wonders again.
6. Western Bulldogs - A steadier which is challenged by a poor start, the Doggies return to September and argue for a home final.
7. GWS - The Giants have Mumford all year and manage enough wins to get there, but threaten top 4 for much of the year before falling away.
8. Melbourne - The Dees shock all as Hogan manages to snag a Coleman at 21 and put Melbourne into the finals for the first time in a decade.
-----------------------------
9. Sydney - Buddy's off-field woes see him miss serious football, more of the older best 22 players struggle to perform and despite fighting gallantly the Swans simply can't win enough games.
10. Collingwood - Buckley sacked at season's end as the Pies fall over in the second half again.
11. Gold Coast - The return of Gary bounces the Suns back up, although not enough to see finals footy.
12. Adelaide - Dangerfield's loss hurts them more than anyone expected...
13. Geelong - ...but his addition doesn't do much for a Geelong side now leaking goals with an aging backline and a midfield that, beyond Selwood and Danger, struggles mightily.
14. North Melbourne - Waite, Dal Santo, Boomer and Thompson all go over the hill by mid-year and the team implodes.
15. St Kilda - Another year of development marked by fadeouts.
16. Brisbane - The midfield clicks more, although Leppa ends up sacked.
17. Carlton - Crack a couple of games but the complete dearth of talent makes Bolton's first year decidedly forgettable.
18. Essendon - Woosha tries but the combination of WADA sanctions and many rubbish players sees the Dons fall over completely.

Just out of interest, who are the "many rubbish players" in Essendons best 22?

 

[Sweet Jesus]

1. Fremantle - Still have to beat them over there to knock them off top.

Surely that's not actually true.

They'll play 10 games outside WA. If they lose 5-6 of those, they'll be knocked off the top.

 

[lordbob]

Hawthorn wont be 1st, maybe 2nd but more likely 3rd or 4th.

They get up for the big games but are off a bit mentally against those they are expected to beat and that will cost them some games.

 

[LeverPuller]

Just out of interest, who are the "many rubbish players" in Essendons best 22?

Guys like Ambrose, Dempsey (who against all odds somehow jags a game), Cooney are all examples. But moreover, it's going to be replacing the others - if you're looking to Kavanagh to replace Melksham it'll fail. Carlisle takes out a high-quality tall. Your forward line struggles for structure despite Joe, your midfield is now borderline unproven as Jobe was totally out of form before the injury and the rest struggles. The key backs are elite but it doesn't help if the rest of it is average or worse.

 

[LeverPuller]

Surely that's not actually true.

They'll play 10 games outside WA. If they lose 5-6 of those, they'll be knocked off the top.

So I'd call the 10 games they play at home outside the Derbies as favourites. Let's assume they win 9. Eagles and Dockers split the derbies, 10 wins.
Means they have to win 6/10 to finish top 4 but probably 9 to finish first. You would suggest a Tassie game v Hawthorn, a game in the 3 non-Vic states and 6 games in Victoria. Realistically they will lose the Tassie game, but the other 6 Vic games? The only one they lose is against the Tigers.

Everyone is forgetting just how awesome early-season Fremantle is too.

 

[SgtSchulz]

Don't know why, but I think things might go pear-shaped for us...

West Coast
Port Adelaide
Bulldogs
Fremantle
Richmond
North Melbourne
Sydney
Adelaide
GWS
Geelong
Collingwood
Essendon
St Kilda
Brisbane
Melbourne
Gold Coast
Carlton
Hawthorn

Kahn the Pear!

 

[Sweet Jesus]

So I'd call the 10 games they play at home outside the Derbies as favourites. Let's assume they win 9. Eagles and Dockers split the derbies, 10 wins.
Means they have to win 6/10 to finish top 4 but probably 9 to finish first. You would suggest a Tassie game v Hawthorn, a game in the 3 non-Vic states and 6 games in Victoria. Realistically they will lose the Tassie game, but the other 6 Vic games? The only one they lose is against the Tigers.

Everyone is forgetting just how awesome early-season Fremantle is too.

Just saying, you don't actually have to beat them at home to knock them off the top.

Otherwise, you could say the same about the Eagles, no?

 

[Halftimehero]

Guys like Ambrose, Dempsey (who against all odds somehow jags a game), Cooney are all examples. But moreover, it's going to be replacing the others - if you're looking to Kavanagh to replace Melksham it'll fail. Carlisle takes out a high-quality tall. Your forward line struggles for structure despite Joe, your midfield is now borderline unproven as Jobe was totally out of form before the injury and the rest struggles. The key backs are elite but it doesn't help if the rest of it is average or worse.

Not sure if you realise how many injuries we had this year, none of the players you mentioned are best 22. We obviously as has been well documented have serious issues up forward but to say we have many rubbish players is a big over reaction.

 

[LeverPuller]

Just saying, you don't actually have to beat them at home to knock them off the top.

Otherwise, you could say the same about the Eagles, no?

You could, but the Eagles are also interesting. Sure, in one way they got their asses kicked by injury (read KPDs) but in another they were pretty blessed - KPD was really the only area of the ground with a bunch of injuries. Let's say McKenzie comes back but Brown doesn't and then you lose one of Yeo, Wellingham, Gaff, Shuey or Masten for the year. I feel like that hurts more because the midfield hasn't operated without that drop-off for significant time.

 

[Samthegun]

Kahn the Pear!

HAHAHA...just kidding.

I just noticed something very beautiful about landing a 3-peat in 2015. It's now exactly 50 years since Hawthorn "held aloft" the wooden spoon.
What a way to round out the 50 years since 1965.

 

[Sweet Jesus]

You could, but the Eagles are also interesting. Sure, in one way they got their asses kicked by injury (read KPDs) but in another they were pretty blessed - KPD was really the only area of the ground with a bunch of injuries. Let's say McKenzie comes back but Brown doesn't and then you lose one of Yeo, Wellingham, Gaff, Shuey or Masten for the year. I feel like that hurts more because the midfield hasn't operated without that drop-off for significant time.

I'm just saying that the rationale you applied to Freo applies equally to the Eagles.

For the record, I think it's a bridge too far in both instances.

Both sides will have to win some tough games on the road in order to finish top. And both sides can be beaten at home.

For the record, I would prefer to lose Masten for the season over losing Mackenzie for the season.

 

[LeverPuller]

Not sure if you realise how many injuries we had this year, none of the players you mentioned are best 22. We obviously as has been well documented have serious issues up forward but to say we have many rubbish players is a big over reaction.

Essendon best 22 for mine, right now, assuming both Melksham and Carlisle go and they land Leuenberger:
B: Baguley Hooker Gleeson
HB: Gwilt Hurley Hibberd
C: Colyer Watson Zaharakis
HF: Goddard Langford Stanton
F: Zerrett Daniher Bellchambers
R: Leuenberger Heppell Myers
Int: Jerrett Hocking Howlett Laverde

On the cusp: Cooney, Ashby, Browne, Pears, Giles/McKernan, Dempsey.

The forward line is trash and is impossibly difficult to put together. The midfield can stand up if they all manage to stay fit somehow. The backline looks great but is useless if it gets pinged in there ~80 times a game.

Essendon may luck out and manage to solve some issues. But there's a reason why they finished 15th.

 

[Ok Boomer]

WCE
Port Adelaide
Hawthorn
Richmond
Adelaide
North Melbourne
Fremantle
Sydney

GWS
WB
Collingwood
Suns
Geelong
Melbourne
Saints
Brisbane
Essendon
Carlton