1. WC
2. Rich
3. Adel
4. Melb
5. Coll
6. Gws
7. Ess
8. Geel
9. Syd
10. Haw
11. Bris
12. Port
13. North
14. Wb
15. Freo
16. Stk
17. Carl
18. GC
WC with a healthier list and a more settled midfield with Yeo and Sheed establishing themselves have no reason not to finish top 2 again. A healthy JK and JD will go a long way as well, 13 and zip last year when both of those guys played, hopefully they can get JK right for round 1 and he stays fit. Naitanui due back earlier than expected as well, alongside Ryan and Rioli finding their feet should ensure another strong season. Richmond should be thereabouts as well assuming another good year on the injury front, particularly with the addition of Lynch. Adelaide with a healthier list, particularly the return of Smith and B Crouch should contend again, not to mention an easier fixture compared with the other top sides. Melbourne with another year of natural development alongside adding May to the backline and Lever later in the year will expect to be top 4 as well. All of these sides have strong key position players which I think the new 6 6 6 rule, hands in the back rule and ruck rule will advantage heavily, making them even stronger. Having elite KPP will be a bigger advantage than ever. Kick in rule also advantages WC heavily with Hurn and Jetta being our mains in that department, both with accurate long kicks.
Collingwood should win roughly the same amount of games as last year and have the deepest midfield in the comp which will win them a lot of games, but I don't think they have the same talent in the key position department that the other teams have and won't benefit as much from the new rules, but I wouldn't be surprised if they were top 4 anyway. Despite losing players GWS are still stocked with talent, and a midfield of Coniglio, Kelly, Ward, Taranto, Hopper, with Whitfield and Greene contributing is as good as any. If they can get a better year with injury than the last couple there's no reason they can't be top 4 as well. Essendon really should've played finals last year and if they reach anywhere near their potential this year they will. I feel like their midfield lacks the hardness of some of the other elite midfields but overall their team is good enough to upset anyone on a good day. Geelong are interesting as they'll have a vastly different forward setup this year compared to last with Ablett playing a lot more forward and the additions of Dahlhaus and Rohan. Need to find a better balance in the midfield, despite the big names in their last year they couldn't quite find the right mix.
I feel like this is the year Sydney falters and misses finals, a lot of similarly placed teams to them this year who seem to have more ways to improve than they do. Buddy has had an injury interrupted pre season and I wouldn't be surprised if he misses games throughout the year. Hawthorn will be relying on too many things to go right for them I think. I feel like they overachieved last year, Mitchell is out all year, who knows when Scully will play, can O'meara carry the midfield and stay fit?
2. Rich
3. Adel
4. Melb
5. Coll
6. Gws
7. Ess
8. Geel
9. Syd
10. Haw
11. Bris
12. Port
13. North
14. Wb
15. Freo
16. Stk
17. Carl
18. GC
WC with a healthier list and a more settled midfield with Yeo and Sheed establishing themselves have no reason not to finish top 2 again. A healthy JK and JD will go a long way as well, 13 and zip last year when both of those guys played, hopefully they can get JK right for round 1 and he stays fit. Naitanui due back earlier than expected as well, alongside Ryan and Rioli finding their feet should ensure another strong season. Richmond should be thereabouts as well assuming another good year on the injury front, particularly with the addition of Lynch. Adelaide with a healthier list, particularly the return of Smith and B Crouch should contend again, not to mention an easier fixture compared with the other top sides. Melbourne with another year of natural development alongside adding May to the backline and Lever later in the year will expect to be top 4 as well. All of these sides have strong key position players which I think the new 6 6 6 rule, hands in the back rule and ruck rule will advantage heavily, making them even stronger. Having elite KPP will be a bigger advantage than ever. Kick in rule also advantages WC heavily with Hurn and Jetta being our mains in that department, both with accurate long kicks.
Collingwood should win roughly the same amount of games as last year and have the deepest midfield in the comp which will win them a lot of games, but I don't think they have the same talent in the key position department that the other teams have and won't benefit as much from the new rules, but I wouldn't be surprised if they were top 4 anyway. Despite losing players GWS are still stocked with talent, and a midfield of Coniglio, Kelly, Ward, Taranto, Hopper, with Whitfield and Greene contributing is as good as any. If they can get a better year with injury than the last couple there's no reason they can't be top 4 as well. Essendon really should've played finals last year and if they reach anywhere near their potential this year they will. I feel like their midfield lacks the hardness of some of the other elite midfields but overall their team is good enough to upset anyone on a good day. Geelong are interesting as they'll have a vastly different forward setup this year compared to last with Ablett playing a lot more forward and the additions of Dahlhaus and Rohan. Need to find a better balance in the midfield, despite the big names in their last year they couldn't quite find the right mix.
I feel like this is the year Sydney falters and misses finals, a lot of similarly placed teams to them this year who seem to have more ways to improve than they do. Buddy has had an injury interrupted pre season and I wouldn't be surprised if he misses games throughout the year. Hawthorn will be relying on too many things to go right for them I think. I feel like they overachieved last year, Mitchell is out all year, who knows when Scully will play, can O'meara carry the midfield and stay fit?