AFLW 2023 Predictions

[Teen Wolf]

I would like to see everybody's predictions for the following, please:

• Premiers
• League B&F
• Rising Star
• Leading Goalkicker

Also have a crack at the ladder after the H&A season if you dare, and perhaps a Player To Watch (like somebody in their 20s who could break through for their 1st All-Australian selection)?

See this list for help with Rising Star eligibility.

 

[Teen Wolf]

Here's my ladder after Round 10...

1st: Adelaide (8-2) – I don’t want to predict a 9-1 win-loss record for any team, in recognition of the talent being more evenly spread across the competition this year. I wouldn’t be surprised by the Crows beating both NM (in SA for the third-straight season) and even Melbourne at Casey, but then losing to Richmond and Brisbane. The line I used for Hatchard in S7 was that she was looking as if bad guys kidnapped her family and forced her to play the season, but for the time being I will presume that was a result of the shortened break.

2nd: North Melb. (8-2) – Unlike some real deadbeat NM supporters, I haven’t had a problem with Darren Crocker so far (noting his turn to a defence-first gameplan came after he copped it from all quarters for that 60-51 loss to Melbourne, now a few years ago). But unless there’s a grand final appearance this season, the last before Garner enters veterancy, it’s probably time for a change.

3rd: Melbourne (8-2) – Just accept the golden gift this team has had in the form of legendary leadership and temper your expectations of the post-Daisy Dees accordingly. Until we see them manage better without her guidance than what they’ve shown in the past (people seem to forget a certain 10-goal smashing, at their impenetrable fortress, when Pearce was pregnant), you’re not getting decent odds backing this mob for back-to-back.

4th: Geelong (7-3) – I’m going to keep calling the coach Defective Steely Dan until he stops doing stupid s**t, but there are enough genuine contributors in this team—most evident in their Prespakis-less win over the Bulldogs—to instil confidence they can go 7-3 again.

5th: Brisbane (7-3) – When they lost some good players between 2018 and 2019, I still predicted another immediate grand final appearance… which didn’t happen by a long shot (in a way, though it only took a couple years to fully rebound). This time around they’ve lost some good players and a great one, and so the definition of insanity comes to mind.

6th: Richmond (7-3) – I will bet anything they win a flag within the next 5 years, as long as their core three stick together. They are still probably a couple seasons away from getting out of the habit of over-relying on Conti, their second-best player (who was also the Bulldogs’ second-best player in 2018, carried through most of that premiership campaign by a one-of-a-kind beast and a reliable no-frills ball-winner). Even though Ellie McKenzie and Grace Egan are respectively physically stronger than Ellie Blackburn and Emma Kearney, the key question is: are they mentally stronger?

7th: St Kilda (7-3) – This year’s version of my S7 Giants prediction. Equally high chance of it faltering before getting out of the gate due to this team’s ridiculous run of injury/unavailability misfortune.

8th: Fremantle (6-4) – Potentially an even riskier call, having not seen what changes the coach will bring to the table. 3.5 wins last season (would’ve been at least 5 with Antonio out there for the entirety) with a tougher draw. My 2023 prediction is predicated on them surpassing that tally by Round 4.

---

9th: W. Bulldogs (5-5) – Fine, solid team with a too-recent record of not properly putting away on-paper inferior battlers. Checking my early ladder predictor, I had them finishing 4th, but just don’t see it now upon release of the fixture.

10th: GWS Giants (5-5) – Can only keep saying “they’ll be good if…” for so long.

11th: Collingwood (4-6) – Conservative estimate based on the assumption that, although Bonnici might hit the ground running, Davey will take a while to find her feet.

12th: Gold Coast (4-6) – Star player Rowbottom is surrounded mostly by teammates who put the “Gold” in Gold Coast. The gold being like those edible coins wrapped in foil. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

13th: Hawthorn (3-7) – Midfield looking damn good now, but it’s likely to include heavy helpings of Greta Bodey, and therefore keeping the forward line in its same dishevelled state.

14th: Port Adelaide (3-7) – I have a feeling Phillips will have a much better year, and if her knees were the least of Port’s problems then I’d be tipping them to go 5+ wins. But I’ve been hearing news and seeing photos, and I’m a little worried about how the key younger players are tracking.

15th: Essendon (2-8) – Definitely expect to be going against the grain with this one. I wanted to see them bring in one player to properly help out Prespakis at the coalface. Clarke taking the next step feels more likely than a post-knee Nanscawen impacting the contest like a VFLW game, but I think both are still a year off.

16th: Sydney (2-8) – Can’t ask for much more than what they’ve managed list-wise in the past six months. Let it not be forgotten they were robbed of a goal in their four-point loss to Essendon last season.

17th: West Coast (2-8) – Should win more than 2, but they have burned me badly in recent years. Worst offender: horror coach Michael Myers—sorry, Prior. Second-worst offender Kellie Gibson, albeit beyond her control last season.

18th: Carlton (2-8) – Won’t be anywhere near as bad as North Melbourne’s men’s team.


League B&F
I'm going with Anne Hatchard again.
Last season's tip: Anne Hatchard (equal 11th)
Last season's winner: Ally Anderson

Rising Star
Even though I just said Amber Clarke is still probably another year away from big improvement, a small improvement could be enough to secure this award. I thought it was pretty crazy that she didn't get nominated last year.
Last season's tip: Ella Friend (not nominated)
Last season's winner: Hannah Ewings

Leading Goalkicker
Alyssa Bannan fits the Saint/Wardlaw mould alright.
Last season's tip: Chloe Molloy (equal 40th) or Cora Staunton (equal 20th)
Last season's winner: Jesse Wardlaw

Player To Watch
Gonna throw up a rather obvious one in Eliza West, could easily see her upping her numbers to league-leader levels and breaking through for AA this year. But how much work has she been doing on her kicking, that's what I will really be keeping an eye on.

Premiers
I'm sticking with North Melbourne, per my early prediction (see below).
Last season's tip: Melbourne
Last season's winner: Melbourne

My previous early GF predictions
2018: W. Bulldogs to beat Melbourne—pretty good
2019: GWS Giants to beat Brisbane—not even close
2020: North Melb. to beat Melbourne—not bad, was still possible until season aborted
2021: Adelaide to beat Melbourne—prelim result
22 S6: Melbourne to beat Adelaide—grand final matchup, but got the result wrong
22 S7: Melbourne to beat Brisbane—correct, for the first time

My early GF prediction for 2023
North Melb. to beat Adelaide

 

[Teen Wolf]

Lest anybody hesitate to make predictions due to a fear of inaccuracy, consider the likelihood of not being alone. See the tips from industry insiders for last season...

Captains:

Which team aside from your own is most likely to reach the NAB AFLW 2022 Season Seven Grand Final?
8 – Melbourne
5 – Brisbane Lions
4 – Adelaide Crows
1 – Fremantle

League B&F
4 - Monique Conti
3 - Anne Hatchard
2 - Emily Bates
2 - Kate Hore
2 - Jasmine Garner
1 - Ebony Marinoff
1 - Chloe Molloy
1 - Ellie Blackburn
1 - Hayley Miller
1 - Ruby Schleicher
0 - Ally Anderson

Leading Goalkicker
4 - Tayla Harris
3 - Katie Brennan
2 - Kate Hore
1 - Nicola Stevens
1 - Ash Woodland
1 - Jesse Wardlaw
1 - Greta Bodey
1 - Bonnie Toogood
1 - Cora Staunton
1 - Stevie-Lee Thompson
1 - Gemma Houghton
1 - Jasmine Garner

Rising Star
7 - Montana Ham
5 - Jasmine Fleming
3 - Ella Roberts
1 - Ellie McKenzie
1 - Paige Scott
1 - Hannah Ewings

News Corp journalists (Lauren Wood, Mark Robinson, Rebecca Williams, Liz Walsh, Sarah Jones, Glenn McFarlane, Jay Clark, Jon Ralph and Matt Turner):

Premiers
5 - Melbourne
3 - Brisbane
1 - Adelaide

"Biggest threat"
3 - Adelaide
3 - Brisbane
2 - Melbourne
1 - Fremantle

League B&F
4 - Conti
3 - Hatchard
1 - Marinoff
1 - M. Prespakis
0 - Anderson

Rising Star
5 - Fleming
2 - Ham
1 - Ewings
1 - Hurley

And here are the results of our poll from last year's thread:

 

[Teen Wolf]

AFLW Latest News - AFL.com.au/aflw

Latest breaking AFLW news from the official website of the Australian Football League.

www.womens.afl

Spoiler: List of RS eligible players

Club	First Name	Surname	DOB	Games Played	Previously nominated
ADELAIDE CROWS	Brooke	Smith	21/02/2004	0
ADELAIDE CROWS	Brooke	Tonon	19/9/2003	10
ADELAIDE CROWS	Keeley	Kustermann	17/4/2004	1
ADELAIDE CROWS	Kiera	Mueller	21/4/2003	5
ADELAIDE CROWS	Zoe	Prowse	3/07/2003	7
ADELAIDE CROWS	Sarah	Goodwin	9/07/2004	5
BRISBANE LIONS	Analea	McKee	7/06/2003	0
BRISBANE LIONS	Charlotte	Mullins	28/10/2004	0
BRISBANE LIONS	Ella	Smith	27/05/2004	0
BRISBANE LIONS	Bella	Smith	27/05/2004	0
BRISBANE LIONS	Caitlin	Wendland	3/09/2003	0
BRISBANE LIONS	Brooke	Sheridan	8/09/2004	0
BRISBANE LIONS	Kiara	Hillier	3/11/2004	0
BRISBANE LIONS	Mikayla	Pauga	10/04/2003	7
CARLTON	Keeley	Skepper	15/03/2004	9	Yes
CARLTON	Annie	Lee	28/08/2003	12
CARLTON	Brooke	Vickers	6/03/2003	13
CARLTON	Lulu	Beatty	6/04/2004	0
CARLTON	Madeline	Hendrie	17/07/2003	0
CARLTON	Mia	Austin	22/04/2004	2
CARLTON	Tahlia	Read	6/03/2004	0
COLLINGWOOD	Charlotte	Blair	6/04/2004	0
COLLINGWOOD	Charlotte	Taylor	18/1/2004	3
COLLINGWOOD	Imogen	Evans	5/02/2004	5
ESSENDON	Paige	Scott	25/06/2004	10	Yes
ESSENDON	Stephanie	Wales	30/05/2003	10	Yes
ESSENDON	Amber	Clarke	22/12/2004	10
ESSENDON	Ashleigh	Van Loon	11/08/2004	10
ESSENDON	Lily-Rose	Williamson	25/08/2004	5
ESSENDON	Mia	Busch	18/05/2004	2
ESSENDON	Mia	Van Dyke	29/12/2004	3
FREMANTLE	Makaela	Tuhakaraina	23/8/2003	11
FREMANTLE	Tara	Stribley	22/3/2004	6
GEELONG CATS	Abbey	McDonald	5/02/2004	0
GEELONG CATS	Brooke	Plummer	12/10/2004	4
GEELONG CATS	Gabbi	Featherston	12/11/2003	7
GEELONG CATS	Ingrid	Houtsma	20/11/2003	0
GEELONG CATS	Zali	Friswell	30/12/2003	18
GOLD COAST SUNS	Alana	Gee	20/4/2004	0
GOLD COAST SUNS	Darcie	Davies	14/6/2005	0
GOLD COAST SUNS	Giselle	Davies	17/3/2003	6
GOLD COAST SUNS	Jasmyn	Smith	10/05/2004	4
GOLD COAST SUNS	Kaylee	Kimber	13/9/2003	3
GWS GIANTS	Caitlin	Miller	21/07/2004	0
GWS GIANTS	Fleur	Davies	6/05/2004	0
GWS GIANTS	Isadora	McLeay	18/09/2003	0
GWS GIANTS	Jessica	Doyle	15/09/2003	14
GWS GIANTS	Madison	Brazendale	24/1/2003	10
GWS GIANTS	Meghan	Gaffney	2/04/2003	6
GWS GIANTS	Tess	Cattle	21/12/2003	1
GWS GIANTS	Zara	Hamilton	14/10/2004	0
GWS GIANTS	Zarlie	Goldsworthy	18/11/2004	8
HAWTHORN	Jasmine	Fleming	5/11/2004	9	Yes
HAWTHORN	Lucy	Wales	30/5/2003	10	Yes
HAWTHORN	Bridget	Deed	7/03/2003	5
HAWTHORN	Bridie	Hipwell	15/6/2004	6
HAWTHORN	Charlotte	Baskaran	9/12/2004	10
HAWTHORN	Emily	Everist	17/7/2004	4
HAWTHORN	Laura	Elliott	27/10/2004	6
HAWTHORN	Mackenzie	Eardley	13/01/2004	7
HAWTHORN	Zoe	Barbakos	12/11/2003	7
MELBOURNE	Georgia	Campbell	1/09/2003	1
MELBOURNE	Georgia	Gall	30/7/2004	0
MELBOURNE	Georgina	Fowler	19/12/2003	3
KANGAROOS	Cassidy	Mailer	2/02/2004	0
KANGAROOS	Charli	Granville	15/2/2004	4
KANGAROOS	Taylah	Gatt	1/11/2004	13
KANGAROOS	Tess	Craven	23/12/2003	14
PORT ADELAIDE	Amelie	Borg	17/11/2004	10
PORT ADELAIDE	Ella	Boag	7/07/2004	4
PORT ADELAIDE	Georgie	Jaques	22/10/2003	0
PORT ADELAIDE	Julia	Teakle	12/08/2003	6
PORT ADELAIDE	Laquoiya	Cockatoo-Motlap	8/04/2003	1
PORT ADELAIDE	Lily	Johnson	13/04/2004	3
PORT ADELAIDE	Litonya	Cockatoo-Motlap	8/04/2003	4
PORT ADELAIDE	Matilda	Scholz	29/04/2005	0
PORT ADELAIDE	Sachi	Syme	18/11/2004	8
PORT ADELAIDE	Yasmin	Duursma	30/03/2004	4
RICHMOND	Charley	Ryan	9/02/2004	0
RICHMOND	Emelia	Yassir	25/09/2003	19
RICHMOND	Jemima	Woods	28/05/2003	7
RICHMOND	Stella	Reid	10/09/2003	14
ST KILDA	Ashleigh	Richards	22/10/2003	17
ST KILDA	Caitlin	Matthews	10/11/2003	0
ST KILDA	Ella	Friend	30/12/2003	16
ST KILDA	J'Noemi	Anderson	17/12/2004	5
SYDNEY SWANS	Cynthia	Hamilton	2/04/2004	9	Yes
SYDNEY SWANS	Montana	Ham	29/03/2004	7	Yes
SYDNEY SWANS	Sofia	Hurley	30/01/2004	10	Yes
SYDNEY SWANS	Ally	Morphett	11/11/2003	16
SYDNEY SWANS	Ella	Heads	24/06/2003	10
SYDNEY SWANS	Jaide	Anthony	20/11/2003	1
SYDNEY SWANS	Ruby	Sargent Wilson	13/08/2003	4
SYDNEY SWANS	Paris	McCarthy	13/12/2003	0
WEST COAST EAGLES	Ella	Roberts	17/12/2004	10	Yes
WEST COAST EAGLES	Abbygail	Bushby	29/07/2004	2
WEST COAST EAGLES	Amy	Franklin	4/02/2003	12
WEST COAST EAGLES	Beth	Schilling	1/12/2003	5
WEST COAST EAGLES	Courtney	Rowley	24/09/2003	15
WEST COAST EAGLES	Emily	Elkington	29/9/2004	0
WEST COAST EAGLES	Lauren	Wakfer	23/04/2004	0
WEST COAST EAGLES	Zoe	Wakfer	23/04/2004	0
WESTERN BULLDOGS	Rylie	Wilcox	3/12/2004	10	Yes
WESTERN BULLDOGS	Aurora	Smith	13/12/2003	1
WESTERN BULLDOGS	Heidi	Woodley	17/11/2004	8
WESTERN BULLDOGS	Keely	Coyne	22/11/2004	5

 

[oneleggedwonders]

OK, long time reader, ordinary contributor. But I'm going to have a crack anyway!!
I think we will see the same big gaps between last years finals competitors, the mid rangers and the newbies/perennial strugglers
1. Melbourne 9-1 Even without Daisy, the core is there and still just as strong
2. Brisbane 9-1 OK, they've lost some players, but I reckon their history shows they won't fade away too easily.
3. Adelaide 8-2 Lost the leading goalkicker from last year, just means Ponter can now camp at full forward. Scary
4. Richmond 7-3 Tough first 2 rounds, then it opens up. Will be interesting to see how the G-Train fits in
5. North Melbourne 7-3 Not as bullish on this team as I was last year. Still loads of class in the midfield means they will win their fair share
6. Geelong 7-3 Enough games at the Cattery to see another finals appearance. Attack!!
7. Western Bulldogs 6-4 My improvers for this year. Not sure why, they've let me down before...
8. Fremantle 6-4 OK, I'm a Dockers supporter, and we live in hope. Should win the 5 at home and if we pinch one away that should be enough
9. Essendon 5-5 Think there's enough talent with a nice draw that should see them split their results.
10. Collingwood 5-5 Will be largely dependant on how the knees hold up on Bonnici and Davey.... one wobbler and the collywobbles will be in trouble
11. Port Adelaide 4-6 The addition of last years leading goalkicker with a fully fit Houghton and Phillips means if it goes forward.... some potential big scores
12. Carlton 3-7 The 3 could be generous and if Hill or McKay goes down the midfield will be barren
13. GWS 3-7 Another year of promise with nothing to show? Welcome back Issy Huntington and Bec Beeson - please stay fit you two!!
14. Gold Coast 3-7 Never know what to do with this mob. Lost a heap in the off-season that will be hard to replace
15. West Coast 3-7 The kids are alright and getting better. No real change in the offseason other than another offseason under their belts.
16. St Kilda 2-8 Reckon it's going to be a very tough year for the Saints. Welcome a couple of pies but they're not part of the youth policy
17. Hawthorn 2-8 Bates and Bodey will help, and if some youngsters come on board, happy to proven wrong with this position
18. Sydney 0-10 Yep, I can't see them winning a game again, but Molloy and McEvoy add some much needed guidance.


Premiers - Melbourne - I still think they are the team to beat. Runner up - Richmond might get a good run to get into the grandie
B&F - I've been a fan of Mon Conti for years - surely she racks up some votes this year?
Rising Star - I've got two I like and can't split - Zarlie Goldsworthy and Charlotte Baskaran.
Leading Goalkicker - Aine Tighe had a good run at the back end of S7 - if she gets some better service could kick multiple goals every game.
To watch - Nothing earth shattering, but I've chosen players from forward and back - Georgia Garnett from GWS and Lauren Butler from Collingwood. Improving year on year and both great young players


Anyway that's my thoughts for whatever they are worth!

 

[Teen Wolf]

Bulldogs have let you down before, OLW? They did finish 7th on the ladder last season with a 7-3 record. I think it's more like Freo and Port are your biggest improvers.

Add Chloe Dalton to the list of players whom the Giants need more than a few minutes from.

 

[briztoon]

Lest anybody hesitate to make predictions due to a fear of inaccuracy, consider the likelihood of not being alone. See the tips from industry insiders for last season...

Captains:


News Corp journalists (Lauren Wood, Mark Robinson, Rebecca Williams, Liz Walsh, Sarah Jones, Glenn McFarlane, Jay Clark, Jon Ralph and Matt Turner):


And here are the results of our poll from last year's thread:
View attachment 1743535

People probably are reluctant to contribute, because you use such posts to sh!t on people at a later date, while big noting yourself.

 

[DEVO]

LADDER
Melbourne
Adelaide
North Melbourne
Brisbane
Geelong
Richmond
Western Bulldogs
Collingwood

St Kilda
Gold Coast
Essendon
Fremantle
GW Sydney
Hawthorn
Port Adelaide
Carlton
Sydney
West Coast

• Melbourne still look like the best team and should make the Grand Final, but I think North Melbourne will surprise them, if they can get their forward line functioning the way it should with talls like King, Shierlaw, Garner and Randall up front and crumbers like O'Loughlin and Granville at their feet.
• The top 4 teams from last season will stay the same, but I think there will be improvement from the likes of Geelong and Richmond, but I don't think it will be enough to break into the top 4.
• I have Collingwood in the eight because of the return of Davey and Bonnici, but I think positions 7 to 10 could come down percentage or upsets.
• Carlton, Sydney and West Coast look like the three weakest teams and I struggle to see them winning any games other than against each other.

AFLW B&F: Monique Conti
Rising Star: Not sure about this one. Heidi Woodley (Bulldogs) and Courtney Rowley (West Coast).
Leading Goalkicker: Emma King
Premiers: North Melbourne

 

[Teen Wolf]

LADDER
Melbourne
Adelaide
North Melbourne
Brisbane
Geelong
Richmond
Collingwood
Western Bulldogs

St Kilda
Gold Coast
Essendon
Fremantle
Port Adelaide
Carlton
Sydney
West Coast

GWS/Hawthorn?

 

[DEVO]

GWS/Hawthorn?

Thanks updated.

 

[Teen Wolf]

Not the punting board, but here's an indicator of what the degenerates are predicting, per TAB:

$3.50 Melbourne
$4 Brisbane
$7 North Melb.
$9 Adelaide
$14 Richmond
$16 Geelong
$16 Collingwood
$21 Essendon
$26 W. Bulldogs
$34 St Kilda
$34 Gold Coast
$34 Fremantle
$34 Carlton
$51 Port Adelaide
$51 Hawthorn
$67 GWS Giants
$101 West Coast
$101 Sydney

So it's established, we're clear about who the favourite is. It's Melbourne, unlike last season when members of the media (particularly Kelli Underwood, but certainly others too) repeatedly said they were the favourite even though it was Brisbane all the way through.

 

[shockmaster]

I

Not the punting board, but here's an indicator of what the degenerates are predicting, per TAB:

$3.50 Melbourne
$4 Brisbane
$7 North Melb.
$9 Adelaide
$14 Richmond
$16 Geelong
$16 Collingwood
$21 Essendon
$26 W. Bulldogs
$34 St Kilda
$34 Gold Coast
$34 Fremantle
$34 Carlton
$51 Port Adelaide
$51 Hawthorn
$67 GWS Giants
$101 West Coast
$101 Sydney

So it's established, we're clear about who the favourite is. It's Melbourne, unlike last season when members of the media (particularly Kelli Underwood, but certainly others too) repeatedly said they were the favourite even though it was Brisbane all the way through.

I'm surprised bombers are so high tbh

 

[petits]

Dammit misclicked on the poll. I definitely don't think Demons are going to miss the 8.

 

[Teen Wolf]

Age of Leading Goalkickers
2017: Darcy Vescio 23y 228d
2018: Brooke Lochland 26y 318d
2019: Stevie-Lee Thompson 26y 358d
2020: Caitlin Greiser 21y 26d
2021: Darcy Vescio 27y 237d
22 S6: Ashleigh Woodland 23y 185d
22 S7: Jesse Wardlaw 22y 288d
As of last H&A match in given season

Age of B&F Winners
2017: Erin Phillips 31y 304d
2018: Emma Kearney 28y 174d
2019: Erin Phillips 33y 301d
2020: Madison Prespakis 19y 133d
2021: Kiara Bowers 29y 131d & Brianna Davey 26y 74d
22 S6: Emily Bates 26y 146d
22 S7: Ally Anderson 28y 217d
As of last H&A match in given season

Noticeable difference in the typical age of winners for each award could be worth keeping in mind.

Anne Hatchard (my B&F tip) is only 25 this year, younger than all previous winners aside from the wild outlier of Prespakis in the shortened 2020 season--the same year of Greiser's anomalous win as a leading goalkicker on a bottom-half team.

 

[footyknut]

Premiers : Melbourne
B&F : Blackburn
Goalkicking: Tighe
Rising Star: Baskaran

Ladder:
Melbourne : Great list who should only get better with only query being how much they will miss Daisy’s on-field leadership.
Adelaide: Thry have to play Melb and Bris away but should win there other games so see them up there again
Brisbane: Have never been a team that relies on individuals but losses hurt, particularly Wardlaw so expecting them to come back to the pack a bit.
Kangaroos: Did ok in the off-season and think they’ll close the gap on the big 3 and can challenge them this season.
Collingwood: Always dangerous relying on one let alone two players coming. Back from ACL but neither are dynamic athletes and their footy smarts will take them a long way.
Western Bulldogs: Good young list with Blackburn leading and they should also close the gap and would be hoping to win at least one final.
Fremantle: Last year was a write-off with injury and are now the beneficiary of an easy draw where they avoid Brisbane and Adelaide. Depth is a concern so can’t afford many injuries but they’ve shown, even last year, that their best can still challenge the top sides.
Geelong: Finished high on the back of a soft draw last year. I think they will be better this year and finish lower, if that makes sense.
Richmond: Another team who only finished as high as they did last year due to a soft draw and looked a fair way off the better sides despite beating Brisbane in a bizarre game. Have the stars but depth is a concern for them.
West Coast: Now have a talented young list and with their first six games against sides who didn’t make the finals, they should be winning games and going up the ladder.
Essendon: Finishing position last season was flattered by the soft draw and another team who can be better but not go up the ladder.
St Kilda: Need there best players out there to win but are capable of playing some good footy when they are.
Gold Coast: Competitive but lack of match winners mean they are likely to lose winnable games unless Rowbottom can develop into a star now.
GWS: Ho-hum team who are normally honest but don’t have enough game breakers to go anywhere at the moment.
Port Adelaide: Exciting youngsters who should show signs that they are a side of the future this year
Carlton: List management in the off-season was really poor which gives new coach a tough start.
Hawthorn: Can show significant improvement and still finish hwre
Sydney: Home game v Hawthorn likely to decide the spoon. Molloy and McEvoy good pickups but I think they need more good players around them to influence results.

 

[Teen Wolf]

Premiers : Melbourne
B&F : Blackburn
Goalkicking: Tighe
Rising Star: Baskaran

Ladder:
Melbourne : Great list who should only get better with only query being how much they will miss Daisy’s on-field leadership.
Adelaide: Thry have to play Melb and Bris away but should win there other games so see them up there again
Brisbane: Have never been a team that relies on individuals but losses hurt, particularly Wardlaw so expecting them to come back to the pack a bit.
Kangaroos: Did ok in the off-season and think they’ll close the gap on the big 3 and can challenge them this season.
Collingwood: Always dangerous relying on one let alone two players coming. Back from ACL but neither are dynamic athletes and their footy smarts will take them a long way.
Western Bulldogs: Good young list with Blackburn leading and they should also close the gap and would be hoping to win at least one final.
Fremantle: Last year was a write-off with injury and are now the beneficiary of an easy draw where they avoid Brisbane and Adelaide. Depth is a concern so can’t afford many injuries but they’ve shown, even last year, that their best can still challenge the top sides.
Geelong: Finished high on the back of a soft draw last year. I think they will be better this year and finish lower, if that makes sense.
Richmond: Another team who only finished as high as they did last year due to a soft draw and looked a fair way off the better sides despite beating Brisbane in a bizarre game. Have the stars but depth is a concern for them.
West Coast: Now have a talented young list and with their first six games against sides who didn’t make the finals, they should be winning games and going up the ladder.
Essendon: Finishing position last season was flattered by the soft draw and another team who can be better but not go up the ladder.
GWS: Ho-hum team who are normally honest but don’t have enough game breakers to go anywhere at the moment.
Port Adelaide: Exciting youngsters who should show signs that they are a side of the future this year
Carlton: List management in the off-season was really poor which gives new coach a tough start.
Hawthorn: Can show significant improvement and still finish hwre
Sydney: Home game v Hawthorn likely to decide the spoon. Molloy and McEvoy good pickups but I think they need more good players around them to influence results.

Gold Coast/St Kilda?

 

[Vacuous Space]

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

B+F: Kiara Bowers
Rising Star: Alex Ballard Ella Roberts
Leading Goalkicker: Dakota Davidson
1st time AA: Tarni Evans

 

[footyknut]

Gold Coast/St Kilda?

Had them in my thoughts but not my writing. Have now put them in.

 

[Teen Wolf]

Another relevant "history says" stat: the B&F has been won every season by a player from a team finishing the H&A in the top 4. Keeping in mind that, although Bowers won it in 2021 with her team finishing 5th, it was alongside Davey whose team finished 3rd.

The only other time players not on a top 4 team have gone within 3 votes of the winner was Blackburn and Parker's runner-up placings in 2021 (the Bulldogs and GWS finishing 8th and 9th in that year's 14-team comp).

So it wouldn't be too incongruous if Blackburn won it this year while her team only finished 6th. Bowers winning it, by herself, while the Dockers finish 9th would be quite a departure from the norm though.

H&A finishing position of B&F winner's team
2017: Adelaide 2nd
2018: W. Bulldogs 1st
2019: Adelaide 1st
2020: Carlton 3rd
2021: Collingwood 3rd & Fremantle 5th
22S6: Brisbane 3rd
22S7: Brisbane 1st

 

[Connar]

1. Melbourne
2. Brisbane
3. Adelaide
4. Fremantle
5. North Melbourne
6. Richmond
7. Geelong
8. Collingwood
_______________________________

9. Western Bulldogs
10. Essendon
11. Gold Coast
12. Greater Western Sydney
13. Carlton
14. St Kilda
15. Hawthorn
16. Sydney
17. West Coast
18. Port Adelaide

 

[Teen Wolf]

6th: Richmond (7-3)

7th: St Kilda (7-3)

Has the time come for me to s**t on you all while big noting myself? Surely it's too early for that.

 

[cybercrab]

Is the North v Essendon match sim being live streamed?

 

[Teen Wolf]

Results from the first 3 games today, should anybody wish to use them as a guide.

GC 5.10.40 def by Syd 7.5.47
Ess 5.5.35 def by NM 10.7.67
PA 8.5.53 def GWS 3.4.22

 

[cmndstab]

Results from the first 3 games today, should anybody wish to use them as a guide.

GC 5.10.40 def by Syd 7.5.47
Ess 5.5.35 def by NM 10.7.67
PA 8.5.53 def GWS 3.4.22

Port result is a bit surprising, wouldn't have thought they'd be that far ahead of GWS. Do you know who the goalkickers were? I wonder if the Phillips/Saint connection will make a big difference to them this year?

 

[Teen Wolf]

Port result is a bit surprising, wouldn't have thought they'd be that far ahead of GWS. Do you know who the goalkickers were? I wonder if the Phillips/Saint connection will make a big difference to them this year?

Both teams had a number of key outs (including Phillips and Tahau for Port, and Parker and Huntington for GWS), but the PA goalkickers were nevertheless an encouraging mix of young and older:

Dowrick 2, Boag, Houghton, Saint, Mules, Ewings, Stewart