2024 Ladder Predictions

[Obzerva]

I think it will be one of the tougher seasons to pick. On their day any of the top 16 teams from 2023 can beat each other, but the question is if they can consistently do it. I also expect North Melbourne and West Coast to improve, who were clearly a class below the other sides in 2023.

1. Melbourne
2. Carlton
3. Sydney
4. St Kilda

5. Collingwood
6. Adelaide
7. Gold Coast
8. Brisbane

9. Geelong
10. Richmond
11. Port Power
12. Hawthorn
13. Greater Western Sydney
14. North Melbourne
15. Essendon
16. West Coast
17. Footscray
18. Fremantle

Most Improved: St Kilda, Gold Coast

Set to Fall: Fremantle, Footscray

Coleman Medal: Max King (St Kilda)

Brownlow Medal: Nick Daicos (Collingwood)

Grand Final: Carlton v St Kilda

Premier: St Kilda

By and large I’d agree with the exception of the Sydney teams, I’d swap them.

After the last few weeks I get the impression something isn’t quite right at Freo, too many players wanting out.

The ladder could potentially be summed up as the west sitting under all the rest.

 

[almuz]

It's a horrible prediction.
There's no way in hell Port Adelaide barely scrape into eighth position. They will be one of the strongest teams in 2024.
Butters will be the best midfielder in the competition and they now have key defenders so the run-and-carry from half back is going to be like what we saw from Collingwood.

And Melbourne 10th but Gold Coast 7th?

The 2023 ladder is a horrible prediction.

There's no way in hell Geelong comfortably miss the 8 and finish 12th. They just won a grand final by a massive margin.

Richmond just added Taranto and Hopper to an already strong team, there's no way they drop from 7th to 13th.

Freo just finished 5th and added Luke Jackson who wins games as a ruck forward and have a heap of young talent - there's no conceivable way they regress to 14th

And don't get me started on the 16th place Giants who are clearly rebuilding with a new coach, they aren't finishing 6th c'mon now be realistic

 

[Joao]

By and large I’d agree with the exception of the Sydney teams, I’d swap them.

After the last few weeks I get the impression something isn’t quite right at Freo, too many players wanting out.

The ladder could potentially be summed up as the west sitting under all the rest.

Something isn't quite right out west but the Dees are absolutely flying this off-season?

I'm all for laying the boot into us, we probably deserve it, but your reasoning is toilet.

 

[Mr Meow]

Positions change every year. If you only want the same ladder as this year , there's no point.

Richmond improving 5 spots and Geelong declining 6 (aggregate: +11 spots for Richmond) simply isn't going to happen.

Geelong have better veterans and kids. Richmond have a better 23-28 year old group.

Both sides had injury troubled 2023's but Geelong's was worse for longer.

Both sides get an important player back (Richmond's best forward Lynch and Geelong's two time B&F Guthrie).

Both sides will probably have a good record at home.

It's fanciful to suggest either will be bottom 2 or finish 10 positions apart.

 

[Obzerva]

Something isn't quite right out west but the Dees are absolutely flying this off-season?

I'm all for laying the boot into us, we probably deserve it, but your reasoning is toilet.

Probably didn’t elaborate enough.
The off focus has been near 100% Melbourne, which has meant other goings on at other clubs may be flying under the radar.

I’d love to see Freo do well, but just have a bad feeling about them for next year.

 

[Joao]

Probably didn’t elaborate enough.
The off focus has been near 100% Melbourne, which has meant other goings on at other clubs may be flying under the radar.

I’d love to see Freo do well, but just have a bad feeling about them for next year.

So even though we have solid evidence stuff isn't 100% at the Dees, that's enough to get them top spot but their might be something happening at another club so they'll be in the spoon race?

Why would you double down on that?

 

[My Tilly]

The 2023 ladder is a horrible prediction.

There's no way in hell Geelong comfortably miss the 8 and finish 12th. They just won a grand final by a massive margin.

Richmond just added Taranto and Hopper to an already strong team, there's no way they drop from 7th to 13th.

Freo just finished 5th and added Luke Jackson who wins games as a ruck forward and have a heap of young talent - there's no conceivable way they regress to 14th

And don't get me started on the 16th place Giants who are clearly rebuilding with a new coach, they aren't finishing 6th c'mon now be realistic

Sorry but I reiterate, Port Adelaide will be finishing a lot higher than 8th spot. Anyone with a brain who watches this sport can see that.
Gold Coast may indeed shock us all but Melbourne have another 1-2 years of premiership contention left in them. They added three solid depth players to the list and they should get more than just 15 games out of Oliver next season. Top four for Melbourne.

 

[Obzerva]

So even though we have solid evidence stuff isn't 100% at the Dees, that's enough to get them top spot but their might be something happening at another club so they'll be in the spoon race?

Why would you double down on that?

It’s a hunch, based on a poorer than expected performance this year followed by player exits, nothing more, been wrong plenty of times in life before and happy to admit it.

For the record, I can’t see the Eagles sitting higher on the ladder than Freo at the end of the year.

Loving the passion.

 

[The Dougster]

I've just got this feeling the big 4 vic clubs will all finish top 8 next season.

I could honestly see Richmond/Essendon finishing 6th-8th, Carlton 4th-8th, Collingwood 1st-4th.

I just think all 4 teams have the talent to make the 8 if the right circumstances arise. Could be a very interesting year for us all.

Wouldn't even surprise me if first week of finals we get Col v Carl, Ess v Rich.

Nope. Richmond are done. My eight year old son jumped ship to the tigers in 2023. Even took him to a couple of tigers games. He’s not impressed with the news from dad that his beloved Richmond are well and truly on their way to the foot of the ladder. Told him he’s always welcome back at Arden St.

Essendon won’t be a factor until the stench of Dodoro is gone

 

[Joao]

It’s a hunch, based on a poorer than expected performance this year followed by player exits, nothing more, been wrong plenty of times in life before and happy to admit it.

For the record, I can’t see the Eagles sitting higher on the ladder than Freo at the end of the year.

Loving the passion.

Rating us low is barely of note, especially in this thread. It's how you are getting there that makes no sense.

Yeah I get the hunch thing, we weren't good but we were nowhere near the bottom 2.

But, are you suggesting the Dees are so good they can overcome their actual off-field issues? You get the difference between you feeling like something is going on and literally having the Dees send the brass to be interviewed on SEN because they have loose cannons tearing up the joint?

 

[Orange crush]

Brisbane: Just too hard to get at home and will bank the wins

Collingwood: A lot of games at the G and still getting good input from the older brigade, but likely to drop a few games

Swans: Have recruited for need and can see Warner et al bouncing back from down years.

Port Adelaide: Such a strong midfield. Ruck and defense slightly improved will an allow them to keep winning.

Adelaide: Unlucky in 2023, and can see them winning the extra few games to get into the 8.

Carlton: Need to sort out their big men up forward, but too much talent to miss the 8.

GWS: Will build on last season overall, but the travel will prevent getting enough wins to be top 4.

Geelong: A bounce back year. Jezza uninjured and growth from young mids will get them wins at cat park.

GCS: Just miss the 8 with a couple of late losses on the road. Dimma improves them structurally, but still immature. Another year.

Melbourne: An injury to big Max will upset their season. Grundy gone so it’s sod’s law Max goes down.

St Kikda: Lots of young talent but still trouble scoring. Membrey could be a big loss structurally upfront.

Western Bulldogs: There are troubles with coaching there, but too much talent at the upper end of the list to drop too far.

Hawthorn: They still need to get a couple of talls, but the midfield is building and see them rising.

Richmond: Big sexy back helps up forward, but a lack of maturity down back with Grimes aging badly not gonna help.

Essendon: The poor form of the last few rounds continues into the next season. Just not hard enough around the ball.

Freo: Hayden young

26

Hayden Young

Age

24

Ht

189cm

Wt

88kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

10.0

3star

K

6.6

3star

HB

3.4

3star

M

3.2

3star

T

1.4

3star

CL

0.2

2star

D

10.0

3star

K

6.6

3star

HB

3.4

2star

M

3.2

3star

T

1.4

2star

CL

0.2

2star

D

10.0

3star

K

6.6

3star

HB

3.4

3star

M

3.2

4star

T

1.4

4star

CL

0.2

2star

to break out and Amiss to star. Darcy back will help but the midfield is an injury away from disaster.

West coast: A better run with injury and their pride will get them over the line against a few teams at home.

North Melbourne: More competitive and like WCE they win a couple more, but lack of old heads costs them.

 

[AndyNicka]

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

Pretty tough to gauge to be honest.

 

[doppleganger]

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

 

[adammania9]

Post-trade period

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

 

[Fadge]

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

Very solid prediction.

 

[smish]

When does the wooden spoon polling thread come out?

It's going to be tough, but I reckon we're a chance for the three-peat.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

When does the wooden spoon polling thread come out?

It's going to be tough, but I reckon we're a chance for the three-peat.

You may take it easy if you are not favourites now...

 

[almuz]

Sorry but I reiterate, Port Adelaide will be finishing a lot higher than 8th spot. Anyone with a brain who watches this sport can see that.
Gold Coast may indeed shock us all but Melbourne have another 1-2 years of premiership contention left in them. They added three solid depth players to the list and they should get more than just 15 games out of Oliver next season. Top four for Melbourne.

We'll see

Port added BZT and Esava who are both meh and two decent rucks - their forward line is still mid. IDK if they replicate that somewhat miracle run of wins again

You've gotta move teams out the 8 because it happens every year - and given Melb's turmoil their downfall is an educated guess

 

[terrybull]

When was the last time all Finals teams were the same as the previous season?

 

[iGNITER]

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

AFL would be stoked by that…
Both expansion sides in the 8.
Both sides from QLD, NSW and SA in the 8.
A big VIC side in Collingwood.
Would onlt imagine they would prefer to see a side like Carlton in the 8 rather than the Dogs…

 

[smish]

You may take it easy if you are not favourites now...

Problem for us is that Finn O'Sullivan is the last player we need at the moment!

 

[almuz]

When was the last time all Finals teams were the same as the previous season?

Yonks back if ever. Here are the 2000-2022 stats re how many teams per season have come from outside the top 8 to make finals the following year:

Two teams: 7 times
Three teams: 11 times
Four teams: 4 times

 

[timokane]

1.Pies
2. Lions
3. Crows
4. Swans
5. GWS
6. Blues
7. Port
8. Dees

9. Suns
10. Essendon
11. Dogs
12. Cats
13. Hawks
14. StKilda
15. Tigers
16. Freo
17. North
18. Eagles

 

[Arr0w]

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

I think you made a mistake, Blues should be in 11th

 

[terrybull]

When was the last time all Finals teams were the same as the previous season?

I went to research this…

Has never happened in a Final 8 or Final 6.

But once in a Final 5 (and therefore most recent). Strangely enough it was the years when Final 5 was first introduced - 1972-1973. Not only was it the same five teams, the top 3 were the same with Collingwood missing out on the GF and Essendon losing both EF to St.Kilda.

Last time in a Final 4 was 1965-1966.

Before that 1930-1931 and 1925-1926

Before that we had a 3-peat in 1909-1910-1911.

Which wasn’t the first 3-peat, as it happened in 1904-1905-1906.

And before that were the strange sectional Finals.

So that’s all folks.