2024 Ladder Predictions

[Grin]

How do the Vics cope if all four NSW & QLD clubs make the 8? (Port, Crows, Freo are also a chance)

I wonder if Victorians will bore the crap out of everyone with infernal whinging that non-Vics aren't doing enough to carry them to unearned success, like we've heard from the Vic-bias mob ad nauseam since 2017?

I really don't think we'd be that pathetic. Time will tell I spose.

 

[Bulldog Joe]

..

Magpies are still number 1 for me well driiled and coached.
People also forget for the last 3 or 4 years Ports gun midfield has been roving to losing rucks and they still finish around the top 4.
With a couple of new rucks who even if they break even most games will see ports midfield dominate games consistently, they are Collingwoods main threat.Carlton Brisbane Gws also chances to make a gf but that's about it.

So Port add a couple of rucks who were struggling to get games with their previous club and that will make the difference?

Not saying they won't be more competitive but they will need something more than that.

Port need to get improvement in their back half not from a couple of slow rucks.

 

[Bulldog Joe]

Quite possibly, but I guarantee bulldogs Melbourne Freo essendon all miss out on finals.

While your Crystal ball is working well for you, I am pretty confident that St Kilda won't finish ahead of all 4 of those.

 

[Bradkli]

GWS have close to the beat list and are finally playing a genuinely attacking game plan after the wasted years under Leon Cameron

Leon Cameron

Age

53

Ht

185cm

Wt

82kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

17.2

4star

K

12.4

5star

HB

4.7

3star

M

3.6

4star

T

0.9

3star

No current season stats available

D

20.8

5star

K

14.4

5star

HB

6.4

4star

M

3.6

4star

T

0.8

3star

.

I have them top of the pile.

Great call Gav.

Their backline is elite and still young. Sam Taylor is arguably the best defender in the comp. Their half backs are the best in the comp.

Midfield very strong with a great mix of young and old. Tom Green will be top 5 mid next season. Finn Callaghan is the one that will breakout big time next season. Add in Kelly, and Coniglio and that’s an elite midfield.

With Toby greene in the forward line, they will always be dangerous. Aaron Cadman will be an interesting watch. If he can perform consistently, the giants will be hard to beat come September.

Most importantly, they have a seriously good coach.

 

[Caligo]

Great call Gav.

Their backline is elite and still young. Sam Taylor is arguably the best defender in the comp. Their half backs are the best in the comp.

Midfield very strong with a great mix of young and old. Tom Green will be top 5 mid next season. Finn Callaghan is the one that will breakout big time next season. Add in Kelly, and Coniglio and that’s an elite midfield.

With Toby greene in the forward line, they will always be dangerous. Aaron Cadman will be an interesting watch. If he can perform consistently, the giants will be hard to beat come September.

Most importantly, they have a seriously good coach.

I think the development of Cadman will have an outsized role on the development of that list. The other big question is whether they can finally actually perform as a team to the level of their playing list on paper. They never have before, and I am not sure that can be entirely placed on just Leon Cameron.

 

[Gavin Excell]

I think the development of Cadman will have an outsized role on the development of that list. The other big question is whether they can finally actually perform as a team to the level of their playing list on paper. They never have before, and I am not sure that can be entirely placed on just Leon Cameron.

Their last half of 2023 was brilliant but yes need to continue that

 

[adammania9]

Saints fan makes a prediction they'll finish bottom half of the 8
several posters rip into his prediction for the team he supports

The worst of this thread every year. Saints aren't even a bad side, and they've improved over the off-season with one of the best young groups in the competition. They'll play finals again.

 

[Wolfgang West]

While your Crystal ball is working well for you, I am pretty confident that St Kilda won't finish ahead of all 4 of those.

Don’t doubt this master prognosticator! Has Horse among possible sacked coaches who is as much chance of being shown the door as the SCG trust demolishing the Members Stand.

 

[Blackhawk42]

Rising Star: Xavier Duursma

Impressive from a 24 year old.
Will be like when Homer creates the best nuclear plant and beats all the children.

 

[Doggy]

Just like everyone else, big shot.

No one thought the Saints would make it this year either.

Regarding your team, Bevo is a meglomaniac who will be fortunate to last the season, you'll have at least two of the Dogs' biggest stars requesting trades by September, something very iffy at the Kennel at present. You'll still get the umpires helping out, but it won't be enough for 2024.

As I said..
Absolute nuffie.

That's what happens when you support a no hoper team

 

[austinnn]

Impressive from a 24 year old.
Will be like when Homer creates the best nuclear plant and beats all the children.

Ah shit I mixed him up with his brother. I meant Zebedee, the new one.

 

[austinnn]

Don’t doubt this master prognosticator! Has Horse among possible sacked coaches who is as much chance of being shown the door as the SCG trust demolishing the Members Stand.

To be fair, I said sacked coaches or move. Bad choice of words, but what I meant was, of course Horse won't get sacked like Bevo will.

I think Horse will probably retire after this year. I mean he will at some stage, right? Thinking about it more I suppose one if his assistants will get mentored into replacing him first, so maybe it's 2 years away, the Swans won't bottom out.

 

[austinnn]

The worst of this thread every year. Saints aren't even a bad side, and they've improved over the off-season with one of the best young groups in the competition. They'll play finals again.

I don't really mind. No one has any faith in the Saints. Even the club's own fans are dubious. In some cases its because the Saints have tried and failed so many times before. Other oppo supporters just want a club to kick down on. At times I'm the same i suppose.

Luckily the club is not beholden to be forever downtrodden and facts don't have to fit in some weak minded narrative. No one saw the Saints getting into the finals this year. No one will next Season. It'll be like that until the team has proven them wrong enough times.

They're just opinions, none of them mean anything.

I mean it's not even about me supporting the club; I can't stand Carlton but I think they'll make finals next season. I respect Swans and Cats, but I think they'll just miss out. I suppose I follow St Kilda, so I'm more across their list and coaching.

Anyway; play on, players

 

[Del198236]

To be fair, I said sacked coaches or move. Bad choice of words, but what I meant was, of course Horse won't get sacked like Bevo will.

I think Horse will probably retire after this year. I mean he will at some stage, right? Thinking about it more I suppose one if his assistants will get mentored into replacing him first, so maybe it's 2 years away, the Swans won't bottom out.

Horse is contracted until 2025 - likely to retire then, but who knows
Cox has been mentored for a good couple of years already

Swans bottomed out in 2019 & 2020. They've got a few good years ahead

 

[beside the seaside]

You have saints 5th.

I'll guarantee you're clueless

That's not that out there. We came 7th last year (6th before the finals) and we have a very good draw next year, we were young so could improve further.

Not sure why no one rates us, I think we're a big chance to go into the top four.

 

[Caligo]

That's not that out there. We came 7th last year (6th before the finals) and we have a very good draw next year, we were young so could improve further.

Not sure why no one rates us, I think we're a big chance to go into the top four.

The apparent lack of truly elite talent. Who is your best player? Or your top 3? I don't mind your list, and I really like some of your young guys, but that top end talent seems to be lacking.

Obviously it wouldn't take much for King to take over the game. He clearly has it in him.

 

[Mr Meow]

That's not that out there. We came 7th last year (6th before the finals) and we have a very good draw next year, we were young so could improve further.

Not sure why no one rates us, I think we're a big chance to go into the top four.

I somewhat agree with the sentiment of this post.

As long as St Kilda keep getting one of the softest draws they're a good shot at finals.

They're very good at Marvel too and play there plenty.

No chance to do any damage in finals though.

 

[Red Bull]

Correct. Essendon were knocked back from playing at Windy Hill around the time of the VFL formation because it was a cricket oval and the mayor thought footy was “ungentlemanly”. Hence Essendon moved to the East Melbourne Cricket Ground and their supporters were assured that they were still the “Same Old Essendon”. Hence the Essendon Same Olds

And history repeats …

 

[FootyLad0]

It's funny how u can scroll through the predictions, cover the poster with your hand and guess pretty consistently who the posters support by their ladders

My personal favourite is how almost all of them have pretty much the same exact 8 as 2023 with some minor movements.

It's statistically guaranteed that someone will come from outside the 8 and into the top 4, multiple teams will fall into the bottom 10 while multiple teams in the bottom 10 will move up into the top 8.

Happens every single year and people always act shocked when it happens?...like how? LOL

Strength of schedule, injuries, complacency etc always play a role in teams making a jump or falling off. And it's usually up to 4/5 teams it affects.

 

[CarnTheScray]

That's not that out there. We came 7th last year (6th before the finals) and we have a very good draw next year, we were young so could improve further.

Not sure why no one rates us, I think we're a big chance to go into the top four.

This is either true belief in your team and seeing the areas of talent/improvement that no one else sees, or full blown delusion.

I admire that.

 

[beside the seaside]

This is either true belief in your team and seeing the areas of talent/improvement that no one else sees, or full blown delusion.

I admire that.

I just don't see why it's delusional. We finished 7th, we were the youngest side to play a final since 2010 or something. We have a very good coaching team. Why is it so delusional to think we could improve?

Most people had us around 13th-17th last year so obviously most people got it very wrong.

 

[Mr Meow]

I just don't see why it's delusional. We finished 7th, we were the youngest side to play a final since 2010 or something. We have a very good coaching team. Why is it so delusional to think we could improve?

Most people had us around 13th-17th last year so obviously most people got it very wrong.

Young sides often yo-yo on the ladder. The path to the top isn't always linear. St Kilda could easily finish 10th and then bounce back to finish 4th the following season, for instance.

If a couple of Adelaide, Bulldogs, Fremantle, Gold Coast and Geelong have better seasons and 13 plus wins then a couple from last year will have to miss out. You'd be brave to pick any but it always happens.

 

[Arr0w]

This is either true belief in your team and seeing the areas of talent/improvement that no one else sees, or full blown delusion.

I admire that.

Let me guess, another side you have finishing 16th?

 

[rye]

st kilda finished top 8 whilst having their most important player in king be a non-event and their captain steele playing under duress in 2023. i think theres more scope for them to improve than some of the other teams they were competing with for spots in the bottom half of the 8 this year (footscray, geelong, freo....)

 

[austinnn]

I just don't see why it's delusional. We finished 7th, we were the youngest side to play a final since 2010 or something. We have a very good coaching team. Why is it so delusional to think we could improve?

Most people had us around 13th-17th last year so obviously most people got it very wrong.

I think a few teams under the Saints underperformed or lost a few crucial matches. There was a period there where St Kilda lost matches but maintained their position in the eight because the other teams in positions to overtake also miraculously lost the same round.

I also suspect playing a lot of unknown players who had to earn the respect of their teammates (to use a well-worn cliché) with a mild first few rounds probably helped the team.

I think a lot of cards fell St Kilda's way, not the team didn't earn their victories but:

New coaching crew more rigorous than previous mob took a lot of clubs by surprise (as well as pundits and fans, clearly)

Owens and Cordy as forwards, Caminiti and Phillipou, Stocker were unknown to many

Winning momentum

Soft start to the season fixture wise

Similarly-placed teams losing

Excitement of 150 celebration (a blockbuster that finally didn't overawe the cub as past ones have)

...all helped.

I still think the team just improved significantly from the Ratten era team, which not all clubs were expecting, that was the main reason.