AFL 2014 Ladder Predictions

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Stratton_Gun

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Won't do the ladder as I am not 100% sure of the draw but I'll do the range and a short summation of each team

Adelaide: Don't rate that highly but definitely have potential for improvement on last year (jeez it's 2014 :eek:). Range:6-13

Brisbane: Lost quite a bit of depth and haven't gained many proven players although doing ok from the draft from all reports. Thought they would come on in 13' but really did nothing of note. Range 9-16

Carlton: Interesting season coming up for the Blues. Personally I think they have many vastly overrated players and never feel overly stressed when they play the Hawks. However with the addition of a fit Thomas(?) and other best 22 players in Everitt and Docherty, who knows. Another problem for them imo is that their better players are getting too old. Won't win a flag with this group. Range: 4-9

Collingwood: Lost Thomas and Shaw who may seem like big losses but Thomas has been injured for the last two seasons and Shaw is rapidly declining with a undisciplined attitude so they won't be as big a losses many think. Did well in the draft apparently and picked up Adams who could be anything and White who can do a job (although this was said about Lynch last year). Range 3-8

Essendon: Who knows? How will the ASADA findings/stress affect them? Picked up Chappy and lost Crameri and Gumbleton which is more of a loss than a win imo. Didn't do much of note in the draft either. At their best they are very good (they were 2nd after R16 or something) but their worst is awful. Range 4-14. Not much would surprise me with the Bombers next year

Fremantle: Were the form team in the 2nd half of the year and despite playing an awful Grand Final, still only lost by a couple of goals. Some great young players in Fyfe, Walters and De Boer and have added Sylvia and Gumbleton. Also a few older players that may start declining in Pav, McPharlin and Sandilands but can't see them dropping too much. Range 1-5

Geelong: Every year, we predict them to slide but it hasn't happened of yet. Got some good young players coming through in Smedts and Caddy and imo have only lost older players that aren't premiership quality and Trent West. Also have a good culture. Range 1-6

GWS: Apart from Cameron, haven't really impressed me tbh. Another pre-season under the belt but would surprise me if they did anything of note. Range 16-18

Gold Coast. Some are putting in the Top 8 but imo they aren't quite up to it. O'Meara, Martin and a couple of others will continue to improve but overall their list still isn't a Top 8 one. Range 9-13

Hawthorn: Some key outs in Buddy, Guerra and even Bailey but have gained McEvoy who is an upgrade on Bailey and have done well in the draft considering their picks. Also key players in Hodge, Mitchell, Bugoyne, Lake are another year older. However are still a very good side and are as good a chance as anyone bar maybe Fremantle and Sydney to win the flag. Range 1-6

Melbourne: Not convinced that Roos will be able to turn this rabble around. Poor culture and an even worse list. Clark back will be a bonus but the midfield is the problem. Range 16-18

North Melbourne: Not sure that my expectations on them are as high as everyone elses but if they don't make the 8, Scott will be gone. Swallow is a massive loss and their best player who gets tagged is about 36 which says a lot imo. In saying all that, I expect them to make the 8. Range 4-9

Port Adelaide: Who would have thought they could have such a good year in 2013. Not me. I think they did overachieve a bit but due to natural progression will improve somewhat and probably finish around the same position as in 2013. Range 5-10

Richmond: Really rate this young Richmond team. Players like Vlaustin and Conca will be household names in a few years. Couple this with and easy draw and I think they are a big chance for Top 4 and can't see them missing out on the 8. Range 3-7

St Kilda: What's the saying? Up shit creek....... A few years ago put all of their eggs in the winning a flag basket and now have to suffer the consequences. Seemed keen to get rid of McEvoy who was one of their few decent players left despite having a poor year and ended up getting Longer who could barely get a game for Brisbane (he is young though). Have blooded a lot of youth but I cant remember many getting a rising stay nomination. Also their older good players from 5 years ago are rapidly declining. Range 15-18

Sydney: Have made the use of their COLA and topped up nicely. Very strong best 22 with Buddy not to mention the players coming back from injury that screwed up their 2013. If they get similar injuries though depth will be sorely tested. Range 1-4

Western Buldogs:Liked their improvement and development of young players which has set them apart from Melbourne and StKilda. Still think they are at least a year off finals though. Range 9-13

West Coast: Don't think they will be contending for a few years. Very weak midfield and a lot of Vanilla players. One upside is that a few are coming back from injury from memory. Range 8-14
 

cinderella man

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Respect NM, but just can't fathom why so many (and not just NM supporters) have them so high! Also, bias aside, I'd be very surprised if Carlton didn't finish a lot higher than the average position most BF experts have them finishing in - is it Carlton hate, not sure? Roll on 2014.
Agree. Not outlandish to say they will make the 8 based on the ability of their list but the same list is not trustworthy to be consistent with their performance over 4 qtrs. any given week and they certainly are not trustworthy in being consistent enough with their performance to say they will be top 4 when you have Freo, Hawthorn, Geelong, Sydney and Collingwood who are quite simply better teams than them. Brad Scott will need all the help he can get from their new and improved coaching panel as he is also a handicap in their top 4 aspirations imo. Nothing against the Roos meant in this post but top 8 will see them out because as impressive as they can be they can be equally as horrible.
 

theflea

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I don't think they are easy beats at all! And on a side note is Schulz one of the most underrated Forwards in the comp? Every time I watch Port play that bloke gives a great contest each time.
Just because posters have port sliding a little to around 9/10 on the ladder is vastly different than being easy beats. The comp for the top 8 this year is going to be huge.
 

Mningasimisonda

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1. Hawthorn
2. Geelong
3. Fremantle
4. Essendon
5. Sydney
6. Gold Coast
7. Carlton
8. Richmond

9. North Melbourne
10. Collingwood
11. Port Adelaide
12. West Coast
13. Adelaide
14. Brisbane
15. Bulldogs
16. GWS
17. St Kilda
18. Melbourne
 

Holy Rioli

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1. Freo - will be hungry and have the talent
2. Hawks - Still a super list and now with a gun ruckman
3. Sydney - a great team with gun KPP's
4. Tigers - Easier draw and growing list
5. North - Should have made in last year, too good to miss again
6. Cats - Still therabouts
7. Dons - Will bounce back under Thomson with a point to prove - unless players are rubbed out
8. Pies - On the back of a super midfield
9. Port - Over achieved last year IMO
10. Suns - Not quite finals bound but could suprise
11. West Coast - still too one paced ion the middle
12. Carlton - maybe wishful thinking but I dont see much depth there
13. Adelaide - will win a few suprise games but not a finals threat
14. Lions - see above
15. Saints - rebuilding
16.Dogs - rebuilding
17. GWS - Will pinch a few games this year with 1 or 2 upsets - I like where they are headed
18. Dees - Roos will need a season to sort his list, will cause an upset.
Agree with a lot of this
 

5 GB USB

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their best player who gets tagged is about 36 which says a lot imo.
Harvey gets tagged because he still demands it, age has nothing to do with it, Harvey WILL get tagged for the rest of his career unless he slows down himself. fact is his still one of the most damaging players in the comp at age 36, it would not make a difference if Ziebell, Atley, Cunnington Etc took another step up and became elite players, every team in the comp will still tag Boomer over them.
 

Handyandy

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Top 4 will come from Swans, Hawks, Cats, Dockers, Tigers, Pies & Bombers.
To predict something out of left field, Hawks most likely to fall in a hole. Lose any of Hodge/Mitchell/Roughy and they will struggle.
West Coast don't have a midfield capable of beating the better sides...Kerr is a massive loss.
Port were good last year but miles and miles from top 4. Geelong beat them in second gear in the finals a sure sign they have to improve heaps.
Adelaide will struggle to make the 8. Rely far too much on Dangerfield. Their young brigade are massively over-rated based on the soft draw they had in 2012.
North play some super games but also play some absolute crap. Against Freo they looked like wooden spooners. Del Santo is a down hill skier, will help them but only if they play well.

Saints are a monty for the wooden spoon.
port beat collingwood in a final and pushed geelong in the finals too. your comments that geelong were "in second gear" are idiotic. port are a long way from fremantle or hawthorn but everyone else in the comp is fair game, including your mob, who we towelled up quite easily on 2 occassions. i dont think sydney are top four anymore, they will be the big sliders.
 

cinderella man

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port beat collingwood in a final and pushed geelong in the finals too. your comments that geelong were "in second gear" are idiotic. port are a long way from fremantle or hawthorn but everyone else in the comp is fair game, including your mob, who we towelled up quite easily on 2 occassions. i dont think sydney are top four anymore, they will be the big sliders.
Feel Better ? :rolleyes:
 

theflea

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port beat collingwood in a final and pushed geelong in the finals too. your comments that geelong were "in second gear" are idiotic. port are a long way from fremantle or hawthorn but everyone else in the comp is fair game, including your mob, who we towelled up quite easily on 2 occassions. i dont think sydney are top four anymore, they will be the big sliders.
Imo it doesn't always work this way. Some teams just match up well against other while some cant beat them at all. Its a rock paper scissors thing. The tigers could beat both grand finalists but couldn't beat the blues or pies.
 

cinderella man

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Imo it doesn't always work this way. Some teams just match up well against other while some cant beat them at all. Its a rock paper scissors thing. The tigers could beat both grand finalists but couldn't beat the blues or pies.
Correct Flea but you can't put brains in a monument.
 

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He named 7 that he thinks it will come from and if you think there is 10 chances name them. You will be pretty hard pressed to make GENUINE claims for another 3 outside that.

I didn't go back and look at who he named nor am i saying he is wrong, this is a forum full of everyones opinions, there is no right or wrong. my opinion is just closer to Imachs opinion. I think Genuine top 4 chances are in alphabetical order Adelaide,Carlton,Collingwood,Essendon,Fremantle,Geelong,Hawthorn,Richmond,Sydney and Westcoast. Port probably Rough not to get a mention but my opinion is that they had ALOT go right for them last year and i dont really think that will happen again. but i do like port and think they will be there abouts.
 
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I didn't go back and look at who he named nor am i saying he is wrong, this is a forum full of everyones opinions, there is no right or wrong. my opinion is just closer to Imachs opinion. I think Genuine top 4 chances are in alphabetical order Adelaide,Carlton,Collingwood,Essendon,Fremantle,Geelong,Hawthorn,Richmond,Sydney and Westcoast. Port probably Rough not to get a mention but my opinion is that they had ALOT go right for them last year and i dont really think that will happen again. but i do like port and think they will be there abouts.
No Carlton doesn't have a chances of making top 4 you are over rating our list friend.
 
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1. Sydney: No explanation needed, should be top two.
2. Fremantle: Should improve.
3. Hawthorn: Think they'll begin to decline, may fall further. Time has to catch up with their older players soon.
4. North Melbourne: Bolters for mine. I like their squad, NDS is a good get for them.
5. Essendon: The loss of Crammers hurts their already weak forward half. Will fall further if off-field mess continues.
6. Collingwood: Another good off season, thereabouts.
7. Richmond: Still think they lack some forward options.
8. Geelong: Surely they don't fall any further?

9. Port Adelaide: Still rate them even though they miss the 8.
10. Gold Coast: In a weaker year they'd make the 8.
11. Western Bulldogs: Another year off.
12. Adelaide: Hard to place, have some talent, but not enough in key areas. Vince is a loss in terms of immediate future too.
13. Carlton: Had a good off season, hard to place.
14. Brisbane: Last year's player losses will hurt.
15. West Coast: Aside from home ground advantage, I think they'll struggle.
16. Melbourne: Better than the other two... I think.
17. St. Kilda: Could finish last.
18. GWS: Could finish a few spots higher.
 
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