AFL 2014 Ladder Predictions

[38Rockliff38]

Don't get me wrong, I think you guys did extremely well during the trade & draft period, but it's pretty stupid to say 5 top 30 players that left your club are duds. You're either bitter about them leaving, or you have shit recruiters. So I don't understand how your recruiters picked 5 top 30 duds, but have picked up best 22 players this year.

You picked up great additions this year, don't be a bitter twat and slag off players just because they didn't want to stay at your club.

Spot on. Our recruiters made a meal of those couple of drafts.


Longer is a dud. Definitely wasn't worth a 1st round pick. He has had a few years development put into him but still struggled to compete in a weak league (NEAFL). As a first round pick you'd expect him to dominate the NEAFL, but he couldn't even get near it.

Docherty was highly rated because of his "elite kicking", but judging by his games this year he is far from an elite kick. He turns it over regularly. Once again, a very overrated player who wasn't worth a first rounder.

Karnezis has talent, but he is a shit bloke and doesn't work hard. He had no commitment to the club and didn't put much effort in at all. Glad he's gone, he was never going to make it.

Polec very much the same as Karnezis. Didn't put effort in at training and just wanted to go home.

Yeo is the one that hurts. He had a truckload of talent and almost cemented his spot in our best 22. He was probably the quickest player at the club too. Out of all the players that left, he is the only one that hurts

 

[Kimbo]

Docherty was highly rated because of his "elite kicking", but judging by his games this year he is far from an elite kick. He turns it over regularly. Once again, a very overrated player who wasn't worth a first rounder.

I only watched Docherty when the Lions played us, and while he hardly starred, in his debut game he seemed tidy and a good decision-maker. I have a hunch MM will have him performing a role with aplomb in a short space of time.

 

[Big Sauce 21]

they all left because they couldn't get a game and used home sickness as an excuse. this is our squad for this year nothing wrong with it

Clarke - Merrett - Adcock
Hanley - Patful - Golby
Aish - Redden - Rich
Staker - Lisle - Mayes
Green - Brown - Zorko
Luey - Moloney - Rockliff

Beams - West - Lester

Taylor

Mcguire - McGuane - McGrath - Paine - Polkinghorne - Bewick - Close - Harwood - Martin - Paparone and the new kids.


I see nothing wrong with depth

 

[carnthedons]

they all left because they couldn't get a game and used home sickness as an excuse. this is our squad for this year nothing wrong with it

Clarke - Merrett - Adcock
Hanley - Patful - Golby
Aish - Redden - Rich
Staker - Lisle - Mayes
Green - Brown - Zorko
Luey - Moloney - Rockliff

Beams - West - Lester

Taylor

Mcguire - McGuane - McGrath - Paine - Polkinghorne - Bewick - Close - Harwood - Martin - Paparone and the new kids.


I see nothing wrong with depth

nothing wrong with it i agree. however there'd be about 15 better best 22's going around

 

[Big Sauce 21]

nothing wrong with it i agree. however there'd be about 15 better best 22's going around

Not gunna argue there. But saying the Lions lack depth is incorrect. our time will come in 3-5 years

 

[theflea]

All of the top 30 picks were duds (except Yeo). Most of them hardly played a game this year, and when they did they had no impact whatsoever. Yes we wasted a few top picks on them, but losing them won't hurt us at all. Simon Black was injured all year and only played a handfull of games - his loss won't hurt us too much either. If you look at our list we have plenty of depth and it's very hard to pick a best 22.

I never said our new draftees will be in our best 22, I said we recruited 3 people who could be in our best 22 (Mcguane, West and Paine), they are all mature agers, plus Beams returning from injury. Aish should slot into our best 22 though, he already has 2 senior SANFL premierships under his belt

So Longer was a dud?

Edit: I see your reasons why you said this but from what I've seen he will be ok. Difference of op then.

 

[Big Sauce 21]

So Longer was a dud?

Bit gumby, but was only young

 

[theflea]

Bit gumby, but was only young

Yep which was my point. Still too young and behind Luey to tell if he was a dud.

 

[Suma Magic]

Yeo may have been the biggest loss, but I think Taylor will be the biggest gain (via trade). I'd back Taylor to have a better career than Yeo, I'm still dirty we gave up 28 rather than 31.

 

[Big Sauce 21]

Yeo may have been the biggest loss, but I think Taylor will be the biggest gain (via trade). I'd back Taylor to have a better career than Yeo, I'm still dirty we gave up 28 rather than 31.

we're grateful. because if you didn't pick him at 28 GWS would of pounced. a lot of hype about Taylor, I've never seen him play but hopefully he can be a major player in a few years.

 

[Big Sauce 21]

Yep which was my point. Still too young and behind Luey to tell if he was a dud.

Longer was never staying and for that point, big luey berger is still young 25 I think so it would be frustrating. I can understand his desire to move.

 

[The Dice Man]

Best thing about this thread is watching 38Rockliff jump to brisbane's defense the moment someone predicts them to finish at the bottom of the ladder. Almost every time he/she replies immediately asking, please explain why.

It's ****ing hilarious.

 

[Oneiros]

Dirty great big suspicion people are overstating how much last year was a proper reflection of WC's list, best 22 and potential, overstating the loss of Kerr and understating the effect of injury on the last year simply because it's just too bloody hard to fit all the teams that will "surely" make finals in as it is without adding further wildcards.

 

[Big Sauce 21]

Best thing about this thread is watching 38Rockliff jump to brisbane's defense the moment someone predicts them to finish at the bottom of the ladder. Almost every time he/she replies immediately asking, please explain why.

It's ******* hilarious.

tbh there was one worth debating putting us below a team that would get 2 wins max.

 

[Oneiros]

tbh there was one worth debating putting us below a team that would get 2 wins max.

Fair call

 

[Ironmonger]

Yeo may have been the biggest loss, but I think Taylor will be the biggest gain (via trade). I'd back Taylor to have a better career than Yeo, I'm still dirty we gave up 28 rather than 31.

I wish I agreed. Yeo has proven he can make a useful contribution at AFL level and that's always the most important hurdle to get over.

Maybe it's because he's a defender, or because of where he was taken in the draft, but sometimes I think people forget how much upside he has. He is pretty tall, extremely quick, courageous and makes good decisions. At some point the Eagles will start to push him further up the field to get a bit more of the ball and then we might find his ceiling is a lot higher than we realise.

 

[joop]

Spot on. Our recruiters made a meal of those couple of drafts.


Longer is a dud. Definitely wasn't worth a 1st round pick. He has had a few years development put into him but still struggled to compete in a weak league (NEAFL). As a first round pick you'd expect him to dominate the NEAFL, but he couldn't even get near it.

He averaged 45 hit outs a game in the neafl, not bad considering he couldn't get near it.

I just can't believe your 'shit' recruiters screwed up so much those couple of drafts, with players that other clubs seem to rate pretty highly, but now your recruiters have already delivered you best 22 players. They seemed to have have turned the corner pretty quickly!

But I guess lucky for you guys that it was all your shit players that wanted to leave.

Lions14!!!

 

[Big Sauce 21]

I wish I agreed. Yeo has proven he can make a useful contribution at AFL level and that's always the most important hurdle to get over.

Maybe it's because he's a defender, or because of where he was taken in the draft, but sometimes I think people forget how much upside he has. He is pretty tall, extremely quick, courageous and makes good decisions. At some point the Eagles will start to push him further up the field to get a bit more of the ball and then we might find his ceiling is a lot higher than we realise.

We have a similar player in Harwood though... and then there's hanley.....

 

[Dan12]

Dirty great big suspicion people are overstating how much last year was a proper reflection of WC's list, best 22 and potential, overstating the loss of Kerr and understating the effect of injury on the last year simply because it's just too bloody hard to fit all the teams that will "surely" make finals in as it is without adding further wildcards.

That's a fair call. I'm just not sold because it doesn't seem like there's been many teams in West Coast's situation just jump back up to the finals immediately.
What teams in recent years have been performing well in the top bracket of the comp for a couple years, then just fall down markedly for a year and immediately pick themselves up and rise up the ladder again the next year? Not many that I can think of. I think you're due for a slight improvement but will finish 9th-13th.

 

[38Rockliff38]

He averaged 45 hit outs a game in the neafl, not bad considering he couldn't get near it.

I just can't believe your 'shit' recruiters screwed up so much those couple of drafts, with players that other clubs seem to rate pretty highly, but now your recruiters have already delivered you best 22 players. They seemed to have have turned the corner pretty quickly!

But I guess lucky for you guys that it was all your shit players that wanted to leave.

Lions14!!!

Haha... If you're going to make up stories, atleast make them believable

 

[RossFC]

You can't call Longer a dud he showed some good signs at AFL level. Rucks don't even come good until 25 years old.

Also I'd like to see how Polec goes after his first full preseason. Never got the chance at Brisbane due to injury.

 

[benji2]

Here goes:

1. Freo (Will be better for last year's experience)
2. Hawthorn (will be thereabouts, don't think they'll miss Buddy that much. Agree they're more dangerous without him)
3. Sydney (Buddy plus full season from Tippett)
4. Richmond (solid team, have finals experience now but not quite flag ready)
5. North (will make the 8, just need to get rid of those close losses though they'll miss Swallow)
6. Geelong (even-numbered year, more transition and a few injury worries, but will still be a hard nut to crack)
7. Collingwood (similar situation to Geelong, Cloke needs more support)
8. Western Bulldogs (joining the bandwagon, they were competitive against a lot of teams and think they could be this year's bolters)
9. Port Adelaide (Might have a slight case of second year blues but will be a good side in the long run)
10. Adelaide (Decent midfield, will push for the 8 with Walker back but the ruck is still a worry)
11. Gold Coast (One step closer to finals, getting harder to beat, still have GAJ)
12. Essendon (Very hard to read given the last few months, could finish anywhere between 3rd and 14th)
13. Carlton (Still need a good forward and no Betts either, still a few holes in their list in general)
14. WCE (Midfield is a worry, new coach, heaven help them if they show the form they did late last season)
15. Brisbane (Big turnover of players, new coach, will need some adjustment time)
16. Melb (Only way is up, Roos should be able to get a few more wins from them)
17. GWS (Another year of improvement needed, felt like they went backwards slightly in 2013)
18. St K (Just lost too many good players, transition time)


(EDIT 13/3/2014: Tweaked lower order slightly before season opener)

 

[Stylo]

1 Fremantle
2 Swans
3 North
4 Pies
5 Hawks
6 Tigers
7 Eagles
8 Blues
9 Suns
10 Lions
11 Crows
12 Port
13 Cats
14 Dogs
15 Giants
16 Saints
17 Demons
18 Essendon

But what do I know

 

[Jay-Z]

Here goes:

1. Freo (Will be better for last year's experience)
2. Hawthorn (will be thereabouts, don't think they'll miss Buddy that much agree they're more dangerous without him)
3. Sydney (Buddy plus full season from Tippett)
4. Richmond (solid team, have finals experience now but not quite flag ready)
5. North (will make the 8, just need to get rid of those close losses though they'll miss Swallow)
6. Geelong (even year, more transition, but will still be a hard nut to crack)
7. Collingwood (similar situation to Geelong, Cloke needs more support)
8. Western Bulldogs (joining the bandwagon, they were competitive against a lot of teams and think they could be this year's bolters)
9. Port Adelaide (Might have a slight case of second year blues but will be a good side in the long run)
10. Adelaide (Decent midfield, will push for the 8 with Walker back but the ruck is still a worry)
11. Gold Coast (One step closer to finals, getting harder to beat, still have GAJ)
12. Carlton (Still need a good forward and no Betts either, still a few holes in their list in general)
13. Essendon (Very hard to read given the last few months, could finish anywhere between 3rd and 14th)
14. Brisbane (Big turnover of players, new coach, will need some adjustment time)
15. WCE (Midfield is a worry, new coach, heaven help them if they show the form they did late last season)
16. Melb (Only way is up, Roos should be able to get a few more wins from them)
17. St K (Just lost too many good players, transition time)
18. GWS (Another year of improvement needed, felt like they went backwards slightly in 2013)

Good list. Well done.

By the way, I've seen the "they'll miss Swallow" comment a lot in this thread. Given it was reported as recently as last week that he is aiming for Round 1 (though I personally wouldn't be surprised to see this delayed to round 4-5ish), I don't see his injury having a significant impact on our year.

 

[Tiger71]

Good list. Well done.

By the way, I've seen the "they'll miss Swallow" comment a lot in this thread. Given it was reported as recently as last week that he is aiming for Round 1 (though I personally wouldn't be surprised to see this delayed to round 4-5ish), I don't see his injury having a significant impact on our year.

Agree with this.

Harvey though is your team Achilles heel, pardon the pun . If he does not play you guys struggle to win. IMO you guys are that improvement away from being a consistent finals side. I am not hoping for Boomer gets injured, all i am saying is that you guys will go up a level of maturity when your team does not lose its competitive edge if boomer does not play.