Finally someone else rates us.

[2 Dogs]

Copied from the 2008 predictions thread.

Ok, here's my prediction on the 2008 ladder, based not on list strength and chemistry, but instead mostly on how the makeup of the ladder had changed from year to year in previous seasons.

The Perennial Five Year Planners:

16. Richmond

This was probably the hardest pick I had to make on this whole ladder because I think there are about 10 teams that could finish last this year. In the end I had to do a little list analogy so this is probably the ladder position I'm least confident about being right, In the end I had to ask myself "Where will the improvement come from that will lift Richmond off the bottom?" Cotchin? Probably not for a couple of years. McMahon? Not Likely. Add to the fact that Richo isn't getting any younger and Richmond seemed like the best choice to anchor my ladder.


The Season From Hell

15. Port Adelaide


Almost every year there is a team who look like they will be playing late into September before the season starts who have absolutely nothing go right for them. This year my nomination is Port. Injuries, suspensions and close games not going their way will sum up Port's season. You also have to remember that at one stage last year they looked like spoon contenders before Essendon played them into form.

The Transition Period

14. Essendon

Believe me, I would love nothing more than to see Knights the Bombers go out this year and prove a lot of supporters on these forums wrong. However one thing some of my fellow Bombers supporters have to realise is that at some stage there will be a period of struggle when our current spine begins to slow down and our new spine becomes AFL ready. When this period will begin, how long it will occur for and when it will end will depend on when how long our current spine can continue to play at heir current level and how quickly the young KPP prospects (Gumby, Neagle Ryder etc) can mature. Unfortunately I see at least on of the big 3 dropping off this year and their replacement not being ready yet. Despite the beliefs of some posters on BigFooty, Knights has made all the right noises so far as coach and playing the kids will mean the Bombers will win some games that they shouldn't. This along with a few players really benefiting from having a new coach have which will lift Essendon off the bottom of the ladder.

The Underachievers

13. Brisbane Lions

Every year there is a team that a lot of people expect to make big improvements that just never happen. My nomination for this not so coveted achievement this year is the Lions. Like Port, the Lions at times looked like the wooden spoon contender last year before their season turner against the Eagles. An injury to Brown, and the Lions are pretty much gone IMO.


On The Downward Spiral

12. Adelaide

Despite making the eight last year, the Crows didn't impress me much. (They lost to Essendon twice for starters...) With the retirement of Roo and other key players getting older (McLeod, Edwards etc) the crows are a good cantidate to slip a little bit.


Finally, Some Progress

11. Carlton

Is this the year that Carlton finally emerge from the AFL cellar? It would seem so as a team can only be down for so long before progress is made. Needless to say, Judd and Stevens will be more than handy inclusions and the will also free up Murphy and Gibbs. The continued development of Waite and Fisher as well as Fev's usual output should see Carlton rise from the ashes. Good team chemistry and luck with injuries could see them make the eight. On the contrary if they have a slow start and they like the look of Daniel Rich...


Consistently Inconsistent

10. Fremantle

I see Freo being a very hot and cold team this year, looking like world beaters one week and wooden spooners the next several times throughout the year. Ultimately, this will lead to a spot around the middle of the table.


"How Did This Happen?"

9. Hawthorn

This is probably on of my most interesting, and purely speculative picks. However before Hawks fans come out in drones defending their team I'll give my explanation. I see Hawthorn's 2008 being similar to the Cats' 2006: roaring out of the gates in the first two or three rounds and looking like world beaters, and then slowly slipping down the ladder and around the 7-10th position by round 15. However, like Geelong I think the Hawks will re-arrive in 2009 and get very close to or even winning a premiership.

The Slow Starters, But Better Than Their Position Indicates

8. North Melbourne

I can see North being a bit slow out of the blocks this year. By round 5 the Gold Coast talk will be in full flight. Then, in about round 10 or 11 the Roos will finally break out and storm home to sneak into the eight and be the team no one wants to face in the finals.


The Year Everything Begins To Click

7. Western Bulldogs

For the last two years a lot of people, including myself have picked the Bulldogs to finish top 4. Both years, they have underachieved and they looked finished at the end of last year. However, I think they are a pretty good smokey for this year, with their game plan finally giving consistent success. Cooney will have to step up big time and West and Johnson will have to be at their best for this prediction to come true though.


The Fast Starters, But Not As Good As Their Position Suggests

6. St Kilda

I can see the Saints being one of the premier teams in the competition this year... ...for the first three quarters of the season anyway. Then I think we'll see a major drop off due to a key injury or loss of form and the Saints being embarrassed in the first week of the finals.


Still Going Strong

5. West Coast Eagles

The Eagles will fall off because of the departures of Judd and Cousins, but not by much. They played without both of them a lot last year and whenever they did Priddis and Rosa both lifted their games. Also, Mitch Brown looks ready to play at AFL level and give the Eagles a new dimension to their forward line.


"Where The %&^* Did These Guys Come From?"

4. Melbourne

Nearly every year there is a team that no one expects to do anything that either makes the top 4 or gets very close to it. This year that team could well be Melbourne. Last year quite a few people predicted them to stay in the eight. Injuries put that idea to rest pretty early on in the season though. The Dees have a new coach which can be a catalyst for sudden improvement. All it would take would be for Morton and Grimes to step straight into AFL football (not unheard of), Petterd to continue from where he left off and a few players to really shine under a new coach (Sylvia comes to mind.) If all this happens, this prediction could very well come true.


More In The Tank Then Many Think

3. Sydney

The Swans are one team that many think will slide down the ladder in 2008. However, quite often these teams perform just as well as, if not better than the previous year. (See Collingwood in 2007.) I think the Swans have the talent and the chemistry to avoid slipping this year and performing somewhere in between their 2008 and 2007 years.


The Challenger

2. Collingwood

This is a young team that everybody thought was a one year wonder in 2006 that still had a lot of work to do. Boy did they prove a few people wrong. This is a team that has grown together and that were one kick away from a Grand Final last year. I can only see them getting better. Lack of leadership is a bit of a concern though.


The Juggernaut

1. Geelong

I could give no reason for putting the Cats anywhere but first on the ladder. However I could see them losing by less than a goal in a preliminary final this year.

Forgot what the guys name was, bombers supporter though. Made for an interesting read I thought. Don't agree with him about Swans and the Lions, I'd probably swap the 2, but at least he argued his selections.

 

[dutchy12]

lol does get a bit annoying reading everyone's opinions that we'll get the spoon.

top 4 is stretching it but stranger things have happened.

this is an interesting fact. from the side which beat the saints in the 2006 final guess how many players are still on the list from that 22.

19.

pickets ward and johnstone are the ones gone.

 

[RangaInTeal]

Forgot what the guys name was, bombers supporter though. Made for an interesting read I thought. Don't agree with him about Swans and the Lions, I'd probably swap the 2, but at least he argued his selections.

The blokes obviously on CRACK!

 

[kirbatron]

i am putting a little bit of coin on the dee's to make the 8. wouldnt be surprised.

 

[DemonErrol1964 - dees]

What are the odds mate ??

 

[The Dr]

It is good to see someone being positiva about our chances. I can't see us making top four, but a couple places either side of the 8 would be about right. As long as we're improving and play some exciting footy like 05/06.
Not sure about his Port Adelaide selection though....

 

[Pjkimber]

I can see us in the the top 4. Lasy yr I think we made some mistakes by letting some players go in that werent 100% and should have bled the likes of petterd, bode etc earlier. With Sylvia and Moloney looking to be injury free (so far) and picking up Morton, Grimes and Maric in the draft, it should be a great year for Melbourne Fc.

 

[davey_magik]

I can see us in the the top 4. Lasy yr I think we made some mistakes by letting some players go in that werent 100% and should have bled the likes of petterd, bode etc earlier. With Sylvia and Moloney looking to be injury free (so far) and picking up Morton, Grimes and Maric in the draft, it should be a great year for Melbourne Fc.

We're not top 4 quality, not with Neitz in the twilight of his career and Juice still a rookie.
I think we can definitely finish in the 8 granted a good injury run, but we won't go far.

 

[Bartram_Class]

Good to see.

However must be said, for every one of those, theres a dozen predicting us at the bottom.

 

[Sylvia Saint]

To be honest i could not care less where the BigFooty flogs predict us to finish, or any "expert" for that matter. It's obviously going to have no bearing whatsever on how we go this year.

 

[bloodpumpsRnB]

To be honest i could not care less where the BigFooty flogs predict us to finish, or any "expert" for that matter. It's obviously going to have no bearing whatsever on how we go this year.

couldn't agree more

 

[Supermercado]

Given that his criteria for selection is

Ok, here's my prediction on the 2008 ladder, based not on list strength and chemistry, but instead mostly on how the makeup of the ladder had changed from year to year in previous seasons.

I wouldn't exactly say he's rating us.