Imroved teams 2007

[theGav56]

Well, it is only 2 games in and a heck of a lot of the season to go. I expected that the recruitment of Tarrant and to an extent Solomon would have us as a big improver this year, although from where we finished last year it is difficult to improve that last 5-10%. Certainly more difficult than improvement from the lower rungs of the ladder. But having watched a few games, it looks to me that a couple of teams have made significant improvement at this early stage of the year;

Port Adelaide look faster, and I don't think we simply "lost" to them, we were beaten by a team that played better football for 3/4's.

Geelong have unleashed some recruits who look capable of more than being in the best 22, they look like genuine weapons. Hawkins, Varcoe and Selwood had an immediate impact on the weekend, and N Ablett was also very good.

Brisbane have developed very quickly.

Hawthorn have improved.

I think there could be significant change in the make up of the finalists for this year, and hope that we can at the very least be there. An area we haven't improved is pace, in fact we are looking a little slower than last year. Peake out is going to hurt us, Walker is ordinary at best, farmer has shot himself and the club in the foot, Johnson got run over by a new interpretation of the rules, Black may or may not be playing in the near future, Schammer is going to be of minimal use to us.

 

[Bradesmaen]

From living in Adelaide I'll tell you this - Port were like that last year, its just that they have improved their overall game. I still dont think they will be able to stop the best sides but they may scrape into the 8.

Geelong were always going to improve after last years pathetic year.

Brisbane - that one really surprised me, but expect them to fade as every club with youngsters does.

Hawthorn - I think they have some serious problems. Although they beat Melbourne, they only just did and Melb was missing some good players and lost its captain early. If Melb can almost beat Hawks with Johnstone, Davey and Robbo "missing" plus an injured McLead, Neitz, Yze (mentally injured) and Dunn then the Hawks do have problems. The kids they have drafted and have played consistently like Buddy and others still have not come on and you question what Hawthorn is doing with their youth back at the club.

 

[theGav56]

From living in Adelaide I'll tell you this - Port were like that last year, its just that they have improved their overall game. I still dont think they will be able to stop the best sides but they may scrape into the 8.

Getting into the 8 would be a reasonable year for them.

Geelong were always going to improve after last years pathetic year.

No they weren't. They were supposedly going to improve last year, but didn't. Then in the game against Carlton played three rookies, which means significant change to a side as it tries to patch up it's wekanesses, which for the Cats was lack of pace, and the forward line. Unless they addressed their weaknesses, why would they improve?

Brisbane - that one really surprised me, but expect them to fade as every club with youngsters does.

With the loss of so many big name players, especially talls, it is a huge surprise. May be difficult to sustain, but good on them.

Hawthorn - I think they have some serious problems. Although they beat Melbourne, they only just did and Melb was missing some good players and lost its captain early. If Melb can almost beat Hawks with Johnstone, Davey and Robbo "missing" plus an injured McLead, Neitz, Yze (mentally injured) and Dunn then the Hawks do have problems. The kids they have drafted and have played consistently like Buddy and others still have not come on and you question what Hawthorn is doing with their youth back at the club.

Johnstone and Davey weren't "missing", they were beaten. Robbo injured in the final term. Melbourne have an impressive ruck duo, but they were also beaten by Hawthorn. And having a crack at Franklin's development is silly. he's coming along fine, and just needs to keep improving. Doing well for a young tall.

 

[theGav56]

From living in Adelaide I'll tell you this - Port were like that last year, its just that they have improved their overall game. I still dont think they will be able to stop the best sides but they may scrape into the 8.

Getting into the 8 would be a reasonable year for them.

Geelong were always going to improve after last years pathetic year.

No they weren't. They were supposedly going to improve last year, but didn't. Then in the game against Carlton played three rookies, which means significant change to a side as it tries to patch up it's wekanesses, which for the Cats was lack of pace, and the forward line. Unless they addressed their weaknesses, why would they improve?

Brisbane - that one really surprised me, but expect them to fade as every club with youngsters does.

With the loss of so many big name players, especially talls, it is a huge surprise. May be difficult to sustain, but good on them.

Hawthorn - I think they have some serious problems. Although they beat Melbourne, they only just did and Melb was missing some good players and lost its captain early. If Melb can almost beat Hawks with Johnstone, Davey and Robbo "missing" plus an injured McLead, Neitz, Yze (mentally injured) and Dunn then the Hawks do have problems. The kids they have drafted and have played consistently like Buddy and others still have not come on and you question what Hawthorn is doing with their youth back at the club.

Johnstone and Davey weren't "missing", they were beaten. Robbo injured in the final term. Melbourne have an impressive ruck duo, but they were also beaten by Hawthorn. And having a crack at Franklin's development is silly. he's coming along fine, and just needs to keep improving. Doing well for a young tall.

I can see Geelong and PA being genuine finals contenders come September.

 

[Bradesmaen]

I dont nessicarily think that Johnstone was just "beaten" he was so out of form anyway, I mean did you see where he took a slight run and then got run down.. thats not the normal TJ.

Also, Davey went looking for kicks with no opponent and still couldn't take a trick.

Franklin is too inconsistent. Thats my only beef with him.

 

[Dr Ralph Dagg]

Hawthorn - I think they have some serious problems. Although they beat Melbourne, they only just did and Melb was missing some good players and lost its captain early. If Melb can almost beat Hawks with Johnstone, Davey and Robbo "missing" plus an injured McLead, Neitz, Yze (mentally injured) and Dunn then the Hawks do have problems. The kids they have drafted and have played consistently like Buddy and others still have not come on and you question what Hawthorn is doing with their youth back at the club.

I agree with your other sentiments ... but not this one. I picked Hawthorn to beat Melbourne. I like Hawthorn's list and think in 2009 they could really shine. Till then, they will wallop the odd team, and win a fair share. I say this because they have some genuine midfield talent in Mitchell, Hodge and Crawford, and some useful players as a supporting cast. The still have Ellis and Muston to come through. They have a marquee small forward in Williams. They have a decent backline based around Croad, Bateman, Smith and Jacobs.

Then they have invested heavily in good talls both for rucks and key positions -- Franklin, Roughhead, Boyle, Campbell, Bailey, Birchall, Thorp, even Zac Dawson. These are taking time to develop. But when they do start coming through they will be quite potent. Franklin especially. He'll win a fair few games off his own boot. There might be a better group of talls coming through but I can't think of any.

And when they do I think they'll have a very balanced list without any major weaknesses. And being a Melbourne side will give them an advantage. They're certaily my pick to become the next major force from Melbourne. The Doggies might but they don't have the tall stocks.

 

[ImperialPurple]

I would take Franklin in a heartbeat if he was available.



Same with Hodge and Mitchell... oh wait....


Or maybe even a Croad at CHB...

 

[Bradesmaen]

Mitchell and Talent should never ever go in the same sentence. Yes, he is a ball magnet, but other than that, he lacks any sort of kicking skills for a distance of over 20 metres and has to constantly hand ball due to his poor kicking.

Down back they are really thin, Dawson is not as talented as he is said to be and they still lack a quality consistent tall forward. Their list isn't as strong as is made out to be.

 

[dominguez]

Mark Williams and Leigh Matthews have done a fantastic job revamping their lists.

 

[Freo Hitman]

I an sure in the summer i wrote on 1 of the many top 8 threads i said my top 3 freo , west coast & geelong & then fresh air . and throw a blanket over 10 teams minus kangas , port & brissy . I wont sway from that.
So from that geelong were the big lifters.

 

[BK Eaglesfan]

Mitchell and Talent should never ever go in the same sentence. Yes, he is a ball magnet, but other than that, he lacks any sort of kicking skills for a distance of over 20 metres and has to constantly hand ball due to his poor kicking.

Down back they are really thin, Dawson is not as talented as he is said to be and they still lack a quality consistent tall forward. Their list isn't as strong as is made out to be.

Wow...anti Hawthorn aren't you?

Have a look over at the Hawks board, they are mostly suggesting it will be difficult for Dawson to get another crack. So don't use him as an indicator that they are in trouble.

Johnstone may be his own biggest enemy, but he was beaten yesterday, ditto Davey. (and yes I was at this game)

As for your coment on Mitchell......any team in the league would love to have him winning clearances the way he does (mine included). Not every player has to be able to do everything to be effective.

Losing Neitz early hurt Melbourne's structure, but it wasn't the close game the final margin suggested. If Hawthorn knew how to win and hadn't reverted to some of their old ways late in the third they would have won by 10 goals. Melbourne didn't lift, Hawthorn just didn't quite know what to do with a lead. Talent wise, they look OK.

 

[Bradesmaen]

I'm not using Dawson as an indicator, I'm just pointing out that he is not as talented as made out to be.

I wouldn't want Mitchell in my team, I'd rather Rischitelli (sp). The guy is great at clearances, younger and he can actually kick a ball with skill.

Its fine that you disagree with me, better than everyone agreeing with everyone! But I do not agree on the talent wise they are ok. They are still thin and I think its either to do with the development staff, or the recruiting staff. I mean when I look at some of the Adelaide players over the years who have come and gone through top picks in the draft, you know they had a recruiting problem - and thank god the guy is gone!

 

[KingRich]

Sam Mitchells Footskills are far from poor. Rarely misses his targets and the fact that he is not a long kick is a fair point but if he dishes off by hand or hits the targets 30-40 metres away who cares he is still one of the best clearance players in the comp. Great tackler and hard at it and I would think all sides would take him in a heart beat. Is one of our only 4 quarter, every game consistent players.

Agree with some other things stated though, its very much a wait and see prospect with Hawthorn but signs are positive.

Freo will come good, too good of a list not too. Pav and Taz are startingt o fire and when you get a couple of boys back from Susp. and Injury then you will settle and go well. Cant drop too many more games or you will miss top 4 though. IMO if Freo finish top 4 they will make the Grand Final.

 

[Dr Ralph Dagg]

I'm not using Dawson as an indicator, I'm just pointing out that he is not as talented as made out to be.

I wouldn't want Mitchell in my team, I'd rather Rischitelli (sp). The guy is great at clearances, younger and he can actually kick a ball with skill.

I think I was talking about actual teams. The first part being actual rather than fantasy. The second part being teams. I think Hawthorn have a balanced team that will develop. Mitchell is an important cog in their midfield.

 

[theGav56]

I an sure in the summer i wrote on 1 of the many top 8 threads i said my top 3 freo , west coast & geelong & then fresh air . and throw a blanket over 10 teams minus kangas , port & brissy . I wont sway from that.
So from that geelong were the big lifters.

So you think Port , and Brisbane will be at the bottom of the ladder? I think if Brown plays most games for Brisbane they will finish 8-12, which is reasonable considering the change in their list over the past 12 months. I can see Port getting to the finals. Geelong too.

Melbourne will really struggle with Neitz and Robertson out for a month, and early in the season that will put a heap of pressure on Daniher, and they are already 0-2. Collingwood actually look okay at the moment, but I think they have not done enough to improve their list for September action this year, and have been decimated up forward.