Ess can beat any team. Talent is not the issue. They have no real weak area. Only cohesion and fitness.
No need to remind anyone what a rampaging Swans team can do.
Half their list has been out 12 months their fitness will crash come finals no way they win the flag for that reason.
Brisbane and hawthorn will be bottom 2 and carlton and north will probably drop to 15/16 once their kids tire.
GC aren't consistent enough to win a flag, melbourne lose too many games they should win and still have major list holes.
Collingwood are way too inconsistent and have too many plodders to win it.
Sydney are the only team that have the talent to come from outside the 8 and win the flag but they are so far back they wont finish higher than 5th/6th so they would have to win 4 finals interstate which is a huge ask.
St kilda dont convince me, freo are decent but their key position stocks are average and they have no ruck other than sandi at 33-throw in the number of kids they have its unlikely the pieces will stay together for them to win a flag.
Richmond have always failed in finals and that won't change with their current group. WCE will play finals but cant win it as they cant win at the G.
Realistically it's out of us adelaide gws and maybe port.
Adelaide are decent flat track bullies but the last 2 years have consistently failed against top sides. They would need their first 2 finals at AO against soft opponents to build up momentum-if they have to play a prelim against a top team away they will fail.
GWS are playing really average but they have heaps of injuries and the talent to dominate in finals if they get it together.
Port attack really well but are very inconsistent-they may well get opened up in finals.
I am far from convinced we will win it as we are so inconsistent but by gee it's there for the taking. There are no class teams this year its pretty average.