Prediction Predictions for 2019.

[MotlopRules]

To be honest I see 2019 as a real potential crash and burn year.

Yep. We're already glacially slow and one-paced and we're about to lose two of our quickest and most dynamic players.

It's going to get very ugly.

 

[finbarr]

Wish I was as optimistic as you after seeing 4 straight years of mediocre football (2018 in particular being the worst) with 1 elim final loss to show for it.

The team looked mentally shot vs Essendon. Almost like they don't believe in what Hinkley and Bassett are trying to do.

Yeah, any chance of getting the best out of this group has long since passed. We blew it. I don’t know how anyone can think that the best football in this group is still to come. 2014 - 2017 was the sweet spot, with that core group of top end players in the prime of their careers. It’s a far cry from that now with just Wingard and Wines coming into that phase.

 

[JUSTWORK]

Wingard will be AA and win the Brownlow for Port playing as a pure mid.

Abso - ****ing - lutely

 

[tribey]

Without Polec and Wingard next year we'll be bottom 4. Bookmark it.

Bottom four or otherwise, our list profile is beginning to look like Carlton's at the turn of the Millennium,

• Justin Westhoff: 32 next month
• Robbie Gray: 31 next March
• Paddy Ryder: 31 next March
• Travis Boak: 31 next August
• Tom Rockliff: 29 next Feb
• Brad Ebert: 29 next April
• Matt Broadbent: 29 next August
• Hamish Hartlett: 29 next August
• Charlie Dixon: 28 in a few days
• Tom Jonas: 28 next January
• Steve Motlop: 28 next March
• Jack Watts: 28 next March
• Jasper Pittard: 28 next April

And we've just traded one of our two 25 year olds and are rumoured to be shopping the other.

Wayne Brittain levels of creak in this group.

 

[Long live PAFC]

Bottom four or otherwise, our list profile is beginning to look like Carlton's at the turn of the Millennium,

• Justin Westhoff: 32 next month
• Robbie Gray: 31 next March
• Paddy Ryder: 31 next March
• Travis Boak: 31 next August
• Tom Rockliff: 29 next Feb
• Brad Ebert: 29 next April
• Matt Broadbent: 29 next August
• Hamish Hartlett: 29 next August
• Charlie Dixon: 28 in a few days
• Tom Jonas: 28 next January
• Steve Motlop: 28 next March
• Jack Watts: 28 next March
• Jasper Pittard: 28 next April

And we've just traded one of our two 25 year olds and are rumoured to be shopping the other.

Wayne Brittain levels of creak in this group.

Well when you put it like that.... we’re screwed

 

[tribey]

Well when you put it like that.... we’re screwed

They're literally all our best/more important/most influential players too.

I mean, you could make a case for Howard and SPP with his head screwed on, but cripes.

There is a world of pain coming regardless of how we go in the next 12 months.

 

[TeeKray]

Yeah, any chance of getting the best out of this group has long since passed. We blew it. I don’t know how anyone can think that the best football in this group is still to come. 2014 - 2017 was the sweet spot, with that core group of top end players in the prime of their careers. It’s a far cry from that now with just Wingard and Wines coming into that phase.

Yeah, I feel a bit like this too, like we've blown our chance and now it's back to the drawing board.

I must say that I'm pretty bullish about our 22 and under type players but there needs to be a reset and probably a bit of a slide down the ladder for us to see the benefits of that. Whether the current regime actually has the appetite for that remains to be seen.

 

[Long live PAFC]

Yeah, I feel a bit like this too, like we've blown our chance and now it's back to the drawing board.

I must say that I'm pretty bullish about our 22 and under type players but there needs to be a reset and probably a bit of a slide down the ladder for us to see the benefits of that. Whether the current regime actually has the appetite for that remains to be seen.

I agree with most of the above. I would say our young crop are very good and better than Geelong, Hawthorn or Sydney and comparable to Collingwood, Richmond or West Coast. A good draft here to set us up for a long time. The issue is that only Gray in our senior group has no question marks in terms of ability, reliability and injury.


Do we need the slide down the ladder though? Geelong, Hawthorn and Sydney haven’t had to do that

 

[Stevo1987]

Ha ha gee at this rate every Port player going to soon be linked to another club

 

[Long live PAFC]

Ha ha gee at this rate every Port player going to soon be linked to another club

I hope it’s true. Will really test this any one is tradeable BS from the club. Would also force a reshuffle from us. Not sure we would get much in return

 

[Alberton Proud]

Ha ha gee at this rate every Port player going to soon be linked to another club

 

[RangaInTeal]

We will host the NAB rising star winner, hope it’s Duursma!

 

[Andre]

Bottom four or otherwise, our list profile is beginning to look like Carlton's at the turn of the Millennium,

• Justin Westhoff: 32 next month
• Robbie Gray: 31 next March
• Paddy Ryder: 31 next March
• Travis Boak: 31 next August
• Tom Rockliff: 29 next Feb
• Brad Ebert: 29 next April
• Matt Broadbent: 29 next August
• Hamish Hartlett: 29 next August
• Charlie Dixon: 28 in a few days
• Tom Jonas: 28 next January
• Steve Motlop: 28 next March
• Jack Watts: 28 next March
• Jasper Pittard: 28 next April

And we've just traded one of our two 25 year olds and are rumoured to be shopping the other.

Wayne Brittain levels of creak in this group.

Yeah, if we aren't trying for a flag next year then Robbie and Ebert should be traded, despite the howls, along with Broadbent traded or cut (ruthless is having the guts to do it with him coming back from injury, not 'be the nice club') and Pittard gone (even if it's for a third round pick upgrade). I can't see the Hoff leaving SA, given his off-field work here, but we aren't winning anything next year, so if he's willing, I'd say do it, if we get an even semi-reasonable pick upgrade (say our 3rd for Hawks 2nd) out of it.

Add in Boak not Captain and that list would look a lot less worrying. But nah, lets double down on them and cut out the next group coming through. So Hinkley era Port to decide to do a rebuild a year after going all in, and then do it in the completely wrong way. The club just doesn't football anything right these days.

 

[vozzon]

I agree with most of the above. I would say our young crop are very good and better than Geelong, Hawthorn or Sydney and comparable to Collingwood, Richmond or West Coast. A good draft here to set us up for a long time. The issue is that only Gray in our senior group has no question marks in terms of ability, reliability and injury.


Do we need the slide down the ladder though? Geelong, Hawthorn and Sydney haven’t had to do that

This draft is crucial for us. Really need to find some good players. If we do we should be fine in our next wave of talent with Clurrey/Howard/Ollie/SPP/Chad W/ Lycett/Hayes/Atley/Marshall.

 

[Lagooner]

They're literally all our best/more important/most influential players too.

I mean, you could make a case for Howard and SPP with his head screwed on, but cripes.

There is a world of pain coming regardless of how we go in the next 12 months.

That Wines bloke goes alright too.

 

[tangolikelama]

**** I don't know why but Hoff at Hawthorn would probably make me call quits on AFL altogether.

 

[1954]

Yeah, if we aren't trying for a flag next year then Robbie and Ebert should be traded, despite the howls, along with Broadbent traded or cut (ruthless is having the guts to do it with him coming back from injury, not 'be the nice club') and Pittard gone (even if it's for a third round pick upgrade). I can't see the Hoff leaving SA, given his off-field work here, but we aren't winning anything next year, so if he's willing, I'd say do it, if we get an even semi-reasonable pick upgrade (say our 3rd for Hawks 2nd) out of it.

Add in Boak not Captain and that list would look a lot less worrying. But nah, lets double down on them and cut out the next group coming through. So Hinkley era Port to decide to do a rebuild a year after going all in, and then do it in the completely wrong way. The club just doesn't football anything right these days.

I agree with a lot of the above, and if the club is even half serious about improving they have to unload players like Pittard for whatever they can get, even if the end result is unfortunately a Lobbe style trade and we still pick up part of his salary.

 

[Magus]

We've gone from attracting Victorian players and keeping them from wanting to go home, to losing 1 South Australian (Polec) and rumored to lose 3 more (Wingard, Jonas, Westhoff) in one year.

I don't think the last three will go, but really wtf is going on at Port?

 

[DazalenkoUBewty]

We've gone from attracting Victorian players and keeping them from wanting to go home, to losing 1 South Australian (Polec) and rumored to lose 3 more (Wingard, Jonas, Westhoff) in one year.

I don't think the last three will go, but really wtf is going on at Port?

We know that Polly is going, but he did get a contract that couldn't be refused.
Ease up on the other stuff.

 

[Magus]

We know that Polly is going, but he did get a contract that couldn't be refused.
Ease up on the other stuff.

Don't tell me what to do.

 

[DazalenkoUBewty]

Don't tell me what to do.

Ease up.

 

[Magus]

Ease up.

No u

 

[StartTheCarr]

Bottom four or otherwise, our list profile is beginning to look like Carlton's at the turn of the Millennium,

• Justin Westhoff: 32 next month
• Robbie Gray: 31 next March
• Paddy Ryder: 31 next March
• Travis Boak: 31 next August
• Tom Rockliff: 29 next Feb
• Brad Ebert: 29 next April
• Matt Broadbent: 29 next August
• Hamish Hartlett: 29 next August
• Charlie Dixon: 28 in a few days
• Tom Jonas: 28 next January
• Steve Motlop: 28 next March
• Jack Watts: 28 next March
• Jasper Pittard: 28 next April

And we've just traded one of our two 25 year olds and are rumoured to be shopping the other.

Wayne Brittain levels of creak in this group.

So from 2014's **"one of the youngest lists in the AFL coming into potentially a very successful period"** to this age group?

Oh the joy of missing a window.

 

[Handyandy]

I am moderately optimistic, 4-10 for mind. i think only gray, westhoff, jonas & Polec had good seasons, most of the other players would be disappointed with their year and looking to improve.
Also hate to say it but judd was probably right, bringing in 3 new recruits unbalanced the team, but they should all improve.
I think the competition is more even than people realise and that confidence and luck plays a big role. My biggest concern is the captaincy, We need a new captain and a few players who can actually hit a target by foot.
Injuries play a huge role too, if we could have kept our round 1 team on the field we would have been top 4.
I had a look on west coasts board at the start of this year because of ah chee and most wc supporters were as negative about their chances this season as many of us are now about 2019. Not a lot of good comes from this chicken little stuff.

 

[tribey]

I had a look on west coasts board at the start of this year because of ah chee and most wc supporters were as negative about their chances this season as many of us are now about 2019.

Well yeah, they were played off the park by GWS in a Semi and were about to lose 2 Brownlow Medals, 5 All-Australian guernseys, 8 Best & Fairests, 901 games & 585 goals in the form of Sam Mitchell, Matt Priddis and Drew Petrie - and the jury was out on Nic Naitanui's mangled knee.

Only the owner of a time machine had West Coast making the eight, let alone a home Prelim.

Not a lot of good comes from this chicken little stuff.

Well, absolutely zippo has come from what has ranged from complete confidence/blind faith (2015) to cautious optimism (2018).

If anything we're long overdue for some cold reality tbh. If only to prevent anymore long-term contracts being handed out as a reward for what has been serial failure, and to give more than a handful of underperformers a giant kick in the arse.