Rolling Flag Contenders 2024

[CarterS]

Carlton v GWS next week will be very interesting. Should be prime time and at the MCG not 4.30 at Marvel.

 

[Giant Pete]

Cats looking good.

 

[werdna78]

Cats vs Lions next week, winner will be a genuine contender.

 

[PhatBoy]

Cats vs Lions next week, winner will be a genuine contender.

Prior to last night probably would have backed us, not so sure now.

 

[MF]

and Sydney have lost to...

I wasn't stating anything about our credentials, just pointing out the error. Given that he was using it as his basis for Melbourne being the form team in the comp it seemed important to mention.

 

[Cleansweep17]

Weird season one week somebody looks like a contender then a pretender the next week.

I thought Sydney would be legit contenders but they lost to us and I think bombers almost beat them.

Hard to get a read of Dogs, Geelong and Saints.

 

[JustaBattler]

I wasn't stating anything about our credentials, just pointing out the error. Given that he was using it as his basis for Melbourne being the form team in the comp it seemed important to mention.

it is early days in the season with weird form turn arounds - I think that team disparities are getting smaller each year and the influence of in game and or continuing injuries to key players is getting bigger - Melbourne were totally blown away last night - how much influence did Salem's in game injury and the absence of Pickett - have on this - who knows but it all points to a certain amount of 'fragility' even in the top teams.

 

[twhowler]

it is early days in the season with weird form turn arounds - I think that team disparities are getting smaller each year and the influence of in game and or continuing injuries to key players is getting bigger - Melbourne were totally blown away last night - how much influence did Salem's in game injury and the absence of Pickett - have on this - who knows but it all points to a certain amount of 'fragility' even in the top teams.

Agree things are settling but it does look more even than some other years.

I still think GWS look a step above for now.

Winning ugly is definitely a plus for the Blues. But you can't do it forever. Teams tend to either click in to gear and start winning by bigger margins, or lose a couple and the pundits say 'they got out of jail before but not any more' etc. On the plus side for the blues they get Walsh back. Very interesting matches v Giants, cats, pies, melbourne, sydney away to come. tough stretch so will know a lot more after that!

Swans look flat but getting mids back and a bye is well timed.

 

[JustaBattler]

Agree things are settling but it does look more even than some other years.

I still think GWS look a step above for now.

Winning ugly is definitely a plus for the Blues. But you can't do it forever. Teams tend to either click in to gear and start winning by bigger margins, or lose a couple and the pundits say 'they got out of jail before but not any more' etc. On the plus side for the blues they get Walsh back. Very interesting matches v Giants, cats, pies, melbourne, sydney away to come. tough stretch so will know a lot more after that!

Swans look flat but getting mids back and a bye is well timed.

Who would have picked Essendon to win tonight ?

As for Blues - Ive previously stated - so far 'unconvincing' ...

 

[TheUnicorn]

Essendon

 

[Cmarsh]

Don't really get the hype about my team.

Played Collingwood at home whom had a bad night who then ended up losing their next two.

Didn't really put North away easily whom are probably going to be bottom two.

Then up against likely wooden spooners west coast.

Then were challenged much of the game by gold coast who probably aren't going to be much more than a middling side this year.

Need to win solidly against sterner tests to be convinced.

 

[NetworkNerd]

Strange season.
Adelaide/Hawthorn/West Coast/North look uncompetitive and can only win against each other.
Gold Coast are strong at home but not away.

Every other side is getting hard to gauge... Hard to top games week in and week out. GWS should beat St Kilda... But who knows. Same for Port v Dockers. Dockers playing at AO last week brings them some familiarity.

If Carlton win the next 6 weeks they will be unbackable flag favourites. Will have beaten all of the major contenders

 

[Roobs321]

Feel most confident in the Giants being around the mark, in that they seem the least susceptible to finishing 6th or lower whereas I could envision every other club drifting that far.

Still, you never know with injury crises or getting worked out or a season-overlapping run of form ending. Giants have been there before in their ill-fated 2017.

The gap is smaller nowadays and it’s all about that winning recipe and timing.

 

[RedBloodBlackSwan]

I’d put Sydney in the second tier of contenders. Not convinced our contested game holds up yet. It will be instructive to see how we go when Parker and Mills return. Things might click, but they might not…

I haven’t watched other games too closely but good to hear a lot of fresh clubs are contending. GWS has never won, Carlton not in yonks and Port a fair fee years back now as well.

If you were a Collingwood or Melbourne supporter, you’d be hoping for more than one premiership from those lists. They might still come good. And Geelong will always be there abouts.

It feels like it could be one of those years where several teams look back and think that this was the one that got away (unless GWS win it).

 

[Heeney2Franklin]

Its completely up for grabs.

 

[Purple7x08_24]

Strange season.
Adelaide/Hawthorn/West Coast/North look uncompetitive and can only win against each other.
Gold Coast are strong at home but not away.

Every other side is getting hard to gauge... Hard to top games week in and week out. GWS should beat St Kilda... But who knows. Same for Port v Dockers. Dockers playing at AO last week brings them some familiarity.

If Carlton win the next 6 weeks they will be unbackable flag favourites. Will have beaten all of the major contenders

It's a strange season indeed. I don't think you can consider anyone a flag contender at any point thus far.

Purely from proven experience Collingwood and Brisbane are the two teams I'd have as most likely. GWS next
GWS look solid.

I'm not sold on Geelong, Sydney, Port, Freo, Carlton at this point.

Having said that, It's really going to come down to the end of the season AND WHICH TEAMS CAN DO IT COME FINALS. Port are a perfect example of this. Totally capable of finishing top of the ladder but can they do it when it counts.

I think this season is going to be a long one, and an even one in the top 8 given the huge gap between the two halves. I was looking At Port Adelaide after getting smashed by Collingwood. While it's concerning, I'm not selling the farm on them just yet. I think teams would rather be firing on all cylinders late in the season than early.

Port is currently on 4 wins

The following are games you would expect them to hit with their list and ability.

8/9 Wins (Drop 1) If they're serious they win them all, and put the foot down on the Crows in both games. It's not a matter of saying "Showdowns are always close games" They need to dominate them.

Saints H
Crows A
Hawks H
North A
Saints A
Bulldogs H
Suns A
Tigers H
Adelaide H


Harder but winnable games (2/3) Again, Port really are good enough to win them all at home

Brisbane H
Carlton H
Sydney H




Likely Losses (I'll give them 1/5) I think without major tweaks and improvement 2/5 is the best I'd hope for.
Melbourne A
Carlton A
Freo A
GWS A
Geelong A

This will give them 15 wins and possibly 110 percentage and 6th position.

The concern for mine with Port Adelaide is that I don't think they can win the big games consistently away from home when it matters. I think for them to be a contender, they need to find significant improvement toward the back end of the season, game plan tweaks, full squad and a favorable finals draw.

I think it's probably more significant if Port can beat those top teams away than the total pool of wins. If they can do that, then I'll consider them a contender.

I think Freo are similar to Port but a couple of games behind. we will be lucky to snag 8th spot.

 

[NetworkNerd]

Carlton 100% premiership favourites now

 

[Cmarsh]

You can write us off. No chance of a flag when you are smashed in clearances as easily as our mids are.

 

[Cmarsh]

the raiders are just getting killed in this first half

wtf

 

[Roobs321]

wtf

wrong thread, was in the NRL R7 thread a moment ago. deleted

 

[PumpyChowdown]

Carlton's best is the best in the league, but they very, very rarely reach it.

Sydney, Port, Geelong, Melbourne and GWS all tlin the same bracket as the Blies.

Throw a blanket over all of them. Tight race.

 

[Gavin Excell]

Carlton's best is the best in the league, but they very, very rarely reach it.

Sydney, Port, Geelong, Melbourne and GWS all tlin the same bracket as the Blies.

Throw a blanket over all of them. Tight race.

Ha ha Carltons best

 

[Cmarsh]

Swans are my tip for the flag.

Their forward line with the likes of McDonald, Papley and Armarty are really coming along. Heeney has stepped up so far in the midfield. Grundy fitted right in and Gulden just keeps getting better and Blakey one of the better half backs in the game. With Mills, Parker and Rampe still to come in they are looking formidable.

 

[Robroy22]

Swans are my tip for the flag.

Their forward line with the likes of McDonald, Papley and Armarty are really coming along. Heeney has stepped up so far in the midfield. Grundy fitted right in and Gulden just keeps getting better and Blakey one of the better half backs in the game. With Mills, Parker and Rampe still to come in they are looking formidable.

Home finals should get em at least to another Prelim.

 

[FootyLad0]

Home finals should get em at least to another Prelim.

What are those?

I'm triggered