The Premiership Window

[Ricmel]

Not that I have looked too far back in history but is the "premiership window" more crowded this year than any other? By my reckoning the following clubs would all have SERIOUS expectations of a Top 4 finish,

Hawthorn
Collingwood
Carlton
Swans
WCE
Adelaide
North
Richmond?
Geelong
Fremantle.

And but for probably Richmond and North, not too many would be surprised if any of the others made it.

 

[Collingwoodity]

Not that I have looked too far back in history but is the "premiership window" more crowded this year than any other? By my reckoning the following clubs would all have SERIOUS expectations of a Top 4 finish,

Hawthorn
Collingwood
Carlton
Swans
WCE
Adelaide
North
Richmond?
Geelong
Fremantle.

And but for probably Richmond and North, not too many would be surprised if any of the others made it.

Noble you didn't put st kilda in.

also, carlton are coming from quite a way back in the standings...

 

[Ricmel]

Noble you didn't put st kilda in.

also, carlton are coming from quite a way back in the standings...

Oh I don't think StKilda consider themselves in Premiership window. They are definately in rebuild.

 

[tunksy]

I think we'll push top 6. We'll still have some close losses obviously, but we'll turn a few more into wins. If we also fix the way we go into F50 I expect we will kick a few more goals which will also our standing.

gonna be a very interesting year.

 

[vonn]

Is this legit?

 

[Collingwoodity]

I think we'll push top 6. We'll still have some close losses obviously, but we'll turn a few more into wins. If we also fix the way we go into F50 I expect we will kick a few more goals which will also our standing.

gonna be a very interesting year.

i expect geelong, richmond, carlton, essendon and freo to battle it out for 6, 7 & 8...

 

[Ricmel]

i expect geelong, richmond, carlton, essendon and freo to battle it out for 6, 7 & 8...

Yeah but what I am getting at is how many teams would genuinely be thinking Top 4 this year. Surely Geelong and Freo and Carlton are aiming for Top 4.

Most years I would think there are around 6 genuine Top 4 chances at the start of the year. This year I think you can argue a solid 8 plus maybe Roos and Tigers if they get on a roll.

Discounting that you always get bolter, has there been a year when so many teams at the start look like they could seriously challenge for top 4?

 

[Collingwoodity]

Yeah but what I am getting at is how many teams would genuinely be thinking Top 4 this year. Surely Geelong and Freo and Carlton are aiming for Top 4.

Most years I would think there are around 6 genuine Top 4 chances at the start of the year. This year I think you can argue a solid 8 plus maybe Roos and Tigers if they get on a roll.

Discounting that you always get bolter, has there been a year when so many teams at the start look like they could seriously challenge for top 4?

richmond could not realistically expect top 4. nor roos.

carlton always "expect" top 4 but I think carlton are coming from too far back. plus when was the last time they did finish top 4?

so for top 4 it's really :

hawks
syd
pies
eagles
geelong
adelaide
freo

 

[Ricmel]

richmond could not realistically expect top 4. nor roos.

carlton always "expect" top 4 but I think carlton are coming from too far back. plus when was the last time they did finish top 4?

so for top 4 it's really :

hawks
syd
pies
eagles
geelong
adelaide
freo

OK, give you that. Can you remember the last year when most supporters would agree there are 7 strong chances for Top 4?

 

[Collingwoodity]

OK, give you that. Can you remember the last year when most supporters would agree there are 7 strong chances for Top 4?

no. even year

 

[DardySingh360]

I'd be disappointed with anything less than top 4. Remember how good we were from about round 15 onwards and then realise we will have a full season where we're used to Ross' game plan.

 

[TheKanga]

Yeah fair call, i know the top 10 will be very crowded this year.

 

[Lance Uppercut]

Essendon were top 4 halfway through last year. Without a similar injury curse I see no reason why they wouldn't have realistic aspirations to get there too. I'm sure there are internal expectations there, whatever BigFooty might think

 

[TheKanga]

Essendon were top 4 halfway through last year. Without a similar injury curse I see no reason why they wouldn't have realistic aspirations to get there too. I'm sure there are internal expectations there, whatever BigFooty might think

As much as i hate to say it, Essendon are a bigger top 4 chance than Richmond.

 

[Lance Uppercut]

As much as i hate to say it, Essendon are a bigger top 4 chance than Richmond.

no doubt in my mind. Not sure how anyone could realistically think that Richmond are more advanced than Essendon, however far they've come along.

 

[JR82]

a few sides would definately be saying they want top 4.
i wouldn't put the Tigers in that bracket, if we have a good run with injuries and win some close games this time then maybe but realistically there's about maybe 6-7 teams going for maybe 2-3 spots in the 8 for this year and we'd be in that bracket.

 

[Tex Support]

If Freo arent top 4, I'd be amazed.

Very concerned about them.

 

[Hard_to_Beat]

As much as i hate to say it, Essendon are a bigger top 4 chance than Richmond.

Probably, but they are both even money chances for the top 8.

 

[sTeeL]

If Freo arent top 4, I'd be amazed.

Very concerned about them.

Please. Realistically you have the upper echelon who should be there, Sydney and Hawthorn. You can almost lock them in for top 4. Then you've got the next group of say West Coast, Adelaide, Geelong, and Collingwood who have a reasonable chance of getting there. Then the outliers who probably pushing for top 8 in Fremantle, Richmond, Carlton(I expect they are better than this group), North and maybe Essendon at a stretch.

Hawks, West Coast are both stronger. Sydney about the same, Adel/Coll down a little bit. Most of the rest will be a bit better due to up and comers but realistically I doubt enough to push the current powerhouses down. But then again, there is always some unexpected changes in a year.

 

[EasternTiger]

As much as i hate to say it, Essendon are a bigger top 4 chance than Richmond.

Essendon would need a 16-1 start to the year to get anywhere near the Top 4. People forget how deplorable they were in the second half of last season.

 

[the distributer]

Yeah fair call, i know the top 10 will be very crowded this year.

I know, there could be 10 teams in it!

 

[Blues_Man]

but I think carlton are coming from too far back. plus when was the last time they did finish top 4?

lol at the bitter pies supporter attempting dumb logic ...so because Carlton haven't finbished top four for a while ...they can't do it this Year .

well folks you can't argue with sound logic like that lol

Good thing nobody told the Swans this before they won their Flag after so many Years

 

[Bugga1962]

Please. Realistically you have the upper echelon who should be there, Sydney and Hawthorn. You can almost lock them in for top 4. Then you've got the next group of say West Coast, Adelaide, Geelong, and Collingwood who have a reasonable chance of getting there. Then the outliers who probably pushing for top 8 in Fremantle, Richmond, Carlton(I expect they are better than this group), North and maybe Essendon at a stretch.

Hawks, West Coast are both stronger. Sydney about the same, Adel/Coll down a little bit. Most of the rest will be a bit better due to up and comers but realistically I doubt enough to push the current powerhouses down. But then again, there is always some unexpected changes in a year.

I agree West Coast will be right up there but i would say Hawks and Sydney are the frontrunners and then West Coast Collingwood and Adelaide. Realistically Geelong and Fremantle should be pushing right up there. Carlton is an unknown , Malthouse will make a difference but theyre team just seems so soft and injury prone.

If i was a Richmond fan id be more concerned about making the 8 then the top 4. Theres some great teams that will be in the 8 this year i wouldnt pencil Richmond in by a long stretch.

 

[THRILLHO]

Not sure that the premiership window is more crowded this year; North, Essendon, Richmond, St. Kilda, Carlton, and probably Fremantle aren't premiership chances. However, the top eight window is potentially as jammed as it ever has been in the modern era.

There's going to be sides finishing 9th, 10th, 11th, even as far down as 12th and 13th with the growing expectations of Brisbane and GC and feeling very hard done by in missing out on finals action and, in turn, coaches such as BS, Hardwick, and Hird will feel red-hot under the collar if their team misses out.

Every team beyond Port, GWS, Melbourne, GC, Bulldogs will be fighting for top eight and, really, only Hawthorn, WCE, Swans, Collingwood, and maybe Adelaide, are clearly above the ensuing pack of eight.

 

[Hard_to_Beat]

North: 2015 to 2022