Prediction TOP 8 - 2018

[Temploar]

I expect Melbourne to be right up there. They got their man in Jake Lever and have the talent and the club isn't a total rabble like it used to be.

I'm even gonna go as far as to say top 4 as much as it pains me to say it.

I believe what happened last year will only drive them more and not make them weaker. They will want to prove themselves to their fans. (Especially because the club made a fool of itself with the whole finals debacle)

 

[JB1975]

True if the ladder is a fair indication of performance. But when ladder position can be inflated by as much as 3 -4 places by "luck of the draw" it''s a really hard argument to make. For mine, anything is possible - literally ANYTHING depending on the draw, injuries to us and others, the odd piece of umpiring luck and that intangible called cohesion.
For some time now, it has been evident to me that there are as many as 14 teams that are capable of very good performances - similarly all of those teams are vulnerable to the wheels falling off. Confidence and closeness can take teams a lot further than it could even three years ago.
THe AFL has contrived an artificial competition that guarantees a closeness in performance. We could ride the wave or fall in a heap. Time will tell

I don't place as much emphasis in the draw, but I agree that it can play some sort of role in a team's fortunes, along with those other things you mention. And I certainly agree that there are a big spread of competitive teams, of which we're one.

 

[JB1975]

I expect Melbourne to be right up there. They got their man in Jake Lever and have the talent and the club isn't a total rabble like it used to be.

I'm even gonna go as far as to say top 4 as much as it pains me to say it.

I believe what happened last year will only drive them more and not make them weaker. They will want to prove themselves to their fans. (Especially because the club made a fool of itself with the whole finals debacle)

I've got them at 7th, but it's possible that they might muster the temerity to defy my prediction by finishing top 4. They seem very even across the ground, and good things might happen for them if they bring a harder mental edge to the season.

 

[jackcass]

I expect Melbourne to be right up there. They got their man in Jake Lever and have the talent and the club isn't a total rabble like it used to be.

I'm even gonna go as far as to say top 4 as much as it pains me to say it.

I believe what happened last year will only drive them more and not make them weaker. They will want to prove themselves to their fans. (Especially because the club made a fool of itself with the whole finals debacle)

While I'm not sure they're top 4 material I agree they'll be hard to keep out of the 8. They'll have natural progression and they'll expect better returns from Brayshaw, Hogan, and Gawn. They'll also become less dependent upon Viney with improvement from some of their other kids.

 

[Vicky Park]

But I thought emotional nourishment Bolton was the second coming.


(Yes folks, in case anyone has missed it, just don't care for Bolton; as astute observers will note, it's much more a Carlton thing. May they continue to rot on the vine.)

Couldn’t possibly have missed this! Your obvious love for Bolton. Long may it endure!

FWIW, to date I think he’s been very overated, but this year will tell I guess.

 

[Saintly Viewed]

Couldn’t possibly have missed this! Your obvious love for Bolton. Long may it endure!

FWIW, to date I think he’s been very overated, but this year will tell I guess.

So long as he is supping with the blues... not with much cheer to him.

Over rated is my view. And I can't overcome Carlton

 

[Countrypie]

Adelaide
Geelong
Port
Sydney
WB
Essendon
GWS
Melbourne

WIth respect I reckon you've grossly overrated Geelong but otherwise it'd be worth havig a few bob on

 

[Countrypie]

JB LADDER PREDICTION: REVISION 1


1. PORT ADELAIDE: Even un-drunk, I am charmed by the Watts factor. They'll play in the 2018 GF, only to lose the game and their dignity.
.

If you're undrunk I want to breath the air you're breathing although the prospect of them losing their dignity (perhaps surpassing their valiant attempt in 2007 )does make me chuckle

 

[Hot Shame]

WIth respect I reckon you've grossly overrated Geelong but otherwise it'd be worth havig a few bob on

Not entirely sure i have tbh. Cats finished 2nd last yr, and have an extra 2 games @ Skilled this season. Plus, the inclusion on GAJ wont hinder them.

 

[jackcass]

Not entirely sure i have tbh. Cats finished 2nd last yr, and have an extra 2 games @ Skilled this season. Plus, the inclusion on GAJ wont hinder them.

Ablett could be a good inclusion but the question remains, do they have sufficient players developing on their list to offset the loss of Lonergan, Mackie, and Motlop. Even Lang to a lesser extent. I think their team in 2017 relied too heavily on too few and the load on the few now increases further. Crameri could be a good pick-up but he remains an unknown at this stage. Also think the 3rd man up rule changes have nullified 1 of the clear strengths.

 

[Countrypie]

Not entirely sure i have tbh. Cats finished 2nd last yr, and have an extra 2 games @ Skilled this season. Plus, the inclusion on GAJ wont hinder them.

He isn't what he was. If the truth be told, they've bet the farm on winning a flag this year. I reckon foreclosure proceedings will start around August. We'll see. I reckon they're very thin on talent. They may get away with a few at KP but their back line looks stretched. If anything happens to Selwood or Dangerfield they are shot to pieces.

 

[adammania9]

1. Richmond
2. Sydney Swans
3. Geelong
4. Port Adelaide
5. Adelaide
6. Western Bulldogs
7. Essendon
8. GWS Giants

9. Melbourne
10. Collingwood
11. Hawthorn
12. West Coast
13. St Kilda
14. Fremantle
15. Brisbane Lions
16. North Melbourne
17. Carlton
18. Gold Coast

 

[neilk]

Due to home ground advantage the following are certainties IMO, leaving 3 spots for the rest to fight over(not in any order. WCE and/or Freo might sneak in also, but far from certainties):

GWS
Sydney
Adelaide
Port
Geelong

 

[Saintly Viewed]

Hard even to lock in certainties

I pretty much have

AFL Giants
Adelaide

That’s pretty much it though you’d think Sydney and Geelong would get there too.

Does Richmond slump does Bulldogs make it back

 

[Soups]

Hard even to lock in certainties

I pretty much have

AFL Giants
Adelaide

That’s pretty much it though you’d think Sydney and Geelong would get there too.

Does Richmond slump does Bulldogs make it back

I have a feeling that Giants won’t be a lock. I have them scraping into the 8. Injuries and not an established ruckman will hurt them imo.

 

[jackcass]

I have a feeling that Giants won’t be a lock. I have them scraping into the 8. Injuries and not an established ruckman will hurt them imo.

I think injuries derailed them in 2017 and I doubt they'll be hit that hard again. Mummy's the only guy they'll struggle to replace but they've got a few options. Bet they'd have loved to tie up Witts when he was looking to move.

 

[Soups]

I think injuries derailed them in 2017 and I doubt they'll be hit that hard again. Mummy's the only guy they'll struggle to replace but they've got a few options. Bet they'd have loved to tie up Witts when he was looking to move.

They have started well losing Willams for the year. They will probably be able to find a replacement but I think losing him and Wilson will hurt them a lot. Yep the Witts inclusion for them would have been great for both parties. Having a top 10 draft pick 2016 would have been ideal.

 

[Saintly Viewed]

They have started well losing Willams for the year. They will probably be able to find a replacement but I think losing him and Wilson will hurt them a lot. Yep the Witts inclusion for them would have been great for both parties. Having a top 10 draft pick 2016 would have been ideal.

Who would we have taken in the draft?
That is the question?

 

[Soups]

Who would we have taken in the draft?
That is the question?

Hard to say. It wasn’t a good draft again for KPP. I would say maybe a Sam Powell-Pepper or a Berry.

 

[cityslick1]

not sure why everyone is rating the Cats so highly. I get the midfield and home ground strengths, but they have worse key talls than us, and thats saying something...

Unless Hawkins fires again and Henderson & Taylor can hold down the key back spots, they could easily miss the eight. Not sure they will, but they could.

Adelaide
GWS Giants
Port Adelaide
Sydney
Richmond

Then throw a blanket over the following teams, where injury, strength of new recruits and development of core list will dictate whether they make it or not

Essendon
Melbourne
Geelong
Collingwood
St Kilda
Western Bulldogs

 

[Candiru]

I definitely think Collingwood can make finals this season.

 

[Saintly Viewed]

Adelaide
GWS Giants
Port Melbourne
Sydney
Richmond

I love how you see things outside the box and finally someone acknowledging Gary Ayres great work with his team

 

[ottoman]

I definitely think Collingwood can make finals this season.

And for that you get a like.

 

[Finnishpie]

I definitely think Collingwood can make finals this season.

Can, but it's 50/50 for me. Just too many questions forward and back.

 

[adammania9]

Hard to say. It wasn’t a good draft again for KPP. I would say maybe a Sam Powell-Pepper or a Berry.

I reckon Hine would have loved Jy Simpkin's speed and class