Where will we finish in 2018?

[WWSD]

I’ll have an answer by Thursday 6pm

 

[bumsonseats]

This might not be a popular view, am happy for us to get as many games into the kids as we can, even if we finish bottom 4.
Bank a couple of high draft picks in a strong draft, coupled with more exposure to our up and comong kids. really excited about Burton, Glass, Hardwick and Morrison in particular. If we ain't going to win it, then use the year as another building year

 

[tige19]

10th

 

[market]

Getting ready to defend our premiership and win back to back.

 

[Agent Smith]

Win the premiership in 2019. Next year I want a pick in the top 4 of the draft.

 

[KermitJagger]

A better way to figure out where we finish is to figure out who has a better list than we do.

I honestly think we are ahead of the following teams list-wise:

1. Fremantle
2. North
3. West Coast
4. Brisbane (for now)
5. Carlton (also for now)
6. Gold Coast
7. Collingwood

There's also an argument to be made that we are ahead of the Saints and Geelong post Mackie and Enright.

What plays in our hands is having Clarko as coach.

 

[kirbatron]

I wouldn't mind a cheeky tank *runs for cover*

Some of the kids in the top 10 ny look mighty good. Load up on picks + a juicy FA + we are on our way.

 

[tommyk72]

I was about to select 9. But I think this year is an aberration. Richmond will be back in 9th next year. So I tossed up between 8th and 10th and thought i'd err on the optimistic side.

 

[KermitJagger]

10th

Which 9 clubs have better lists and will finish in front of us?

 

[tige19]

Which 9 clubs have better lists and will finish in front of us?

Haven't thought about it in depth but I think we'll be a little better than last year, we will see some improvement.

Geelong
GWS
Adelaide
Melbourne
Port
Sydney
Richmond
St Kilda

Those sides are all ahead of us ATM

Collingwood
Bulldogs
Hawthorn

Those 3 next in line

The rest will struggle, but again I haven't thought about it in great detail.

You disagree?

 

[KermitJagger]

Haven't thought about it in depth but I think we'll be a little better than last year, we will see some improvement.

Geelong
GWS
Adelaide
Melbourne
Port
Sydney
Richmond
St Kilda

Those sides are all ahead of us ATM

Collingwood
Bulldogs
Hawthorn

Those 3 next in line

The rest will struggle, but again I haven't thought about it in great detail.

You disagree?

Geelong losing Mackie and Lonergan is a big deal, St Kilda are no guarantee of being ahead of us.

The only teams I'm confident of being ahead of us are Adelaide, Melbourne, Port, Sydney, Richmond.

 

[tige19]

Geelong losing Mackie and Lonergan is a big deal, St Kilda are no guarantee of being ahead of us.

The only teams I'm confident of being ahead of us are Adelaide, Melbourne, Port, Sydney, Richmond.

Yeah fair enough, time will tell.. we could finish anywhere from 5-10 if we're being honest

 

[KermitJagger]

Yeah fair enough, time will tell.. we could finish anywhere from 5-10 if we're being honest

I think 6-10th is where I see us at a very base level. That being said, there's honestly not much difference between 1st and 8th at this point.

IF Jaeger O'Meara returns to his Rising Star form, Mitchell continues as he did this year and we find cover for Hill on the wing (either by Hartung having a career year or another pick up) - we're a force again.

Comparing to our 2015 Grand Final side; Burton is an improvement on Suckling, Sicily is an effective replacement for Gibson and Hardwick is an improvement on Duryea.

Of course it's better to not get caught up in the hypothetical, but it will be interesting to see.

 

[Gralin]

We don't know what anyone's final list will look like yet, we don't know what the fixture will look like yet

the fixture always has an impact on the ladder as it is so uneven

it's not always the best 8 teams that make finals but making finals isn't enough you have to be winning finals

 

[Hawkboy62]

Haven't thought about it in depth but I think we'll be a little better than last year, we will see some improvement.

Geelong
GWS
Adelaide
Melbourne
Port
Sydney
Richmond
St Kilda

Those sides are all ahead of us ATM

Collingwood
Bulldogs
Hawthorn

Those 3 next in line

The rest will struggle, but again I haven't thought about it in great detail.

You disagree?

Bombers are definitely in the top group. I wouldn't necessarily think that both Saints and Dees are going to finish above us. Both have meh coaches and not a great culture of excellence. Bulldogs I rate better, but I don't rate the Pies at all.

If we get off to another bad start I wouldn't mind dropping to the bottom 4. The competition is evening up and we could lose to resurgent teams like Blues and Suns again, or to the improving Lions. Others seem to game the system so why not us? We should aim for a flag in 2020, along with 14 other clubs.

Maybe a fairytale end to Ablett's career is one of Gillon's preferences. The fixture plays such an important part on the ladder, as do injuries, and bad luck. Of the better teams we probably match up well with Swans and Crows but GAJ to Cats will make them tough.

 

[Rocket72]

Comparing to our 2015 Grand Final side; Burton is an improvement on Suckling, Sicily is an effective replacement for Gibson .

I agree with most of what you said, but this? Sicily might well develop into a player who exceeds Gibson, but he isn't a replacement for a Best and Fairest winner in a grand final year just yet.

 

[Hawker1167]

Think we will be around the same mark as this year but what I don’t want to see is losing by 80 odd points and playing with disinterest and NOT losing to the Suns

 

[HODGEYROAD]

Haven't thought about it in depth but I think we'll be a little better than last year, we will see some improvement.

Geelong
GWS
Adelaide
Melbourne
Port
Sydney
Richmond
St Kilda

Those sides are all ahead of us ATM

Collingwood
Bulldogs
Hawthorn

Those 3 next in line

The rest will struggle, but again I haven't thought about it in great detail.

You disagree?

I'm not so sure about the saints to be honest, really think they are pretty average.

 

[shotgun_blues]

We have plenty of 'proven' Premiership talent in our best 18 so I don't have any doubts on our ability to perform - we're certainly capable of Top 4 at full strength - but we're a little light on for depth. The injection of youth will hopefully inspire the older players to great heights again. You'd think with 4-5 quality players to return who contributed nothing last year, a better draw and our youth improving again we are in for a better season than 2017.

AA = Past All Australian or nominee
* = Premiership Players
^ = Rising star of competition

B: Stratton* Frawley(AA) Duryea*
HB: Sicily^ Burton^ Birchall(AA)
C: Smith* O'Meara^ Shiels*
HF: Rioli(AA) Gunston(AA) Burgoyne(AA)
F: Bruest(AA) Roughead(AA) Puopolo*

R: McEvoy* Langford* Mitchell(AA)
I/C From: Schoenmakers* Howe Hardwick O'Brien Impey Hartung Lovell Ceglar Henderson Glass Brand Morrison

Notwithstanding injuries the midfield is definitely the key to a good year. The rest of the field is quality back & forward. McEvoy & Mitchell only need to repeat their form of this year so I'd say if O'Meara can produce 20+ games (the big unknown) and 2 of Shiels, Langford & Howe can produce dour enough seasons to at least break even with their opponents most weeks then Top 4 for sure. IMO O'Meara is the key to a good season. We get him right we play deep in September 1st - 5th. If not 6th - 10th.

So I'll go a bit of both : 5th - 6th.

 

[Hodginator]

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/a...n/news-story/352bb8bb51f40a87429109192eca875c

The Hawks will have a deep list to choose from next year and that’s why I believe Hawthorn will be back contending for the premiership again in 2018.

Consider this team:

B: Ben Stratton, James Frawley, Blake Hardwick

HB: Grant Birchall, Ryan Burton, James Sicily

C: Isaac Smith, Tom Mitchell, Shaun Burgoyne

HF: Jack Gunston, Tim O’Brien, Paul Puopolo

F: Cyril Rioli, Jarryd Roughead, Luke Breust

Foll: Ben McEvoy, Liam Shiels, Jaeger O’Meara

Interchange from: Daniel Howe, Jonathon Ceglar, Ricky Henderson, Kaiden Brand, Billy Hartung, Ryan Schoenmakers, Taylor Duryea, Will Langford, Connor Glass.

It’s a talented group of players with great depth at Hawthorn and the club will be a lot better placed to cover any injuries next season.

 

[Bradkli]

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/a...n/news-story/352bb8bb51f40a87429109192eca875c

The Hawks will have a deep list to choose from next year and that’s why I believe Hawthorn will be back contending for the premiership again in 2018.

Consider this team:

B: Ben Stratton, James Frawley, Blake Hardwick

HB: Grant Birchall, Ryan Burton, James Sicily

C: Isaac Smith, Tom Mitchell, Shaun Burgoyne

HF: Jack Gunston, Tim O’Brien, Paul Puopolo

F: Cyril Rioli, Jarryd Roughead, Luke Breust

Foll: Ben McEvoy, Liam Shiels, Jaeger O’Meara

Interchange from: Daniel Howe, Jonathon Ceglar, Ricky Henderson, Kaiden Brand, Billy Hartung, Ryan Schoenmakers, Taylor Duryea, Will Langford, Connor Glass.

It’s a talented group of players with great depth at Hawthorn and the club will be a lot better placed to cover any injuries next season.

That team on paper looks very strong.....the issue is that same team copped hidings against Gold Coast, Essendon and St Kilda last year. Stratton, Frawley, Smith, Puopolo (if not traded), Rioli, Breust, Shiels, Langford, Duryea, Schoenmakers (if he plays), Duryea (if he plays) are ALL going to have to be a lot better than they were in 2017 if this team is to even challenge for a spot in the 8. Despite some of the above being injured for most of the season, when they played not one of the players listed above improved in 2017 after the loss of Sam Mitchell and Lewis.

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

That team on paper looks very strong.....the issue is that same team copped hidings against Gold Coast, Essendon and St Kilda last year. Stratton, Frawley, Smith, Puopolo (if not traded), Rioli, Breust, Shiels, Langford, Duryea, Schoenmakers (if he plays), Duryea (if he plays) are ALL going to have to be a lot better than they were in 2017 if this team is to even challenge for a spot in the 8. Despite some of the above being injured for most of the season, when they played not one of the players listed above improved in 2017 after the loss of Sam Mitchell and Lewis.

The first part of our season was a write off, for a couple of reasons and means little.

Especially considering the formline of the second half of the year.

 

[Leather Poisoning]

I'm not so sure about the saints to be honest, really think they are pretty average.

They are so average and I really hate them. Bunch of jerks.

Richo isn't taking them anywhere - it'll be a sad day for them when they realise they've got a total battler as a coach.

 

[OnceKicked50]

The first part of our season was a write off, for a couple of reasons and means little.

Especially considering the formline of the second half of the year.

Have you changed your tune Abasi?

 

[Bumps"N"Grins]

Picked us to finish 16th, I'll stand by that with my tin hat on. Super draft 2018 not much doing this trade period. If not in a premiership window, why would you go as hard as you can finals wise, if that only erodes that position you worked so hard to protect this trade period.
The only line of thinking I can take to negate this stance is that if we finish high, let's say around eighth or so is that we could still trade the 2018 1st round pick for a player rather than punt on a young buck that we wanted should we play at a level that would see that early pick evaporate.
2018 play like crap get pick inside top 10 take young buck we are keen on

2018 play out of skin see draft pick slip outside of target draft choice range, trade for gun player this time next year. Seems 2018 picks might be worth more than bitcions this time next year.