Prediction Who will finish higher - Western Bulldogs, Fremantle, Brisbane or St Kilda

[Ian Dunross]

The good news is that we're sorted for tall forward options if McCartin continues on his current path. Bruce, Membrey, Battle and King provides enough for the next 5-10 year period if all stay fit.

The disappointing thing is that we missed out on drafting a top talent to fill another area of the team. A quality mid or quality defender.

I'm not sure 2014 will go down as a great draft but still, there was enough there to get something good.

 

[Deathly]

Bulldogs are a lock for finals for me. Their drafting of the last couple of years has been really good and they managed some great football in the second half of 2018. If they can stay fit and get a good run they should be one of the best teams to watch again.

 

[Ian Dunross]

Too late now I suspect with Sunday's incident but I'd put him on the market and try and grab a second rounder for him.

I don't see him making it.

 

[Ian Dunross]

Brisbane the clear leader of this pack.

Quality across all lines. Genuine elite talent at both ends and in the middle.

Hodge's influence is not to be underestimated.

Well coached.

Could have won 5 more games last year.

 

[Spursfan]

yes Brissie for me. Freo I don't watch much but they should be better with their ins. Doggies and Saints, we'll someone's got to finish in the bottom 4.

 

[joop]

Bulldogs are a lock for finals for me. Their drafting of the last couple of years has been really good and they managed some great football in the second half of 2018. If they can stay fit and get a good run they should be one of the best teams to watch again.

A lock for finals?? Where do they finish?

 

[TedDougChris]

A lock for finals?? Where do they finish?

We’ll be doing well without a forward line of any shape or description....

 

[roz1812]

Brisbane look very promising. They should be improving this season. I think they will still drop some games they should win and put in a poor performance now and again just due to inexperience. I have them ahead of the other 3, they could make finals but I still think they might be a season away. I think Saints, Freo and Bulldogs stay relatively where they were last year. Maybe could be some improvement with Freo but none of them are in finals contention for me.

 

[joop]

We’ll be doing well without a forward line of any shape or description....

Yeh I mean if everything went perfect you could sneak into finals but a lock? There’s only a couple teams you’d say that for and don’t think dogs are one.

 

[Dazb86]

I doubt we'd be capable of getting back a 5 goal deficit at any point in a game. Can't see too many high scoring quarters on the horizon.

 

[Grand Uncle Horace]

Given exposed form to date and injury lists, I'd go

Brions
Freo
Dogs
Saints

Brisbane will make a run at the 8. The other three are mid table or worse for me.

 

[Atomboy]

Too late now I suspect with Sunday's incident but I'd put him on the market and try and grab a second rounder for him.

I don't see him making it.

Patty needs to look after his long-term health first and foremost.

Any more concussions and people close to him would surely be advising him to give the game away. Can't imagine AFL HQ is too thrilled with the possible liability situation either.

 

[TedDougChris]

Yeh I mean if everything went perfect you could sneak into finals but a lock? There’s only a couple teams you’d say that for and don’t think dogs are one.

Team has the talent, just not putting it all together for some reason.

While I can see reasons for improvement, not necessarily that much on what I have seen so far...

 

[Buzz Hawk]

That’s a tough one.
In no particular order,

Freo
Brisbane
Bulldogs
Saints

 

[Mofra]

We’ll be doing well without a forward line of any shape or description....

Yup yup - elite midfield but question marks everywhere else, including ruck.

The forwardline looks diabolical - Sam Lloyd will help us but when you're relying on a Richmond fringe player, a guy who 2+ years ago was a delisted Carlton rookie, a 200cm non-aggressive guy Brisbane let go for little only two years after blowing pick 2 on him, and a couple of resting mids whose kicking is more questionable than R Kelly's browser history, it really doesn't fill one with much confidence.

 

[TedDougChris]

Yup yup - elite midfield but question marks everywhere else, including ruck.

The forwardline looks diabolical - Sam Lloyd will help us but when you're relying on a Richmond fringe player, a guy who 2+ years ago was a delisted Carlton rookie, a 200cm non-aggressive guy Brisbane let go for little only two years after blowing pick 2 on him, and a couple of resting mids whose kicking is more questionable than R Kelly's browser history, it really doesn't fill one with much confidence.

The funny thing is, that with the changes to the rules, Boyd, Schache and English should all benefit. But they are either injured, not ready or missing a key piece - namely confidence and aggression...

Lloyd, Wallis and Dickson should kick a few, but after that ???? Gowers and the midfield....

 

[Rob R]

St Kilda could be fighting with GC for the wooden spoon especially with their injury list adding to what is a pretty weak list in general especially in the mid. Freo and Bris will both be around 10 - 13 with teams better structured than last year and in Brisbane case more mature. Bulldogs hard to say but with forward line weak, a weak ruck and their youth I would guess around 13 - 15 (at least ahead of Carl, GC and Stk)

 

[Ian Dunross]

Any more concussions and people close to him would surely be advising him to give the game away.

That's pure speculation on your part.

None of us have the medical information to make an informed decision on his health.

What can be commented on is his football ability.

 

[Joao]

St Kilda could be fighting with GC for the wooden spoon especially with their injury list adding to what is a pretty weak list in general especially in the mid. Freo and Bris will both be around 10 - 13 with teams better structured than last year and in Brisbane case more mature. Bulldogs hard to say but with forward line weak, a weak ruck and their youth I would guess around 13 - 15 (at least ahead of Carl, GC and Stk)

Agree Saints are having some rough luck with key players but we are not much better off. We are down to like 27 fit players or something stupid like that.

 

[Tom14]

My guess as to the order of the clubs is:

Brisbane
Freo
Bulldogs
St Kilda

Having said that I could see Freo having a better than expected year and finishing highest if Fyfe is fit the whole year and their young midfield replaces some of Neale's production. They should be far more potent in attack too. The dogs have the best midfield of the 4 but the forward line is a big problem.

 

[Atomboy]

That's pure speculation on your part.

None of us have the medical information to make an informed decision on his health.

What can be commented on is his football ability.

Absolutely it is speculation, but when you look at the issues ex-NFL players continue to have with constant head knocks you have to be worried.

 

[puntking]

St Kilda could be fighting with GC for the wooden spoon especially with their injury list adding to what is a pretty weak list in general especially in the mid. Freo and Bris will both be around 10 - 13 with teams better structured than last year and in Brisbane case more mature. Bulldogs hard to say but with forward line weak, a weak ruck and their youth I would guess around 13 - 15 (at least ahead of Carl, GC and Stk)

think hawkes might be joiing them imo

 

[flamethrower]

12th Fremantle
14th Brisbane Lions
15th St Kilda
17th Western Bulldogs

 

[Black Stripe]

Agree Saints are having some rough luck with key players but we are not much better off. We are down to like 27 fit players or something stupid like that.

That's insane given the season hasn't even started.

 

[Joao]

That's insane given the season hasn't even started.

Yeah its rubbish. We should get a few back after round 2 but no doubt they will just be replaced by somebody else. Need to sort our **** out.