Premiership hopes high for Dogs and Saints in 2010

After decades of forlorn hope and periods of near-extinction, St Kilda and the Western Bulldogs are well-placed to end their AFL premiership droughts in 2010.

The Bulldogs (1954) and St Kilda (1966) only have one flag apiece.

Regardless of who wins the September 25 grand final, however, the weeks immediately after the season will have a much more profound impact on the game.

The Gold Coast are coming and the arrival of the 17th team will be the start of a major two-year shift in the AFL’s philosophy and operation.

Even for a game that has relentlessly broadened its power over the last 25 years, 2011 and 2012 will feature sweeping changes.

A few days after this year’s grand final, the Gold Coast will have confirmed which uncontracted players they have lured from the other clubs.

Then comes the national draft, when they will have six of the first 10 picks, including the top three.

It will not be a good time for a current team to be rebuilding.

In 2012, the Greater Western Sydney team are also scheduled to join the league, meaning more wholesale recruiting and drafting concessions.

At the end of 2012, the AFL will introduce free agency – a radical addition to the draft and trade structure that has underpinned the league since the mid-1980s.

Also, at some point this year, the league will finalise their next broadcast rights agreement to start in 2012.

The current deal is worth $780 million and the new agreement should fetch around $1 billion.

Predictably, these coming developments are already having their effects.

Geelong fans are fretting over whether Gary Ablett or Joel Selwood will go to the Gold Coast, who could have already gained commitments from some players they will sign later this year.

Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett has voiced strong opposition to free agency and Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse has warned its introduction will have profound effects on the league.

In the meantime, Malthouse and his Magpies have gained some added firepower as they try to win their first premiership in two decades.

Collingwood, the Bulldogs and Brisbane – all top-six finishers last year – have recruited big names in an effort to bridge the gap to premiers Geelong and runners-up St Kilda.

Luke Ball and Darren Jolly are now at the Magpies, the Bulldogs have Barry Hall at full-forward and controversial spearhead Brendan Fevola has moved to the Lions.

The Saints had the off-season from hell, first trading for Andrew Lovett and then losing Ball through the draft.

Recruiting Lovett has become the worst trade in the game’s history – he was sacked without playing a game and is facing a rape charge.

St Kilda were due to meet with Lovett on March 12 as the player seeks compensation from the club for his dismissal.

The game’s governors have had reason to wince a few times over the summer in terms of player misbehaviour.

Lovett is among four players who have cases still before criminal courts, along with Richmond newcomer Troy Taylor (alleged assault), Essendon rising star Michael Hurley (assault) and Geelong premiership forward Mathew Stokes (alleged cocaine trafficking and possession).

In Stokes’ case, if the trafficking charge is proved he could face a lifetime AFL suspension.

Fevola continues to attract controversy, with the Coleman Medallist leaving Carlton in the wake of his drunken antics at last September’s Brownlow Medal.

Now he is accused of circulating a nude photo of his former lover Lara Bingle.

The scandal has been front-page news and has put a massive strain on Bingle’s engagement to Australian cricket vice-captain Michael Clarke.

Fevola’s departure from Carlton has not stopped the drink-related troubles there – three players were suspended in the wake of the team’s notorious pre-Christmas “booze cruise”.

On-field, Geelong remain the team to beat despite an indifferent pre-season.

The Saints have made the NAB Cup final in an early sign the Ball-Lovett disaster will not dramatically hurt their premiership potential.

Fellow NAB Cup finalists the `Dogs have also impressed in the pre-season, with Hall prominent, and another 2009 preliminary finalist Collingwood will push again for the top four.

Hawthorn are expected to rebound strongly from last year’s disappointment, but injuries are again hurting the 2008 premiers and they might struggle in the opening month of the home-and-away season.

But for all the uncertainty of the season ahead, one thing is clear – after this year, the AFL starts transforming into a much different league.

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© 2010 AAP