Geelong to take the title against all challengers

 

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By johnhunt92, 18 Mar 2010 johnhunt92 is a Roar Pro

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 AFL, Brisbane Lions, Geelong Cats, Hawthorn Hawks, St Kilda Saints, Sydney Swans, Western Bulldogs

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Geelong players celebrate their win after the 2009 Toyota AFL Grand Final between the St Kilda Saints and the Geelong Cats at the MCG.

In part two of my series, I look at who will make the top eight and declare who I think will win the 2010 AFL Premiership.

1. Geelong
Despite the loss of Harley and the drama of Stokes, Geelong remains formidable and still is the best side. Ablett, Bartel and Selwood will again dominate. While Gold Coast talk surrounding Ablett will continue to linger, Geelong are so well drilled, don’t expect it to hamper the team.

2. Western Bulldogs
Two kicks short of a Grand Final last season; something Barry Hall will provide. Expect a good showing from the Bulldogs with an exciting yet aging forward line in Hall, Johnson and Akermanis. This, however, is the Bulldogs’ last chance, I feel, to break the drought stretching back to 1954 for a while as midnight approaches on the Premiership calendar.

3. St Kilda Saints
Getting rid of Luke Ball was a silly mistake (he was their best player in the first half of the grand final) and his replacement was an even worse for the club. The dynamics have changed, and while the Saints are a good team, the stench of a recruiting mistake will hang over the club. It won’t be like 1998, where they went completely off the rails and sacked their coach, but it won’t be as successful.

4. Brisbane Lions
The dark horse for the premiership. Voss was aggressive in trade week and it should pay dividends. Much of the focus will be on Brown and Fevloa, but Buchannan and Clarke are also solid recruits. Expect Top 4, Brisbane fans, as they have the team to make it and possibly surprise the Top 3.

5. Adelaide Crows
Again another dark horse. Pushed all the top sides in the minor round last year and flopped in the finals. The team has proven it can make finals, yet it can’t win them. You are only remembered for what you do in September and the Crows under Craig have underachieved. While Otten will be a huge loss, the forwards Tippett, Knights and Porplyzia will carry the club. Must make it to the Preliminary final to prove the doubters wrong.

6. Collingwood Magpies
While recruiting Jolly and Ball is great for the club, their forward structure still doesn’t convince me. Cloke is erratic at best and Fraser is inconclusive. Didak and Medhurst cannot be relied on to save the Maggies forward line every match. Still their midfield will be boosted by Jolly (Premiership ruckman) and Ball (Hard nut). But goals win matches and Collingwood lack someone.

7. Hawthorn Hawks
After the hangover, Hawthorn begins the rise to the top. Croad and Campbell are huge losses. Josh Gibson’s defection will help but the team needs at least this season to recover. Franklin looked solid and a big season will help the Hawks. Mark Williams’ trade will put pressure on the Hawks forward line to find a potent third scoring forward. Expect finals, but not another premiership.

8. Sydney Swans
I thought Sydney were unlucky to not make finals last year. They played well but had the Hall affair hanging over them. Getting rid of Hall helps both parties, and the recruitment of Daniel Bradshaw covers Hall and O’Loughlin’s absence. Jessie White is primed for a big year, while Ben McGlynn will provide more grunt in the midfield. In Paul Roos’ final season, it seems fitting that the most successful South Melbourne/Sydney coach in 70 years should bow out in the finals.

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