Could this year’s finals series be an all-Victorian affair?

 
Justin Rodski Roar Pro

By , 24 Mar 2010 Justin Rodski is a Roar Pro

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Geelong and St Kilda players fight for the ball during the AFL 1st Qualifying Final between the Geelong Cats and the St kilda Saints at the MCG. GSP Images

On the eve of the 2010 season, for the third year in a row, the top four is set to be made up of Victorian teams and I’m not ruling out the possibility of the entire top 8 being dominated by the Big V. It’s funny to think how quickly cycles in sport move.

Only a few years ago, many down south were calling for a royal enquiry into the sorry state of Victorian football.

But now it simply couldn’t be healthier, and while some might find this statement a little ridiculous, it’s actually not that far fetched.

Firstly, let’s remove Richmond and Melbourne from the discussion. The only thing the Tigers and Demons will be fighting for this season is the wooden spoon.

Secondly, let’s lock in the top four: there’s nothing to suggest Geelong, St Kilda, Collingwood and the Bulldogs won’t all once again finish with the double chance.

In which order, though, is anyone’s guess.

Now, can the other Victorian teams that missed the finals last year make the jump into the eight?

Hawthorn is the most likely soar into finals contention and most would agree 2009 was only an aberration.

There are still question marks over Shaun Burgoyne and Cyril Rioli, as well as the club’s depleted ruck stocks. But the fire power of Roughhead and Franklin up forward, along with the delivery and quality of Mitchell, Lewis, Sewell and Hodge in the midfield, is enough to suggest this team will be there in September.

North Melbourne is perhaps the most intriguing of the lot.

The Kangaroos have come on in leaps and bounds over the pre-season, and they have a new coach, a new game plan and perhaps a new opportunity to bounce back into the eight.

But you would have to think that for the Kangaroos to make it, they will need to overachieve and develop much quicker than expected. That is by no means impossible, is it?

If anyone knows about playing finals football, it’s coach Brad Scott. And who could forget the baby bombers of 1993.

So what about the two Victorian sides that just snuck in last season?

Essendon is the most vulnerable of the teams that finished in the top eight, and you could easily mount an argument the Bombers are heading for a serious crash landing in 2010.

But this side wreaks of potential and it seems the big guns are locked and loaded.

The Bomber attack for round one boasts former Hawk Mark Williams and promising centre half forward Scott Gumbleton, with Paddy Ryder and David Hille swapping in the ruck.

Add the suspended Michael Hurley and goal sneaks Angus Monfries and Alwyn Davey to the mix, and this is heavy artillery.

My question mark at Essendon is midfield runners: can Stanton, Winderlich and Prismall take that next step to become elite players? Maybe that will provide the answer to whether the Bombers will be back in September.

And finally there is Carlton.

Can the Blues kickstart their season with a win against Richmond, despite missing captain Chris Judd, the retirement of Nick Stevens and the departure of Brendan Fevola?

How big an impact can Jarryd Waite have coming back from a knee reconstruction and will recruits Lachie Henderson and Brock McLean live up to expectation?

It’s funny, everyone keeps talking about the hole left up forward, but I think the biggest concern is actually down back.

The style of how footy is being played at the moment is very defensive driven, so do Carlton have the skills and manpower to set-up quality attacks?

Jamieson and Thornton can take the big bodied opponents, but who is Carlton’s quarter back, with pace and silky smooth skills running out of defence? Thankfully for the Blues, they have an all-star midfield. Judd, Murphy, Gibbs and Kreuzer are four of the very best.

Now the question remains: can they carry this team into another finals series?

I’ve got to say the thought of an all Victorian finals series leaves me with a nostalgic feeling that lingers in the air like the smell of beer chips in the outer. For me, natural order restored will be restored, and for at least the next year, I’m confident the Premiership Cup won’t be leaving the home of football.

The very thought of all this will be slightly on the nose at the AFL, though, especially as the league continues at full tilt towards even greater expansion. But for us proud Victorians, this is a more than a rosy prospect.

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