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Fearless predictions of the AFL ladder after Round 5

Roar Guru
26th March, 2015
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Roar Guru
26th March, 2015
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1653 Reads

I always enjoy the hype around AFL season, especially when I’m a St Kilda supporter and I read about how my team is going to win another wooden spoon (at least we get the number one draft pick).

But it got me thinking, I am probably not going to trawl through all the experts’ opinions come end of season and see how close they were to predicting the entire ladder at the end of 22 rounds.

But what about at the end of five rounds, which is only start of May? So, here’s my best attempt at predicating the AFL ladder to the end of Round 5.

At the time of writing, I don’t know if Essendon will be allowed to use the 2012 players.

1. Sydney 20
2. Hawthorn 16
3. Gold Coast 16
4. Fremantle 16
5. Port Adelaide 12
6. Collingwood 12
7. Richmond 12
8. Geelong 12

9. Carlton 8
10. North Melbourne 8
11. Adelaide 8
12. West Coast 8
13. Brisbane 8
14. Essendon 8
15. Greater Western Sydney 4
16. Melbourne 4
17. Western Bulldogs 4
18. St Kilda 4

Rather predictably, I have most of the bookies’ favourites for the premiership up the pointy end with Sydney going 5-0 and Hawthorn going 4-1. Fremantle and Port Adelaide are also up there, with Port having a tough early draw the only reason I don’t have them higher.

Geelong and Richmond also squeeze into my eight, with Gold Coast taking full advantage of their softer start to season – playing Melbourne (A), St Kilda (H), GWS (A).

North Melbourne are probably the unlucky ones to miss out on the eight at this stage. They have some tough assignments with Geelong in Geelong, Port Adelaide at Etihad, Adelaide Crows in Adelaide and Hawthorn at Etihad.

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And with Essendon, without knowing how which players can be available to play, it’s hard to make a judgement call on how competitive they will be. If they can only use VFL-AFL delisted players it’s hard to see them beating sides that have trained together all pre-season.

At the other end of the ladder, it’s a little more predictable. The Giants have some tough assignments with Sydney at the SCG, Gold Coast at home and West Coast in Perth. Melbourne playing Adelaide in Adelaide and Richmond and Fremantle at the MCG won’t be expecting the four points.

And St Kilda, I am hopeful that they will be competitive and maybe snag an upset early (either GWS at Etihad or Essendon if players are not available), but it’s hard to see many premiership points coming to the Saints this season.

So what do you think, Roarers, have I found a new career in crystal ball viewing? Or have I relegated your team to bottom of the heap, showing that I am completely out of touch with reality?

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