It’s always hard to see into the future and predict how an AFL season will pan out. Who would’ve predicted last year that the reigning premiers Hawthorn would fail to make the finals? Or that Brendon Fevola would leave his beloved Carlton for Brisbane?
Or that Terry Wallace would get sacked by Richmond? (Oh wait, that was easy!)
Here are some of my hit predictions for season 2010:
1. Gary Ablett Jr. will leave for the Gold Coast after this season
It’s difficult to see Ablett continuing his career at the Cattery after the 2010 season. 1.5 million dollars for five years would be so very hard for anyone to turn down.
He’s got nothing more to prove at Geelong. He’s achieved so much in half a career that so many have difficulty in achieving during a typical career span – 3 AFL grand finals, two AFL premierships, a Brownlow medal, multiple All-Australian selections and Player MVP awards.
Gary Ablett Snr is sure to play a big part in his decision.
What should’ve been an advantage for the Cats is actually a massive disadvantage. Gary senior is still dirty on them for the way they treated him at the end of his career, and you could be certain that junior knows all about it.
Couple that with the fact that senior actually lives there now and you can see his fatherly advice offering that his son leaves the Cats.
Mark Thompson’s public plea for Ablett Jnr to remain at Geelong in front of a corporate group of 700 people was an act of desperation and it certainly hasn’t helped Geelong’s cause.
If Ablett’s manager’s disapproving response to Thompson’s comments is anything to go by, it could spell beginning of the end of Ablett’s association with Geelong.
2. Mark Harvey will be sacked from the Fremantle Dockers
Besides Paul Roos who has already declared his intentions of leaving the Sydney Swans, Harvey is the only coach out of contract at the end of upcoming season.
The Dockers’ wait-and-see approach to re-signing Mark Harvey has placed a lot of pressure on his shoulders to at least produce a marked improvement on last year’s dreadful campaign.
Last season, his investment in youth was a decent excuse for the poor 2009 showing.
However, it’s hard to see Harvey gaining a significant return on this investment from the current Dockers squad. As a result, we may see Mark Harvey answering questions regarding his sacking at a press conference come mid-year.
3. Richmond will finish last (duh!)
It’s hard to believe that a big club like Richmond has struggled so badly on the field in the last 30 years. What’s more damning is that it’s hard to envisage Richmond even making the finals in the next three years.
For any AFL club, that is a tragedy.
They have some good, and perhaps future champion youngsters in Trent Cotchin, Dustin Martin, Jack Riewoldt and Robin Nahas, but the squad requires further trimming, if not wholesale and manic culling.
Damian Hardwick’s faith in players like Troy Simmonds and Jake King is worrying.
Brett Deledio is oozing with talent but doesn’t seem to have the heart and can’t play a whole four quarters. Upon arriving at Punt Road, Ben Cousins was heard to have suggested to Deledio that he should be taking the game on just like Chris Judd does. Unfortunately for the Tigers faithful he’s only really showed glimpses of his ability.
Anything higher than 16th position would be a welcome surprise at Tigerland.
They’ll be joined at the bottom four with Melbourne, Fremantle and Essendon. Too bad Gold Coast are taking the first three picks in the 2010 draft!
4. Hawks will again struggle to make the eight
At the beginning of the pre-season, many thought that the premiers of 2008 would bounce back strongly after their debacle season of 2009. Their injury list was clearing up and their star player Lance ‘Buddy’ Franklin was looking lean, and most importantly, he looked in form.
With just a few days to go until the season proper, they’re suffering with injuries again, and the loss of Brad Sewell will hurt them deeply.
A severely depleted ruck division led by Brent Renouf won’t help their cause either and they may struggle to win the 50-50 games. Perhaps during the trade period they should’ve chased a quality ruckman in Darren Jolly as opposed to the currently unfit Shaun Burgoyne.
They’ll be looking to the likes of Luke Hodge and Sam Mitchell to steer them into the finals. Though, as good as those players are, their efforts won’t be enough.
5. St. Kilda will win the 2010 AFL premiership
The Saints are hungry – no – ravenous for success for which they have been starved of since 1966.
And they’re still haunted with the fact that they were a bee’s appendage away from premiership glory last season. Captain Nick Riewoldt’s reported visit to a psychologist after the grand final loss, as soft as it sounds, signifies he and his side are unbelievably desperate for his team to hold aloft the cup in 2010.
And they have a complete side from top to bottom to achieve their number one goal.
Their star players have had solid pre-seasons and the depth of their squad is healthy.
The departure of Luke Ball won’t be too much of a bother seeing David Armitage is more than ready to step into the breach as an inside midfielder.
And although the Andrew Lovett saga had the potential to derail them, the Saints administrators have done a good job keeping the scandal away from matters of football.
Geelong and the Western Bulldogs will challenge, as will Collingwood, but it’s St. Kilda’s cup this year.
Bonus prediction – Barry Hall WILL lose his top
Everyone’s feeling all warm and fuzzy regarding big, bad Bazza after his impressive 17 goal haul in 3 NAB cup games. His ‘controlled’ aggression towards the placid Zac Dawson didn’t look that controlled.
An antagonising full back could very well unleash Hall’s beast that we all know lurks within.
So, who’s game enough to take one for the team?
Here’s my prediction for the 2010 ladder after round 22:
1 St. Kilda
2 Collingwood
3 Geelong
4 Western Bulldogs
5 Adelaide
6 Brisbane
7 Sydney
8 West Coast
9 Hawthorn
10 Carlton
11 Port Adelaide
12 North Melbourne
13 Essendon
14 Fremantle
15 Melbourne
16 Richmond
Who’s in your ultimate team? Pick the best team and compete with other fans for daily prizes on Draftstars. For the best odds on the game try out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Think. Is this a bet you really want to place? Set a deposit limit.
Last, year in the second showdown, Adelaide destroyed Port by 47 points with a staggering 20 marks inside 50 with Tex Walker the main star.
There’s no disputing that Cam Guthrie will be important against Melbourne, given Patrick Dangerfield is set to miss due to injury.
Multicultural round was changed in 2018 showing that the AFL have not been as committed to multiculturalism as they should be.
Collingwood led by a point with minutes to go, Kyle Langford had the chance to be the hero with a set shot, however, he missed, and we saw the first draw of the season.
We’re taking a look at one player from each team that needs to make a difference this week, starting with the ANZAC Day games.
Round 5 of the AFL provided plenty of action, from big scorelines to upset wins and pressure starting to build on some clubs and coaches already.
