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There has been a lot of doom and gloom in the AFL recently – betting scandals, lopsided games and the league and the player union at odds. Perhaps not all is well in the AFL landscape.
That is a cynic’s point of view. However, I always look on the bright side of life. Right now, the bright side is the upcoming finals series.
2011 promises us a huge series. At the top, you have the reigning champs Collingwood. Make no mistakes about it; they are the team to beat this season. They have gone from strength to strength.
Even when players like Jolly, Swan and Didak have been out due to injury, up has come the youth in Wood and Fasolo.
It is also worth noting that Leon Davis, Andrew Krakouer, Luke Ball and Daisy Thomas have taken their games to another level.
Their one weakness (and this is probably nit-picking) is their defence. Essendon have shown that Collingwood is susceptible to fast and accurate ball movement into the 50. That way their famous group defence is taken apart.
The challengers to the throne are the old champs, Geelong. Written off by many this year after the departures of Frank Costa, Mark Thompson and Gary Ablett, the Cats have tweaked their game plan under first year coach Chris Scott.
They haven’t missed a beat this season.
We have all waited for the drop-off and it hasn’t come. James Kelly has improved greatly and has filled the void left by Ablett. They have a few selection headaches and that can only be a good thing for the side.
That will work itself out in the end. My tip is for Geelong to make it to the grand final.
Two clubs that will play a major part in September are Hawthorn and Carlton.
Hawthorn just keep doing their thing and are coming along nicely. Many have written them off because of their major injury toll. They have revamped their game-plan and their squad this season and it has paid off.
Youth like Savage. Bruest and Puopolo have come and earned their spots in the 22, they have been revelations down at Glenferrie Oval.
While the injuries to key talls like Roughead will see them struggle, I think they are a real threat to the flag.
Their slick skills, their leaders in Hodge and Mitchell and the freakish Franklin all combine to put the Hawks in good stead.
This leads us to Carlton. I don’t think they can win the flag this year, but they are a young, quick and versatile side.
Led by their freakish captain Judd, as well as Murphy and the speed freaks Yarran, Garlett and Betts, there is a lot to like about the Blues (and this is coming from an Essendon fan).
Their bevy of talls (Warnock, Kreuzer, Hampson, Waite) can play ruck, defence or forward. Carlton is also a young team. I doubt they have the experience to win the big one. But they are not far off.
It is fair to say that West Coast have surprised a few this season. This is a team that has revitalized its game-plan, old stars and its fitness.
Cox, Glass, Hurn, Embley, Nicoski and Kerr are reliving their glory days, Naitanui is coming along in leaps and bounds and they have turned Subiaco back into a fortress.
Their much vaunted press and fitness have also been key for them. The long hot summer in Perth has obviously done wonders. They are as good a chance at anyone. Right now, they are looking at a home final. Look out.
Lets not forget St. Kilda either. They have managed to turn an awful start to the season around and get back to playing ‘Saints footy’. Nick Dal Santo has been in arguably career-best form, whilst Justin Koschitzke and Nick Riewoldt are starting to hit their straps.
They are a team that can win the flag. They have the experience and a game-plan that works for them. They will want to make up for the hurt in the past two seasons.
That leaves Essendon, Sydney, Fremantle and the Bulldogs in the chasing pack for the last remaining spots in the finals.
Essendon have turned a corner under new coach Jimmy Hird and they are as good a chance as any other of those sides.
Sydney, I think, will play finals along with the Bombers. The Swans play a game-style suited to finals football. They have developed youngsters like Reid, Hanneberry and Jetta, adding to the likes of Goodes and Bolton.
Bring on September!
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