The 2012 AFL Premiership season is finally upon us. After four weeks of largely dull and uneventful practice matches, the AFL season proper kicks off this Saturday night when the code’s newest franchise, the GWS Giants, take on cross-town rivals the Sydney Swans.
With the fluff and bubble of the NAB Cup swiftly disappearing from memory, a number of key questions look set to loom large this season. Let’s ponder a few.
Can Hawthorn live up to the hype?
After missing out on a Grand Final berth by less than a kick last season, the Hawks are seemingly everyone’s tip to go a couple of steps better this year and deliver a Premiership cup to sit alongside the silverware the club won in 2008.
With a playing list full of stars, the premiership window is wide open for the Hawks.
Only time will tell if the disappointment of coming so close to a spot in the Grand Final will be enough to spur the playing group onto bigger things this year, but the Hawks look to be the team to beat in 2012.
Will any of the up-and-coming Victorian sides take the next step?
North Melbourne, Richmond and Melbourne have all been keen to trumpet their upward trajectories heading into this season.
None of these clubs have played finals in any of the past three seasons, and their supporters will be hoping that 2012 is the year their side takes the next step and makes it to September.
Melbourne has former Collingwood assistant coach Mark Neeld at the helm, who will need to inject some steely resolve into the flaky Demons outfit.
Richmond has improved its win-loss record in each of the past three years under Damien Hardwick, and the faithful at Punt Road feel that this could be the year the Tigers play finals football for the first time since 2001.
North Melbourne has finished ninth the previous two seasons, and the Kangaroos need to make the finals this year for Brad Scott’s tenure as coach to be deemed a success.
Will Collingwood’s 2011 Grand Final defeat shatter or inspire them?
Collingwood lost only three matches last season, all of them to Geelong. Just how the Magpies respond this year under new coach and favourite son Nathan Buckley will be one of the biggest storylines of the season.
The Magpies list is full of stars, but the change of coach could unsettle the side as it adapts to the ideas and coaching philosophies of a new coach.
Last year Chris Scott became the first VFL/AFL coach since Alan Joyce in 1988 to coach a club to a Premiership in his first year.
Buckley will be hoping that he can replicate Scott’s feat, and achieve back-to-back flags for first year coaches this year in his first season in charge at the Magpies.
Is Adelaide’s pre-season form the real deal?
The standout side from the pre-season competition has been the Adelaide Crows. Under new coach Brenton Sanderson, Adelaide won the NAB Cup and impressed many with a much more attacking style of play.
The Crows are a talented team on paper, and under Sanderson are poised to be the big improver this year.
If the forward-line pairing of Kurt Tippett and Taylor Walker play near their best, the Crows look to be September bound.
Will GWS win a match?
The competition’s newest franchise surprised many by upsetting the Gold Coast Suns in a pre-season trial match, and the club was also competitive in its round-robin matches against Collingwood and the Western Bulldogs, albeit against second string teams from both these clubs.
The Giants best hope of securing a win in season 2012 will come from its matches against fellow cellar-dwellers the Suns and Brisbane.
Pencil in rounds 7, 8 and 20 as possibilities for the fledgling side to notch up its first win.
Predictions
AFL Ladder
1. Hawthorn
2. West Coast
3. Geelong
4. Fremantle
5. Collingwood
6. Carlton
7. Adelaide
8. Sydney
9. Richmond
10. St Kilda
11. North Melbourne
12. Western Bulldogs
13. Essendon
14. Melbourne
15. Port Adelaide
16. Gold Coast
17. Brisbane
18. GWS
Premier: Hawthorn
Runner-up: West Coast
Brownlow Medal: Sam Mitchell (Hawthorn)
Coleman Medal: Lance Franklin (Hawthorn)
Rising Star: Stephen Coniglio (GWS)
Follow Michael on Twitter @MichaelFilosi
Bee Bee
Guest
Found this article and thought it was worth commenting on now season's finished. 1. Hawthorn's hype warranted a flag, so no they did not live up to the hype. 2. Nth Melbourne (Yes) Richmond (No) Melbourne (NO, NO, NO.... make it stop.) 3. Difficult to answer. Magpies did not look shattered but certainly not inspiring either. 4. Big Yes. Almost made the GF. 5. Yes they won a match to put along there very first spoon. NB. Top 8 composition was very accurate, order way out though. Highlights how well Sydney have done. So many people picked them at 8 or 9.
Lachlan
Roar Guru
1. Yes 2. Richmond, maybe. 3. Niether, it will keep them around about the mark, they won't fall and they won't rise. 4. Yes, they will push for top 8 5. maybe 1 or 2 at the most. Your ladder, is different, but interesting. Predictions, pretty mainstream, Sam Mitchell for the brownlow, is optimistic.
Norm
Guest
Yes!
Mango Jack
Guest
Shut up, everyone, please!!! Tipping the mighty Hawks as favourites, no one coming close, etc, only means they won't win it. Despite improvements, I think their defence is still a bit flaky.
Greg Mac
Guest
I think the Hawks have all the necessary ingredients to cook up a flag this year... One thing that does give me pause for thought however has been their precision kicking game style. In terms of game plans - theirs is probably the most unique of all sides in the comp... What is most troubling however is how they perform against the other 2 flag contenders: i.e. Vs Collingwood 0-2, Vs Geelong - 0-3? Until they find a way to beat these two teams, I can't put them higher than 3rd... Gotta love Rnds 1 & 2 this year - Great Viewing!
Tom Dimanis
Roar Pro
I'm not convinced re the Hawks. I just think if they cop a couple of key injuries, that is to Buddy or Mitchell, they are stuffed. Also their high-possession, short-kicking game plan worked a treat last year, but the problem with having such a pronounced style is that it's easier for opposition sides to eventually work out. I'd hate to say it but the Pies will take it out - unless Buckley's ego gets in the way and he changes things around.
amazonfan
Roar Guru
No one will get close to Hawthorn? What about Geelong? They're the reigning premiers, and their list isn't that much different to last year. Personally, I'm not completely convinced about Hawthorn, just as incidentally I don't believe that Buddy will be the star of 2012 (Judd & Ablett should IMO dominate yet again). There are three other teams (Geelong, Collingwood, WCE) plus even Fremantle (unlikely) who can win the flag. Personally, my money is on Geelong. That all said, Hawthorn is a great team, and I wouldn't be surprised if they win the flag. However, Cam, to say that nobody will get close to Hawthorn is extremely OTT. Afterall we shouldn't forget that in 2008, Geelong were almost unstoppable, and that going in 2011, some were suggesting that Collingwood should have just been handed the premiership cup, even before the GF was held. I'm not going to jump on the Hawthorn bandwagon just yet. Regarding the other questions, I would love for Melbourne to make the finals, but they/North/Richmond will probably have to wait. I don't think that Collingwood will win the flag, but not because of the change of coach or because of last year's GF loss. I'm just not sure that they are good enough. However, they should make the top 4, so they could very well prove me wrong (god, I hope not.) I fully expect Adelaide to make the finals, but they'll be lucky to make the second week. I do expecy GWS to win at least one money, but I wouldn't put any money on it.
Stumpy
Roar Rookie
1.West Coast 2.Hawthorn 3. Geelong 4. Collingwood 5.Carlton 6 .Essendon 7. Fremantle 8. Sydney 9. St Kilda 10.Adelaide 11. North Melbourne 12. Western Bulldogs 13. Richmond 14. Melbourne 15.Gold Coast 16. Port Adelaide 17.GWS 18. Brisbane
Ads
Guest
Collingwood will be top 4 even though they have patchy pre season form and a bad run of injuries. They are still a team on the rise in their premiership window.
samwise
Guest
Ninthmond...rough!
TomC
Guest
I can't see any really convincing reason why the Hawks can't be a dominant side this season. They might get into trouble in the ruck, at times, but the quality of their midfield means they're unlikely to ever get belted in the clearances. I think the Roos and Richmond are much more likely than Melbourne to 'step up' in 2012. I'm pretty bullish about the Tiges. They have a lot of gaps to plug, but way too much talent to be wallowing around the bottom of the ladder. Melbourne, on the other hand, seem to be stagnating. I think 14th is about right for them. I expect Collingwood to still be well entrenched in the top four. The team is just too good. It will be the second, third and fourth seasons of Buckley's reign that will be the real challenge. I just posted on another article that I'm not sure Adelaide's skills will hold up in the regular season. We'll wait and see. Pencil in round 7 at Manuka for GWS' first win (possibly). Can't see them beating Brisbane in round 8 unless the Lions endure another horror run of injuries. Odds are GWS will win at least one game this season but I doubt they'll ever start favourites.
Matt F
Roar Guru
1. Hawks are my tip for the flag this year. Obviously they'll need good luck with injuries (like every other team really) but on paper this looks to be their best chance since they won in 2008. 2. I don't see any of those teams making the 8 this year. North and Richmond might be able to sneak in but I can easily find 8 teams that should do better then those sides. I think it will be a tough year for Melbourne fans (then again they've all been tough for a little while now.) I'll be surprised if they do better then last yeasr finish of 13th. 3. I'm sure it will inspire them. The bigger question, which you did cover a bit, is how will they go under a new coach? Chris Scott will provide hope for Buckley but expectations will be high. Media pressure will be immense if they get off to a slow start. 4. It's always hard to judge pre-season form. They were the big underachievers last year but they did finish 18 points behind Essendon in 8th. That's a big gap to make up. They're capable enough though and could very well squeeze into the finals in 7th or 8th. I rate them above the Roos and Tigers at least. They have a very nice draw, then again we said the same thing last season.... 5. I just can't see them going winless. I also can't see them doing better then Gold Coast so I'll go with 1-2 wins, though I wouldn't like to predict what games they'll be.
No one will get close to Hawthorn. North has got the best chance of those three. Don't listen to 'the faithful' at Tigerland, i'm one of them, and most don't know what they're talking about. They are still a year away from finals. Won't shatter or inspire, the Pies will be hard to beat, but may take a while to gel under Buckley. Adelaide will make the eight, just like I wrote six weeks ago before any games were played. They'll squeeze out one or two wins, but won't surprise completely if they don't.
The Cattery
Roar Guru
Good pick up! Must be the pick for wooden spoon!
mds1970
Roar Guru
Western Bulldogs not included on the ladder?
Col
Guest
Did the Bulldogs merge or have I missed something during the preseason?? Or didnt they warrent putting into the ladder prediction
The Cattery
Roar Guru
1. Yes. 2. No 3. Not sure. 4. Not sure. 5. Looking more doubtful by the day.