2014 AFL season predictions

Anyone who didn't place St Kilda at the bottom of the ladder in their predictions has zero credibility whatsoever. They will obviously finish last. I think the surprise packet will be the Dees (they won't make top 8) My prediction: 1. Hawthorn 2. Fremantle (my tip to win, although Lyons always loses grand finals) 3. Sydney 4. Richmond (tough call, inconsistent & lack experience but I think they can make top 4, however, I don't think they'll make preliminary finals) 5. Geelong* (a lot of long term injuries, they'll gun it in the finals but I'm not sure about the home & away season)(anywhere between 5-8) 6. Port Adelaide* (anywhere between 5-8) 7. Carlton* (again another tough call but the pressure is on to keep Gibbs, Murphy, Simpson, Walker et al interested) 8. West Coast* (this spot will be tightly contested between NM, GCS, Essendon (most likely to take the 8th spot) and to a lesser extent Collingwood & Adelaide) 9. Essendon* (Carlton's primary competitor, will be maimed after losing Crameri but no one should underestimate Chapman (no matter how old he is) 10. Gold Coast* (could sneak under the radar, with an easy draw and GAJ anything is possible -don't forget O'Meara & Stanley-) 11, North Melbourne* (too inconsistent, will take some valuable clash wins -like in 2011 & PAFC last year- to clinch a spot but 8th by percentage is probably the best they'll get, their recent team isn't a finals team either so if they do manage to sneak in expect an embarrassing 5th v. 8th game (Roo's supporters shouldn't expect too much from Swallow either this season) 12/13/14/15. Will most likely be contested between Adelaide Crows (besides Dangerfield, Douglas, Crouch & Sloane the team lacks dependable talent) & Collingwood (they don't have a development set like the Cats (although Bucks is doing his best in an attempt to implement one) they will fall like the Bulldogs & Saints before them (not as hard though). The Western Bulldogs will be on the rise this season (when Griff, Gian & Boyd retire they'll fall right back down) with young talent like Libba & Macrae. Don't expect much in the coming years though. The team still relies on ancient talent. The Demons could climb as high as 10 but a great effort would be 12th. Roo's is a fantastic coach and with prospective stars in the midfield (Dom Tyson & Viv Michie) as well as play-makers like Cross & esp. Vince combined with utilising the talents of top tier draft picks (Watts etc.) the Demons could come back hard. They have the talls up front & back and no longer lack the midfield depth. Could even be the Port Adelaide of 2014 with an easy draw and I think like PAFC they could also silence the critics and become 'Legend Killers' in the finals. In my opinion they are the most likely of the 4 aforementioned teams to make finals however I will stay on the safe side because I think it's highly unlikely any will. Through a conservative & retrospective standpoint I'd say Collingwood is the most likely of the 4 (I doubt it though). 16. GWS (a force to reckon will in the future)(could very well jump the Bullies) 17. Brisbane Lions (shouldn't of fired Voss and the homesick 5 pretty much ruined them) 18. St Kilda (easily the worst team this season, last season they were shocking and I usually don't read too much into the NAB cup but watching their team -not an undermanned team, but their actual starting 22- you can't help but notice the extent of how bad they actually are. Billings will most likely end up like Watts, not because he isn't good but rather because he was drafted into this side. Richardson is a fantastic manager of operations but I don't think he'll make a good head coach) *subject to debate, only if the team achieves what they're capable of (If not slide down 3-5 positions) Brownlow- Cotchin or Fyfe (dark-horse Rockliff) Coleman - Cameron, Petrie, JJK, Jroo, Mayne (now that he'll be a key forward with Sylvia relieving him of midfield duties) & Schultz or Westhoff as the dark-horses (pending level of Port's improvement or Westhoff improves consistency) Most Improved - Tough to tell but keep an eye on Macrae as he'll become an imperative for the Bulldogs midfield, Jack Watts as the dark-horse Grand Final Winners - Fremantle, I'd say Sydney is 2nd most likely however no one should disregard the Cats & the Hawks, esp. in Finals conditions

1. Fremantle 2. Sydney 3.Hawthorn 4.Carlton 5.Geelong 6.Collingwood 7.Port 8. Adelaide

That has to be a joke surely.

Fremantle Hawthorn Sydney Essendon Port Richmond Geelong Collingwood North Melbourne Carlton Gold Coast Bulldogs Adelaide Melbourne West Coast GWS Brisbane St Kilda

Fremantle Hawthorn Sydney Essendon Port Richmond Geelong Collingwood North Melbourne Carlton Gold Coast Bulldogs Adelaide Melbourne West Coast GWS Brisbane St Kilda

Fremantle. North Melbourne Hawthorn. Carlton Sydney. Gold Coast Essendon. Bulldogs. Bottom 8 Port. Adelaide Richmond. Melbourne Geelong. West Coast Collingwood. GWS Brisbane Top8 St Kilda Top 8

Ladder was based off the whole fixture without bias. 1. Fremantle 2. Sydney 3. Richmond 4. Geelong 5. Hawthorn 6. North Melbourne 7. Essendon 8. Carlton 9. Adelaide 10. Collingwood 11. West Coast 12. Port Adelaide 13. Gold Coast 14. St Kilda 15. Melbourne 16. Brisbane 17. Western Bulldogs 18. Greater Western Sydney

Jarred, the pies looked pretty good against a Geelong side last week and we had a few more outs than they did. Should have won it but went down by a couple of points. Adams looked good, White kicked 5, and Marley Williams was sensational. Eddie was just re-elected president unopposed for another 3 years. While he's a right pain in a ring, most other clubs would die to have a president that makes the kind of financial impact Eddie has at the Pies. Swan can't be too unhappy if he just signed another contract.

Collingwood has no chance of making the eight let alone getting any where nere the eight. I know this because i am a Collingwood supporter. Here is why 2010 Collingwood win the flag, 2011 the only loose 3 games but loose the grand final. Who was coach Mick Malthouse. 2012 Nathan takes over they have the same team but plat worse. 2013 they go worse again under Buck's having won no finals. Soon as Buckley takes over the players start to stuff around and miss behave and do their own things and stop playing as a team. Heath Shaw looses interest and stuffs around no he is gone. Dane Swann publicly say's on radio he has no respect for Nathan Buckley. Darren Jolly is villified and unhappy no he is gone too. Harry O'Brien is unhappy and has been teated badly too. They draft 95 year old Ben slow coah Hudson and Quentin cant kick past 5 meters. Darren Jolly lets media know he hates Buck's. Heath Shaw publicly blast Nathan and said he is glad to be gone from Collingwood. They recruit Qyuinten can't kick 5 meters Lynch and 95 year old Ben slow coach Hudson. What a stuff up Frank Spencer style. Eddie big shot know it all Mr perfect Mcguire say's that Dale Thomas is going to where you ask.? Carlton the Magpies arch enimy and who is their coach Mr Malthouse of course and who did he used to coach you, guessed it Collingwood. What a loss for the Magpies. I know because i am a Magpie supporter. What a loss a realy bad move stupid if you ask me. A few weeks after Thomas is gone loud mouth know it all Eddie say's That Greg Swann will be at Collingwood forever being a Magpie man. He said this with real conviction. What happen's next you ask.? Well Greg Swann walks out on Collingwood leaving Eddie Mcguire with a very red face with egg on it. But where does Greg Swann go.? To Carlton the Magpies arch enemy leaving Eddie big note Mcguire realing and upset.! You do the maths football lovers, commentators, players, coaches, umpires, goal umpires, ceos and the general public. As a Collingwood supporter Nathan has to be sacked immediatley right now 15th-16th Feb 2014.!!!! Before he ruins Collingwood. I can say 100% truthfully and with 100% evidevce and 100% fact there is disunity a Magpie land all caused by Nathan can't coach Buckley. Either Buckley goes or the Collingwood army will Get rid of Eddie Mcguire and that is a 100% dinkey die fact. It is Ed or Buck's it is up to Eddie Mcguire if he keeps Nathan Buckley for 2014 and does not sack him we the Collingwood supporters will sack Eddie. 90% of all Collingwood supporters won't Buckley sacked right now this minute this very second. I love my Collingwood Magpies 100% but while Buck's is coach i will not be renewing my membership or attending any Collingwood games. Buck's must be sacked now.

David, though what you say is true, don't think Crows will make 8. Rising Star Awards are nice but don't guarantee much. Tenth about as high as they will get. Still unknown when Walker will come back in. Then will take time to gain match fitness and gel with Pods and Betts. Bailey is a huge loss in coaches box, and is critical to success. Easy draw will help but much will depend on how soon Bailey and Walker can come in.

You sure you didn't mean as dominant as they were from 1927 to 1930, when they won four straight flags?

What I meant was as dominant as they were between 2009 and 2012 inclusive, when they finished in the top four.

For disclosure purposes im a Geelong member. Getting close to being settled on my ladder prediction. I think the Gold coast and Kangaroos Will surprise a few. 5-14 will experience the usual logjam. At the moment it is: Fremantle Sydney North Melbourne Hawthorn Geelong Richmond Port Adelaide Gold Coast West Coast Collingwood Essendon Adelaide Brisbane Carlton Western Bulldogs GWS Saints Melbourne

Essendon to win International Sports award for setting examples for kiddies for aspire to

perfect

Grima to kick the goal after the siren to win the GF for the Roos.

Brownlow - Crowley Coleman - Rhys and Heath Shaw tied on 99 each. GF- North over WB by a point after siren. Most Improved - Gary Ablett jnr Ladder at the end of the home and away season GWS GCS Port Collingwood St Kilda Melb NM WB Sydney Fremantle Brisbane Adelaide West Coast Richmond Geelong Carlton Hawthorn Essendon

Am i the only one that doesnt really understand the hype around Shaun Atley, and him being most improved? Every article I have read, both online and in newspapers is making out like this is his year, but I just dont see it that clearly. I feel like people get sucked in by his running and bouncing of the ball. Atley is a solid player, but I dont even think he has the highest ceiling at his club next year let alone the league. He has been in the AFL 3 years now and his numbers have gone up and down, he doesnt hit the scoreboard (at all), and doesnt have particulary high tackle or contested possesion numbers. Disposal effieceny is right up there, but it should be if your running free off half back. I understand his going to spend more time in the midfield this year, but i just think his overhyped. Ben Cunnington, Brandon Ellis and Mitch Duncan I think are the 3 players most primed to enter the elite bracket next year.

Collingwood as dominant as what? As dominant as last year when they finished eighth?

GAR fellas…you even pretend to disagree about the premiers, but both have Hawthorn...