Dreams alive as the AFL season draws closer

Forget the sun and the sand, forget the snow and the slopes. For a footy fan, Autumn, and specifically the lead-up to Round 1, really is the best time of the year.

Not because after almost six agonisingly long months, the game you love has finally returned, but because this is the time when the dreams of every single supporter – regardless of which team they adore – are alive, and seemingly realistic.

No matter which team has your affiliation and your heart, right now, just a handful of days before the first bounce of 2014, we all have our lofty hopes and goals for 2014.

Whether it is winning the Flag, making the top four, reaching the eight, improving on last year’s performance, or maybe just to see your team lift itself away from the bottom rungs of the ladder … we all have our goals for our respective teams.

At the moment, Adelaide is on top of the ladder and the Western Bulldogs on the bottom… but that’s just alphabetical.

Sure we all know Hawthorn are the favourites, and the Swans and Dockers are the major threats. And justifiably so, but as of today, Monday, March 10, right now, that trio of teams are no higher on the ladder than Melbourne, St Kilda or the GWS Giants.

We may not be able to say that in a week’s time, but that’s the joy of Round 1. It’s a time full of expectations and hope, and no matter who wants to burst your bubble, don’t let them.

With almost every preview of the season, the writer will find faults with your team. But now is the time to look past that, and see the positives. Right now the future is bright. Enjoy it as you never know how long it will last.

Just like you, I don’t really know what is about to unfold. Sure I have my ideas, but so often as we have seen in the past, what we expect and what actually occurs are not always the same, and that’s what makes a footy season so good.

So what sort of things can we expect in the six months?

Well, more of the same if we listen to the captains of the 18 clubs. Hawthorn will win back-to-back premierships according to 10 of them. Five say Sydney and three went with Fremantle. But we often hear that the worst judges in horse racing are jockeys, so maybe it’s a similar story in footy.

What we know is the Hawks, without Buddy Franklin, will still be a force. Some even suggest a Buddy-less Hawthorn will be more unpredictable up forward, and that’s a plus.

In Sydney, just how will Buddy fit into that forward line with Kurt Tippett, and possibly Sam Reid? And how will he fit into the smaller space up forward at his new home ground – the SCG? And how will he fit the highly vaunted culture of the Swans?

I’m not sure, I don’t know, and time will tell… but somehow, you think John Longmire and his boys will make it work.

Fremantle, you can still feel the pain of 2013. That in itself is motivation for 2014. And right now every Freo player from that grand final team will be hungrier than a Biggest Loser contestant.

Essendon – who knows? If they could make the eight after all they went though in 2013, what can they do now? Or is there still a weight yet to be lifted by ASADA? One thing for certain, they might have lost Hirdy, but they lose nothing by getting Bomber Thompson.

Adelaide will be improvers in my opinion in 2014. Port Adelaide, can they match 2013? They have the potential to be finalists again, and the inclusion of Jared Polec is a big one.

Carlton and Collingwood, while not considered powerhouses these days, can still be there in September like they were in 2013, with the Blues capable of significant improvement.

Richmond, another big year after a huge, finals’ playing 2013. But what they must do now is show they can match it with the Big Guns of the competition.

North… more frustration for their supporters over what could have been with a point here or a goal there? For all my suffering Kanga mates, hopefully not.

A trio with new coaches – Brisbane, West Coast, and St Kilda. I see the Eagles improving, Brisbane can also threaten for a finals’ berth, but it could be another long year for the Saints.

The Bulldogs and Suns, while winning their share of games, are most likely to be on the outside looking in come September.
And then we have another two teams, both also with new coaches – the Demons and the Giants.

Some may say for the two teams at the bottom in 2013, the only way is up, and while they may not make any dramatic leaps from the lower rugs of the ladder, both sides will make significant improvements in 2014.

Melbourne will begin to look more like a club and less like a rabble under Paul Roos, while the Giants will continue to see growth from their talented kids, and have added some great experience in key spots with Shane Mumford, Heath Shaw, Josh Hunt, Dylan Addison and Jed Lamb.

So now, remembering these are at this stage of the year little more than guesses, as all footy writers do, it’s time to predict.

Premiers: Sydney.

Top eight: Sydney, Hawthorn, Fremantle, Geelong, Richmond, Carlton, Essendon, and Collingwood.

Brownlow: Scott Selwood.

As I said, guesses at best, but what will be an interesting sidelight to the 2014 season, will be the reception Andrew Demetriou receives around the country on the “Thanks for the Memories, Farewell Andy” tour.

Now, let the games begin.