AFL season has almost started and, at the risk of making a fool of myself, here are my thoughts for the year, with a limit of three sentences per club.
I will revisit this at season’s end to see how accurate my predictions are.
Adelaide
A dream 2012 followed by a horrid 2013. A fairly easy draw with return fixtures against Collingwood, GWS, North, Port and St Kilda.
That being said, I can’t see Adelaide climbing into the eight, despite acquiring James Podsiadly from Geelong in the off season.
Prediction: 13th
Brisbane
They have a habit of looking like they are improving but still go nowhere. They have return fixtures against Fremantle, Geelong Gold Coast, North Melbourne and Richmond, which gives them an incredibly tough draw.
Justin Leppitsch has the hardest job in football this year.
Prediction: 16th
Carlton
Their return fixtures are against Collingwood, Essendon, Geelong, Port Adelaide and St Kilda.
If Chris Judd and Daisy Thomas stay fit, they’ll probably make the finals but I’m not convinced their depth is there to cover them if their top players do go down.
Prediction: 11th
Collingwood
Return fixtures against Adelaide, Carlton, Essendon, Hawthorn and West Coast. They have a tough few weeks to start with which could make or break their season.
Coould sneak into the eight but a few other teams have them covered.
Prediction: ninth
Essendon
In the last two years they’ve beaten and lost to practically everyone. They’ve suffered late season fade-outs over the past two years and a tricky draw with return matches against Carlton, Collingwood, Richmond, Sydney and the Dogs could cause another this year.
With the weight of ASADA gone though, I expect they’ll make the eight.
Prediction: seventh
Fremantle
With a much more organised unit around him, I expect Colin Sylvia to flourish this year.
A heavy reliance on Luke McPharlin, Matthew Pavlich and Aaron Sandilands could hurt them but with with David Mundy, Nathan Fyfe, Michael Barlow and Chris Mayne all a year older, they should be able to share the workload around more.
Prediction: first
Geelong
They always find a way to prove the doubters wrong. Can they do it again in 2014? If they do, it’ll be their most significant feat yet.
A though draw with return fixtures against Fremantle, Hawthorn, North, Carlton and Brisbane.
With that draw, it is hard to see them retaining their top four spot but it is equally hard to see them drop out of the eight.
Prediction: fifth
Gold Coast
They were the big improvers in 2013 but need to start winning away from home in 2014 to continue to rise up the ladder.
With return fixtures against Brisbane, Hawthorn, St Kilda, West Coast and the Dogs, they will continue to improve but no September action this year
Prediction: 12th
GWS
The most active club during trade period and suddenly they look like a team on the rise. Although it is likely they’ll win more games this year, it is hard to see a dramatic rise up the ladder.
Return fixtures against Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, Dogs and Richmond won’t make it easy for them either.
Prediction: 15th
Hawthorn
Apart from losing Franklin (which everyone knew was coming), it has been business as usual for Hawthorn.
It seems as though Fremantle and Sydney are the only teams who can stop Hawthorn. I agree but think Hawthorn will come up short in September.
Return fixtures are against Collingwood, Fremantle, Geelong, Gold Coast and Sydney.
Prediction: second
Melbourne
The Dees got what they wanted with Paul Roos over summer and although he’ll get the respect of the playing group immediately, it is hard to see the Melbourne having the talent to compete right away.
Return matches are against GWS, West Coast, Port, North and the Dogs, which is as good as they could hope for but it won’t be enough to move them out of the bottom four.
Prediction: 17th
North Melbourne
Were the best team not in the eight last season. They have an easier draw this year, with return games against Adelaide, Brisbane, Geelong, Melbourne and the Dogs.
That, combined with improved ability to run out games thanks to Cameron Ling and Nick Dal Santo joining the club should see North return to the eight come September, but not challenge for much more.
Prediction: eighth
Port Adelaide
A fantastic improvement last season but other teams will be much more wary of them this season. They have return fixtures against Adelaide, Carlton, Fremantle, Melbourne and Sydney, which is about as average as you can get.
Ken Hinkley will prove he isn’t a one season wonder but will still struggle against the Hawthorns and Fremantles of the competition.
Prediction: sixth
Richmond
Played fantastic football throughout 2013, only to go with a whimper in the elimination final.
A rather easy fixture, with return games against Brisbane, Essendon, GWS, Sydney and St Kilda, means they can fight for top four.
Prediction: fourth
St Kilda
Nothing in the preseason has gone right for them. A 68-point mauling at the hands of GWS in Wagga over the weekend means they’ll be shot for confidence come Round 1.
Return games against Adelaide, Gold Coast, West Coast, Carlton and Richmond is not a bad draw but the Saints will be stuck down the bottom anyway.
Prediction: 18th
Sydney
Added Lance Franklin but time will tell if he is the right fit for the Swans.
Their draw is slightly easier when compared to other premiership hopefuls with return games against Essendon, GWS, Hawthorn, Port and Richmond.
Despite that, one does not feel they are able to get past Hawthorn or Fremantle.
Prediction: third
West Coast
West Coast are the great unknown of 2014 and return games against Collingwood, Fremantle, Gold Coast, Melbourne and St Kilda doesn’t help me when trying to place them.
They haven’t had a bad off season but it is hard to see them doing much more than making up the numbers.
Prediction: 13th
Western Bulldogs
The Dogs were the great improvers at the back end of 2013 winning four of their last six games. This year, they have the easiest draw of anyone in the competition, with return games against Essendon, Gold Coast, GWS, Melbourne and North.
This will see them threaten the eight but this AFL fan feels they are one season off a return to the finals.
Prediction: 10th
Predicted Ladder
1st Fremantle
2nd Hawthorn
3rd Sydney
4th Richmond
5th Geelong
6th Port Adelaide
7th Essendon
8th North Melbourne
——————-
9th Collingwood
10th Western Bulldogs
11th Carlton
12th Gold Coast
13th West Coast
14th Adelaide
15th GWS
16th Brisbane
17th Melbourne
18th St Kilda
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If the Lions are clever they can use this season as a passing of the guard season and send off some very talented players whilst also trying to be competitive.
There’s no disputing that Cam Guthrie will be important against Melbourne, given Patrick Dangerfield is set to miss due to injury.
The AFL need a more simple approach to high contact and one that makes players accountable, regardless of intent.
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.
The Southport defender clapped his hands as the kick was taken, which the umpire seemed to think was the ball hitting his hands -…
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.
