Prior to the commencement of the 2014 AFL season, most pundits had three teams ahead of daylight: Hawthorn, Sydney and Fremantle. The season is far from over, but it’s safe to say the start has not gone as predicted.
Hawthorn has certainly lived up to the billing, jumping out to a 4–0 start. Despite dropping a game to arch rival Geelong, Hawthorn still sits comfortably at 5–1 – well in control of their own destiny.
Sydney started off the season with losses to GWS and Collingwood before notching up their first win against the floundering Crows. They followed with a dreadful loss to North Melbourne, a solid win against pre-season premiership fancy Fremantle, and an unimpressive win against the Demons, which see them sitting at 3–3 after six rounds.
While Sydney players are returning after injury and righting the ship, the team is far from a lofty position in the top three, and is now desperately pushing to merely get into the top eight.
Fremantle started the season well, demolishing Collingwood and taking out a good win against the Suns, but then fell flat against the Hawthorn juggernaut. After that resounding defeat, the Dockers cleaned up Essendon, but then fell to Sydney and the Kangaroos. Their inconsistent season also sits at 3–3.
Questions being asked about Fremantle are growing harder to ignore: does the coach have a plan B? Are they simply lacking in depth? Is the game plan to blame?
The season is far from over but, like Sydney, Fremantle are far from sitting on a comfortable perch head and shoulders above the rest of the competition. While it is too early to say definitively that all the predictions are wrong, it’s clear that the race for the premiership is still very much open.
My club, Geelong, is sitting at 5–1, despite the fact that most predicted the Cats would slide down the ladder yet again and not be contenders for the 2014 premiership. Port Adelaide also sit at 5–1 and must be considered contenders now.
Hindsight being 20/20, if you could go back and change your pre-season ladder predictions, would you? What would your changes be? Let us know below.
justin
Guest
im a north melbourne fanatic and i beleive we are a major threat this season look at us already we beat port(again) freo away and sydney ( the latter 2 we beat for the first time in a while) okay we are up and down more than a yo-yo but i think with our easy draw and the fct that we overrun teams( exact opposite of last season) means we should win 14+ this season and finish 4-6 .. P.S we were the first team to beat port last season aswell they were 5-0 before they played us then we beat them and they were 5-5 after 10 games my predicted top 8 geelong hawthorn port north freo collingwood sydney west coast
lyn
Guest
The Woods will do. I predict top 4 and Bucks is a good coach
dockersfan
Guest
I recall Port being 5-1 last year? Either way, I agree they're better than last year but would like to see if this young side can defy the past 13 years of history and keep it going all year. Only Hawks of 2008 were able to do that, although they were still older than this Port Adelaide side. I'm going to be a broken record and say Dockers will be a force in the 2nd half of the year. Their turn around may be "the story" after the byes.
Cat
Roar Guru
That's true, one of the reasons I decided to do this article is because so many people seemed so adamant at the start of this year that everyone not named Sydney, Freo and Hawthorn may as well book their holidays already. Didn't turn out that way at all, which is a good thing for the season I believe.
Cat
Roar Guru
Thanks for the compliment :) Gotta agree on watching Bomber, post game pressers are amusing too.
Cat
Roar Guru
It's important to take those chances when they come.
Jason K
Guest
I had West Coast Eagles haunting somewhere around 3rd - 6th, which may still happen, but I don't think that's likely. Now I think Eagles land 8th - 10th at the end. St. Kilda was an exciting surprise, but I wouldn't count on them to win more than 2 additional games this season. I had expected more out of Richmond and Essendon.
pope paul v11
Guest
North are using smoke and mirrors Penny, behold. Voila! I had Richmond and Carlton in and Geelong out. Sorry, thought it was 1975.
Jack Smith
Roar Guru
Best part of footy these days...unpredictability. Yeah people can tip well but plenty of upsets all the same. Enjoying footy still, still always look forward to weekends because FOOTY is being played.
Penster
Guest
You've been busier than Lance Franklin's insurance agent. Well done Gene great article, broad brush strokes, appropriate for this time of year. I had Hawks, Syd & Geelong at top, with Port and North snapping at their heels, a finals cameo from God Coast (see what I did there?), Collingwood, Freo, Richmond and Carlton making up the numbers. In other words, a slight shuffle of season 2013. 6 weeks hence and North are not convincing me, can't get a fix on them, Freo are one hit wonders, Richmond on the slide and don't start me on Carlton. Essendon surprising form earlier and enjoy watching Bomber Thompson's lackadaisical side-on command of the coach's box, hoping they'd do great things after what the 99% innocent members of that club have endured, but thought they'd be lucky to win a chook raffle. Nothing better than watching the Swan's noses get rubbed in it and I'd never turn my back on Geelong. Carna Hawks. Just grateful the AFL live ladder predictor isn't up or I'd be sacked. This game, it gets you.
Strapon1
Guest
Axel the guru Ross Lyon is a good coach he is just miss understood and will get there with the team he has got just like he did with stkilda he let some else do the recruiting then swaggered in and took them nowhere took Harvey's job with a good list and he will take them nowhere Buckley will be remembered as a champion of one club Lyon who is that everyone will say in 20 years time so his formula worked well in 2010 it won us our 15th cup I love Ross well done freo I say winning formula for all the other clubs
Axle an the guru
Guest
What are you onto me or something Strapon1.you are sounding like a focker supporter with me. Collingwood have as much chance of winning a premiership as Fremantle. SWEET FA , and thats because the both of you have the worst coaches in the AFL
Michael huston
Guest
Keep in mind Collingwood and North Melbourne beat Sydney who were playing the worst they've played in a decade. They may be in 4th and 5th, but their respective wins against Sydney don't necessarily mean they're completely deserving of those spots.
Axle an the guru
Guest
9th sorry Strapon1. To put them in i would have to be wrong bout Gold Coast, but hey GC may not make it and the Woods maydo.
Aransan
Guest
Carlisle can only return to the backline if one of Hurley, Hooker or Fletcher is unavailable and even then Tayte Pears might be the replacement. Perhaps it is time for him to get some form and experience on the forward line in the reserves. Players don't decide where they will play, clubs do. A very talented key position player is very rare but when you have one they should be able to play anywhere in the spine apart from the centre.
Cat
Roar Guru
To be honest I spent so much time trying to convince everyone Geelong wasn't gonna fall down I never actually posted any predictions. Pretty sure I spent my remaining time telling everyone else why their team would fail (except Hawthorn unfortunately). Guess I'd have to give myself an overall fail for not even manning up and making any predictions.
Michael Steel
Roar Pro
Good article Gene and good to see you writing. (I have a 3 month old son I've called Gene (Eugene)) I thought the top 4 this year would be the same as last year and still do. Geelong has the gutsiest coach in Chris Scott who I think from his Brisbane time watched Wayne Bennett cut very good players from the Broncos to get younger faster players into the mix. Essendon was the team I had no idea about. They could have been anything or nothing. They are now like that each week. I thought Carlton would be better. Richmond not so and still think the Suns will make the finals.
Swampy
Guest
Where is your pre-season picks Gene? My picks were terrible. I had Richmond at 6th! I think Freo will come good. Same thing happened last year. They charged home. Sydney look like they problems that run deeper than their play on the field so they are still an unknown in my books. I'm still not convinced by collingwood. They are too inconsistent from week to week and don't score enough. Richmond. Well they just suck. I was one of those that thought Geelong might slip as well. Not for any good reason, just based on the idea that they just can't keep dominating forever. I was clearly wrong.
Strapon1
Guest
Where's the pies on your list axel and the guru 2 all Australian backs out and still winning Mids firing and forward line getting together we will beat Geelong and freo at the end of the season mark my word and hawthorn too they won't go back to back
Barneythecrab
Guest
Well done on the first article. My updated top 8 Hawks Port Collingwood Geelong Fremantle North Adelaide Sydney Port only stay there tho if they can keep up the pace. Still young and a loooooooonnnng season.