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The half-time report part 2: The bottom 10

Roar Pro
11th June, 2014
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My last post looked at the top eight teams in the AFL, but there are another 10 teams that for various reasons are not having such a good year.

Part 2: The Bottom 10

Essendon
(6 wins-5 losses, 106.6%)
The season so far…
The year started swimmingly for the Bombers. A great win over North Melbourne, a close loss to Hawthorn and a total flogging of Carlton had Essendon looking like one of the best teams in it. Three straight losses followed which has left them with ground to make up on the top teams and limited time to do it.
Best win
Their drubbing of Richmond in Round 11 showed the Dons can still do some damage when everything falls into place for them. Having Jake Carlisle back in defence helped enormously
What’s to come
Skipper, Jobe Watson, looks set to miss the rest of the season and it couldn’t have come at a worse time. They have winnable games against Melbourne and Adelaide in the next two weeks, but then face Geelong, Port Adelaide, Collingwood and Sydney in the space of five rounds.
Likely ladder finish
9-11
Best and Fairest
Dyson Heppell should win by a long way.

Adelaide
(5-6, 101.0%)
The season so far…
Adelaide started in atrocious fashion, not getting within six goals of an opponent in their first three starts. Successive games against last years bottom four should’ve got their season back on track if not for a loss at home to Melbourne. While they followed that with a surprise win against Collingwood, they have been unable to sustain winning form.
Best win
The aforementioned Collingwood game was a display of ferocious pressure and could’ve been a bigger win but for some poor goal kicking.
What’s to come
Having Taylor Walker back in top form would go some way to resurrecting the Crows’ season, but it’s hard to see them winning more than half a dozen of their remaining games, which will keep them out of finals contention.
Likely ladder finish
9-11
Best and Fairest
Scott Thompson and Patrick Dangerfield have both been their usual damaging selves, but Brodie Smith has had a breakout season and could be a smoky.

West Coast
(4-7, 110.5%)
The season so far…
‘Flat track bullies’ was the term Garry Lyon used to describe the Eagles and it’s hard to argue with him. Their four wins have come against sides currently occupying spots in the bottom five on the ladder. Coupled with that is the fact that they have been uncompetitive in at least three of their seven losses.
Best win
Round 8 against GWS had them setting various club records and Josh Kennedy kicking 11 goals.
What’s to come
This season is shot to bits. It’s time to start planning for 2016 and find a way up the ladder. They have the talent to play finals but need to find a way to best harness it.
Likely ladder finish
10-14
Best and Fairest
Matthew Priddis has been a shining light and should finish the year with his second consecutive B&F.

Carlton
(4-7, 88.1%)
The season so far…
Losses in the first four rounds, culminating in handing lowly Melbourne their first win for the year, was the worst start imaginable. They won four out of their next five but have been unconvincing all year, particularly for a club that considered itself a finals threat.
Best win
The comeback against West Coast was a win for the ages. They were 23 points down halfway through the last quarter, the Blues kicked the last five goals to win by three points.
What’s to come
Things are going to get worse before they get any better for Carlton. The second half of the season has them up against all of the top nine teams. It’s time for the powers that be to admit they are rebuilding, if only to ease the pressure slightly.
Likely ladder finish
11-14
Best and Fairest
Bryce Gibbs has dealt with the talk of his possible departure by playing his best season for the club.

Richmond
(3-8, 94.4%)
The season so far…
Where to start? Richmond’s season has varied from poor to deplorable. They wreak of a side laden with complacency, as though making the finals last year was the completion of their journey. Hands down the most disappointing team this year.
Best win
The 19 goal win over GWS was the only time they have even resembled the Tigers of 2013.
What’s to come
A great deal of soul searching. They’ll likely lose more games this year than they won last year.
Likely ladder finish
13-15
Best and Fairest
Dustin Martin is about the only player who has maintained his form from last season.

Western Bulldogs
(3-8, 82.7%)
The season so far…
The Dogs are vying with Richmond in the ‘most disappointing’ stakes. A strong finish to 2013 had the Dogs looking like they might take a step forward this year but, aside from an occasional competitive showing, they’ve hardly fired a shot. Many of their players have even gone backwards.
Best win
Their Round 3 win over Richmond seemed, at the time, to be a hard-fought win over a decent side. In the context of the season, though, it may just have been two ordinary sides struggling to win.
What’s to come
A role as percentage boosting fodder for the top sides.
Likely ladder finish
Bottom four.
Best and Fairest
Tom Liberatore is doing enough to join his father, Tony, on the list of Charlie Sutton medalists.

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Melbourne
(3-8, 76.5%)
The season so far…
Paul Roos has made Melbourne into a better team than they’ve been in the last five years. They are still on the wrong side of the odd hiding, but a stronger defensive game has kept them in most games.
Best win
An away win against Adelaide was a coming of age for the young Demons.
What’s to come
They have enough games against teams around them on the ladder to ensure they climb out of the bottom four.
Likely ladder finish
13-15
Best and Fairest
Elevation to the captaincy has been just reward for Nathan Jones. He has been Melbourne’s best player again this year.

Brisbane
(3-8, 62.9%)
The season so far…
Off-field drama and a mini-exodus of players late last year meant this season was never going to be easy for the Lions. Add to that some serious injuries to key players and you have a recipe for disaster. The inexperienced list has started to gel since the bye, though, and have managed to string together consecutive wins.
Best win
The resolve they showed against Carlton showed a growing maturity. Rather than dropping their bundle when they lost the lead they finished strongly to get up by seven points.
What’s to come
Next weeks game against GWS might decide the wooden spoon, but there is plenty of upside for Brisbane.
Likely ladder finish
Bottom four
Best and Fairest
Tom Rockliff has taken his game to a new level.

St. Kilda
(3-8, 62.1%)
The season so far…
The Saints won three out of their first five and some were even talking about an unlikely finals appearance. Nick Riewoldt showed vintage form and the younger players showed some spark. Then came a loss to bottom team, Brisbane, followed by a record loss to Hawthorn and they haven’t won since.
Best win
Essendon got the jump on them in Round 5 but veterans Riewoldt, Lenny Hayes and Leigh Montagna inspired a great win.
What’s to come
They should pinch a couple more wins but the rest of the season will be devoted to developing their young list.
Likely ladder finish
Bottom four
Best and Fairest
Nick Riewoldt has won more best and fairest awards than any other Saint and will add one more this year.

Greater Western Sydney
(2-9, 71.3%)
The season so far…
After winning two out of the first three games it seemed the dawn of the expansion club domination may have arrived. A sequence of eight consecutive losses has put a hold on that idea. Two 100-point losses in a row was a step backwards but the last couple of weeks has put them back on the right path.
Best win
Their Round 1 win over their cross-town rivals, the Swans, will go down as one of the greatest wins in the history of the club. Incredibly, at the end of the year the winner of that game could be wooden spooners and the losers Premiers.
What’s to come
The Giants desperately need more wins to establish credibility. It’s tempting to compare them with fellow expansion club, Gold Coast, but they are a long way off them at the moment. If they can finish higher than 18th it will be a victory.
Likely ladder finish
Bottom four
Best and Fairest
Despite missing a few games to injury, Adam Treloar is having a great year. He leads the club in average disposals and tackles.

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