2015 is destined to be yet another historic year in the world of the Australian Football League.
Records and achievements will both be set and broken. The season will be filled with statistics and highlights that will create history.
Here are seven predictions that I feel are bound to happen in season 2015, assisting in making the campaign an unforgettable one.
7. Dustin Fletcher will play game 400 and retire at the end of the season
After debuting in 1993, Dustin Fletcher will enter his 23rd season stranded on 393 career games. 2015 will be the season that Fletcher will become only the third player in the game’s history to reach the coveted 400 game milestone – only Michael Tuck and Kevin Bartlett have achieved the feat previously.
Fletcher will turn 40 early next season and playing 400 games will only add to the long list of achievements the durable defender already has in his career, which will end in retirement sometime in 2015.
6. Brent Harvey will play game 400
History will continue to be made in the milestones department as Brent ‘Boomer’ Harvey will not long after Fletcher achieve his 400th career game. The 36-year-old midfielder will be the second player in the season do reach the milestone and the fourth of all time.
Harvey has kicked more than 450 goals, at over one goal a game average, and is also a premiership player at North Melbourne. Harvey, being three years younger than Fletcher, will likely continue his career beyond 2015 and add to his already impressive goals tally.
5. Gold Coast Suns win a final
From the night of the 2010 draft is was obvious the Gold Coast Suns were destined for greatness. Four and a half years later the Suns will enter their fifth season with a team of players with five pre-seasons under their belts and ready to explode.
The Suns weren’t shy about stating the five-year premiership plan and while that statement may be a slight long shot in 2015, expect the Suns to fire during periods of the season. With a new coach, a midfield of young raw talent that clubs dream of, and a serious developing forward line, I see Gold Coast up at around sixth on the ladder and winning an elimination final, building confidence for 2016 and onwards.
4. Matt Priddis justifies Brownlow win
When Matt Priddis won the 2014 Brownlow Medal, many were unaware of the Western Australian’s dominance. For years Priddis damaged opposition and in 2014 he led the competition for handballs, disposals and tackles, finally being rewarded in taking home the Brownlow for his efforts.
In 2015 Priddis will justify his dominance in having a consistent if not better season in 2015, proving his Brownlow victory and leaving his mark as an elite midfielder in the game, if he hasn’t already.
3. Hawthorn play fourth consecutive grand final
The era of success for Hawthorn will continue, as the Hawks aim for their third premiership in a row. The Hawks have been playing on the last Saturday in September since 2012 and will be eyeing off a fourth consecutive grand final birth.
The Hawks’ talent will get them to the Big Dance, however I can see another team just too good for them in 2015, ending their dominance of the past two premiership seasons.
2. Lance Franklin wins back-to-back Coleman Medals
Lance Franklin will continue to add to his career goals total, winning his second Coleman Medal with the Sydney Swans. The man they call Buddy will surpass the 700-goal milestone to take out his fourth Coleman of his career and add to his list off achievements in dominating the current generation of forwards.
1. Midfielders: The future is now
As a fan of Back to the Future II, travelling to 2015, the future is now for the next generation of midfielders to begin. The crop of midfielders in the 22 to 24 year age bracket will develop into a new era of midfielding stars.
Players such as Gary Ablett, Dane Swan, and Chris Judd that we have all grown accustomed to will now make way for the likes of Trent Cotchin, Nathan Fyfe, Jack Ziebell, Tom Liberatore and David Swallow. 2015 will be a dawn of fresh faces dominating midfield statistics and setting the tones as the future elite players of the next few seasons.
Who’s in your ultimate team? Pick the best team and compete with other fans for daily prizes on Draftstars. For the best odds on the game try out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Think. Is this a bet you really want to place? Set a deposit limit.
Plenty of mayo on this one from the Norm Smith Medallist!
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