With the Richmond Tigers’ premiership win closing season 2017 on Saturday and the Trade Period starting just days away as well as the Draft to come, the dust is yet to settle on 2017.
But hey, here is my prediction for how the ladder will take shape after the home-and-away season in 2018.
1 – Geelong
May have veterans gone, but still have some talent in them including Patrick Dangerfield, Daniel Menzel and Joel Selwood.
2 – Adelaide
They are an awesome side and the best team of 2017 heading into the Grand Final, however they will go one better and defeat Geelong in the big dance.
3 – Greater Western Sydney
May have lost Steve Johnson but have some talent. Their best can certainly take them all the way. However, a third straight prelim final loss is predicted.
4 – Melbourne
Set to enjoy their best season in more a decade. Their spine looks just about set. Just need to continue on from last year and the entire team needs to have better discipline.
(Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
5 – West Coast
May have scraped into the top eight and have also lost Drew Petrie, Matt Priddis and Sam Mitchell but I do see them having an awesome 2018 with the return of Nic Natanui and Josh Kennedy firing up again.
6 – Western Bulldogs
They will recover from last year’s drop and fire up next year. May have lost Stringer but I can see this team be back to their best.
7 – Sydney
Started 2017 0-6 then finish 6th. They have an awesome team which also includes some younger talented inexperienced players and always seem to have an immediate impact in the game.
8 – Richmond
From 13th to Premiers in a grand final. The Tigers have really stepped up their game and knocked off top sides but I see them only just scraping into the eight.
9 – Port Adelaide
With the inability to defeat top sides I can’t see them being at their best in 2018.
10 – Essendon
Went from wooden spoon to finals. Though they have lost Jobe Watson and has some talent in Joe Daniher and Andrew McDonald-Tipungwuti, they will drop off a bit won’t be able to fire up much.
11 – Fremantle
Started 2017 well but however trailed off. I can see them improving in 2018 but they just need to be a little more aggressive going forward.
12 – Hawthorn
One or two kids that look the goods, but other than Tom Mitchell, their recruiting is not a pretty sight from here. Still a rebuilding side with the loss of Hodge but should still cause a few upsets.
(AAP Image/Julian Smith)
13 – St Kilda
Not a decent rebuild. A lot of fast paced players, but the skill isn’t there. Have lost Nick Riewoldt and I see them dropping off a bit in 2018 but should still cause upsets.
14 – North Melbourne
Were expected to drop in 2017, They are still a rebuilding side but should be back to their best soon with the talent of young players.
15 – Collingwood
May have defeated a few 2017 top eight sides but need to perform less like seagulls at the chip and takes risks with pushing the ball forward.
16 – Brisbane
Will improve a bit. One of the youngest sides coached by a well-experienced man. A few more young players could prove to be potential stars.
17 – Gold Coast
This team have lost Gary Ablett. Very inconsistent, a lot of pace and but extremely sloppy. However they will be back to their best soon.
18 – Carlton
Will continue to rebuild and will climb up the ladder soon but will need to continue to improve on the depth for the midfield.
James Kent-Fermanis
Guest
1. Sydney A really Amazing side who have Buddy Franklin and have Great Talent
Jack
Guest
This is my prediction 1 PORT ADELAIDE 2 GEELONG 3 ADELAIDE 4 GWS GIANTS 5 SYDNEY 6 ESSENDON 7 RICHMOND 8 HAWTHORN 9 MELBOURNE 10 WEST COAST 11 COLLINGWOOD 12 WESTERN BULLDOGS 13 FREMANTLE 14 ST KILDA 15 BRISBANE 16 NTH MELBOURNE 17 GOLD COAST 18 CARLTON
Liam Wathen
Guest
First time I've seen someone not overhype the Swans, however I don't see Geelong or Melbourne in the top four. They will make the eight though. I don't believe there's any possible way that West Coast or the Bulldogs will make the eight either, I mean West Coast a lot of their colonel talent while Bulldogs have no one to kick it to in the forward other than Dickson, Dale and Redpath who all would only kick an occasional goal or two. They're more likely to be in the bottom four than top eight. Port Adelaide and Essendon will both be in the top four (and not missing top eight) due to their stunning trade period and an easier fixture. Plus there is a lot of potential with both teams. 11th to 13th is okay but North Melbourne are too high (I expect them to win the wooden spoon). Collingwood won't make the eight but they won't finish that low. Gold Coast and Brisbane's positions are both right however I think you are a bit too negative with Carlton's ladder position. Sure they won't be anywhere near finals contention but I don't see them finishing rock bottom.
Chancho
Roar Rookie
eeeeuuuuugggghhhhh.... I forgot about that bloke... thanks for reminding me
Crowman
Guest
Very ordinary prediction, this will have to be mine. 1. Adelaide (Will have learnt from mistakes last year, will be a powerhouse again) (17 Wins) 2. GWS (Will have learnt from the past 2 years, with less injuries will be a whole lot better) (16 Wins) 3. Geelong (Same old Geelong, will make top 4 again as usual. (16 Wins) 4. Port (With the addition of Rockliff and maybe even Jack Watts and Motlop, will be tough to beat next year) (15 Wins) 5. Sydney (Will lose the first 3 games of the season, which will cost them a top 4 spot. (14 Wins) 6. Richmond (A bit of a premiership hangover, will still be good) (13 Wins) 7. Melbourne (Unlucky last year, got a bit ahead of themselves and dropped a few easy games) (13 Wins) 8. Essendon (With the addition of Jake Stringer will make their forward line even better) (12 Wins) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 9. Western Bulldogs (Will have improved from 2017, will miss the 8 on %) (12 Wins) 10. Collingwood (Massive improvement from the last 3 years, will still miss the 8 though) (11 Wins) 11. Brisbane (A surprise package in 2018, with the addition of Luke Hodge and young talent emerging) (10 Wins) 12. Hawthorn (Will be rebuilding for at least another 2 years) (8 Wins) 13. St Kilda (A bit of a disappointing year in 2017, should've made finals really) (8 Wins) 14. Carlton (Same as Brisbane, a lot of young talent and will have a good trade season) (8 Wins) 15. West Coast (West Coast are in for a long year, didn't really deserve to make finals and lost experience) (6 Wins) 16. Fremantle (Rebuild stage for Fremantle, in for another long year with again multiple 100+ point losses) (5 Wins) 17. Gold Coast (Rebuilding, will have less wins in 2018 but will be competitive in 20 out of the 22 games. (4 Wins) 18. North Melbourne (Rebuilding, narrowly avoided the wooden spoon last year, will get it this year) (3 Wins) My tip of premiers? Crows, GWS, Sydney and Port will be the major contenders)
Samuel
Guest
Can't see this happening at all. Can't see West Coast getting into the 8, neither the Bulldogs. If I were you I would swap Sydney with Melbourne and Port with West Coast. Also swap Richmond with Bulldogs then Bulldogs with Essendon. Also swap Brisbane with North Melbourne and Carlton with Gold Coast.
Jakarta Fan
Roar Rookie
Sorry, but your ladder and assessments are comical.
MT
Guest
Shocker of a list. Carlton, Collingwood, St Kilda and Sydney will all finish higher than this prediction and there is no way West Coast will finish as high as 5th. Unlikely that the Cats will also finish that high.
Rob
Guest
I bloody well hope so!
Cat
Roar Guru
So put your neck out and give us your prediction then.
BluesBoy86
Guest
On the hawks and dark horse comment I do agree, but also take into account they had more injuries to senior players than any other club....and that curse known as Vickery.
BluesBoy86
Guest
the fact that you have Hawthorn in 12th even though their backline was all but crippled with injuries as were a lot of their senior players this year who are all set to return next season is ridiculous, if you're going to do a premature 2018 ladder at least know all the facts first, and to assume Richmond wont finish top 4 again is downright insane oh and to put the blues on the bottom, yeah they are rebuilding, yeah they had a pretty poor season, but they are heading in the right direction unlike a certain QLD based club that isn't brisbane, or a certain melbourne based club that wears blue and white stripes.
Alex MacGill
Roar Rookie
Melbourne will not finish 5th. The bulldogs are not going to do much next year either I think.
Alex MacGill
Roar Rookie
Lmaooooo. So many things wrong with this.
Anthony
Roar Pro
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery Connor :) 1. Tigers. Tigers will become the new Hawks. Defensive team. Swarming defence. Will add attack next season. 2. Sydney. Stuffed up start of 2016 and ran out of puff making finals. Will get next season right from the start. 3. GWS. Great list. Play on 2nd skinniest ground in the comp. Helps strengthen home ground advantage. 4. Adelaide. Won't get the 6-0 start like they did in 2017. Will still be a force and will be better at the MCG in 2018. 5. Geelong. Not many teams play well on the skinniest pitch in the AFL against quality Geelong teams. Odds in Geelongs favour to make finals. 6. Melbourne. Next best MCG tenant team. Lever set to join them from Crows to add some starch at the back. 7. West Coast. Pedigree club like Swans. Need one year to mature with loss of experienced heads and adapting to new stadium. 8. Western Bulldogs. Can they find the Bulldogs spirit and style of 2016? 9. Port Adelaide. Couldn't beat top 8 sides. But if they mirror the swarming defence of the Tigers, they'll be there deep in September. 10. Essendon. Agree Jobe Watson out. Need a few years to be a force. 11. Lions. If they secure Hodge, Lions will be the biggest mover in 2018, and a top 8 team by 2020. Need to also, AFL in QLD is dying. 12. Hawthorn. Lost Hodge. Rebuilding. That said. They are the dark horse of the competition. 13. St Kilda. Agree. No Nick Riewoldt. 14. Fremantle. Will be learning to play at new stadium. Will rise in 2019/2020. 15. Collingwood. Lottery team. Some days GF quality. Other days an also ran. Need to get consistency. 16. North Melbourne. Rebuild phase. 17. Carlton. 18. Gold Coast. Seriously need to emulate GWS recruitment strategy. Then for GF... I'll go with one MCG tenants to make it. 8/10 last GF finalists have been MCG tenants. If a tenant team can secure top 4, it is equivalent to a minor premiership advantage. 2008 – Hawks (Premiers) 2009 2010 – Collingwood GF (Premiers) 2011 – Collingwood GF (runners up) 2012 – Hawks (runners up) 2013 – Hawks (Premiers) 2014 – Hawks (Premiers) 2015 – Hawks (Premiers) 2016 – 2017 – Richmond (Premiers)
Mattyb
Guest
Port off to a good start with Rockliff nominating them.
Alphingtonian
Roar Pro
Bold move putting ladder out this early kid. Having said that Geelong on top pffft. Tigers will get over their hangover and be up there again. Nobody has an answer to them at their best and no other team has a group of players able to implement the pressure driven small super fast forward line pressure Tiger style of footy as well as them.
Josh
Expert
Admire you putting this out there Connar. I disagree with more than a few of the selections, but I would've disagreed a fair bit twelve months ago with anyone who accurately predicted what the 2017 ladder would be.
Liam
Guest
Yes! If you're willing to go back to 1897 and 1924 at least.
DrWildare
Guest
Predicting ladder positions prior to the free agency period, the trade period, the draft and the rookie draft is about valuable, useful or reliable as picking the Melbourne Cup winner prior to first acceptances.