Christmas Day, the 25th of December every year. Everyone loves the presents and finally crossing things off their wish list. But what would the AFL clubs want for Christmas?
Adelaide – To win the premiership, and get revenge against Richmond
The Crows were easily the best team during the 2017 home-and-away season, but were embarrassed by a hungry Tigers outfit on the first Saturday of October. The Crows will be hoping to put some fear into the Tigers early next season and get revenge, and win a premiership now that they have the ‘missing piece’ to the puzzle, Bryce Gibbs, at the club.
Brisbane – To finish outside the bottom four in 2018
The Lions have plenty of young talent on their list, as well as some fantastic warriors to lead them. Lions fans will be hoping for their team to finish off the bottom, and for Luke Hodge to assist in fast tracking the development of their future.
Carlton – To add some attacking flair to our game
The Blues are on the right track, but need to add some attacking flair to their game to start to make an impact on the competition. They only averaged 72.45 points per game in the 2017 season, and will need more than that to win games.
Collingwood – To improve and show that there is a future in finals with Nathan Buckley steering the ship
Nathan Buckley was surprisingly given a contract extension despite not making finals in 2017. He will be wanting to repay the faith to the Pies board by at least steering them within the top ten, and then aim for finals in 2019.
(Photo by Robert Prezioso/Getty Images)
Essendon – To feature in September action and win a final
The Bombers haven’t won a final since 2004, and will be hoping that that changes in 2018. They were demolished by the near-unbeatable Swans in 2017, but they will be hoping that the recruitments of Devon Smith, Jake Stringer, and Adam Saad change that.
Fremantle – For at least half of their 2017 draft class to make an immediate impact in 2018
The Dockers drafted young players who are the future of the club, whom they will be hoping can make an impact immediately as well. They drafted Andrew Brayshaw, Adam Cerra, Hugh Dixon, Mitch Crowden, Tom North, Lloyd Meek, Sam Switkowski, and Scott Jones in the national draft. Andrew Brayshaw and Adam Cerra definitely look like making an immediate impact, while late picks North, Switkowski, and Jones could all play at some stage in 2018.
Geelong – For Gary Ablett to play sixteen or more games next season
The little master Gary Ablett has returned to the Cattery; however, it has been well documented that he has had injury troubles over the past four seasons, having played less than fifteen games in all four of the seasons. The Cats will be hoping that his injuries don’t flare up again in 2018.
Gold Coast – To win at least two games
The Suns are near on restarting their rebuild, as if it were 2011 and they only just entered the competition. They have a new coach in Stuart Dew, and Gary Ablett isn’t on their list for the first time in their short existence. Dew will be hoping to blood plenty of young talent and at least win two games in the process.
GWS – To make it to the grand final
The Giants are stock-filled with talent on every line. The defence has Phil Davis, Heath Shaw, and Aidan Corr. The midfield has Dylan Sheil, Callan Ward, and Stephen Coniglio. The forward line has Jeremy Cameron and Jonathon Patton.
That’s only a short list of talent at the Giants. However, they have only made it to the preliminary finals in the past two seasons, and have lost two eventual premiers Richmond and the Bulldogs in both of them. They will be hoping fortune finally gives them a grand final appearance.
(AAP Image/Julian Smith)
Hawthorn – To continue to develop their next batch of premiership stars
The Hawks are in the middle of developing their list, and will be hoping many of their young stars start to gel together as a group and form their next premiership team.
Melbourne – To feature in September action
Dees fans have been starved of September action since 2006, and will be hoping to be there in 2018. They were so close in 2017, but stumbled at the last hurdle, but Jake Lever will hopefully assist their defence and make an immediate impact.
North Melbourne – For Luke Davies-Uniacke to win the 2018 Rising Star Award and announce himself as a future star
Pick 4. The Roos earliest pick since they had pick 3 in the 2006 draft, whom they used to select Lachie Hansen. It has been well documented that North Melbourne don’t have many A-Grade stars on their list, and they will be hoping Luke Davies-Uniacke becomes just that, an A-Grade star.
Port Adelaide – For their recruits to fire in 2018 and make the top four
The Power went all out in trade period, recruiting Steven Motlop, Tom Rockliff, Trent McKenzie, Jack Trengove, Jack Watts, and Lindsay Thomas. They will be hoping that their shopping spree pays off and at least four of their recruits fire in 2018 to repel them into the top four.
Richmond – To not have a premiership hangover in 2018
There’s not much for Richmond to have on their wish list. They’ve won a final, won a premiership, and reached 70,000 members prior to Christmas. They will be hoping that they don’t repeat what the Dogs did and end up with a premiership hangover to miss finals in 2018.
St Kilda – For Patrick McCartin to stay injury-free and play more than fourteen senior games
With Nick Riewoldt hanging up the boots, Patrick McCartin suddenly has increased pressure. He’s had plenty of concussion issues over the past couple of years, and the Saints will be hoping he can put it behind him and make an impact at senior level next year.
Sydney – To win at least one of their first six games, and make the top four
The Swans limped their way to 0-6 in the first six games, before suddenly re-emerging and only losing three on their next nineteen games. They will be hoping to win one of those first six games, and challenge for the top four and a premiership before the window closes and their older players start to slow down.
West Coast – To develop some exciting youngsters in 2018
The Eagles are entering a new era, and they will be hoping that many of their youngsters are exciting players with plenty of potential. 2018 will be the year to start developing them and build a strong lead-pad to the future.
Western Bulldogs – For Tom Boyd to repay the faith the Bulldogs have shown him
Tom Boyd played a great game on grand final day in 2016, but that was his last good game, having struggled with depression and form in 2017. The Dogs will want him to play to his potential and kick a few bags in 2018.
Chris
Guest
The genuine physical contest or run directly at the ball are a thing of the past. The fine athletes who graced this great game will never come back. I fear that the emphasis on midfielders and ball carriers will inevitably lead to fewer spectacular marking players a la Billy Picken or Peter Knights and that has also taken away the glamour of being a Full Forward. No more Hudsons, McKennas, Roaches, Locketts, etc. The game has changed and sadly for the worse.It is a case of catch me if you can rather than I'll do you at all costs. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWfiAoGH6_E Just a pleasant reminder on what we are missing. Now, I was a teenager at the Punt Road end just behind this speccie at the John Greening comeback game. Billy was playing Centre Half Forward and John on the Half Forward Flank. Both gave a real gala performance that day and took marks the way they should be taken and played as genuine forwards not running receivers! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpLO_5PzkzI
Jon boy
Guest
Your Waffling Again, i am simply not arguing anything !!!
Don Freo
Guest
You've forgotten your argument again. You say it's 'sad stuff' to not contest the tap and yet you argue for the best in the world to be dropped. You need to sort out which conflicting opinion you want to argue.
Jon boy
Guest
All true Chris, Todays midfielders are generally better but the ruckman of today are a very ,very long way behind the ones you have mentioned, will we ever see a turnaround i doubt. Naturally the game has changed so much congestion with all 36 players all up one end of the ground for long periods of time unfortunately. You do not see the big match ups anymore,coaches Beverage and Scott in particular are quite content to let the opposition win the Tap,Sad stuff.
Chris
Guest
Who can forget the following match-ups:- Farmer vs Nicholls; Nicholls vs Thompson; Thompson vs. Dempsey; Moss vs Thompson; Scott vs Keenan; Moore vs Fitzpatrick; Green vs Nicholls; Ditterich vs The World. Now, I remember buying a Footy Record and wondering which big man would dominate and give his team the cutting edge and victory. I hated Richmond but T-shirt Tommy swore by Mike Green. He was unheralded but gave his all for the Tigers, especially in September. I still think that without a dominant ruckman you go nowhere fast and they are the cornerstone of Finals participation and eventually success. Leigh Mathews swore by Don Scott. Adrian Gallagher by Big Nick. Wayne Richardson by Len Thompson. Kevin Bartlett by Mike Green etc etc etc.
Chris
Guest
Any of the guys I mentioned above would slaughter these modern day ruckmen. I did overlook a legend who gave everything on the pitch and at centre bounces. THE INIMICAL DON SCOTT. Now, I am proud to say that even the great Leigh Matthews said recently in an interview that Len Thompson was by far the best Collingwood player he's seen over the past fifty years. I would agree with him because he carried those teams that were lacking key position players and had Collingwood six-footers all over the park. As regards Polly Farmer, I would say he was by far the most innovative big man I have ever seen play our great game. He defined handball as an art and made Billy Goggin look like twice as good as he actually was. Then, Big Nick defined what a team leader was all about,. He drove his smaller chargers to greater heights. He protected, bullocked, shepherded and did everything you would expect of a captain. Those types simply don't cross the white line any more. Surprisingly enough, Don Sciott had a lot of the credentials displayed by Big Nick. I'm afraid to say...THOSE WERE THE DAYS!
Peppsy
Roar Guru
Burton played the last 3 matches of his first year tho...
Don Freo
Guest
Nicholls was only one of the ruckmen in the VFL. Doesn't rank as a great. Not close to Farmer or Moss. He was a short boy who would never touch the ball in a bounce down against Sandi or Cox. You are blinded by the exaggerated romance of 'the old days'. Cox was not a Stephen Michael type.
Jon boy
Guest
Obviously you saw nothing (or very little of them) to rate Cox and Sandilands better than them . Maybe your being biased towards WA ....Nicholls was by a very ,very long way better, Moss (ex WA) the same ,streets ahead of Cox and Sandi......Cox was a Brilliant footballer more in the Stephen Michael type. Sandilands has won a hell of a lot of taps...Simply because he is so much taller than his smaller opponents .67% taps go to opposition averages only 2 Marks a game ( includes chest marks) at 211 cm that is very poor.
Don Freo
Guest
Cox and Sandi better than all except Farmer but none would beat Sandi in the ruck alone.
Jon boy
Guest
Farmer the greatest,Nicholls,Thompson,Moss, Moore,and Dempsey unfortunately we have not seen a ruckman of this class for years,Farmer was like Bradman.was to cricket.
jonboy
Guest
Love that first line Chris,,,,,,obvious to people who know there footy,
jonboy
Guest
Zac Guthrie is a pure example,gee how good is this kid going to be when he puts on some weight or does it really matter ?
Don Freo
Guest
Not a problem at Freo. Drafted a gem ruckman (Darcy) last year who should have got a Rising Star nomination and drafted 2 very big boys (Jones and Meek) this year. They get to learn under the best tap ruckman ever.
Chris
Guest
Play the kids and blood talent. The only way to create depth and versatility is to do precisely that. I cannot agree with current AFL club thinking in not drafting big men. They need time but that can only come with opportunities. Big men just don't grow on trees or spring up out of nowhere. Quick fix solution thinking is bad for the game because it does not create club spirit or loyalty. It is pure T-model Ford production-line thinking. Pathetic in my view...Let's look at some legends of the game: Polly Farmer, John Nicholls, Mike Green, Len Thompson, Graham Moss, Gary Dempsey, Peter Moore, Mike Fitzpartrick, Stephen Kernahan,Simon Madden etc. Our game would be much the poorer without these kinds of players,....I am a loyal black and white man and can never forget the great games Len Thompson put in for our club. Regardless of flags, failures and lack of finals success he was always there to give the small blokes a hand and make them feel three to four inches taller. Besides, the tall blokes never seem to lack majesty and nobility. Even mean and nasty Carl Diterrich had a glow of elegance about him...
Jon boy
Guest
That is great sensible stuff Cat.
Mattyb
Guest
Gene,I think the conversation from my angle isn't about whether you should or shouldn't gift games to players but more the fact some clubs do. Each to their own I guess depending on certain circumstances. Different circumstances obviously for different clubs considering where they are at,Brisbane and Carlton do which I understand seeing where they are,the dogs do and Beveridge has his reasons,Geelong certainly don't and nor do the Dockers up to this point,which I expect to continue while RTB is in charge.
Cat
Roar Guru
You don't 'gift' kids games. You make them earn them. The problem is some coaches get too set on their favourites and stick with them even when their form is poor and someone in the reserves has earned a shot. Kids do need to know if their form warrants it they will be honestly considered for selection. The only exception is when there are multiple injuries in a position and a club has no choice but to call up a kid who may not be ready. But a club has to be honest and have both eyes open, because sometimes a kid who didn't look ready just excels when called up. Zach Guthrie is one at Geelong who probably doesn't have as mature of a body as the club will like but got called up when injuries and suspensions decimated the side and he ended up playing 9 games, including two finals, even though he looks like a 12 year old twig he showed no fear and lots of ability, he earned the right to keep getting selected.
Jon boy
Guest
Due respect but English,Dale and Collins points are all very Hypothetical points Matty.
Mattyb
Guest
Jon boy,some people would argue that English playing in the close loss to Sydney went along way to the dogs losing that game though. I also remember a close game against the Dockers at Docklands when Dale was gifted a game we could have won in 2015,where the result might have been different if someone else played,and Collins being gifted a game against GWS where he was completely shown up and we lost due to whoever he went to kicking goals. I'm going to be far more patient with Cerra and Brayshaw than many and think they'll develop perfectly fine at Peel next year. There's no rush mate,the dockers list has plenty of alternate youth that RTB will turn to first from previous drafts.