We love to banter and argue in pre-season, but when all is said and done, the question of “who’s going to be better?” is at the heart of every debate.
This week, we’re dividing the AFL up into five groups of roughly equivalent teams and asking you that vital question for 2018 – who’s going to finish highest on the ladder of them?
Vote in our poll and let us know in the comments who of these four teams you think is going to finish higher on the ladder in 2018, and why.
Essendon Bombers
The Bombers hit the trade period hard, bringing in established players, Jake Stringer (Western Bulldogs), Devon Smith (GWS) and Adam Saad (Gold Coast), in an attempt to fast track their premiership push.
All three compliment an Essendon side coming off a first week finals exit last season. Stringer, especially, has made an immediate impact at his new club and looks set for increased midfield time this season.
Meanwhile, Joe Daniher had a breakthrough season in 2017 and looks set to continue that into this season. He booted a career- high 65 goals, to finish third in the Coleman medal race, while also averaging 15.3 disposals per game.
If Daniher can replicate or improve on this output, the Bombers will rise up the ladder.
(AAP Image/Julian Smith)
Western Bulldogs
Following on from their miracle premiership in 2016, the Bulldogs followed it up last year with… not making the finals.
While their 2017 wasn’t the best, it’s easy to hypothesize that with a rejigged team and lowered expectations, they Bulldogs should return to some of their better football.
They’ve lost Jake Stringer, but gained Josh Schache, Hayden Crozier and Jackson Trengrove, who should be solid inclusions.
With the rest of their ‘group’ including the Saints and Melbourne, and a formidable Essendon, it won’t be a surprise to see the Dogs bettering the maturing duo of former teams and they should be better than the Dons.
Melbourne Demons
I’ve been a big fan of what Melbourne are building for a while now and as 2018 dawns, all the pieces look to be in place for a quick rise up the ladder.
They’ve got one of the best ruckmen in the league in Max Gawn and surrounding him is a midfield with the guts to grind an opponent down into a fine past.
On top of that though they’ve got a nice layer of pace and class coming from players like Christian Petracca, Christian Salem and Jayden Hunt.
Up forward they’ve got one of the best young key forwards in the league and down back they’ve got the best key defender in the league. What more could they want for?
These players are all ready to come of age and it could take just two or three having real breakout seasons to drive them a top-four finish.
(Photo by Adam Trafford/AFL Media/Getty Images)
St Kilda Saints
Many expected the Saints to take the next step into finals football in 2017, but that progress was delayed a further year after quite a middling season.
Despite the loss of club champions Nick Riewoldt and Leigh Montagna, St Kilda are well-placed to finally push up into the top eight this year.
They are well-coached by the wise Alan Richardson, who has an underrated midfield at his disposal, led by Seb Ross, Jack Steven, David Armitage and Jack Sinclair.
With Paddy McCartin ready to repay the faith and a backline stiffened by experienced duo Jack Carlisle and Nathan Brown, the Saints will be one of the teams to displace last year’s premiership contenders.
Thanks for voting in our poll! Final results:
1. Essendon Bombers 45.4 per cent
2. Melbourne Demons 28.3 per cent
3. Western Bulldogs 17.5 per cent
4. St Kilda Saints 8.8 per cent
Dankswonderelixir
Guest
Essendon play an attractive brand of football at times but the grunt work and some of their defence is lacking at key moments. Blowing a nineteen point lead in just over 3 minutes against the Swans should never happen or leading by 30 odd against the eventual wooden spooners are two examples that spring to mind.. They should still be around that 7-8 spot.
Don Freo
Guest
Progress, yes. Better? No.
Rissole
Guest
In saying that, I'm very happy with the progress of McGrath, Parish, McKenna, Merrett, Fantasia & Daniher who are all the same age or younger than the players you have mentioned.
Don Freo
Guest
If you look at Melbourne you'll see how I can say that. Petracca, Viney, Brayshaw, Hogan et al are further down the track than Essendon's youth. Making the 8 last year means nothing. The predictions are about this year.
Thatsashame
Guest
Not sure how you can say that Don. The bombers were the only team in that group to actually make finals last year and will clearly be better this year. The young kids coming through get better as does their recruiting. The bombers are absolute finals certainty. Demons should be, bulldogs might be and saints won't be.
Don Freo
Guest
Certainly Melbourne and Doggies have Essendon covered. Saints are a no brainer for the bottom of this lot and Melbourne at the top. Essendon are really over-hyped right now. So much is at the feet of unproven kids.
1der
Guest
The Bombers have only a couple of areas to address, tackling pressure and clearances at stoppages. Fix those and it's all over red rover.
1der
Guest
The Bombers have the worst midfield group in the competition bar Carlton & Bulldogs and their tackling pressure is with the cellar dwellers. Watson was their one and only contested midfielder. The Demons have plenty of upside of this group to finish top 4.
phil.osopher
Guest
Essendon are the obvious choice. St Kilda is anyone's guess. The Dogs have lost their bite. And the Dees seem anything but demons at training, let alone on the field.
JamesH
Roar Guru
I think it's too early to tell whether or not the bombers have addressed their needs. Two of those three recruits are slated for significant time in the midfield. Smith is a hard nut who wins his own ball, despite his lack of height, and could turn out to be the best value acquisition. Stringer is the bigger body they wanted and has the attributes to burst away from stoppages - it just remains to be seen whether he can improve his tank and work ethic to the level required to be a midfield star. The signs seem good so far but then everyone's a champion in the preseason. The likes of Parish and McGrath should add even more value in 2018, while Heppell and Myers will be better after a year back in the game.
mattyb
Guest
I'd agree Jermayn that McDonald is a much better defender but will play forward. Interestingly out of this group I'd say Hooker is a much better defender but he'll also play forward,and for the dogs Adams is a much better defender but he to I suspect will play forward out of necessity.
DH
Guest
It's out of Melbourne and Essendon for me. Melbourne had key injuries hamper the last season and a bit. Essendon seem to be on the right trajectory, but have a few weaknesses still to address. I think Melbourne would be the safer bet of these 4, but I'm tipping the Bombers.
truetigerfan
Guest
Melbourne! They will replace Essendon in the 8.
Jermayn
Guest
Think he is a more natural back but agree he will play forward with Lever coming into the side out of necessity with Watts leaving in the off season.
TomC
Roar Guru
Do you think McDonald is better back? I think he should play as a permanent forward, and I think that's what the Demons intend to do with Lever coming into the side. I'd prefer McDonald to play a bit further up the ground though and leave Hogan close to goal.
Jermayn
Guest
The one weakness I see with Melbourne is their depth in key stocks up forward. Hogan is/ will be a star but apart from that with Watts gone and McDonald playing better back who? Think they need more goal kickers
Jermayn
Guest
Agree Essendon picked up some good additions but they didn't actually address their needs. This has me worried that we will again see a similar season as last with some exciting football but flopping come September when you have to win your own ball with the 'big three' all seagulls at best. Melbourne should be the team that finishes higher but can they? They where top four for a few weeks last year and whether they got drunk on their own 'success' or are still suffering some mental demons only time will tell. Im still tipping Melbourne to finish higher but very cautious about them. One thing is for sure, having the best team on paper means squat. Just look at Richmond, Bulldogs and Sydney for example.
Harsh Truth Harry
Roar Rookie
The Bombers shouldn't be grouped with these clown clubs! (Except the Doggies, they go ok) Bombers to win the whole thing in 2018 beating Port in the GF!
mattyb
Guest
Another good grouping here. It's highly probable that one of these clubs will play finals this year while the possibility of two is also high. St.Kilda...I doubt it's them. St.kilda aren't the worst side in the the league but much of the youth they had hope in are turning out to be ok players but nothing special. There list now seems very plain,with not much star talent at all. Billings could still become a star but he's got an awfully long way to go. Footscray... The dogs have a very strong defence,a very strong midfield but not much of a forward line at all. The dogs have been renowned for their extremely strong depth but with the rules regarding delisting the depth has now been filtered back quite a lot. This does mean though that they now have a few players we don't know much about,but I highly doubt any of these players will have much impact in 2018. Essendon...The bombers rise back up the ladder last year was one of the great stories of 2017. A strong defence,super forward line and some super top end talent in the midfield. If they do have a weakness it would be midfield depth. Essendon should be again right in finals contention this year. Melbourne should play finals this year but you don't make finals because you should. A very balanced list,with many players offering strength as well as points of difference on every line. I thought Melbourne had some really good set ups last year and the coaches showed some real innovation. Melbourne's not really missing anything at all,I suspect how they go will have more to do with the above the shoulders stuff than anything else. They certainly need to not let the young players get ahead of themselves, not playing finals this year would be very disappointing.
Rob
Guest
St Kilda aside this ones hard - bombers recruited spectacularly well but the demons youngsters are about to come of age and we know what the dogs are capable of. Im going Melbourne - 20% bias and 80% because they should be a top 4 side with the list they now have. Id comfortably pick 3 of the 4 for top 8