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.
Yesterday our voters tipped that Essendon would finish higher than Melbourne, the Bulldogs or St Kilda, the Bombers winning 45.4 per cent of the vote.
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.
Geelong Cats
Gary Ablett. Need I say more? The returning dual Brownlow Medallist won’t be expected to play all 22 games, but if the Cats can manage him through the 2018 campaign, specifically by playing him predominantly forward, Geelong will be a team to be reckoned with, especially after a year in which they became quite susceptible up forward.
Throw in star Patrick Dangerfield, courageous leader Joel Selwood and the ever-improved Mitch Duncan, you have a recipe for premiership success, something the depth-affected GWS and Swans lack.
(Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)
Sydney Swans
Sydney are a very good team. Geelong and GWS are also very good teams. But the team that flies the flag for Sydney’s illustrious Eastern suburbs will finish higher than those two in ‘18.
Sydney’s 2017 came to a bitterly disappointing end against the Cats, but this is a team that we’ve seen come back time and time again.
Sydney’s a team often revered for their competitiveness and the completeness of the team, and I can certainly see that again this year.
With one of the best lists in the competition (and an abundance of young, talented kids), Sydney should (somewhat) comfortably better their NSW opponents. Games with Geelong will be intriguing to watch, though!
GWS Giants
After two successive preliminary finals exits, the Giants are ready to take the next step and play in their maiden Grand final. The Giants are in their premiership window and are ready to take home their first flag.
Former Tiger, Brett Deledio can play at either end of the ground and is an elite kick. Calf injuries restricted Deledio to just 7 games in his first season as a Giant, but if he can play more frequently this season, he will help propel the Giants up the ladder.
Deledio will have added incentive to taste premiership glory after watching his former side pip the Giants for a Grand final spot then take out the 2017 premiership.
Thanks for voting in our poll! Final results:
Geelong Cats 51 per cent
Sydney Swans 32.7 per cent
GWS Giants 16.3 per cent
Cat
Roar Guru
Nakia Cockatoo (20), Brandan Parfitt (19), Lincoln McCarthy (24), Jake Kolodjashnij (22), Tim Kelly (23), James Parsons (20) should all be in or around the best 22. Jackson Thurlow (23), Zach Guthrie (19), Sam Simpson (19) have all gotten a taste of and produced at AFL level as well.
Connolly
Guest
Is Geelong pinning its hopes on anyone under the age of 25? Is there any chance we might see Neil Trezise, Kenny Hovey , Reg Hickey in this golden era outfit????
Connolly
Guest
Mate McVeigh has been off the boil since 2012. Mercifully, the venerable veteran doesn't play in the mid field. Nor does Grundy. Dan Hanneberry will turn 26 on the 24 February this year, Parker is 25 and Kennedy is 29. Also Kennedy was lightly raced to use a horse racing expression in his early career thanks to the sheer arrogance and incompetence of little Alistair. Unlike Kennedy Selwood and Ablett, both much smaller than Kennedy have taken years of battering. If their bodies stand up to another season and a finals campaign, Geelong's medical staff should get the Nobel prize for medicine. They wont make it. Old blokes never do. Take if fro one who knows.
Jim
Guest
Bit of a fact check there Cat... Parker is all of 25.....
Harsh Truth Harry
Roar Rookie
If Duckwood can stay healthy, Rodney Dangerfield can focus on his teammates instead of carrying babies through the race and Ablett's hammies hold on for 6-7 games, If Tom H isn't done, if the loss of Motlop doesn't bite, if, if, if they might make 7-8, otherwise-10-13 is more than possible.
Cat
Roar Guru
Kennedy, Parker, Hannebery, Grundy and McVeigh are all aging as well. We saw last year how poor the Swans go when these players are off the boil or injured.
1der
Guest
Out of this group I feel that Geelong has more scope for improvement and can finish top 4 with confidence. Taylor moving back to defence is a big plus and they have one of the better defensive units in the comp.. He only contributed 22 goals last season. Would love to see Blicavs moving forward. I can envisage the core midfield group kicking 150+ goals with Ablett the big bonus especially resting forward. Geelong will manage his TOG unlike the Suns where he spent in excess of 90% on the field per game. Think Zac Smith is primed to have a big year at 27 years of age coming off an encouraging 2017. Looks very promising for the Cats in 2018.
sammy
Guest
it will be all or nothing for port..if this year is a bust, they will be looking at a rebuild with Gray, Ryder, Westhoff, boak & Dixon all 30 +. I expect them to thump the lower ranked teams - particularly at home, but against teams that can beat their midfield, their defence will be massively exposed and I can't see them winning the flag
Connolly
Guest
GWS have lost too many good players and basically missed their chance. They face a generation in the wilderness of the mean streets of western Sydney. Geelong is an inverse of the Swans. The much vaunted Geelong mid-field trio has an average age of 32 years of age. The best hope for the Swans is the improvement of the young mids in Hewitt, Heeney and Jones. If Longmire plays Mills in the midfield the Swans will have a formidable depth of quality with Kennedy, Hannaberry and Parker also. They will have more quality and depth than Geelong and the hope of a premiership will be dependent on the improvement of young mid fielders. Geelong's best hope is that a 34 year old can stay on the paddock and a 30 year old maintains his form. I will put the rent money on improving youth.
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
lol, me too. Looking forward to belting you in the GF.
Mattician6x6
Guest
Woosha will always be remembered. I'm very much looking FWD to our banter this year Rick
deccas
Guest
Sydney have had nearly as many debutants as brisbane over the last 2 or 3 seasons, which is nuts given they have been amongst the best teams for long periods in all those seasons. Mills moving into the midfield and Heeney not having a preseason wiped out with glandular fever will really shake up the reliance on those older heads. Parker will demonstrate why he has been runner up in a few Brownlows before. Any of these teams could win it all, but I can't understand the swans being written off.
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
All fine players, but no one will remember them in 100 years time, including your great great great grandchildren. They will hear the tales of the great Garry Ablett, a man whose greatness will transcend time.
Jon boy
Guest
Sydney on top, GWS Gone -Mumford ,Johnson,Wilson and Williams... Good as Gone Shaw ,Griffen ,big ?? over Deledio they have not much depth as in the past. Ordinary coach had their chance . couple early injuries there Gone. Geelong Ablett stays on the park will win all home games, But travelling to Melbourne is a concern.
Pope Paul VII
Guest
I love the Scotty boys work in the box. Divine comedy. I can't compete with the AFL machine when it comes to entry to the pantheon.
Mattician6x6
Guest
Matera, jacko, Kemp, Woosha, suma, OK I know those boys weren't railing lines of smack for 21yo but I'm pretty sure alot of ppl remember them;)
tim
Guest
Sydney are too one dimensional, apart from Buddy, which relies on them grinding out wins. They will fall back a bit, and I don't see them making the top 4. Geelong courtesy of their home ground will make the top 4, then slide in the finals. GWS will keep rolling on, keep having a crack, then one year it will gel and they will have a flag. Their game style along with Adelaide are the types to win a flag. Not snag one luckily like the last 2 years, but win it.
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
This is all true, but at least people remember Ablett, unlike anyone from the world's 2nd most boring premiership team. It's three premierships apiece in the AFL. The difference between Geelong and West Coast: The Cats make the game look good.
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
Correct me if I'm wrong your Holiness, but doesn't it take two
bits of ar$emiracles to occur before one is eligible for canonisation? We already have a very famous Saint Patrick, so that precludes Danger from the discussion. Joel was a prophet & Gazza we already know is the son of GOD. This just leaves Chris Scott really. Now many believe it would take a miracle for Geelong to win the premiership. To me, this is a given, however, if Scott doesn't win the AFL's Funny Face award again from the coaches box, well.... that would be a bonafide 2nd miracle worthy of Sainthood. https://www.google.com.au/imgres?imgurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sportsbet.com.au%2Fblog%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fb-scott-1-new.gif&imgrefurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sportsbet.com.au%2Fblog%2Fafl%2Fbrad-scott-gif-able-coach-afl&docid=0n6UpiqP8QmcXM&tbnid=wTwFN6Dx8CGV2M%3A&vet=10ahUKEwjExK-rqJXZAhUKTLwKHZcjCZ8QMwg9KAAwAA..i&w=350&h=258&client=safari&bih=1253&biw=1223&q=chris%20scott%20afl%20funny%20face&ved=0ahUKEwjExK-rqJXZAhUKTLwKHZcjCZ8QMwg9KAAwAA&iact=mrc&uact=8TomC
Roar Guru
Yeah, to say the Swans have 'swings in form' was probably a mischaracterisation on my part. I was thinking about some of their slow starts to previous seasons but that's probably not relevant here. I might also have had that awful semi final in the back of my mind but, as you say, that's very much the exception. I have thought for a while now though that the Swans' veteran midfielders carry that team, and that it's difficult for the younger players to adjust when their output is below their consistent best.