This weekend we asked you to vote on who finished were on the AFL Ladder in 2018. Well, the results are in! Check out The Roar’s 2018 AFL ladder prediction as voted by you.
For comparison’s sake, I’ve included my own personal prediction here as well.
Adelaide Crows
The Crowd’s tip: 1st
My tip: 5th
The Crows got more votes for top spot than any other team, a big show of faith in last year’s minor premiers. I’ve got them a little lower, just a bit concerned about their ability to backup emotionally from the grand final loss.
Brisbane Lions
The Crowd’s tip: 15th
My tip: 13th
The Lions don’t have anywhere else to go but up and both the crowd and I are tipping them to head in that direction in 2018. I’ve tipped them to escape the bottom four but wouldn’t surprised if they finish even higher than this.
Carlton Blues
The Crowd’s tip: 16th
My tip: 14th
Losing both Bryce Gibbs and Sam Docherty as two of their best players in 2017 will probably keep Carlton near the bottom, and the tipsters agree. That said, I believe their new attacking style of play can get them out of the bottom four.
Collingwood Magpies
The Crowd’s tip: 11th
My tip: 15th
There’s arguably a reason or two worth being optimistic for Collingwood’s season, but the crowd is tipping them to tread water. For mine, they’ve been going down year after year and I don’t think 2018 is going to buck the trend.
Essendon Bombers
The Crowd’s tip: 8th
My tip: 10th
After rising from wooden spoon to September last year, the crowd is tipping Essendon to play finals footy again in 2018. While I’m bullish about their future, I reckon that a tougher fixture and emotional hangover from 2017 might make this year a bit of a disappointment.
Fremantle Dockers
The Crowd’s tip: 13th
My tip: 8th
The crowd see Fremantle improving a little maybe, but not much. Personally, I’m tipping them to be 2018’s surprise finalists, but perhaps only by the skin of their teeth.
(Photo by Daniel Carson/AFL Media/Getty Images)
Geelong Cats
The Crowd’s tip: 5th
My tip: 2nd
I’m tipping the Cats to win the flag and wouldn’t be surprised if they’re the fifth Victorian team in a row to win the grand final at home against an interstate side who finished higher than them. The crowd is a little less bullish, predicting them to fall out of the top four.
Gold Coast Suns
The Crowd’s tip: 17th
My tip: 18th
A popular tip for the spoon before the preseason, Gold Coast’s impressive performances under Stuart Dew in the JLT Community Series have raised their estimation just enough to avoid the kiss of death from the crowd. It’s a tight call – personally, I still have them last.
GWS Giants
The Crowd’s tip: 3rd
My tip: 3rd
Despite losing some key players over the offseason and then more during the preseason to injury, the crowd is giving the Giants the thumbs up to make the top four for a third year in a row, and I reckon they’ve nailed it.
Hawthorn Hawks
The Crowd’s tip: 10th
My tip: 12th
The Hawks still have enough of that mighty veneer that makes you feel like they could do anything, but looking at the cold hard facts they suggest that another season in the middling section of the ladder is probably more likely. The crowd and I agree on this one.
Melbourne Demons
The Crowd’s tip: 6th
My tip: 4th
Widely tipped as the team most likely to break into the top eight this season, the crowd has predicted Melbourne to host a home elimination final in 2018. I’m going one step further, I believe they’ll be a top four team.
North Melbourne Kangaroos
The Crowd’s tip: 18th
My tip: 17th
No AFL club got as many votes for any single ladder position as North Melbourne did to finish last, the crowd heavily predicting that the Roos will win their first wooden spoon in 45 years. After their preseason performances I find it hard to disagree, but still holding out hope that unwanted trophy can be avoided.
(AAP Image/Julian Smith)
Port Adelaide Power
The Crowd’s tip: 7th
My tip: 7th
Despite a busy offseason, the crowd is tipping Port Adelaide’s ladder position to go backwards in 2018. I agree, as I don’t feel any of the players added to the list properly address the team’s problems.
Richmond Tigers
The Crowd’s tip: 4th
My tip: 6th
The reigning premiers are a matter of great debate – their preseason form has been imperious, but most of us can’t help but feel there are better teams out there. The crowd thinks they’ll land in the top four. I don’t.
St Kilda Saints
The Crowd’s tip: 12th
My tip: 9th
After looking so promising twelve months ago, St Kilda just don’t seem to have a friend in the world right now, and the crowd is tipping them to tread water. I’m a bit uneasy about writing them off so easily, but it is hard to justify fitting them into the eight.
Sydney Swans
The Crowd’s tip: 2nd
My tip: 1st
If you ignore the first six rounds of the season, Sydney were probably the best side in the league last year, and it’s a widespread opinion that they’ll bounce back into the top four this year. The crowd says second, I say minor premiership.
West Coast Eagles
The Crowd’s tip: 14th
My tip: 16th
When you go over the cliff, you fall fast. The crowd has the Eagles slated to fall six spots this year (eight if you go from their post-finals position). I reckon they’ll be a bottom four side in 2018.
Western Bulldogs
The Crowd’s tip: 9th
My tip: 11th
2016’s premiers failed to make the finals last year and while they’ll be a reasonably competitive side, both the crowd and myself are tipping them to fall short again in 2018.
(Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)
The Crowd’s 2018 AFL ladder prediction
1. Adelaide Crows
2. Sydney Swans
3. GWS Giants
4. Richmond Tigers
5. Geelong Cats
6. Melbourne Demons
7. Port Adelaide Power
8. Essendon Bombers
9. Western Bulldogs
10. Hawthorn Hawks
11. Collingwood Magpies
12. St Kilda Saints
13. Fremantle Dockers
14. West Coast Eagles
15. Brisbane Lions
16. Carlton Blues
17. Gold Coast Suns
18. North Melbourne Kangaroos
My 2018 AFL ladder prediction
1. Sydney Swans
2. Geelong Cats
3. GWS Giants
4. Melbourne Demons
5. Adelaide Crows
6. Richmond Tigers
7. Port Adelaide Power
8. Fremantle Dockers
9. St Kilda Saints
10. Essendon Bombers
11. Western Bulldogs
12. Hawthorn Hawks
13. Brisbane Lions
14. Carlton Blues
15. Collingwood Magpies
16. West Coast Eagles
17. North Melbourne Kangaroos
18. Gold Coast Suns
Tom
Guest
And then they started 6-1, great call man
Doctor Rotcod
Guest
The Eagles have been in finals 24 times in 31 years and have been the subject of dire forecasts almost since inception. 11W,11L in their first year speaks highly of the team. It's true that Melbourne threw away their chance to take their place last year,but every year similar slip-ups and minor losses cruel many teams' chances. The first six rounds will tell the story for the Eagles and most teams, but I think Bulldogs,Suns and Blues are potential wins.Sydney,Cats and Freo,well we'll see. I think that they have good chances in 12 games,plus pinch a derby,Sydney after the bye,GWS at home late in the season and who knows
Alicesprings
Guest
Not a bad top8. Only thing that stands out is how low people have the Eagles finishing. Remembering its practically an Olympic sport to down play the WA teams chances each year. That and declaring Geelong's inevitable decline and Collingwood's annual march towards the finals! Gotta love the media!
Johnno
Guest
There is no doubt that clubs would prefer players to play a scratch match at the level they play footy.....and there is no doubt there is doubt on Nc Nats knee. Let's compare Pearce from the Dockers and Nic Nat. One you are confident about...the other we have no idea. So doubting how Nic Nat will be in 2018 is fare. I am a Dockers supporter but I hope he plays and plays well. You must love watching the really good players....the X factors.
Kiama Chris
Guest
Oops! Sorry Port Fans. That makes my 8.
Kiama Chris
Guest
Reckon you have 7 of the top 8, though the order could end up radically different. Can't see Freo getting close to the 8. None of their problems have gone away, except if Fife stays healthy, but that's only one. Swans, Cats and Dees are probably better/deeper than last year. Crows, Tiges, Cats and Giants pretty much the same. The fixture will play a role, as it always does. So who do I like for the 8th finals spot? Honestly I have no idea. It could come from Bombers, Dogs, Hawks, Eagles even Saints. Can't see anyone else looking good enough at this stage.
johno
Guest
Fyfe has played 138 games only twice since he started has he played less than 18 in a season - broken leg in 2016 and Should issues in his third year limited him to 11 games (in which he polled 14 Brownlow votes) Fyfe is more durable than most players - you might have mistaken him for Morabito who was drafted in the same year as Fyfe
Mango Jack
Roar Guru
No you don't want to experience that, Paul. I remember the days of Fitzpatrick and John Elliot raising the premiership trophy. It was nauseating and I hope I never have to live through it again.
Mango Jack
Roar Guru
Covered in quinoa too. Watch out!
User
Roar Rookie
You're a clever little d@#ky bird hey.
Macca
Guest
I can see the logic behind Brisbane paying the price but again Adelaide simply didn't get screwed so Tom M's statement is false.
Paul D
Roar Guru
I saw my name mentioned - it's a two parter for me Adelaide obviously got blindsided by a player requesting a trade with a year left on his contract - similar to a lot of clubs, they opted to trade him there and then rather than carry him further. As I said above, they were fortunate indeed Cameron nominated us with all our draft picks. I think they did very well to get pick 12, it's probably a bit over, but not by much - and as I keep saying, the lack of value in high draft picks for us, in the absence of an academy player to spend it on, means that it makes far more sense to spend them on trades than at the draft, because we're guaranteed to get someone who wants to come and stay here.
Cat
Roar Guru
Macca
Guest
SO you honestly thin Cameron is worth more than pick 12? Get real. Adelaide got more than market value if anything. If memory serves we had people like PaulD defending Brisbane overpaying because that is what they have ot do to get players in. And if "player who want to leave always leave for what I would consider under what their current club thinks they are worth" you would be able to come up with more examples. How about these players (all out of contract mind you) Yarran, Henderson, Tuohy & Bell - which of those left for less than market value?
Pedro The Fisherman
Roar Rookie
Can't North Melbourne still make a profit on that property if they are located in another State ... say Tasmanaia?
Tom M
Guest
I disagree, player who want to leave always leave for what I would consider under what their current club thinks they are worth. Cameron came out last year and threatened Adelaide that he wouldn't play for anyone else. But once again Macca you are asserting that only your opinion can be true and anything you disagree with is false.
Pedro The Fisherman
Roar Rookie
Why do we even need a team in Tasmania? Apart from geography (ie: national coverage) they do not have the population to support a side, they do not have the ground(s) to host a respectable crowd, and I suspect they will struggle for sponsorship (not really a target market for sponsors). For that matter, why do we need North Melbourne (and a few other sides like St Kilda and I suspect Melbourne and maybe Carlton)? Ultimately, reducing the number of teams will make the draw fairer!
Macca
Guest
Richmond could which would make 3 clubs (Collingwood, Richmond and Hawthorn according to Matthew) throw in significant shareholdings from Essendon and Carlton and then 4 minority stakes and Collingwoods "ownership" looks pretty small.
Pedro The Fisherman
Roar Rookie
Everyone loves a good old thrashing so high attendances for Carlton matches shouldn't surprise anyone! Surely Richmond can lay claims to "owning" Melbourne (instead of Collingwood)?
Macca
Guest
Tom M - I very much doubt Rayner would chose to sit out for 12 months, especially when he had 2 years to run on his contract. There are lots of players who try to get traded, don't and then play for their original club, players like to play. As for Adelaide they didn't get screwed. Fact is your statement "Its too easy for a player to get out of the contracts they sign and the club gets screwed." is false.