With the AFL draft having been completed, let’s preview every team’s 2019 season.
Adelaide
The Crows experienced a disappointing drop from grand finalist to 12th over the past few seasons, due mainly to injuries. I think they will bounce back in 2019 and will make the eight.
Predicted finish – Eighth
Brisbane
They have gained Lachie Neale and lost Dayne Beams. They will have a great forward line in 2019 and should have a similar year to 2018.
Predicted finish – Fifteenth
Carlton
A young side who has gained Mitch McGovern and have delisted four players. Will be back to their very best soon.
Predicted finish – Sixteenth
Collingwood
An amazing rise from 13th to runner-up. The Magpies have a great lineup of players including Scott Pendlebury, Steele Sidebottom, Dayne Beams, Mason Cox and Adam Treloar who will all be unstoppable in 2019.
Predicted finish – Third
Essendon
They have gained Dylan Shiel. They will have a stronger year in 2019 after a shock drop out of the eight with players including Joe Daniher, Jake Stringer, Cale Hooker and Michael Hurley.
Predicted finish – Fourth
Fremantle
The final year of their four-year rebuild. They have gained Jesse Hogan and Rory Lobb which is a boost for the Dockers. I can see them causing a few upsets.
Predicted finish – Twelfth
Geelong
The Cats may have elite players including Gary Ablett and Patrick Dangerfield but I believe the next few years will be development time for most of their players.
Predicted finish – Tenth
Joel Selwood. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
Gold Coast
I am predicting another long year for the Suns. They have lost a few star players and will need to continue to improve on the depth of the team.
Predicted finish – Eighteenth
Greater Western Sydney
Have lost a few players but still have an exciting number of young stars including Jeremy Cameron.
Predicted finish – Sixth
Hawthorn
The Hawks defied the odds and made top four. They have gained Chad Wingard and Tom Scully but I still think they will dip down the ladder.
Predicted finish – Seventh
Melbourne
Has a strong Lineup including Max Gawn. Although losing Jesse Hogan, they have gained Steven May and will have a similar year to 2018.
Predicted Finish – Fifth
North Melbourne
Had one of the fastest rebuilds in 2018. Has a strong lineup of players but I can’t see them pushing for finals again in 2019.
Predicted finish – Thirteenth
Port Adelaide
Have gained Scott Lycett and has an amazing lineup of players. They have also lost Chad Wingard and I believe they will just miss out on Finals.
Predicted finish – Ninth
Richmond
Richmond were the best team in 2018 leading into the third week of the finals. They gained Tom Lynch and have a great team which also includes Jack Riewoldt and Dustin Martin. Will go one better and claim the 2019 premiership.
Predicted finish – Second
St Kilda
Very inconsistent, a lot of pace, but extremely sloppy. Gaining Dan Hannebery may be a boost for the Saints but they should be back at their best soon.
Predicted finish – Seventeenth
Sydney
Had a disappointing year at the SCG having only won 5 Games and have one of best forward line-ups as well as losing Dan Hannebery and I think they will drop out of the eight.
Predicted finish – Eleventh
West Coast
A team everybody had dropping out of the eight in 2018. However, they finish second and claimed their fourth flag.
Mark Lecaras has retired and Nic Natanui maybe out for a fair bit of the season but still has an amazing lineup of players.
Predicted finish – First
Western Bulldogs
Since winning the 2016 premiership, they have evolved into a rebuilding side and have gained Sam Lloyd. Will have a similar year to 2018.
Predicted finish – Fourteenth
Welcome back to another year of AFL season previews here at The Roar.
While it took until March of 2011 for the Gold Coast to finally have their own team in the AFL, Australian rules football has been played on the Glitter Strip since 1961, when the Gold Coast Australian Football was established.
Last month I started my 2019 AFL preview, detailing the competitive prospects of six of the competition’s teams, from Adelaide to Fremantle.
There was such a positive reaction to the series of comprehensive meta-reviews of the eighteen AFL clubs’ 2018 seasons that the temptation to follow up with a quick preview of their 2019 seasons was too much to resist.
The Gold Coast Suns have experienced some turbulent years in their short history, but 2018 was perhaps the nadir.
