My 2019 AFL top eight predictions

Not holding onto the glory years at all, hawks still have a decent list and in the current football climate it seems a decent list is all you need to get the job done. Last few years of football have been unpredictable and I do believe they have a chance of making the 8 like most teams that hang around that midpoint.

Don’t count them hawkers out ????

I think Nic Nat is finished as a leaping and power play ruckman - the knees are suspect and that will change his playing style. Possibly his only place in the team now is as a big forward who does ruck work inside the forward fifty. Kennedy and Darling have past their peak and will not be the force they were. West Coast will not make grand final. Watch for Melbourne and Essendon in 2019.

hawthorn for the 2019 premiership

I think there is a lot of talk and guesswork involved in predicting the top 8. If we simply analyse the facts, we will see that every year, over the past decade a couple of teams who finished in the top 8 the previous year drop out. but in the more recent couple of years, it's been, 3 teams. so which of last years finalists miss out? there is a case for every team to drop or improve. And there is also, the fact that over the last 3 years teams have come from the clouds, to make the 8. Which I feel is an indication of how close the competition is now, except for a couple of the consistent bottom teams e.g. Carlton and Gold Coast. My belief is that any team from 1-12 can make a charge, either due to easier draw with the lower ranking teams or through players they've gained through the draft or trade period and a good run on the injury front. Although saying that, both West Coast and Collingwood did have a number of injuries to key players and a long list of injuries throughout the season (Collingwood). So how the teams play in regards to team cohesion is probably more important than who is on the park at any given time. I think the competition has also shown over the last few years it is very hard to win back to back premierships, due to the closeness of the competition, unlike during the Brisbane era, or Hawks and Cats era. So I'm predicting that the Eagles, although will be again around the mark, won't win the premiership and go back to back. I'm also not completely sold on Melbourne either, they still have a tendency not to show up at times e.g. thumping they received by West Coast after beating Geelong and Hawthorn convincingly. Richmond baring serious injuries to list will be around the mark, as will Collingwood. then I think it's game on! with the rest of the teams to make the 8. Especially, with the new rule changes, which clubs adapt quicker? my predicted top 8 (And yes a complete stab in the dark) 1. Richmond 2. Collingwood 3. West Coast 4. Melbourne 5. Essendon 6. Adelaide 7. GWS 8. North Melbourne. Which means Bombers, Crows and Kangas come in whilst Hawks, Cats and Swans drop out. Finals; WK 1: Richmond to defeat Melbourne, Collingwood to defeat West Coast, Essendon to defeat North Melbourne, Adelaide to defeat GWS. WK 2: Essendon to defeat Melbourne? (due to facts already stated). West Coast to defeat Adelaide. WK 3: Collingwood to defeat Essendon, Richmond to defeat West Coast. GF: Collingwood V Richmond. But as I said, total stab in the dark. :) but it is fun to try and predict how it's going to play out. bring on the season!!

Pies have come off a terrible injury year and added Beams. Moore only played 7 games last season. De Goey is a bona fide star. Scharenberg and Dunn return. Reid might play more games too. Cox should improve. Pies are well set for a big run at it. They know they belong at the pointy end now. Nothing is certain but I feel buoyant for 2019.

USA, USA, USA.....

agree with most of this, I think Crows will be higher but thats also probably because I am a crows fan and Id expect them to win just about every game apart from a couple away matches, however Id expect the Hawks to bomb after losing Tom Mitchell to unfortunate circumstances, although I think West Coast are fantastic there's a chance that they might fall not by too much just due to inconsistency over the years from going from top 4 to missing finals to runners up to only sneaking in to premiers, after the crows, id love to see the eagles go back to back, a very entertaining last year and good to watch

I was hoping to hear from other Eagles fans and members, who would like to see An Eagles vs Bombers Grand Final. It think it would be great for the Eagles and Bombers seeing Adam Simpson vs John Worsfold up against each other in the Granny in 2019. It will be a great story after what the two clubs have been through, I have mention before. I am still a woosha fan and a one Eyed Eagles Supporter and Member.

Youcwould have to be the only non bomber fan in the universe that wants to see then in tge GF!

Dont stress... WCE arnt the dogs

And no one thought they would win it in 2018 - anything can happen...

Your kidding rite??? Robert Walls was the guy that got the Brisbane Bears to the finals!! He built the club from nothing to contenders - have a look at the bears playing list in 1993 and you see more than a few names on that list ended up with premierships...

Enjoy Ghosts comments Tigers will eat all pretenders alive is he a one eyed supporter you would think so, and how far did they go last year? And a number of fans of the footy have Melbourne in the top 4 this year? And I notice too there a lot of if and butts, we should or could have? But the losses meant you were beaten by a better side? And the results were there in the end.

Yes Eagles man very true. But I would love to see an Eagles and Bombers AFl Grand Final in 2019. Because after what both teams have gone through the last couple of years. With the Supplement Scandal at Essendon and the Drug problems at the Eagles a few years ago, I just would love to see The players John Worsfold brought into the Eagles after the Drugs Saga, Like Jack Darling, Nick Naitanui, Luke Shuey, Andrew Gaff, Shannon Hurn, Chris Masten and Wil Schofield. How Woosha got the Eagles back on track with these players, How they have developed under Adam Simpson. Now Woosha at Essendon developing the bombers like he did at the Eagles. With what the to Clubs being put through the wringer the last few years I would love to see Eagles and bombers grand final in 2019 I think the Tigers just may choke again in 2019.

West Coast, at this stage everyone starts at square one. Its a funny game AFL. Last year we all expected Richmond to take the flag. There are no guarantees in football. If we take the same approach as 2018 and improve we will be up there but winning back to back flags is damm hard

Actually WCE I would love to See Adam Simpson vs our old Coach John Worsfold West Coast Eagles Vs Essendon 2019 AFl Grand Final. I believe The Bombers will be the big movers and play the Mighty Eagles in the Grand Final and the Eagles go back to back in 2019.

i hope West Coast don't do a bulldogs and get a flag then vanish of the planet ! We will be there again im sure of it and i hope it's against the tigers , another flash in the pan

I don't think that will happen Rob.

And if Melbourne had beaten Geelong twice they would be top 2... but they didnt so they wernt. But then they got a butt load closer to the cats than the hawks did the lions...