My friends and I made our annual AFL 2022 season ladder predictions on our podcast called Tha Poscast.
There were a few surprise calls made in choosing teams positions. I decided to put Sydney in third position, which would be a remarkable achievement if they managed it.
Carlos is also bullish on the Swans, predicting Isaac Heeney to make a run at acquiring the Brownlow Medal this year.
Ezra has gone to the other side of NSW in his predictions, claiming that GWS will sneak into eighth spot.
GWS are a resilient team. They showed that last year after starting the season 0-3. They ended up making a semi-final.
However, missing their main player Toby Greene for the first five games will make it difficult.
(Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
Donal’s ladder
There are a few relatively straightforward predictions towards the top of the table. I hope.
We’ve seen in the past few years, teams have bolted from lower down the ladder to a top-four berth.
The most notable was Melbourne going from finishing outside the top eight in 2020 to winning the premiership in 2021.
Essendon exceeded a lot of people’s expectations last year. I have them finishing seventh. Richmond are another side that could rise again and threaten the top four.
Being a Lions fan myself, I’m excited for the year ahead. However, they’ll need to start better than last season and not let the loss of Eric Hipwood impact them too much.
Hawthorn in last spot will be a mistake. Sam Mitchell will be a good coach.
1. Dees
2. Lions
3. Swans
4. Bulldogs
5. Power
6. Tigers
7. Dons
8. Cats
9. Blues
10. Saints
11. Dockers
12. Giants
13. Pies
14. Eagles
15. Crows
16. Kangaroos
17. Suns
18. Hawks
Ezra’s ladder
Ezra has put good faith in Richmond, expecting them to bounce back into the top four. If they do, there will be some nervous teams come finals time.
Melbourne will start off slowly but finish the season strong, surging into third. Geelong are in the top eight once again. They are a very difficult team to write off.
He’s gone the same as me with Port Adelaide missing the top four after consecutive preliminary finals.
Carlton in 13th would be not welcome for the Blues’ faithful. Although the absence of Sam Walsh to begin the season is telling.
If they can beat Richmond in Round 1, then they might surprise a few teams. Suns finishing in last spot would be bad news for Stuart Dew.
1. Lions
2. Bulldogs
3. Demons
4. Tigers
5. Power
6. Swans
7. Cats
8. Giants
9. Dockers
10. Dons
11. Eagles
12. Saints
13. Blues
14. Pies
15. Hawks
16. Crows
17. Kangaroos
18. Suns
(Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
Carlos’ ladder
Carlos has been more adventurous with his selections. Carlton will make their first finals appearance since 2013, claiming their list is good enough.
He has Freo to play in finals for the first time since finishing minor premiers in 2015. Carlos believes that both Richmond and Geelong have reached their peak and are on the downwards trajectory.
Richmond are in 15th spot, condemning Tigers to their lowest finish since 2010. Geelong will miss the finals for only the second time in ten years.
The top four is pretty sound, with the Dees continuing where they left off. Carlos has the Dons finishing two spots higher than last season in sixth.
The Kangaroos once again are reserving the bottom rung of the ladder.
1. Dees
2. Power
3. Lions
4. Dogs
5. Swans
6. Dons
7. Blues
8. Dockers
9. Saints
10. Eagles
11. Geelong
12. Adelaide
13. Giants
14. Collingwood
15. Richmond
16. Hawks
17. Suns
18. Kangaroos
There are our predictions and some reasoning behind them.
It’s set to be a very exciting 2022 AFL season with many fans believing their club can do something special this year.
Hopefully, the season is played in front of full crowds with no interruptions.
The Ghost
Guest
Looks like the Tiges are underdogs. That's exactly how we like it.
Jorge of Brisvegas
Roar Rookie
Donal, nice light article. CARN Lions. #allin My take on this exercise is 3 things:- -rose coloured glasses - you cannot win it in April but you can lose it - depth of style Which means 1) most people put their team slightly higher through desire 2) if there are obvious early season personnel problems, that will usually carry through the season 3) if the teams style relies too heavily on too few, high risk Top 4 : Demons / Dogs/ Lions / Tigers 5 to 7 : Cats / Swans/ Power 8 to 12 : Bombers / Dockers / Blues / Saints / Giants 13 to 18 : Hawks/ Eagles / Crows / Suns/ Kangaroos / Magpies Teams that have lost 1 or more of their most important players to style for early part of ‘22 : Giants, Power, Eagles(2+), Suns(2), Blues. Poor depth : below 7 Good consistency : above 8 except Tigers ‘21, below 7 only Bombers and Giants. Sliders : Power & Eagles Risers: Dockers & / or Blues Very tough to predict this Covid Cup. I think the premier will come from top 4, I do not think 5 to 7 have “correct” depth. I think bottom 11 have “issues”.
Knackaz
Roar Rookie
Bloods will finish above Giants, no doubt ...
Knackaz
Roar Rookie
Power are mentally weak and will fail again when the whips are cracking ...
Knackaz
Roar Rookie
Geelong are standing at the cliff's edge, nervously peering into the huge precipice below. As the ground starts to fall away from them the whinger Chris Scott shouts from below, "Jump, you can fly if you believe it! I do. I'm a believer!" Led by 'Sniper' Selwood, walking sticks, wheelchairs and all, we all know what happens next ...
13th Man
Roar Rookie
I'm tentatively confident on Freo, use the word tentatively due to their history of letting me down, however that young midfield is as exciting as it gets, if they can work out a way to score more consistently they'll be thereabouts. Feel like it may be us and Carlton fighting for 8th. Predicted Top 8: Melbourne Dogs Port Brissy Sydney Geelong Richmond Freo
robertbrob13226
Roar Rookie
I,d buy Stkilda FC (and still have change ) and start the clean out from the top and employ real football people ,
Chanon
Roar Rookie
Shame we can’t remove certain enemy’s from liking our posts!
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
The Americans still whinge about Bradbury. Which is rich coming from them considering the 1904 St Louis games was the most hometown manipulated games on record. Much Yankee nefariousness.
Chanon
Roar Rookie
It was bloody hilarious to watch the carnage a bit like the dogs after being up by 19 points then falling off the cliff in GF :laughing:
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Where they also built Aussie Peugeots till about 1980. We also built about 750 "Roundie" Benz's, in the late 50s, but they were not of a good enough standard for German management.
Maxy
Roar Rookie
The last 3 or 4 games was funny last year .think it was Tigers,Carlton Fremantle Saints maybe all had chances to grab that last spot,then would lose a game they should have won..It felt like Essendon did a Steve Bradbury and the rest fell over
Chanon
Roar Rookie
That 120 million would be bloody terrific. I would build a deeper bunker. The silver spoon team to win this years wooden spoon :stoked:
Chanon
Roar Rookie
R/1130 was assembled in somerton in Melbourne in 63’
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
The Renault R8 was the first Wheels: Car of the Year
Chanon
Roar Rookie
The top 8 will be decided by R8
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
18 teams will finish in an order that'll likely be settled upon completion of the final HnA series.
DTM
Roar Rookie
I think there's more to it than that. Firstly, not all teams play each other twice so some teams get an easier draw than others. This means they finish higher up the ladder than their true level. Injuries (especially to key players) also play a part. A final six would be better than 8 but then the AFL doesn't like giving up any money so the finals system is unlikely to change in the foreseeable future.
DTM
Roar Rookie
I hope the Dees miss the 8 but I also hope I've got the winning numbers on Thursday. Sadly, neither will happen and Melbourne will at least be in the mix and I'll have to keep working.
Chris M
Guest
If it is a list taking into account only the home and away season, it seems the minor premiership has been more often than not a poisoned chalice. Since the current version of the top eight system has been used, commencing in 2000, only seven minor premiers have proceeded to win the premiership flag in 21 seasons: Essendon (2000); Port Adelaide (2004); West Coast (2006); Geelong (2007); Collingwood (2010); Hawthorn (2013); Melbourne (2021). At the very worst you'd expect a grand final to be a 50-50 match-up if the minor premiers were able to make it there. Realistically the best home-and-away club all year should be winning a grand final more often than not and if that's not the case, maybe something needs to be changed so that they have a better advantage for winning the minor premiership. Is the reason why so many minor premiers faltering at the last hurdle an issue with how the home-and-away draw is structured to determine who wins the minor premiership, an issue with the finals system itself or something else?