Roar Rookie
Joined March 2017
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I am a passionate but pessimistic North Melbourne supporter.
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Following their 11-goal exit from the 2017 finals series at the hands of the GWS Giants, West Coast were widely tipped to tumble down the ladder with the loss of over 1000 games of experience after the likes of Matt Priddis, Sam Mitchell, Drew Petrie and Sam Butler all hung up the boots for 2018.
Having been lucky to secure another a contract extension after a fourth-consecutive season in which the Magpies missed the finals, Nathan Buckley and his Collingwood outfit were feeling the pressure after a 0-2 start to their 2018 campaign.
Fresh off an unbelievable 2017 campaign that saw Richmond break a 37-year premiership drought, the Tigers were widely picked to go back-to-back after an even stronger year on the field last season. Damien Hardwick’s men went to the top of the ladder after Round 13, a position they would not relinquish on their march to […]
Entering their 12th consecutive year without a finals appearance on the back of an embarrassing capitulation against Collingwood in the final round of the 2017 season, the pressure was mounting on the key figures of the Melbourne Football Club to return it to September action.
Coming back from their first September off in eight years, Hawthorn were one of many clubs that were hard to read in 2018, with pundits not game to tip consecutive bottom-ten finishes with master coach Alastair Clarkson at the helm.
Having bowed out of two consecutive preliminary finals to the eventual premiers, the GWS Giants entered the 2018 season under pressure to take the next step and claim the flag that so many had automatically assumed would be theirs given the talent on the list.
After another failed September campaign, John Longmire entered the 2018 season with his seat starting to warm up slowly, having just one premiership to his name from seven consecutive finals appearances.
Coming off a second consecutive embarrassing knock-out final thrashing, this time in a preliminary final, the Cats and Chris Scott entered 2018 feeling the heat, holding just three September victories to their credit since they won the 2011 premiership over Collingwood.
Having been bundled out of the 2017 finals in extraordinary circumstances following a Luke Shuey goal after the siren in extra time, Port Adelaide aggressively hit the trade and free agency period, looking to enhance their 2018 squad as they searched for their first finals victory since 2014.
Having added three powerful recruits to a squad that returned Essendon to finals football in 2017 – only to be unceremoniously shellacked by over ten goals – many expected the Bombers to finally take the next step and win a final in 2018.
Coming off a heartbreaking end to their 2017 campaign that saw them lose the Grand Final to a rampant Richmond, the Adelaide Crows entered 2018 looking to leave no stone unturned in their quest for their third flag.
Having become just the second team under the current finals system to miss out on September action the year after winning the premiership, there was a considerable amount of pressure on the shoulders of Luke Beveridge as he embarked on his fourth year as head coach of the Western Bulldogs.
Widely expected to hold up the rest of the competition on the ladder, the outlook was bleak for North Melbourne heading into the 2018 season.
Every footy season has its bolters, teams that defy the general consensus cast upon it during the preseason on the way to an unlikely finals berth or even a premiership.
Going into his seventh year as coach of the Fremantle Football Club, Ross Lyon had the huge task of taking the Dockers back up the ladder after plummeting down it following their minor premiership in 2015.
Coming off a season in which they claimed their first wooden spoon since 1998, the Brisbane Lions entered 2018 with their finals drought extended to eight years.
The Gold Coast Suns have experienced some turbulent years in their short history, but 2018 was perhaps the nadir.
With 24 wins from their last 88 matches, the general feeling amongst the supporters of the famous Carlton Football Club was one of impatience.
Coming off a disastrous end to their 2016 season in which they lost ten of their last 12 games before bidding farewell to veteran quartet Brent Harvey, Drew Petrie, Michael Firrito and Nick Dal Santo, not many expected North Melbourne to be one of the big hitters in season 2017.
Heading into their second season under Brendon Bolton, the Navy Blue army were buoyant after a promising 2016 campaign that yielded seven wins.
Thanks Mastermind, that game was also considered but I left it out due to the lack of contest the Bombers gave for three quarters.
The ten best Round 11 games from the past ten years
So you’re suggesting I swap Lachie Neale into Cam Pedersen’s position in the ruck?
I appreciate your weekly feedback Don, but maybe take the purple glasses off once in a while.
AFL team of the week: Round 8
Not sure what you’re talking about, he’s there 😉
Thanks for the pick up!
Greater Western Sydney 2019 season preview, best 22 and predicted finish