12-23-2015, 11:31 PM
Time to stick necks out and see what you think of 2016 before it happens.
1 - West Coast
Have a lot very good players right in the golden part over their careers. Home games means they have 11 games where they start heavy favorites. Redden and Jetta help with depth and speed and McKenzie with join McGovern down back to give genuine key defenders.
2 - Hawthorn
A year older and some significant retirements make them drop, however I can't bring myself to drop them any lower than here. Lake and Hale hurt their structure, Fitzpatrick may be a solid player down back, but that's two Melbourne defenders the last two years....
3 - Freo
Hardest team to read, like WC 11 home games puts them in a good spot, but Sandilands and Pavlich are already old, McPharlin is gone and their key position stocks are thin. Bennell is a talent but is he disciplined enough to get them the next step?
4 - Bulldogs
I rate this side, talent galore, young leaders and a core group that wants to be more than just AFL players. Suckling and Adcock are strange additions, pretty much replicating what is already there. If Boyd can stop thinking he's the greatest player and start playing like one then they are a scary proposition.
5 - Port
Another hard team. I like what they have done since Hinkley has come along, Wingard is my favorite non Carlton player in the league. They have a great starting centre square, a quality forward half and now a stud with Dixon at FF that has been missing since Marky Mark retired.
6 - Gold Coast - Their improvement comes from returning players and cutting away some cancers. If they can get their best players on the park then they are a 12 win team at least. They young KP players are now starting to come into their own at both ends, not sure How Grant and Rosa fit in but they will give depth.
7 - Collingwood - Any team that gets Treloar at that sort of money has to serious about finals. It used to be Pendlebury or bust in the middle but Treloar addition will give opposition coaches a nightmare. Swann and Cloke are sliding away from their best, Moore is a gun in the making and Howe should give a hard to match 3rd tall.
8 - Sydney - A transition year, Goodes, Pyke, Bird and Jetta gone and who knows what will happen with Buddy. Richards down back is OK Talia helps but he's no star. Aging stars, young guns coming through but nothing too flash. One and done for the finals.
9 - Richmond - The joy of being a Carlton supporter is to put Richmond 9th on a speculative ladder. Yarran will probably star in 2016 (2017 will be another story) but they haven't addressed their failing and that's heart Yarran has none and very few of their players have shown any when it counts.
10 - Geelong - Yes they have Dangerfield but this side is finally broken. Their future hall of fame players are gone or the wrong side of 30, Selwood seems battered, Hawkins is basically an old man with his back, Clarke could break down at any time and their list is so fragile injury wise I can't see them getting more than 10 wins.
11 - North - Dads Army. When your most dangerous player is nearly 40 and the forward line is closer to retiring age than birth you have problems. Little speed around the ball and average disposal skill is still Norths problem, I wonder who their coach will blame when they finish 11th?
12 - Giants - Consolidation year. They lost some players and other want out, not a great way to start a year when your pushing for finals. Still have question marks down back and Stevie J may struggle with the kick it long to the gun forwards game plan.
13 - Adelaide - Loss of Dangerfield and the rest of the quality mids are aging. Third head coach in 3 years, so more learning. Might be a bit harsh with this position as they have some nice developing flankers but the missed draft picks will be starting to hurt about now.
14 - St Kilda - Probably a bit low but I need to see if Bruce can reproduce 2015 and Riewoldt still can do it too. Nice players around the ground and Carlisile really helps stiffen up the defense on paper at least. If Freeman gets healthy and plays it adds a dimension they don't have either.
15 - Melbourne - Has the makings of a very good team. Solid defense, building a blue chip midfield and could have a very dangerous forward line with Hogan and Wiederman. Just need Roos to get out of the way and let the men play.
16 - Carlton - A fresh voice that will hopefully let the tight grip on the players go. Quality additions with Kerrdige and Wright and the GWS quartet could be anything, Gorringe from GC has talent but has he got it between his ears?
17 - Brisbane - With a team full of mids they went and got more Bastinac and Bell but at least added Walker to give a big body up forward while their young KP players develop. Their list looks like Sydney on paper mainly mids with a few KP but the class is not there.
18 - Essendon - I can't see why people are expecting a big leap from Essendon, their best players are 30+ Heppell aside, Carlisle's gone and Daniher might by all hype and no substance. Very solid down back but slow through the midfield and bereft of talent up forward.
1 - West Coast
Have a lot very good players right in the golden part over their careers. Home games means they have 11 games where they start heavy favorites. Redden and Jetta help with depth and speed and McKenzie with join McGovern down back to give genuine key defenders.
2 - Hawthorn
A year older and some significant retirements make them drop, however I can't bring myself to drop them any lower than here. Lake and Hale hurt their structure, Fitzpatrick may be a solid player down back, but that's two Melbourne defenders the last two years....
3 - Freo
Hardest team to read, like WC 11 home games puts them in a good spot, but Sandilands and Pavlich are already old, McPharlin is gone and their key position stocks are thin. Bennell is a talent but is he disciplined enough to get them the next step?
4 - Bulldogs
I rate this side, talent galore, young leaders and a core group that wants to be more than just AFL players. Suckling and Adcock are strange additions, pretty much replicating what is already there. If Boyd can stop thinking he's the greatest player and start playing like one then they are a scary proposition.
5 - Port
Another hard team. I like what they have done since Hinkley has come along, Wingard is my favorite non Carlton player in the league. They have a great starting centre square, a quality forward half and now a stud with Dixon at FF that has been missing since Marky Mark retired.
6 - Gold Coast - Their improvement comes from returning players and cutting away some cancers. If they can get their best players on the park then they are a 12 win team at least. They young KP players are now starting to come into their own at both ends, not sure How Grant and Rosa fit in but they will give depth.
7 - Collingwood - Any team that gets Treloar at that sort of money has to serious about finals. It used to be Pendlebury or bust in the middle but Treloar addition will give opposition coaches a nightmare. Swann and Cloke are sliding away from their best, Moore is a gun in the making and Howe should give a hard to match 3rd tall.
8 - Sydney - A transition year, Goodes, Pyke, Bird and Jetta gone and who knows what will happen with Buddy. Richards down back is OK Talia helps but he's no star. Aging stars, young guns coming through but nothing too flash. One and done for the finals.
9 - Richmond - The joy of being a Carlton supporter is to put Richmond 9th on a speculative ladder. Yarran will probably star in 2016 (2017 will be another story) but they haven't addressed their failing and that's heart Yarran has none and very few of their players have shown any when it counts.
10 - Geelong - Yes they have Dangerfield but this side is finally broken. Their future hall of fame players are gone or the wrong side of 30, Selwood seems battered, Hawkins is basically an old man with his back, Clarke could break down at any time and their list is so fragile injury wise I can't see them getting more than 10 wins.
11 - North - Dads Army. When your most dangerous player is nearly 40 and the forward line is closer to retiring age than birth you have problems. Little speed around the ball and average disposal skill is still Norths problem, I wonder who their coach will blame when they finish 11th?
12 - Giants - Consolidation year. They lost some players and other want out, not a great way to start a year when your pushing for finals. Still have question marks down back and Stevie J may struggle with the kick it long to the gun forwards game plan.
13 - Adelaide - Loss of Dangerfield and the rest of the quality mids are aging. Third head coach in 3 years, so more learning. Might be a bit harsh with this position as they have some nice developing flankers but the missed draft picks will be starting to hurt about now.
14 - St Kilda - Probably a bit low but I need to see if Bruce can reproduce 2015 and Riewoldt still can do it too. Nice players around the ground and Carlisile really helps stiffen up the defense on paper at least. If Freeman gets healthy and plays it adds a dimension they don't have either.
15 - Melbourne - Has the makings of a very good team. Solid defense, building a blue chip midfield and could have a very dangerous forward line with Hogan and Wiederman. Just need Roos to get out of the way and let the men play.
16 - Carlton - A fresh voice that will hopefully let the tight grip on the players go. Quality additions with Kerrdige and Wright and the GWS quartet could be anything, Gorringe from GC has talent but has he got it between his ears?
17 - Brisbane - With a team full of mids they went and got more Bastinac and Bell but at least added Walker to give a big body up forward while their young KP players develop. Their list looks like Sydney on paper mainly mids with a few KP but the class is not there.
18 - Essendon - I can't see why people are expecting a big leap from Essendon, their best players are 30+ Heppell aside, Carlisle's gone and Daniher might by all hype and no substance. Very solid down back but slow through the midfield and bereft of talent up forward.
