2010 Ladder prediction

[west]

Its early to be getting started but what will the 2010 ladder look like?

Western Bulldogs
Crows
Geelong
St.Kilda
Collingwood
Carlton
Hawthorn
West Coast

Essendon
Brisbane
North
Port
Fremantle
Sydney
Melbourne
Richmond

[MiGZ]

haha how optimistic of you having west coast 8th...

it'll look like this

Geelong
Adelaide
Collingwood
St Kilda
Western Bulldogs
Carlton
Hawthorn
North Melbourne

Brisbane
Essendon
Port
West Coast
Sydney
Fremantle
Richmond
Melbourne

[ossie85]

I like west's 8 - I was going to put Hawks and Eagles in also... but I think Essendon will improve... Not sure on the Lions... Crows will be amongst it but not that high - Edwards, McLeod, Thompson, Burton can't be around for much longer.

So....

(wow, picking the top team is really hard this time)

1. St. Kilda (will be playing for September like the Lions of 03, so may not finish first)
2. Collingwood (Should have pretty much the same list)
3. Hawthorn (Buddy back, and a lot of preseasons)
4. Carlton (oh how I hate them)

5. Western Bulldogs (Johnson, Aker.. aging)
6. Adelaide (great coach, developing youngsters, but they'll make mistakes)
7. Essendon (a head of schedule this year)
8. Fremantle (another upset tip)

9. West Coast (travel factor will edge them out, depends a lot on Cox)
10. Geelong (just cos I'm tipping a big upset - who would've thought Hawthorn would miss this time last year?)
11. Brisbane (harsh, but I think were a little lucky this year)
12. Sydney (the way they play will win some games for them)

13. Melbourne (with a lot of honorable losses)
14. Richmond (with about 8 losses of 80 points or more, what a rabble)
15. North Melbourne (don't rate the list, and struggle for star power)
16. Port Adelaide (they don't care)

[MiGZ]

bit harsh on Scotty Thompson there ossie85...hes only 26! in his prime.

and i think north melbourne have alot going for them...plenty of players coming through and to come back into the squad next year...youll be surprised.

[west]

Don't you think Collingwood have overperformed just a bit? Can't see them cracking a top 2 spot, lucky to hold top 4 I reckon.

Do you think St.Kilda can sustain their run for another year? They are a chance to win it all in 2010 but probably not a minor priemership.

The Doggies might have a few getting older but in my veiw have alot more improvers than other teams. Tom Williams, Cooney, Ward, Higgins etc can all improve, plus they might get that elusive key forward.

Seriously, Freo in the eight. No chance.

[ossie85]

There is ALWAYS a shock team in the 8, so Freo for no reason makes my 8.

Yeah, may have overestimated Thompson's age! lol

Admittedly a bit bias, but Collingwood only has Presti who may retire, also Rocca but he can't make the side anyway, and maybe Lockyer and O'Bree getting on a bit. With Beams, Sidebottom, etc coming through - no reason why they can't hold their ground. Especially with the midfield quartet of Swan, Didak, Davis and Pendlebury.

Doggies need a key forward - Williams is a pipe dream IMO, but you're right about Ward and Higgins. Cooney is overrated.

[BradStar]

Freo, they are just missing  that extra "leader", to me Freo is just Sandi and Pav.

I dont see kanga's making the eight but i see them close.

To me i think brisbane will come around eighth, a bit lucky this year and jb in form, bradshaw needs to do better next year, more like 08.

West Coast,just big cox there do make the difference to me.

My Prediction.

1. Geelong (very hard choice,if dogs get that foward then they will be down the order)
2.Adelaide (have a look at there foward line,so much for being defensive)
3.Collingwood
4.Dogs (need the foward)
5.Carlton (need someone to help fev)
6.St.Kilda (fluke)
7.Essedon (Lloyd Lucas?)
8.Brisbane
9.Sydney (thats what i said)

10.Freo
11.Hawks (going to be hungry but wont do that well to me)
12.North
13.West Coast (they will step up)
14.Melbourne (wont be easy)
15.Port (dont try)
16.Richmond (no one wants to stay)

[west]

I don't understand how ppl put Freo above WCE

[west]

Alot of Essendon rides on Hurley and Neagle. They need to be good and consistent to keep Essendon afloat.

[BradStar]

Essedon..... No more lucas, probably the same with llyod. Going to struggle up front with no big man.
What i was thinking, when hille isnt rucking put him up front.

[Alex7089]

and hurley can play forward, and monfries knows how to kick a bag and If neagle can take the next step he will be half decent as well. Also with our fast game style    getting to the scoring end and kicking goals.  Essnedon needs to worry more about teams pushing them wide instead f not having a power forward

[roo boys!]

I think north will have a pretty good year. New coach, looking to improve from this year, some young guns stepping up, had a lot of players injured this year and quite a few people they missed this year to return. Probably finish 8th is my quess but you never know!

[Teel]

Can't reason it apart for roos who have an impressive youth core this year and most likely improve alot next two years

Western Bulldogs
Adelaide
St Kilda
Geelong
Carlton
Collingwood
Essendon
Kangeroos

Brisbane
West Coast
Port
Sydney
Hawthorn
Richmond
Melbourne
Freo

[bensomerford]

I wouldnt thnk collingwood could do much better than this season in 2010. here's an article of mine on it. check it for info.

http://www.theroar.com.au/2009/09/25/where-to-now-for-collingwood/

[bovs]

GROUP 1: Definite finalists
1) St Kilda- have a strong defence, midfield and attack and will be protected from "doing a Hawthorn" next year
2) Western Bulldogs- hard to believe they haven't played a GF in the last decade because they've been a top 4 side for much of that rime... next year could be their year
3) Carlton- all those early draft picks keep getting better and better.  Murphy, Gibbs and Kreuzer to take the next step for them next year
4) Geelong- did well when it counted in '09 but looked shaky in the H&A season and could be back to the pack next year
5) Hawthorn- should never have missed the finals this year.  A tough pre-season should get them off to a flying start and will be definite finalists.
6) Collingwood- can't seem to get the consistency out of the current group to make a real challenge for a premiership.  If Jolly and Ball come into the team they could make a huge difference.
7) Adelaide- I think they overachieved a bit this season and although they played very well in stages, I think they will lack the required consistency to be genuine challengers.

GROUP 2: in-the-mix finalists
8) West Coast- if the young midfield brigade (which now includes Dalziell) can step up again then West Coast should get a full season mirroring the last half of '09... in which case a return to finals will be likely.
9) Brisbane- Some excellent players and the league's best captain in Jon Brown, but the star midfielders like Black don't seem able to win games off their own boot which hurts them.
10) Essendon- Overachieved this year and weren't good enough to play finals as their week 1 drubbing proved.  Have some talent but are really on an in-the-mix side.
11) Sydney- Finally getting some youth into the team and if they can get a good trade for Jolly it could greatly improve their team.  Might take a couple of years to be a top 8 contender though.

GROUP 3: Won't play finals
12) North Melbourne- Just not a very good team at the moment.  Always fighting but lack class through the midfield.  The development of Anthony and Ziebell is crucial to their future fortunes.
13) Richmond- Just never seemed to be on the right track under Wallace.  Whether the change at the top makes for a change in fortunes remains to be seen.
14) Melbourne- The has had a couple of years of rebuilding at the expense of wins, but it's time to get some results on the board.  They won't move up by much, but hopefully they can move up a little.
15) Fremantle- The brave youth policy combined with a club that just plain struggles to succeed and has done for 14 years means a few more years of struggle for the Dockers.
16) Port Adelaide- A club in real trouble I believe.  Williams should've been moved on but wasn't.  Burgoyne, a leader at the club, wants out showing a lack of harmony or team spirit in the rooms.  I think 2010 will be a massive kick up the backside for the club and one they need at that.