2014 Predictions

[LF]

Yeah our ruck bench is wrong Sam Jacobs is there not Pattison plus we have Graham still

These are our backs
Def: H Scotland (Carl), S Mitchell (Haw), M Suckling (Haw), P Duffield (Freo), L Russell (GC), T Chaplin (Rich), L Brown (Adel), N Wright (StK), B Wilson (WC)

These are our forwards
Fwd: C Sylvia (Freo), J Darling (WC), A Monfries (Port), M DeBoer (Freo), Q Lynch (Coll), L Jones (WB), T Membrey (Syd), M Wood (NM), B Colledge (WC), J Cripps (WC), B Lennon (Rich), M Paparone (Bris)

These are our mids
Mid: J Kelly (Geel), T Rockliff (Bris), M Stokes (Geel), D Mundy (Freo), C Jones (StK), D Jackson (Rich), L Ball (Coll), X Ellis (Haw), B McKenzie (NM), A Woodward (Haw), N Graham (Carl), M Hutchings (WC), L Dunstan (StK), J Jansen (Geel), S Lemmens (GC), K Martin (Coll)

[Ziplock]

kk, cheers, I've fixed it up now.

[CrowsFan]

Agree depth is a bit of a issue, especially in the forward line. We went from having the best forward line in terms of depth last year to having none this year since we traded a couple and a few lost DPP.

Also we don't have Jason Blake anymore! Didn't have him last season either, so not sure why he is still on your list??

[Ziplock]

I dont know where my list came from, so... Dunno :p

[CrowsFan]

Actually you've got a few others on there too that we haven't had for a while like Lucas Cook, then also we don't have Max Duffy and Jordan Gysberts anymore.

But you got the best XV right so good enough :)

[Ziplock]

Actually you've got a few others on there too that we haven't had for a while like Lucas Cook, then also we don't have Max Duffy and Jordan Gysberts anymore.

But you got the best XV right so good enough :)

haha, yeah, extras are ok :P

[LaHug]

Apparently I never commented on this...
I agree with you that we should definitely be top 4, Zip, and I like your analysis :)

I think you have Scotland and Duffield both averaging 10 points too many each. I also reckon Sylvia will have 3 less and Monfries 5 less (but that's also partly because I like round numbers). Finally, Lobbe and Suckling could have 2 or so more points each just to make them nice numbers :P
But yeah, I have us around the 1490 mark, barring injuries.

Cheers man :)

[Ziplock]

Apparently I never commented on this...
I agree with you that we should definitely be top 4, Zip, and I like your analysis :)

I think you have Scotland and Duffield both averaging 10 points too many each. I also reckon Sylvia will have 3 less and Monfries 5 less (but that's also partly because I like round numbers). Finally, Lobbe and Suckling could have 2 or so more points each just to make them nice numbers :P
But yeah, I have us around the 1490 mark, barring injuries.

Cheers man :)

no problem, yeah, sometimes looking at these predictions a while after I've done them I'm like- there's something not quite right with that... but :P

[Ziplock]

Scotland Savage Sons- Whatlez
Predicted ranking: 10th (1402)

Team:
Backs: Pearce (82), Whitecross (83), McKenzie (83), Ibbotson (95)
Grima, Gearym Thurlow, Suban, K Kolodjashnij, Fuller, Picken, Pettard

Mids: Jack (C, 200), Grigg (93), Jones (90), Boak (100)
Young, Conca, Mzungu, Armfield, Templeton, Wellingham

Ruck: Maric (90)
Grundy, Witts, Brown

Forward: Fasolo (75), Dahlhaus (75), Mayes (78), Blair (75)
Matera, Ballantyne, Nahas, Simpson, McCarthy, White

Util: Prestia (98), Wines (85)

Analysis:

Considering I've got them ranked 10th, Scotland actually has the backbone to become quite a strong team. The only thing really keeping it out of the top 8 at this point in time is it's forward line- if it was stronger they could potentially be pushing for the top 4 with their best 15.

Backs: Pearce might be a little generous, but not by much. I think I have McKenzie a little underrated- I thought he had a pre-season injury, but can't seem to find anything on it. Whitecross might be a little generous, first year back from ACL is normally pretty tough, while I think ibbo is a reasonable rating. Depth wise Grima/ Geary provide good cover, and Suban should crank it up another notch and help out in that regard. Thurlow + Kolodjashnij developing (Kolodjashnij was a great get, I personally rated him in the top 3 draftees) means this line is pretty solid for the future as well.

Mids: The issue here is that there's no out and out gun, just a lot of very solid 90-100 players. I think there's a chance someone like Jack, Boak, Jones or Prestia could become elite though, which would definitely help out. I think I have them pegged about right- I think Jones will enjoy a little break out with a bit more midfield support... Wines I can see holding it up for longer this season, but I'm seeing him as a classic 3rd year break out at this point. On the bench, young will be solid if he can stay fit, Mzungu's also good coverand Concan could break out any time. Wellingham shouldn't be underrated either, despite his apparently constant small injuries, and I hear good things about Templeton. Overall it's a pretty well balanced line- it's entirely possible there would be six 90+ mids, all it really needs is a beastial captaincy option.

Rucks: We know maric can be a beast at this best, while Grundy (and Witts to a lesser degree), look like they're going to be monsters very soon, and should work well in tandem coverwise. Another really good line.

Forwards: Kind of lets down the team. Mayes will probably be elite, although I doubt it''ll happen this year. The rest of  the line are littered with a collection of small forwards, which historically are rarely DT relevant. If Nahas gets back to his best, there'll be a reasonable 80+ forward, and I'm sure that between Fasolo, Dahlhaus, Blair, Matera, Ballantyne, one of them will eventually be 80+ as well. It's a pitty Mccarthy went to the giants, where when he plays, it'll probably be back. I'm tipping a reasonable possibility that white could find his way into Scotland's best 15 this season though. It really needs just one, preferably 2 forwards that either are 90+, or at least have the potential to be.

Overall: If injuries are brutal this season, Scotland could very well sneak into the 8- they have the youth to improve, and have similar quality bench depth. I'm not sure how they'll do it, but they need to track down a forward next season, unless they happen to chance upon a couple of break outs. Honestly, a best case scenario for scotland would be to finish very lowly (unlikely though with their reasonable depth), in order to entice a decent forward with some quality draft picks. I'd like to see lez do it without losing any of his mids, defenders or rucks though, since there's a really good backbone there.

[JBs-Hawks]

Whitecross did his ACL in the finals again last year

[Justin Bieber]

That's a good review thanks Zip. I didn't trade really at all with my players last off-season. So we'll see how my young crop goes.

[Ziplock]

Whitecross did his ACL in the finals again last year

wait what?

is that why he didn't play in the gf?

*removes him from dt side*

fucccck. Well, that's like 10 ppg gone with suban fielded instead.

[Justin Bieber]

:(

Geary could push to 75-80.

[Ziplock]

:(

Geary could push to 75-80.

yeah, him or suban. Cuts down on your depth a bit though.

[JBs-Hawks]

Also is it danyle peaece in defence? Cos hes mid only.