The outside contenders

[quinny88]

Well you're a Port supporter so of course you're gonna be optimistic but I don't see that sort of improvement coming just yet. Not this season anyway.

And not sure what you mean by that 2000 grand final stat? But none the less stats dating back that far are irrelevant considering most of ports players were in primary school in 2000

[JBs-Hawks]

People may ask why we didn't go all the way last year when guys like Wingard, Wines and Boak dominated every game is mainly because of these factors.

- Gray was underdone half the year
- We didn't have another key forward to stand up for the year
- Benny Newton was stuck in the reserves
- Hoff couldn't find any consistency
- Hartlett decided he didn't want to play half the games

Our defence is solid as is our midfield/ruck stocks we just need another forward to really step up and we have a top 4-6 side. Last year was no fluke. We dominated Collingwood and we should of beaten Geelong had the umpires not wanted to see Hawthorn V Geelong in the next round. We will already proved we could beat Sydney earlier in the year we push the best teams to the limit and this year we will go all the way.

No ones asking why port didn't go all the way, no one expected them to even make finals, port supporters included.
Port had a good season but at the end of the day they only beat 2 teams from the top 8 all year so they were largely aided by a soft fixture. Taking nothing away from them they still did well to get there and were exceptionally good in the finals but they have a harder fixture this year and will struggle to make the 8 IMO

We have a harder fixture because we are a better team.

Its not even that bad we play Carlton, Adelaide Crows, Fremantle, Melbourne, Sydney Swans twice which isn't the worst, Considering our record against those teams last year was 4-3.

We host Geelong, Freo, Hawthorn, Essendon, Sydney all at home so that pays in our favour

in the 4 times we travel to Victoria its to face Carlton, North, Richmond and Collingwood with Collingwood being at the MCG at a ground we have won 3 games drawn 1 and lost 0 in the last 2 years.

Before the bye we have Carlton (Away) Adelaide (Home) North (Away) Brisbane (Home) West Coast (Away) Geelong (Home) GWS (Away) Freo (Home)

Going into the bye at potential 5 - 4 or even 6 - 3 puts us in a good position

Exactly right, you are a much better team but it's still gonna be a struggle with how close the competition is at the moment.
Fremantle and Sydney twice is tough considering they are 2 of the premiership favourites.
Just to make the 8 port would need to take another big step forward from last year, if they just play as well as last year they miss out, and my query is that with so many players having career best seasons how many can be expected to not only back it up but get better again? Especially for a young side.
And let's not forget we're not just talking about making the 8 here, they could very well do that and are in the mix, but were talking about teams from outside last years top 4 that are most likely to make the GF

We have plenty of improvement left in our side most of our players were still inconsistent and many still have room for improvement, Our back line is solid and our midfield has just added 2 senior blokes in White and Polec who will provide plenty of run something we lacked last year. Our forward line still lacked holes we were missing a second key target up front and with the addition of Mason Shaw/Mitch Harvey next year if one of them are able to support Schulz we will have a damaging forward line.

Since 2000 we have the equal 6th best record when it comes to reaching the grand final so its not impossible.

And whats your points differential rate when you make the GF? :P

[Noz]

People may ask why we didn't go all the way last year when guys like Wingard, Wines and Boak dominated every game is mainly because of these factors.

- Gray was underdone half the year
- We didn't have another key forward to stand up for the year
- Benny Newton was stuck in the reserves
- Hoff couldn't find any consistency
- Hartlett decided he didn't want to play half the games

Our defence is solid as is our midfield/ruck stocks we just need another forward to really step up and we have a top 4-6 side. Last year was no fluke. We dominated Collingwood and we should of beaten Geelong had the umpires not wanted to see Hawthorn V Geelong in the next round. We will already proved we could beat Sydney earlier in the year we push the best teams to the limit and this year we will go all the way.

No ones asking why port didn't go all the way, no one expected them to even make finals, port supporters included.
Port had a good season but at the end of the day they only beat 2 teams from the top 8 all year so they were largely aided by a soft fixture. Taking nothing away from them they still did well to get there and were exceptionally good in the finals but they have a harder fixture this year and will struggle to make the 8 IMO

We have a harder fixture because we are a better team.

Its not even that bad we play Carlton, Adelaide Crows, Fremantle, Melbourne, Sydney Swans twice which isn't the worst, Considering our record against those teams last year was 4-3.

We host Geelong, Freo, Hawthorn, Essendon, Sydney all at home so that pays in our favour

in the 4 times we travel to Victoria its to face Carlton, North, Richmond and Collingwood with Collingwood being at the MCG at a ground we have won 3 games drawn 1 and lost 0 in the last 2 years.

Before the bye we have Carlton (Away) Adelaide (Home) North (Away) Brisbane (Home) West Coast (Away) Geelong (Home) GWS (Away) Freo (Home)

Going into the bye at potential 5 - 4 or even 6 - 3 puts us in a good position

Exactly right, you are a much better team but it's still gonna be a struggle with how close the competition is at the moment.
Fremantle and Sydney twice is tough considering they are 2 of the premiership favourites.
Just to make the 8 port would need to take another big step forward from last year, if they just play as well as last year they miss out, and my query is that with so many players having career best seasons how many can be expected to not only back it up but get better again? Especially for a young side.
And let's not forget we're not just talking about making the 8 here, they could very well do that and are in the mix, but were talking about teams from outside last years top 4 that are most likely to make the GF

We have plenty of improvement left in our side most of our players were still inconsistent and many still have room for improvement, Our back line is solid and our midfield has just added 2 senior blokes in White and Polec who will provide plenty of run something we lacked last year. Our forward line still lacked holes we were missing a second key target up front and with the addition of Mason Shaw/Mitch Harvey next year if one of them are able to support Schulz we will have a damaging forward line.

Since 2000 we have the equal 6th best record when it comes to reaching the grand final so its not impossible.

And whats your points differential rate when you make the GF? :P

50 % win ratio

[TeeJay]

Port are irrelevant let's be real here.

Grand final is between
Hawthorn
Richmond
Fremantle
Sydney
And my boys the cattas who can never be written off

[Noz]

Port are irrelevant let's be real here.

Grand final is between
Hawthorn
Richmond
Fremantle
Sydney
And my boys the cattas who can never be written off

Richmond having a better chance than Essendon and Collingwood? Ha Ha Ha

If we are being real here

Teams with a huge chance to win it
Hawthorn
Freo
Sydney

Teams that can win it
Collingwood
Geelong

On their best days the gap between the top 5 teams and the rest are just to great unless a team drastically changes through the off season the grand final will be decided by one of these 5 teams

Maybe Essendon as well but loosing 2 key forwards hurts.

[Ricochet]

Port are irrelevant let's be real here.

Grand final is between
Hawthorn
Richmond
Fremantle
Sydney
And my boys the cattas who can never be written off

Richmond having a better chance than Essendon and Collingwood? Ha Ha Ha

Based on draw... and slight improvement, yes they do imo

[TeeJay]

Port are irrelevant let's be real here.

Grand final is between
Hawthorn
Richmond
Fremantle
Sydney
And my boys the cattas who can never be written off

Richmond having a better chance than Essendon and Collingwood? Ha Ha Ha

If we are being real here

Teams with a huge chance to win it
Hawthorn
Freo
Sydney

Teams that can win it
Collingwood
Essendon
Geelong

On their best days the gap between the top 6 teams and the rest are just to great unless a team drastically changes through the off season the grand final will be decided by one of these 6 teams

Well yeah? They finished above both of them last year and have the easiest fixture in the comp.
Most people obviously agree that they are the best contender judging by the poll

[quinny88]

No point listening to Noz on Richmond. His judgment is clouded by an underlying hate he has for them. It was a Richmond player that caused him to end up in a dress after all  :P

[Noz]

Where exactly is the improvement coming from at Richmond most of the players had their best year and they still couldn't get past week 1 of the finals or crack top 4.

[specky92]

Catch was down of form last season  Hampson will help them get the best out of Maric, Ellis and Vlastuin will only get better. If Richmond are gonna challenge for a premiership I'd think they'd need a fit Maric, Vickery and JRoo both firing, and Foley to get back to his 2012 form

[quinny88]

Where exactly is the improvement coming from at Richmond most of the players had their best year and they still couldn't get past week 1 of the finals or crack top 4.

Most if our players had their best year??  :o not sure what you were watching.

Cotchin had a ripping start then hyperextended his knee in round 5 and was far below his best for the remainder of the year.
Deledio had a down year compared to previous seasons
Maric was well down on his 2012 form and struggled with groin problems
Jack was shifted all around the place but will have a set CHF role this year

Still improvement in Ellis who is coming into his 3rd season and flying on the training track
Conca just hitting his prime and set to breakout
Grimes finally getting a full pre season
Vickery coming into prime age for a ruck/fwd
Foley finally getting a pre season for the first time in years
A second year of Rance and Chappy together who were a great defensive combo last year.

Plenty of improvement for Richmond, but like has been said we have the softest draw in the league and only missed out on top 4 last year by half a game so would barely need to improve to make the 4.

I actually don't have us picked for 4th I have us picked for 5th again but your judgement is clouded if you don't consider Richmond a chance to finish top 4

[Noz]

Where exactly is the improvement coming from at Richmond most of the players had their best year and they still couldn't get past week 1 of the finals or crack top 4.

Still improvement in Ellis who is coming into his 3rd season and flying on the training track
Conca just hitting his prime and set to breakout
Grimes finally getting a full pre season
Vickery coming into prime age for a ruck/fwd
Foley finally getting a pre season for the first time in years
A second year of Rance and Chappy together who were a great defensive combo last year.

Having Hampson in the same team as Maric and Vickery is just causing for trouble in my opinion remember the interchange cap is in full effect and guys like Maric won't be able to go to the interchange as often as he has in the past so those groin issues might re occur.

Hampson can't play as a key forward so his a waste.

Grimes and Foley are too injury prone now a days so its only a matter of time before they get injured.

Grigg, Houli, Edwards, Jackson, King, Chaplin dont have much improvement left as they all had their best seasons

Deledio has trouble when a good tagger gets put on him. Cotch is a gun.

Richmond has no chance of top 4.

[Mailman the 2nd]

I wouldn't really be that pessimistic about teams who didn't finish top 4 last year at making the GF.

I mean no one thought Sydney would get close in 2012 but now everyone goes about how they've always been a great team.

In 2013 everyone jumped on the Port Adelaide train as if they were destined for greatness.

None of your opinions really matter, you'll all pretend you got it right this year regardless

[Jroo]

Where exactly is the improvement coming from at Richmond most of the players had their best year and they still couldn't get past week 1 of the finals or crack top 4.

Still improvement in Ellis who is coming into his 3rd season and flying on the training track
Conca just hitting his prime and set to breakout
Grimes finally getting a full pre season
Vickery coming into prime age for a ruck/fwd
Foley finally getting a pre season for the first time in years
A second year of Rance and Chappy together who were a great defensive combo last year.

Having Hampson in the same team as Maric and Vickery is just causing for trouble in my opinion remember the interchange cap is in full effect and guys like Maric won't be able to go to the interchange as often as he has in the past so those groin issues might re occur.

Hampson can't play as a key forward so his a waste.

Grimes and Foley are too injury prone now a days so its only a matter of time before they get injured.

Grigg, Houli, Edwards, Jackson, King, Chaplin dont have much improvement left as they all had their best seasons

Deledio has trouble when a good tagger gets put on him. Cotch is a gun.

Richmond has no chance of top 4.

Maric won't go off, he can play up forward, while Hampson rucks.
Foley is only just in our best 22, so he's not a massive loss. Grimes is important and we need him to stay fit.
Grigg, Jackson and King don't have much improvement left IMO.
Houli, Edwards and Chaplin still have a bit of improvement left, but not heaps.
Lids improved towards the end of the year and eventually he'll learn how to break the tag.

We have plenty of youngsters who'll improve - Conca, Griffiths, Vlas, Arnot, Ellis, Hampson, McDonough and McBean.
Knights is like a new recruit and if he stays fit he'll be good.
Out of Banfield, Thomas, Miles, Gordon, Lloyd and Lennon, one or two will become regulars in our 22, possibly.
We have plenty of depth too.

I wouldn't say we have no chance, I I think we have a good chance of making the top four.
I just think you don't like Richmond  :P

[Noz]

Thats a big if when talking about Knights and Grimes remaining fit. I agree Grimes is a key factor to your team but the kid can't stay on the park whilst Knights has never been able to play a full season.

You would hope guys like Griffiths, Arnot,  McDonough and McBean will improve as they have barely played a game whilst Hampson will never improve. He had what 6 seasons to do something at Carlton and he did absolute squat.

Looking at your depth compared to the rest of the teams in the top 8 you probably have the worst and this isn't me just on a vendetta against Richmond its the truth.

You barely have any mid depth you key defensive stocks are one of the worst in the league.