The Adelaide Crows have had an amazing season so far this year and are easily the most consistent team in the Premiership. Most AFL followers seem to have the idea that this team already has one foot in the Grand Final’s doorstep, and the real question we should be focusing on is who their opponents will be.
With Adelaide’s form this year, and their ability to step up when it counts against strong opposition, it’s no wonder they have received this kind of praise from the football community. They currently sit as the title favourites, with the latest odds having them at $3.25 to win their third flag. The Crows haven’t won an AFL title since snatching consecutive Grand Finals back in 1997 and 1998Â but they are looking extremely confident this time around, and other teams would surely see them as the side to beat. Â
Coach Don Pyke will remember the sting of last year’s semi final, where they were knocked out of the competition by a Sydney Swans’ side they had beaten earlier during the normal season. The pain of that loss will surely be motivation for this side to take into this year’s finals, on their quest to take the flag back to South Australia.
The major contenders to shatter the Crow’s dream in 2017 would have to be the GWS Giants, Sydney Swans, Geelong cats, and possibly the Richmond Tigers, although it does seem unlikely.
GWS were excellent at the start of the year but started to struggle towards the end of the season. Luckily for them though, they have found their winning ways at just the right time and will head into the finals with the same confidence that saw them climb to first place on the ladder back in round 14 and 15.
Source: Adelaide Football Club via Facebook.
The Sydney Swans had a monstrous start to this year but have seemingly turned it all around. their recent sensational playing style will have been noticed by all the other teams, and they will be a team that most sides will be hoping to avoid on the road to the finals.
On their day, the Geelong Cats are major contenders for the flag; however, their lack of consistency sometimes has left a few question marks over how they will fare in September.
Richmond Tigers have had a very good second half to their campaign after some early slip-ups. They have some incredible players in their squad like Dustin Martin, and if the whole team was at their best they may just pull out a sneaky upset along the way somewhere.
Port Adelaide have been in the race for the title the whole season, but their poor form against other top eight teams this year has put them out of any real contention. The Melbourne Demons also fall into this category but their inconsistency has been shared by teams from any position on the ladder. Â Â Â Â Â
Another Western Bulldogs miracle you ask? Never say never I suppose. We can all remember the surprise of 2016 when the Doggies finished seventh and then blew everyone away by going unbeaten all the way to the Grand Final and to winning the flag. They broke their 62-year premiership drought, and left poor old Sydney absolutely shell-shocked and wondering what had just happened. Could it happen again? A possibility indeed, but lightning doesn’t strike the same place twice, right?
