2018 Predictions

Football Discussion Dustin Fletcher Hangar
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With the new season looming I thought it was time to start making some bold predictions for the upcoming season.

**Home & Away victories: ** 15 wins

Final Home & Away Ladder position: 4th

Best Win for the Year: Round 22 v Richmond

Worst Loss for the Year: Anzac Day

Leading Goalkicker: Joe Daniher

W. S. Crichton Medal (Top 3):**D Smith Z Merrett Joe Daniher

Most Improved: James Stewart

Most Brownlow Votes: D Smith

Most Rising Star Votes: Josh Begley

Breakout Player(U/23): Kyle Langford

VFL Ladder Position: 6th

VFL B&F (Top 3): D Clarke Smack Matt Guelfi

Who will win the Premiership: Adelaide

Runner up: GWS

Wooden Spoon: Brisbane

Norm Smith: M Crouch

Brownlow Winner: Dangerfield

Rising Star Winner: Paddy Dow

Coleman Medal Winner: J Kennedy

Debuts: Guelfi, Draper, Mutch, Clarke

Biggest ladder rise: Collingwood

Biggest ladder fall: West Coast

First coach sacked: Adam Simpson

All Australians: Fantasia, Merrett, Daniher, Hurley

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Finish 7th. Midfield will lose us too many games early on.

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Wins: 13
Ladder position: 7th
Best win: Sydney round 19
Worst loss: Fremantle round 2
Leading Goalkicker: Daniher
WS Crichton Medal (Top 3): Merrett, Daniher, Heppell
Most Improved: (over last year) Stringer, (over previous career) Draper
Most Brownlow Votes: Merrett
Most Rising Star Votes: Begley
Breakout Player: Guelfi
VFL B&F (Top 3): Mutch, Redman, Leuenberger
Premiership: GWS
Runner Up: Geelong
Norm Smith: Dangerfield
Brownlow: Josh Kelly
Rising Star: Jack Graham
Coleman Medal Winner: Daniher

Going to add some random others
Debuts: Guelfi, Draper, Mutch, Ridley
Biggest ladder rise: Fremantle
Biggest ladder fall: West Coast
First coach sacked: Adam Simpson
Round 6 premiers: Port Adelaide
All Australians: Fantasia, Merrett, Daniher

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Oh, and wooden spoon: decided on percentage between north and gold coast, with carlton as the eternal smokie.

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Reader’s pick: 8th
Experts’ picks RANK
Jake Niall 8th
Michael Gleeson 5th
Peter Ryan 8th
Jon Pierik 6th
Daniel Cherny 7th
Warwick Green 6th

Where do you think this
team will finish?

Why they can make the eight
All three big recruits, Jake Stringer, Devon Smith and Adam Saad, have match-influencing capacity. The Bombers’ pace will destroy a few teams this season. Expect natural improvement from several impressive youngsters. The likes of Dyson Heppell, Tom Bellchambers and Cale Hooker should be better off in the second season back from suspension.
Warwick Green

Why they can’t make the eight
Question marks on their talls. The Dons need a quality second key defender to support Michael Hurley, and they need stronger and more consistent performances from their ruckmen. Also, the Bombers need to be better when they don’t have the ball, particularly in their forward half, where the defensive pressure is left to too few.
Warwick Green

What Jake Niall thinks
The Dons have improved their list in the short-term with the influx of Devon Smith, Jake Stringer and Adam Saad. Their scoring prowess - propelled by Joe Daniher plus slick smalls - is impressive. Defensive actions, though, require major improvement and until they develop a convincing forward press - with a classier midfielder or two - they won’t contend for the flag.

Gains
Matt Guelfi NAB AFL Draft, Jordan Houlahan NAB AFL Draft, Luke Lavender Category B rookie, Jake Long promoted rookie, Trent Mynott Rookie Draft, Adam Saad traded from Gold Coast, Devon Smith traded from GWS Giants, Jake Stringer traded from Western Bulldogs, Brandon Zerk-Thatcher NAB AFL Draft

Losses
Craig Bird delisted, Yestin Eades retired, Heath Hocking delisted, Ben Howlett delisted, James Kelly retired, Alex Morgan delisted, Brent Stanton retired, Jobe Watson retired

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Jake Niall spot on, unless we develop a forward press, and this is ingrained in every single player as a non-negotiable, then he is correct, we ain’t going anywhere. At the moment our pressure is laughable, with the talent we currently have, wow it’s a mess.

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Final Home & Away Ladder position: 3rd

Best Win for the Year: Round 19 v Sydney

Worst Loss for the Year: Round 6 v Melbourne (short break off ANZAC Day works the oracle again…)

Leading Goalkicker: Joe Daniher (85 - Coleman Medallist)

W. S. Crichton Medal (Top 3): Daniher, Fantasia, Z.Merrett

Most Improved: Darcy Parish

Most Brownlow Votes: Z.Merrett

Most Rising Star Votes: Kobe Mutch

Breakout Player(U/23): Darcy Parish

VFL Ladder Position: 2nd

VFL B&F (Top 3): D Clarke Smack Draper

Who will win the Premiership: Essendon

Runner up: Sydney

Wooden Spoon: North Melbourne

Norm Smith: Hurley

Brownlow Winner: Fyfe

Rising Star Winner: Paddy Dow

Coleman Medal Winner: Daniher

Debuts: Guelfi, Mutch, Clarke, Houlahan

Biggest ladder rise: Melbourne

Biggest ladder fall: West Coast

First coach sacked: Nathan Buckley (A 5th successive finals miss will be too much, Roos paid a king’s ransom to take over)

All Australians: Fantasia, Merrett, Daniher, Hurley

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Breakout year- James Stewart, Mason Redman
Where we’ll finish - 8th
Best wins - Adelaide round 1, Hawthorn, Sydney
Worst losses - Carlton, twice (don’t ask)
Good signs- Zerk, Guelfi
Most promising - Houlahan
Stringoals - 20 (don’t ask)
Joegoals - 78

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Essendon: look like a top 4 side for 3/4 of the season. Then lose the last 6 games and finish 8th. Play an away final to West Coast. And get smashed by West Coast and the umpires.

It cuts deep.

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As is tradition

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Final Home & Away Ladder position: 5-6

Best Win for the Year: Dreamtime

Worst Loss for the Year: North Melbourne

Leading Goalkicker: Cale Hooker

W. S. Crichton Medal (Top 3): Heppell, Smith, Parish

Most Improved: Matty Dea

Most Brownlow Votes: Hepps

Most Rising Star Votes: Koby Mutch

Breakout Player(U/23): Kyle Langford

VFL Ladder Position: 2nd

VFL B&F (Top 3): Baguley, Redman, Mutch

Who will win the Premiership: Sydney

Runner up: Richmond

Wooden Spoon: North Melbourne

Norm Smith: Heeney

Brownlow Winner: Fyfe

Rising Star Winner: Willie Rioli

Coleman Medal Winner: Ben Brown

Debuts: Guelfi, Draper, Mutch,

Biggest ladder rise: Brisbane

Biggest ladder fall: Collingwood

First coach sacked: Buckley

All Australians: Hepps, Smith, Joey

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**Home & Away victories: ** 16 wins

Final Home & Away Ladder position: 3rd

Best Win for the Year: Country Game flogging cats

Worst Loss for the Year: Rd 2 Fremantle

Leading Goalkicker: Joe Daniher

W. S. Crichton Medal (Top 3): Z Merrett J Daniher M Hurley

Most Improved: D parish

Most Brownlow Votes: Z Merrett

Most Rising Star Votes: Ridley

Breakout Player(U/23): Laverde

VFL Ladder Position: 2nd

VFL B&F (Top 3): Clarke Dea, McKernan

Who will win the Premiership: Essendon

Runner up: Geelong

Wooden Spoon: North Melbourne

Norm Smith: J Stringer

Brownlow Winner: G Ablett

Rising Star Winner: Perryman

Coleman Medal Winner: J Daniher

Debuts: Mutch, Ridley, Guelfi, Zerk-Thatcher, Clarke

Biggest ladder rise: Gold Coast

Biggest ladder fall: Richmond

First coach sacked: Nathan Buckley

All Australians: Merrett Daniher Hurley Stringer

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I like the cut of your jib

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A bit lid off :slight_smile:

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Wins: 14
Ladder position: 5th
Best win: FarkPort
Worst loss: Melbourne
Leading Goalkicker: Daniher
WS Crichton Medal (Top 3): Heppell, Merrett, Daniher
Most Improved: Gleeson
Most Brownlow Votes: Heppell
Most Rising Star Votes: Ridley
Breakout Player: Guelfi
VFL B&F (Top 3): Mutch, Redman, Draper
Premiership: Crows
Runner Up: Melbourne
Norm Smith: Lever
Brownlow: Dangerfield
Rising Star: Cameron Rayner
Coleman Medal Winner: Daniher
Biggest ladder rise: Gold Coast
Biggest ladder fall: West Coast
First coach sacked: Adam Simpson
Round 6 premiers: Port Adelaide
All Australians: Merrett, Daniher, Heppell, Hurley

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Love these threads

Wins: 14
Home and Away finish: 6th
Best Win: v GWS (Round 10)
Worst Loss: Anzac Day (we only win every 4 yrs!)
Goalkicking: Joe
B&F Top 3: Zerrett, Joe, Smith
Most Improved: Parish
Most Brownlow votes: Joe
Most Rising Star Votes: Guelfi
Breakout U-23: Parish
VFL Ladder Finish: 4th
VFL B&F Top 3: Draper, McKernan, Hocking
Premier: Adelaide
Runner Up: GWS
Wooden Spoon: North LOL
Norm Smith: Gibbs
Brownlow: Josh Kelly
Rising Star: Jack Higgins
Coleman: Joe

Debuts: Guelfi, Ridley, Mutch
Biggest Ladder Rise: Brisbane
Biggest Ladder Fall: West Coast
First Coach Sacked: Alan Richardson
Round 6 Premier: Melbourne
All Australians (EFC): Joe/Zerrett

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Home & Away victories: 15 wins

Final Home & Away Ladder position: 4th

Best Win for the Year: Preliminary Final. We destroy Richmond.

Worst Loss for the Year: Carlton

Leading Goalkicker: Joe Daniher

W. S. Crichton Medal (Top 3):1. Joey D 2. D Smith 3. Hurley

Most Improved: Begley who secures a spot and holds onto it

Most Brownlow Votes: D Smith

Most Rising Star Votes: Josh Begley

Breakout Player(U/23): Draper

VFL Ladder Position: 1st

VFL B&F (Top 3): Clarke, Smack, Francis

Who will win the Premiership: Essendon

Runner up: Cats

Wooden Spoon: Lions

Norm Smith: Joe Daniher

Brownlow Winner: Devon Smith

Rising Star Winner: Alex Witherden

Coleman Medal Winner: J Daniher

Debuts: Mutch, Guelfi, Draper

Biggest ladder rise: Bulldogs/Freo

Biggest ladder fall: West Coast

First coach sacked: Simpson… Richardson… Buckley

All Australians: Zerrett, J Daniher, Hurley, D Smith, J Stringer

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WOWEE! Imagine BT calling the very unusual sort of hypenated name. ZERRRRRRRRRK-THATCHERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!

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Final Home & Away Ladder position: 10

Best Win for the Year: Round 7, Hawthorn

Worst Loss for the Year: Round 17, GCS

Leading Goalkicker: Cale Hooker

W. S. Crichton Medal (Top 3): Smith, Zerret, Hurley

Most Improved: Langford

Most Brownlow Votes: Zerrett

Most Rising Star Votes: Koby Mutch

Breakout Player(U/23): Koby Mutch

VFL Ladder Position: 3rd

VFL B&F (Top 3): NFI

Who will win the Premiership: Adelaide

Runner up: Sydney

Wooden Spoon: Gold Coast

Norm Smith: Heeney

Brownlow Winner: B. Crouch

Rising Star Winner: Luke Davis-Uniacke

Coleman Medal Winner: Ben Brown

Debuts: Ridley, Guelfi, Draper, Mutch,

Biggest ladder rise: Melbourne

Biggest ladder fall: Collingwood

First coach sacked: Buckley

All Australians: Fantasia

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Final Home & Away Ladder position: 3

Best Win for the Year: Anzac Day

Worst Loss for the Year: North Melbourne

Leading Goalkicker: Joe Daniher

W. S. Crichton Medal (Top 3): Smith, Daniher, Hurley

Most Improved: McKernan

Most Brownlow Votes: Daniher

Most Rising Star Votes: Mutch

Breakout Player(U/23): Laverde

VFL Ladder Position: 1st

VFL B&F (Top 3): Mutch, Ridley, Redman,

Who will win the Premiership: Essendon

Runner up: Geelong

Wooden Spoon: Gold Coast

Norm Smith: Daniher

Brownlow Winner: Martin

Rising Star Winner: Tim Kelly

Coleman Medal Winner: Daniher

Debuts: Guelfi, Mutch

Biggest ladder rise: Collingwood

Biggest ladder fall: Bulldogs

First coach sacked: Scott (Nth)

All Australians: Smith, Daniher, Hurley, Fantasia

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