Yep, even without the recent injuries Im not sure there is any exposed form of General Jon Patton ripping the comp apart like some pundits are frothing over.
Like Geelong assumed that when GAJ came back in 2018 they would have the midfield to beat all midfields?The reality was that they did better in 2019 when GAJ played as a forward.
The only time Hawthorn have seen the exposed form of Patton is in the showers after preseason training.
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Conor Olsen, a self appointed pundit for āThe Roarā is a very brave pundit. Here he predicts the ladder after round 23 and makes some other predictions, This guy is the new Nostradamus.
With the calendar moving from 2019 to 2020, our attention now moves towards the countdown towards the 2020 AFL season.
Here are my crystal ball predictions for 2020.
Ladder
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1. Richmond Tigers
They may have lost Alex Rance to retirement, but this team has now become one of the best modern-era sides, having won two premierships in three years.
2. Geelong Cats
They defied the odds to finish as minor premiers in 2019, but I donāt see that happening in 2020 despite a huge amount of elite players.
3. Greater Western Sydney Giants
Theyāll be stronger in 2020 than in 2019, when they were lucky to make the grand final and were annihilated as Stephen Coniglio, Lachie Whitfield and Phil Davis all fit and returning.
(Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
4. West Coast Eagles
The Eagles will also be stronger in 2020 than last season, when they were denied another top-four finish and were eliminated in the semi-final, with the addition of Tim Kelly and an elite line-up of players such as Nic Naitanui and Josh Kennedy.
5. Collingwood Magpies
Theyāll be a great side in 2020 but will drop off despite a list full of gun players.
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5. Brisbane Lions
After an impressive 2019 theyāll have a harder draw in 2020. With the loss of Luke Hodge, I think the Lions will drop a few places despite a wonderful young side.
7. Hawthorn Hawks
Theyāll bounce back with the return of Tom Mitchell after a disappointing 2019, having nearly made the finals.
8. Western Bulldogs
They have a great line-up of midfielders, with Marcus Bontempelli and co and with Tim English improving even more. I can see the Dogs producing a follow-up season to 2019.
(Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
9. North Melbourne Kangaroos
With a great new coach, the return of Majak Daw and talented midfield and forward line-ups, especially including Ben Brown, the Roos will just fall short of a finals berth.
10. Essendon Bombers
With their reliance on star players and John Worsfold heading into his final year as coach, I cannot see this team following up from 2019.
11. Melbourne Demons
Mark my words, the Dees are on the up in 2020. They may not make the eight, but they will have their midfield issues resolved. Their defence line, which includes Steven May and Jack Lever, should help them have a stronger year than 2019.
12. Fremantle Dockers
With the return of Jesse Hogan, the loss of Bradley Hill and a new coach, the Dockers will show some improvement on recent years to win a large number of home games and some away games.
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(Daniel Carson/AFL Media/Getty Images)
13. Port Adelaide Power
Theyāve lost a few elite players, such as Patrick Ryder, and will enter a rebuilding phase.
14. Sydney Swans
This team features Buddy Franklin and a few young kids and will continue to rebuild. Aliir Aliir is a gun, but the loss of Zak Jones as well as some veteran players will see the team continue languishing outside of finals contention.
15. Carlton Blues
More improvement will come in 2020 under David Teague with a decent young team all around with Mitch McGovern, Charlie Curnow and Cade Simpson.
16. Adelaide Crows
A rebuild will be coming along in 2020 with the loss of Eddie Betts. Taylor Walker also appears to be out of form.
17. St Kilda Saints
With the loss of Jack Stevens and Josh Bruce and the gaining of Bradley Hill, I canāt see this team improving further in 2020
18. Gold Coast Suns
Woe continues for the Suns, but they should rise in coming years.
ā¦
Grand final: Richmond vs Greater Western Sydney
Premiers: Greater Western Sydney
Brownlow Medal: Patrick Cripps (Carlton)
Coleman Medal: Ben Brown (North Melbourne)
I havenāt got time for that sort of depth.
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Elite is an over used word these days, as this example perfectly illustrates. Ryder was good, even very good at times, but he never got to elite level at Port, not even close.
Credibilty lost.
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Does one consider themselves a pundit, or is the title of pundit bestowed? Because, I canāt say Iāve ever met a pundit or if I have, I didnāt notice at the time.
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Fixed.
The original pundits were highly respected teachers and leaders in India. Their title was taken from the Hindi word pandit, a term of respect for a wise person that itself derives from the Sanskrit pandita, meaning ālearned.ā English speakers began using the form pundit specifically to refer to those Hindu sages as long ago as the 1600s. By the 1800s, they had also extended the term to refer to other sagacious individuals, and now pundit is often used with a hint of sarcasm to refer to informed opinion makers (such as political commentators, financial analysts, and newspaper columnists) who boldly share their views (sometimes at great length) on just about any subject that lies within their areas of expertise.
My italics on the last bit - I think even the dictionary definition needs updating.
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Thatās very interesting.
Funny how words and meanings evolve and are assimilated into other languages over time and can mean the opposite of the original intent as in this case.
English is nothing but words from other languages adopted/co-opted and mashed together.
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Iām sure the English were responsible for some of the words. Minger for example.
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I think @Diggers point was how the term has almost reversed itās meaning.
Of course there are quite a few words that have done that - FarkCarlton was once a respected club circa 1895.
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That is a very good example.
@Diggers was once a respected poster on here
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As are other languages. Iām not sure what your point is?
Then Iām not sure I can help you with that.
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Well you could explain your point but if youāre going to be rude then no need to bother.
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This!! So true hence why Iām lid off this year aiming for top 4 next year.
These predictions are based on trailing data and not current data anyway.
We had an injured skipper, Tbell, Hooker, Hurley, Merrett ( start of year ), Zaka at parrās last year especially last few rounds trying to make finals.
No Smith or Daniher
McGrath as a first season midfielder
Make shift forwardline due to both Daniher and smith.going down.
So what does this all meanā¦
Smith back full fitness more goals and tackling pressure
Redman to continue improving on his breakout year
Parish came on in second half of last year and will bring that confidence into this year
Laverde after year on year injuries never had a real crack but showed last year in second half especially had the goods and finally had a proper preseason and looks ripe
Smack showed he can play FF and should maintain this standard
Stringer looks fitter and with be hard to stop especially in the midfield at stoppages, more goals from him needed and should
Merrett poor start last year wonāt be like that this year heāll take off from rd 1
Tippa more midfield minutes for mine looks super fit, should get his tackling numbers back up again
Shiel will do better than last year now he has some support
Heppell May start slow but after a few rounds will work into it nicely pain free and more mobile
Hibberd the big body we need in the middle will be a test for him but Iām confident heāll match it with players
Fantasia is back! This is perhaps the biggest plus going into this season along with Smith.
Townsend Iām putting him in because he kicks goals and tackles with intent look out defenders!
So much more to look forward to than last year.!!
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Anabelle has derailed the thread.
Derailed likely started as an engineering term but has now found a new life as a description for an internet misstep.