There has been a lot of talk on this board around us making the 8 next year, with most of the talk focused on our own performance. For mine, there have been a couple of teams that have underachieved this year beneath us on the ladder and many ahead of us that don't look like dropping off. Who can we replace in the 8 and who will go ahead of us anyway?
As usual, injuries and the draw will play their part, but I would have things as follows.
Adelaide - similar performance, better than us, with oldies drop off 2009, still in the 8 IN
Brisbane - improve with Brown, still better than them, out of the 8 OUT
Carlton - may improve slightly, still better than them, out of the 8 OUT
Collingwood - most vulnerable in the 8, think we will perform similarly ??
Essendon - improve with Lloyd, will still be better than them with old blokes getting injured, out of the 8 OUT
Fremantle - improve, a couple of years ahead of us, still in the 8 IN
Geelong - will improve lots, perform similarly to us ??
Hawthorn - will improve again, still think we are structurally more sound and better, out of the 8 OUT
Melbourne - always tough to know what they will do, but very balanced, better than us, in the 8 IN
North Melbourne - not enough strong youth coming through, better than them, out of the 8 OUT
Port Adelaide - with Tredrea back, may improve, but core of list too old, still better than them, out of the 8 OUT
St Kilda - similar performance, still in the 8 IN
Sydney - think are going to start to decline if can't manage soft tissue, old list, perform similarly to us ??
WCE - similar performance, still in the 8 IN
Western Bulldogs - probably got 1 more year before Johnson,West,Smith,Grant decline to much, perform better than us, in the 8 IN
So I have 6 spots locked IN
6 spots locked OUT
.. and us competing with Sydney, Geelong, Collingwood for 7-10 on the ladder.
No outlandish predictions here, but your thoughts ..?
As usual, injuries and the draw will play their part, but I would have things as follows.
Adelaide - similar performance, better than us, with oldies drop off 2009, still in the 8 IN
Brisbane - improve with Brown, still better than them, out of the 8 OUT
Carlton - may improve slightly, still better than them, out of the 8 OUT
Collingwood - most vulnerable in the 8, think we will perform similarly ??
Essendon - improve with Lloyd, will still be better than them with old blokes getting injured, out of the 8 OUT
Fremantle - improve, a couple of years ahead of us, still in the 8 IN
Geelong - will improve lots, perform similarly to us ??
Hawthorn - will improve again, still think we are structurally more sound and better, out of the 8 OUT
Melbourne - always tough to know what they will do, but very balanced, better than us, in the 8 IN
North Melbourne - not enough strong youth coming through, better than them, out of the 8 OUT
Port Adelaide - with Tredrea back, may improve, but core of list too old, still better than them, out of the 8 OUT
St Kilda - similar performance, still in the 8 IN
Sydney - think are going to start to decline if can't manage soft tissue, old list, perform similarly to us ??
WCE - similar performance, still in the 8 IN
Western Bulldogs - probably got 1 more year before Johnson,West,Smith,Grant decline to much, perform better than us, in the 8 IN
So I have 6 spots locked IN
6 spots locked OUT
.. and us competing with Sydney, Geelong, Collingwood for 7-10 on the ladder.
No outlandish predictions here, but your thoughts ..?