2008 Ladder Predictions

[Matty_22_Tigers]

1) Port Adelaide
2) Geelong
3) Collingwood
4) Hawthorn
5) West Coast
6) Sydney
7) Richmond
8) Kangaroos
9) Western Bulldogs
10) St. Kilda
11) Brisbane
12) Adelaide
13) Essendon
14) Melbourne
15) Carlton
16) Fremantle

Feel free to offer opinions

[Back Flank]

1. Geelong
2. Hawthorn
3. St. Kilda
4. Brisbane
5. Collingwood
6. West Coast
7. Port Adelaide
8. Western Bulldogs
9. Sydney
10. Fremantle
11. Richmond
12. Melbourne
13. Kangaroos
14. Carlton
15. Adelaide
16. Essendon

I think that despite what people tend to believe, Port's top 5 are their old firm, the players around in their premiership year. I speak of the Cornes boys, the Burgoynes and Lade. Tredrea will never be the same but is still a force. I think that these 5 were probably their best this year too and are the reason they finished so high. Their youngsters are good, but not the best and won't carry them through once these guys get a bit older.

[Judd3]

Freo wooden spoon???? You have got to be joking!




Eagles will be up there, so too Hawthorn. Collingwood should be, Freo, Geelong, if Carlton get Judd they will be too. Dont know about the rest.

[RoosyRocks]

Interesting stuff on Port there Back Flank, and i agree on the top 5.

Port had a very good year for a number of reasons.
Last three picks in Gray, Westhoff and Rodan all played far more than would have been expected. Boak had a solid first year as well. Salopek put together a good run relatively injury free for him, and the port side as a whole did well with injuries. Port meet the right teams at the right time, whilst this is not in there control, it did help and port did what they had to in order to beat the side put in front of them. They also played the bottom three sides 6 times, unlikely to happen again next year.

Port had a great year, and take nothing away from them, but you cant bank on such a good run again next year. The players that took the step this year (Ebert, Motlop, Westhoff, Boak, Rodan, Surjan, Thurstains) all need to continue their good work.

As for Tredders, his is like 28 isnt he? I still think he could possibly come back.
Will be interesting to see what he does, i for one think he may need to drop a stone or so, i feel his legs may be able to carry him around better if he is 95kgs not 100. Might help him with the pace a bit too. He isnt fat, but perhaps too big considering he isn't taking as many contested marks these days.

Port for the 8 for me, i hope to see them continue to do well.

RR

[rigged2007]

Who knows which clubs will be propped up next year, rule changes ,venues those influentual umpires, will Collingwood find Tullamarine airport ,how many at shellshocked stadium??????????????????????????????????????????? ????? baffling

[Matty_22_Tigers]

If Carlton pick up Judd though, (i'm looking for opinions here) will that make them a better side because they will have a leader amongst their playing group, not saying Judd will elevate them to top four on the ladder, but will it make them a better playing group?

[smileatme]

I hope you all keep those predictions because they're out there??

I want to see what happens trade week and in the draft, but I think Geelong may not have another dominant year, Port will be there or there about, St Kilda should move into top 8, as with Freo, teams to drop out maybe Kangas, Crows and Hawthorn.
Collingwood if it gets Judd and he stays sound will give the thing a shake!!1

[TalkingFootball]

Matty

When predicting final 8 for following years here are a few points worth considering. History normally never lies.

Since the final 8 began, a team from outside the top 8 has made the top FOUR the next year every single season.

1994: Richmond (9th) finished 3rd in 1995
1995: Sydney (12th) finished 1st in 1996
1996: Adelaide (12th), St.Kilda (10th) and the Bulldogs (15th) finished 4th, 1st, and 3rd on the ladder respectively in 1997
1997: Melbourne (16th) finished 4th in 1998
1998: Brisbane (16th) finished 3rd in 1999
1999: Melbourne (14th) finished 3rd in 2000
2000: Port (14th) finished 3rd in 2001, Richmond (9th) finished 4th in 2001
2001: Collingwood (9th) finished 4th in 2002.
2002: Sydney (11th) finished 4th in 2003
2003: Geelong (12th) finished 4th in 2004, St.Kilda (11th) finished 3rd in 2004.
2004: Adelaide (12th) finished 1st in 2005
2005: Fremantle (10th) finished 3rd in 2006
2006: Geelong(10th) finished 1st 2007, Port(12th) finished 2nd 2007, Roos (14th) finished 4th 2007

It is also true that in that time at least one team from the top 8 has dropped out to finish in the BOTTOM FOUR every single year

1995 - Haw 6th in '94 to bottom 4
1996 - Foots 5th in '95 to bottom 4
1997 - Ess 6th in '96 to bottom 4, Haw 8th in '96 to bottom 4
1998 - Bris 8th in '97 to bottom 4
1999 - Adel 5th in '98 to bottom 4, Melb 4th in '98 to bottom 4
2000 - WCE 5th in '99 to bottom 4, Port 7th in '99 to bottom 4
2001 - Kang 4th in '00 to bottom 4
2002 - Carl 5th in '01 to bottom 4, Rich 4th in '01 to bottom 4
2003 - Melb 6th in '02 to bottom 4
2004 - Coll 2nd in '03 to bottom 4
2005 - Ess 8th in '04 to bottom 4
2006 - Kang 5th in '05 to bottom 4
2007 - Melb 7th in '06 to bottom 4, Bulldogs 8th in '06 to bottom 4

Now the trends for both these phenomenas have continued unabated for 13 consecutive years.

However, when people make predictions generally they dont follow history instead then make the conservative predictions a vote for minor changes.

[GCHawks]

1. Port Adelaide
2. Hawthorn
3. Collingwood
4. West Coast
5. Geelong
6. Kangaroos
7. Adelaide
8. Sydney
9. Brisbane
10. Richmond
11. Carlton
12. Fremantle
13. St Kilda
14. Essendon
15. Western Bulldogs
16. Melbourne

[Back Flank]

Originally Posted by TalkingFootball

Since the final 8 began, a team from outside the top 8 has made the top FOUR the next year every single season.

It is also true that in that time at least one team from the top 8 has dropped out to finish in the BOTTOM FOUR every single year

Originally Posted by Back Flank

1. Geelong
2. Hawthorn
3. St. Kilda (trend A)
4. Brisbane (AA)
5. Collingwood
6. West Coast
7. Port Adelaide
8. Western Bulldogs
9. Sydney
10. Fremantle
11. Richmond
12. Melbourne
13. Kangaroos (trend B)
14. Carlton
15. Adelaide
16. Essendon

Got it covered, and didn't even mean to.

Originally Posted by smileatme

teams to drop out maybe Kangas, Crows and Hawthorn.

Why on earth would Hawthorn drop out? Unless they have serious internal/injury issues, which you cannot predict will happen, there's no reason for them not to improve. I just wanna hear why you think that will happen.