Re: Pass-mark for 2014
Reply #20 –
Think we'll slide, tbh.
Essendon, Roos, GC all coming up hot - Roos in particular could be this years Richmond.
Port, Pies to slide with us.
A Top 8 finish next year would be a great effort.
Some development in Temay, Cachia, Cas, Menzel, Yarran, Gibbs, Murf and McInnes would be good too.
I cant agree.
There is a lot of time to pass till the beginning of next season, and injury during pre season will have as big a say with how a team goes as well as how they recruit.
We are improving. I guarantee that we will not fall away further than we did this season at worst, and at best will be up around the 4th/5th mark. Our best players did not perform all that well for us this season, and our worst players did similar. Very few players had a good year, and we showed signs of significant strides forward as a group and all this without the players really doing much that we have off loaded. We look to be bringing in some genuine improvement, and dont appear to be losing significantly. It can only go up not down.
At present, I can see Sydney going backwards. They are losing a few elder statesmen who drive the culture down there, as well as some handy depth types who keep them winning when players go down and appear to have put their eggs all in the one basket (or two with Tippett). No more Mumford who is a good ruck for them, and all of a sudden Mike Pyke is going to have to stand up more frequently. He has done well thus far as a convert, but he has not had to shoulder such a significant load as he will this season.
Hawthorn also look to be sliding. Couple a premiership (complacency) with the loss of Franklin and Bailey and they are significantly weakened in the key positions. The stat that Hawthorn fare better without Buddy is another that is filled with hot air, as they play more often with him than without him and when they play without him they often do it against "weaker" opposition. I.e. He wouldnt miss many games against Geelong, but he would against Western Bulldogs or the like.
Geelong will more than likely be up there, but they could just as easily fall away. They are another year older as a collective, and are moving on some players that usually stand up for them in a fairly big way. They could go up or down at present, and they are yet to recruit anyone, but Im assuming that they have enough quality coming through that will stand up in the absence of the guys they are losing. They might be due for a flatter year though this season.
Freo are interesting. A few ageing players, and a couple that had a terrible grand final can result in decreased faith in ability to get there and they may actually slide a little on the back of the missed opportuntiy they had this season. They should still finish top 4 though as there are some real questions over the rest of the competition.
Collingwood have turfed half of their senior regulars and will probably finish about 8th. They might scrape in or finish 10th, but they will not be strong next season. Losing far too much leadership but will be buoyed with youngsters so they may not fall too far with the softer draw.
Tigers will do similar to Collingwood, but they are in for a rude shock as they have lost a few decent performers and are not being proactive. The Martin distraction will hurt them this off season. Without a bit of natural improvement and developement they are in real danger of going backwards next season.
Big movers next year: Adelaide and West Coast. Soft draws, and the return of injured players. Both are better than how they fared this season.
The rest will be real question marks. Its hard to see what else will happen given so many tight games this season. Im expecting GWS to really jump up next year, although they will only finish about 10-12 they will cause a bit of a ruckus. The Saints will be spooners next year. Going backwards at light speed. No upside either. Melbourne are another who might initially tread water down there, or jump up to about 12th but its really difficult. The roos effect will cause as much grief as it will improvement and they seem to be sitting on their hands a bit also.
The only thing Im forecasting is a changing of the guard at the top and middle of the ladder. The top 4 will see more change than usual, and likewise the overall 8 will too. The last 8 years have been fairly consistent with some regular finals contenders, but there looks to be a lot of scope for change next year and we could slingshot into the top 4 if things bounce our way.
Topic: Pass-mark for 2014 (Read 27201 times)
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