Biggest threat in 2006?

[BayesysLeftBoot]

Given that most posters on here are confident we can go top 4 again and maybe challenge for another flag who does everyone see as the biggest threat?

[swansrule100]

no order here but

geelong, west coast stkilda port adelaide

maybe adelaide and fremantle

[cruiser]

Originally posted by swansrule100
no order here but

geelong, west coast stkilda port adelaide

maybe adelaide and fremantle

West Coast, St Kilda, Geelong, Doggies (in that order).

[swans05]

trades may play a part but my top 8 at the moment would be
syd, stk, geel, wce, dogs, adel, freo, pies

[Charlie]

Next year is wide open.

Adelaide, Geelong, North Melbourne, St Kilda, Sydney and West Coast are all big chances of finishing top four. Fremantle, Melbourne, Richmond and the Bulldogs could do it too.

[Plugger46]

Who knows? It's such an even competition it really is impossible to tell. You'd think St.Kilda, eagles and the crows but everything changes.

[BayesysLeftBoot]

Originally posted by Plugger46
Who knows? It's such an even competition it really is impossible to tell. You'd think St.Kilda, eagles and the crows but everything changes.

Every year there seems to be at least one team that jumps several places from the year before, I reckon out of the teams that didn't make the 8 this year Richmond and Freo are the ones to look out for. The tiges will be a seriously good team with brown and richardson firing up forward and deledio improving. Fremantle on the other hand seem to be tipped to improve every year yet never deliver, if they don't at least make the 8 next year it will be a serious waste of talent.

[msabenny]

Another Swans v West Coast classic in my book and the Swans to go B2B

[ROK Lobster]

1 Complacency, arrogance and a lack of desire.
2 Goldspink and Co
3 Balfour's

[BayesysLeftBoot]

I take it everyone has written brisbane off then? They still worry me, any team with Voss, Black, Power, Brown and Aker is going to be a threat in my book.

[Bleed Red Blood]

Originally posted by BayseysLeftBoot
I take it everyone has written brisbane off then? They still worry me, any team with Voss, Black, Power, Brown and Aker is going to be a threat in my book.

Lack of KP's.

[Charlie]

Voss will be 31 with a dodgy knee, Lappin 31 and recovering from a broken leg. Leppitsch 30, Chris Scott 30, Johnson 29, Keating 29, Akermanis 29, Michael 29 (and possibly leaving).

Of their premiership players, Headland, Shattock, Ashcroft, Pike, White, Lynch, Mcrae, Hart, Caracella and Brad Scott (who has been told there is no room for him anymore) are gone. Beau McDonald is a) permanently injured and b) looking like walking anyway.

That leaves Power, Brown, Black, Charman, McGrath, Copeland, Bradshaw, Hadley (coming off a knee reco) and Notting as premiership players that are not yet past their prime.

A good run with injuries should see them playing finals, but I would be surprised to see them in contention for another flag.

[BayesysLeftBoot]

Originally posted by Charlie
Voss will be 31 with a dodgy knee, Lappin 31 and recovering from a broken leg. Leppitsch 30, Chris Scott 30, Johnson 29, Keating 29, Akermanis 29, Michael 29 (and possibly leaving).

Of their premiership players, Headland, Shattock, Ashcroft, Pike, White, Lynch, Mcrae, Hart, Caracella and Brad Scott (who has been told there is no room for him anymore) are gone. Beau McDonald is a) permanently injured and b) looking like walking anyway.

That leaves Power, Brown, Black, Charman, McGrath, Copeland, Bradshaw, Hadley (coming off a knee reco) and Notting as premiership players that are not yet past their prime.

A good run with injuries should see them playing finals, but I would be surprised to see them in contention for another flag.

Very good points, but don't forget adelaide were viewed in a similar light at the start of this season. I'll be scared of them until all their premiership players are dead.

[Charlie]

No, Adelaide had a small number of premiership players left (McLeod, Riccuito, Edwards, Goodwin and Hart), a handful of other established senior players (Welsh, Burton, Bassett, Biglands and Perrie) and a lot of young kids.

Adelaide got back to the top of the ladder because a) the four premiership midfielders all had very good seasons and b) they got a surprising level of improvement out of young, inexperienced players such as Rutten, Hudson, Thompson, Hentschel, Reilly and Bock.

Not really all that similar to Brisbane.

[BayesysLeftBoot]

Originally posted by Charlie
Adelaide got back to the top of the ladder because a) the four premiership midfielders all had very good seasons and b) they got a surprising level of improvement out of young, inexperienced players such as Rutten, Hudson, Thompson, Hentschel, Reilly and Bock.

Not really all that similar to Brisbane.

a) 4 brisbane premiership midfielders: Black, Aker, Power and Voss.

b) Several decent young players that were blooded last year and the year before look like they could step up.

Not at all similar?