2004 Final 8 (in no particular order)...

[liz]

Originally posted by NMWBloods
Frawley - with 3 rounds to go
Daniher - in first half
Thomas - no
Williams - after another finals disaster

Not sure that Melbourne can afford (financially) to sack Daniher so he's probably safe at least until the end of the season.

Butters won't sack Thomas, even if the Saints finish last - there would be too much egg on his face.

Frawley is my bet. If they get a good run with injuries the Tigers have a 22 to cause many teams problems but a few injuries and I reckon they'll struggle. If they don't make the finals this year I suspect there will be a new coach at Punt Road for 2005.

Also, can't write off Schwab's chances, particularly after his comments of a couple of weeks ago that he thought the Hawks would win the flag this year!!!

Very hard to pick a run away team this year.

Other than Brisbane...

[CureTheSane]

Hopefully penga is on the right track, and in 2005 we will finish with a 16 team comp.

No more travelling to Geelong at least

[penga]

will this be the closest year ever in the AFL? it looks like it... its so hard to discredit any team...

in order

Brisbane
West Coast
Sydney
Port
Pies
Bombers
Freo
Adelaide

in no particular order - but close to - its too hard!

St Kilda
Hawthorn
Kangaroos
Melbourne
Western Bulldogs
Geelong
Richmond
Carlton

[penga]

Originally posted by CureTheSane
Hopefully penga is on the right track, and in 2005 we will finish with a 16 team comp.

No more travelling to Geelong at least

what are you talking about?

[TheHood]

Originally posted by lizz
Not sure that Melbourne can afford (financially) to sack Daniher so he's probably safe at least until the end of the season.

Butters won't sack Thomas, even if the Saints finish last - there would be too much egg on his face.

Frawley is my bet. If they get a good run with injuries the Tigers have a 22 to cause many teams problems but a few injuries and I reckon they'll struggle. If they don't make the finals this year I suspect there will be a new coach at Punt Road for 2005.

Also, can't write off Schwab's chances, particularly after his comments of a couple of weeks ago that he thought the Hawks would win the flag this year!!!

Mostly agree with you there, however some pretty broke clubs have been happy to bounce a senior coach, install an assistant just so the Footy World knows they are "doing something".

And I don't think Buttress (was that a South Park gag Liz?) is worried about egg, Thomo is his Daddy and he would never do anything to upset his Daddy! those 2 make me sick yuk!

My guess is that it will be Danny that is the first one sacked.

Ayresy will not have his contract renewed either!

[Jimmy C]

Wank Coast
Brisbane
Pt Adelaide
Sydney
Geelong
Freo
St Kilda
Collingwood

[CureTheSane]

haha

Nicely done.

You had me confused for a second there.
Was looking for a post with "edited by..." at the bottom

[Captain]

Brisbane
Essendon
Hawthorn
Collingwood
Sydney
Port Adelaide
Adelaide
Fremantle

[anne]

Brisbane
Sydney
St. Kilda
Fremantle
Port
Essendon
Collingwood
Hawthorn

Brownlow - Goodes
Rising Star - Aaron Davey

[BAM_BAM]

in no particualr order

Sydney
Brisbane
Collingwood
Port Adelaide
Geelong
Essendon
West Coast
Adelaide

[Bleed Red Blood]

The teams that won't make it and why -

Not in order

Melbourne

Simply no depth, rely on Neitz for the goals and Yze for the ball.

Richmond

Struggle with injuries to their back six. Again no depth.

Adelaide

Too old, no back line. No one to kick goals.
Brilliant midfield though.

Essendon

Rely on Hird to get the ball, Lloyd to kick goals and Fletcher to stop the best backman.

The same could be said about Sydney - Goodes get's the ball, Hall kicks the goals and Schuable stops the best backman.

However, Essenson have no ruckman, no back-up for their best 22.

Hawthorn

Why would they get in the top 8? Who will step up from their young batch? Just My Opinion but I just don't think theyll make it with their current list. H

Have got a great draw though.


Bulldogs

Best spooners in a long time, however just cause they have now got Rawlings to kick to will not make them a top 8er.Neither will having the aging Grant back.

Carlton

Only genuinly good recruit is Nick Stevens, the others will make it more competitve to get into their best 22, but wont make them a competivive side.

Roos

Will struggle to kick goals, no ruck strength, good young talent, but wont make the 8.

Just my opinion, dont take it to heart, its still early days.

[Ryan Bomford]

My picks (in order)

Brisbane
Port
West Coast
Sydney
Freo
Collingwood
St Kilda
Hawthorn

[gloveski]

in no particular order

Fremantle
Hawthorn
Brisbane
Sydney
Coll'wood
West Coast
Port Adelaide
Essendon

St.kilda and Geelong to just miss out and Adelaide to start the slide down. Richmond will struggle if they get a few early injuries as I feel they have no depth.

[TheHood]

Good point about the Dogs.

I see no reason why the Dogs will improve this season over last. The impact of Rawlings is offset by the loss of Brown, who had some bad days last year but was still one of their best.

Johno, is magnificent but is getting less of a team player as he loses confidence of those around him.

Smith and Grant will strengthen them down back but, really who is going to kick 60+ for them? Jade? Not likely.

[NMWBloods]

Originally posted by Bleed Red Blood
The teams that won't make it and why -

Not in order

Melbourne

Simply no depth, rely on Neitz for the goals and Yze for the ball.

Agreed, although they do have some other reasonable players, but not enough of them and their side often just goes missing

Richmond

Struggle with injuries to their back six. Again no depth.

Like Melbourne, they just seem to lose it at times.

Adelaide

Too old, no back line. No one to kick goals.
Brilliant midfield though.

Agreed.

Essendon

Rely on Hird to get the ball, Lloyd to kick goals and Fletcher to stop the best backman.

The same could be said about Sydney - Goodes get's the ball, Hall kicks the goals and Schuable stops the best backman.

However, Essenson have no ruckman, no back-up for their best 22.

Injuries are pretty key for Essendon. Lacking a ruckman has not been a huge problem for them. They rely more on the Johnsons and Peverill to get the ball than Hird. Hird is there as a matchwinner. They have some good talent, and with a reasonable injury run I think they'll make finals.

Hawthorn

Why would they get in the top 8? Who will step up from their young batch? Just My Opinion but I just don't think theyll make it with their current list. H

Have got a great draw though.


I think they were possibly the best side not to make the 8 last year. They have a decent side, with some good backmen, midfielders and forwards, and a good ruck. Depends on whether they can hold it together for a whole year, which they have struggled to do for a long time.


Bulldogs

Best spooners in a long time, however just cause they have now got Rawlings to kick to will not make them a top 8er.Neither will having the aging Grant back.

Can't seem them making finals either, but they weren't that far off in a number of games last year, and with a better run with injuries, including the return of Grant and Bandy, plus greater experience of some of their younger players, they'll be reasonably competitive this year.

Carlton

Only genuinly good recruit is Nick Stevens, the others will make it more competitve to get into their best 22, but wont make them a competivive side.

Just a mish-mash of players. I expect them to finish in the bottom 4.

Roos

Will struggle to kick goals, no ruck strength, good young talent, but wont make the 8.

Yep.

Just my opinion, dont take it to heart, its still early days.

Nothing too unreasonable there - a bit of early speculation is always interesting.