Media Ladder predictions 2012

[Cpt. Kirk]

In today's herald sun Shane Crawford had Sydney finishing in 11th. These are his full predictions.

1. Hawthorn
2. Collingwood
3. Carlton
4. Geelong
5. Fremantle
6. West Coast
7. Essendon
8. North Melbourne
9. St Kilda
10. W. Bulldogs
11. Sydney
12. Melbourne
13. Richmond
14. Adelaide
15. Brisbane Lions
16. Gold Coast
17. Port Adeliade
18. GWS

Some of the teams he has us behind astound me, i think i will wait for a more reputable media personality to have his 2c.

There is no link to this on the herald sun website(that i know of).

[linko]

Underestimate us at your peril

That's fine, they will keep underestimating us as they do every year to their peril. I do not see the talent that would make Freo, Nth, Ess, Dogs, StK better than us. I even think that WC will stumble this year after overacheiving last year. We will be competing with Carl and WC for the last spot in the 4 IMO.

Link

[goswannie14]

There's a surprise, he picked Hawthorn to win the flag!

[Dosser]

I must admit that when I clicked on this I thought it was an old thread. He did exactly the same last year and I wouldnt be surprised if this was the same ladder reprinted. He says this to create a storm with supporters so that they can sell papers.

[mcs]

Haha what a twat - but hardly a suprise! Can't wait to come back and look at this thread at the end of the year when he and all his other muppet media friends are proven wrong by us!

[Ruck'n'Roll]

If I was asked to produce a ladder that would sell the greatest number of papers in suburban Melbourne, I too would highlight the local teams chances of playing finals. And fill the last 5 places with interstate teams.

[Primmy]

Again!!!

they never get it right.....

[msb]

Thats just laughable really, what is he thinking??? 11th??? There must be something beyond just a normal prediction for crawf, im guessing he really doesnt like the swans at all, as most media do aswell. As a minimum we are a better side than dogs, saints, north, essendon and freo and would give most of the others a run for there money aswell. What a dimwit he is.

[Danzar]

Here is what he went with last year. After each team, I've put a +/- that indicated actual finish (minor premiership).

1. Collingwood (correct)
2. Bulldogs (-8)
3. St Kilda. (-3)
4. Hawthorn.(-1)
5. Geelong.(+3)
6. Carlton (+1)
7. Melbourne. (-6)
8. Fremantle. (-3)
9. Sydney. (+2)
10. North Melbourne. (+1)
11. Adelaide. (-3)
12. Essendon. (+4)
13. Port. (-3)
14. Brisbane. (-1)
15. West Coast (+11)
16. Richmond. (+4)
17. Gold Coast (correct)

So, he was actually reasonably close with the Swans and Hawks. He got the Dees and Eagles way wrong but who didn't. I really didn't get how Melbourne were actually being touted as genuine top four finishers at the beginning of last season when it was clear their list was just a bit too young to convincingly run out four full quarters, but I suspect they'll improve.

When it comes to Melbourne-based 'experts' predicting the season, I often wonder whether it's more so that we're not really on their radar rather than a concious decision to 'downgrade' our prospects. His 2012 predictions look more to me like Sydney starting and finishing the season in the same form as last year but other teams improving on their form and therefore pushing us down the ladder a few notches.

Let's face it, unless he goes hell for leather chasing information down, there's far less analysis of Sydney in the Melbourne media than some other teams and therefore much less to work with.

[ShockOfHair]

Honestly, I'd be worried if he had us in the four.

[jono2707]

Why get surprised, angry or outraged? The 'experts' have done it for a few years now, and we prove them wrong - what's the big deal?

[Frog]

Why get surprised, angry or outraged? The 'experts' have done it for a few years now, and we prove them wrong - what's the big deal?

Because, perhaps, most on RWO would be scared he could be right. But that sentiment doesn't seem to sit well here.

[msb]

Why get surprised, angry or outraged? The 'experts' have done it for a few years now, and we prove them wrong - what's the big deal?

Agree, but geez surely the club has earnt the respect by now that we are and have been mostly a top 8 side for a long time. These media 'experts' just cant accept it for some reason. This prediction by crawf is nearly as bad as billy brownless saying the 05 flag was a fluke back in 06 and we will slide.

[707]

Most of these so called "experts" really have no idea and don't follow what's happening with teams personnel or a teams draw to make a sensible decision.

Hawthorn and Freo were cruelled by injuries last year to a stack of key players so I'd expect them to advance up the ladder. Hawthorn really should have made last year's GF and Freo finally have a decent coach and a huge home ground advantage.

Can't see Collingwood, Geelong, Carton or WCE being any weaker this year than last so not much change at the top of the ladder.

North and Melbourne both have the luxury of four games total against GWS and GC so they should rise too.

More importantly, are the Swans potentially a better side than 2011? I'd think so, therefore we should also rise.

From what I've read, tTeams and players talking up the their ladder position over their 2011 finish with "we'll make the eight" talk are North Melbourne, Freo, Wretchmond and Melbourne.

But for every rise there must be a fall, so who in the 2011 final eight is going to drop out to make way for those supposedly on the rise? Essendon, St.Kilda?

It's why the Melbourne based scribes always have us out of the eight, they just can't fit in the Freo's and NM's etc without pushing someone out and the most expendable is us of course.

So understand how they end up with us out of the eight and let's hope we prove them wrong - AGAIN!

[Nich]

Well won't they all be feeling pretty stupid when we win our first 11 games of the Season, have a week off with a bye and then play 3 games at home in a row!