Which of last year's finalists will miss out this year?

[Marcus]

Every year we hear about the great improvement teams outside the eight are going to make. But for every one that gets into the eight one of last year's finalists will have to miss out. I'm going to really stick my neck out here. I think Brisbane won't make the finals this year. The cracks were appearing last year. They've had retirements. They're getting older and more prone to injury. Like Michael Voss - how many games will he play this year. They're also going to be fielding a very inexperienced team early in the year. They have also missed out on high draft picks in recent years. That must take its toll. You'll probably look back and laugh at this post at the end of the year when they're in another grand final. But at this stage its Brisbane to miss the finals for me.

[fearlessone77]

Every year we hear about the great improvement teams outside the eight are going to make. But for every one that gets into the eight one of last year's finalists will have to miss out. I'm going to really stick my neck out here. I think Brisbane won't make the finals this year. The cracks were appearing last year. They've had retirements. They're getting older and more prone to injury. Like Michael Voss - how many games will he play this year. They're also going to be fielding a very inexperienced team early in the year. They have also missed out on high draft picks in recent years. That must take its toll. You'll probably look back and laugh at this post at the end of the year when they're in another grand final. But at this stage its Brisbane to miss the finals for me.
Essendon shouldnt make it ,Hird is a year older and is supposedly the fittest ever but this man seems to be able to injure himself looking at a football so im not sold on his super fitness. Fletcher is past it and I dont think hte midfield is as good as others were lucky last year and will push the luck gods further to make it agian this year.

West Coast will go either way for mine, either to the top couple or down to the bottom four, if they sort out a forward structure up it is if not bottom 4, A man cannot win on Judd alone.

I think St Kilda may struggle, I think they were very lucky with injuries last year and snuck up on a few sides early on ie. the 10 straight rubbish. They now have 0 decent ruckmen that said they only had 0.5 a ruckman last year, in Knobel they are not losing much. A fit Reiwoldt and Ball are the keys to this side if one of these guys goes down for an extended period it could be curtains. Gehrig to slide also.

Sydney may struggle but with that small ground at home giving them good advantage should get them enough wins to be within striking distance of finals even if disaster strikes. They need Goodes to play all season and BArry Hall to kick a mountain to be a chance in my opinion, defence looks shaky hence Roos' flooding stop start style of football from last season, they continually force the ball into ruck contests to get advantage, it helps to get advantage when Goodes is your ruck man mind you although I beleive he will play less and less in the ruck.

Brisbane will be therabouts again , they are too good not to be, remember HAwthorn of the late 80's came back in 91 with a team that everyone said was too old too slow and full of fading starts, This team is too smart and too experienced to not be in the top 6 again, come finals time it could be a different story but will crusie into the finals in my opinion home ground advantage is huge to them and they will win the away games that count.

Melbourne have had a yo-yo effect for years having not made the finals twice. But I think the time has come, they will hurt from the fade out last year in the final few rounds and a straight sets exit from the finals on top of that the Broadbridge incident should gel this group and hopefully allow them to shirk their pea heart personas. Melbourne have the cattle and the talent and Daniher can coach the only thing stopping Melbourne being a force, is themselves and the resolve of the group within. Harnessed properly this team is a sleeping giant.

Geelong should be top 2 seem to have the forward they have needed in Ottens on the ground with a point to prove, the loss of Graham will hurt this team less than people think in my opinion this guy has been wasting his time for the last 3 years and now he is gone may just be the godsend this club needs. Defense is set and Scarlett the equal of any in the league and the midfield a year older and stronger, these baby cats are ripe and they have no memory of the early nineties pain the club went through. Well coached and well structured this team could be the real deal in years to come will definatley finish top 3

Port Adelaide will win the flag again. no major losses from this squad barring Hardwick who seriously only thumped people for the 25 games of his career and pick up "recruits" in Francou and Primus, WIll win the flag again.

In Conclusion

Will Stay In The 8
Port
Brisbane
Geelong

Could go Either Way
Sydney
West Coast
Melbourne

May Struggle themselves out of the 8
St Kilda
Essendon

[rabbitz]

Marcus
Brisbane to miss the finals
and in other news the sun wont rise tommorrow
you must be dreaming mate
cheers

[mug punta]

[
May Struggle themselves out of the 8
St Kilda
[/QUOTE]

WRONG. all that needs to be said.

[Marcus]

Every year we hear about the great improvement teams outside the eight are going to make. But for every one that gets into the eight one of last year's finalists will have to miss out. I'm going to really stick my neck out here. I think Brisbane won't make the finals this year. The cracks were appearing last year. They've had retirements. They're getting older and more prone to injury. Like Michael Voss - how many games will he play this year. They're also going to be fielding a very inexperienced team early in the year. They have also missed out on high draft picks in recent years. That must take its toll. You'll probably look back and laugh at this post at the end of the year when they're in another grand final. But at this stage its Brisbane to miss the finals for me.

It looks like I got it right well before the season started. Of course I was told I didn't know what I was doing. Eg a post by Rabbitz.

[Sportz]

Yeah, I know how you feel Marcus, but you must make allowances for Rabbitz. He was very one eyed where the Lions were concerned.

Brisbane's current position is no big surprise to me, but the one I just can't understand is Port Adelaide. I honestly thought they would be top 4 all year, probably top 2. :o

[luv2bet]

How about the suprise of adelaide!! Im a crows fan but I agreed with majority of population bottom 4 at the start of season, now they are in with a sniff at top 4 with there run home.

[Sportz]

Yeah, I had them about 10th or 11th.

[mug punta]

The crows are no good!! They fell in against the Blues and they are currently the worst in the league.
As a vic Im wrapped that most of the interstate sides are struggling.
If we can only somehow knobble the Eagles a Saints/ Cats granny would be fantastic.
Even the Dees would be ok.
But the Saints and Cats are 2 popular teams in melbourne and it would please most Vic fans if those 2 teams played off in '05.

[Kitch]

Crows no good?


Away wins against St Kilda (48 points), Sydney (42), beating Port by 68 and beating Collingwood away, Kangaroos (who were top at the time).

And when theyve lost, it hasn't been by more than approximately four goals.

Crows are a threat, face it.

[mug punta]

Just like the Tigers, North, Bulldogs and Bombers the Crows are pretenders when it comes to winning the flag.
They have a go. Im not questioning that. They probably, in fact, have more endeavour than any other side in the leg.
BUT, they have limitations and if you can't see that you are blind. If Scott Welsh is well held who will kick their goals.

Mind you, you had just about sold the farm regarding your own Saints last week even though they have 7 or 8 QUALITY players out.
Who will stop the Saints once they get Hammill and Kossie back into the forward line and once Penny is in and that dud Fisher is out. Harvey will bolster the midfield and Powell has finally played 2 games in a row.
But, I bet you will jump back on the bandwagon once they are back up and running and playing the unstoppable brand of footy we know they are capable of.

[goldmember]

I, for one will not watch the grand final if its between between two mexicans , thank god for the lions the last few years.

[mug punta]

Its still just an extended VFL. Everyone in Australia knows it and last years Grand Final build up was crap with 2 non vic sides in it.
For all the poor old Sainter fans I would be wrapped for 'em if they could pull it off. '66 was thrir last and ONLY premiership and the Cats lost 5 in the 80s and 90's.

[Sportz]

the Cats lost 5 in the 80s and 90's.

Don't remind me. I was a Cats fan before I became a Brisbane Lions fan, so It would be good to see them finally take it out this year. Not sure if they're quite up to it??? It's a weird comp this year because there seems to be reasons why every single team can't win. The West Coast looks like the best team so far, but they have a poor recent record at the MCG.

[goldmember]

Does the build up down there a big play a big part in the lead up to the G/F for the vic's, as in league its just another day until the game is on, i like the interstate clashes as it gives you someone to cheer for or against, so i wouldnt mind if 1 melbourne team is there but not 2 , the last time i watched an all vic G/F i was bored shitless.

[mug punta]

GM, In Melbourne we are sports crazy. Every one north of us can have no idea what it's like untill you have lived here.
Grand Final build up is awesome especially if your team is involved.
I went to Byron for a holiday recently and I couldnt believe the lack of coverage of ALL sport in the sydney papers.

In Melbourne the back 6 pages are AFL everyday and everywhere you go its the main topic of conversation.
We are probly way over the top about it in fact.
The build up when no local team is playing is crap and was flat as a tack last year.

[Kitch]

Mug, I'm a crows man, hence my bias toward them haha

Where did you get that I was a saints man?

[fearlessone77]

[
May Struggle themselves out of the 8
St Kilda

WRONG. all that needs to be said.[/QUOTE]
Sorry MygPunta but at the half way mark of the season it seems that it would be you that is wrong!!!!

Im quite proud of my little pre season wrap it looks quite good at the half way mark, I got port a little buggered up but meh 7/8 aint bad.

[mug punta]

The saints will still make the 8. Im very confident of that. They have a favourable draw.