Just five days to go. I’m so damned pumped I almost just kicked my girlfriend right in the face! This time of year is full of anticipation for footy fans – it’s a level playing field and everyone has to feel they have some chance (except Richmond fans). Pre-season discussion always turns to predictions for the big season ahead and banter amongst my fellow bloggers and I is no exception. Beno always calls Sydney for top 4, Sarge reckons Yablett will poll 66 brownlow votes and I’ve predicted Browny’s 100 goal season about five times (history will be made this year when two players kick the ton from one club… FROWNVOLA!). We’re all full of big calls this early on, and joisus, we talk it up when we get things right, but over the course of nearly 200 games and countless beverages, the more outlandish, and less correct predictions tend to be forgotten. So before the season starts I’m throwing out my big calls into the public domain, so thirty weeks from now we’ll have concrete evidence of just how much I know about footy. I challenge Sarge and Beno to do the same – consider your manhoods officially questioned.
The Final Ladder
This is how I think things will stand when the dust settles, including finals results.
- St Kilda
- Dogs
- Geelong
- Collingwood
- Brisbane
- Hawthorn
- Adelaide
- Freo
- Bombers
- West Coast
- Carlton
- Sydney
- Port
- Melbourne
- Roos
- Tiges
Brownlow - Sam Mitchell (26 Votes)
Coleman - Lance Franklin (90 goals)
Rising Star - Dustin Martin
AA Captain – Nick Riewoldt
Norm Smith - Nick Riewoldt
OK, so maybe not such outlandish calls, but I think these are all favourites for good reason. The Saints were awesome last season, they just had the misfortune of playing a great side looking for redemption in the GF. They’ll still be feeling the sting of that loss, and for that reason I think they will go one better this year. The Dogs have looked the goods this preseason and I see no reason that won’t continue when real footy starts, they’ve got a big key forward finally and will see improvement from quality young guys like Higgins, Picken and Everitt. I’m thinking the Cats may drop off the pace a bit this year, they’ve got a lot of guys who either have plateaued or have played their best footy, so those other two teams will move past them. The wooden spoon is a one horse race this year – Richmond are looking dismal.
I hadn’t thought about it much before making this post, but I really like Mitchell for the Brownlow. He’s had a good pre-season, and is a proven vote getter. I’m thinking about getting on him for the $100 challenge.
I really wanted to say Fev for the Coleman.. I almost did. Truth is I think Browny will steal some pill off him though, so Buddy’s the next most likely I think. He’s lost the beer gut, so will be back to his 2008 best this year.
I will post more predictions throughout the season, but the big ones are up here. Wait and see what a genius I am.
