1. Brisbane2. Adelaide3. Port Adelaide4. Sydney5. Hawthorn6. West Coast7. Collingwood8. Fremantle9. St Kilda10. Essendon11. Kangaroos12. Richmond13. Geelong14. Carlton15. Bulldogs16. Melbourne
Not as confident this year about my selections, particularly the bottom half.
Brisbane should win their first McClelland Trophy (minor premiership). I just think the gap has got wider between the Lions and their nearest challengers.
Port and Collingwood both have to overcome huge double letdowns. The psychological effects of twice being minor premiers and not making the GF (Port) and twice being beaten in the GF (Pies) would be devastating. Perhaps Port might handle it slightly better than Collingwood, but in any case both still have the talent to make the 8. But it will be tough for both of them to repeat last year's (and 2002) rankings.
Sydney might also experience a letdown from their terrific season in 2003. Paul Roos seems to preparing us for as much. But I think they will improve further as a team, though not necessarily finish any higher.
The Crows therefore might be the team to challenge the Lions. If Carey fires and stays fit, they will be up there.
My only change to the top 8 is Hawthorn for Essendon. The Bombers are on the downward slide, which is only natural after their heights of 1999-2001. The Hawks have a good list and are ridiculously favoured by the draw (only 3 trips outside Victoria, no trips to Perth, 4 games against teams on the rebound from Perth trips, and only 2 of 7 teams played twice are from last year's top 8!!!!!). Once again the unfair draw, and the assistance it gives Victorian clubs, will be a talking point.
The Eagles and Dockers will be thereabouts again. St Kilda are a chance, but might just need one more year before they really make the big time. I like their young list, but am still not sure about the coach!
The rest don't look too flash to me. Richmond might improve, but they would bloody well need to or their coach is history (same can be said for Hawthorn). Geelong don't have enough match winners. The Roos will always turn up, but shouldn't threaten the 8. The rest are history.
― Chris H (Chris H), Tuesday, 17 February 2004 00:18 (twenty-two years ago)
A mixture of youth and experience. Tall and short all over the ground. Men who have won matches in the past and a couple who have yet to do so consistently but I believe most can and will prove to be capable matchwinners over the course of this season.
The loss of skipper Steven King for an extended period is a blow we don't need but if we can't finish above Richmond and the Roos I'll be one unhappy Catter!
regards,
REB
― Rik E Boy (Rik E Boy), Wednesday, 18 February 2004 10:04 (twenty-two years ago)
― jsa, Wednesday, 18 February 2004 22:06 (twenty-two years ago)
― Rik E Boy (Rik E Boy), Thursday, 19 February 2004 01:28 (twenty-two years ago)
on a serious note it will be interesting to see how maloney goes as he looked the goods last year and also whether bartel can overcome his crap year
REB, you got foxtel?? if so tape the game for me
― jsa, Thursday, 19 February 2004 02:59 (twenty-two years ago)
Benny has been disappointing at times admittedly but I remember him winning a game for us last year, arsey kick or not he was the matchwinner. I believe he will contribute well in our forward line, especially if he can bloody kick straight for a change!
As for Chapman, he is a gutsy player and he certainly worried you blokes last time we played you because your snipers were crashing him to him on a regular basis, especially in the third quarter of the match. Maybe if your blokes watched the ball that day you would have won.
With your one eye on top of the ladder Port it is no wonder you laugh at my one eye on the 17th placed Cats and pumping them up pre-season. But after all, this is the time to do it as we all know. But like I said, read and you'll notice that my statements are qualified by such terms as 'I believe' and 'in the past and can do so again'. You have flunked yet another comprehension test and it is hardly surprising you can't afford Foxtel :)
― Rik E Boy (Rik E Boy), Thursday, 19 February 2004 05:17 (twenty-two years ago)
i didnt realise comprehension was a requirement for discussing geelong, and especially benny, i thought it required a great sense of humour. -)
do u also believe in the tooth fairy?? benny graham bwhahahaha
― jsa, Thursday, 19 February 2004 21:53 (twenty-two years ago)
― Rik E Boy (Rik E Boy), Thursday, 19 February 2004 23:50 (twenty-two years ago)
― jsa, Friday, 20 February 2004 00:57 (twenty-two years ago)
PS - By that I mean Cats all the way by PLENTY LOL.
r
― Rik E Boy (Rik E Boy), Friday, 20 February 2004 01:39 (twenty-two years ago)
I would have thought after the cats year, last year they would be looking to be up and about early so as to get supporters on side.
BTW who have geelong got out??
― jsa, Friday, 20 February 2004 01:57 (twenty-two years ago)
After our horror 1999, the Cats membership and financial state is steadily improving. I think the Catters will be more 'serious' than Port at the mo, but we will still be experimenting to some extent. Particularly in the forward line and ruck division.
We are not Melbourne. Catters supporters are always 'on side', after all, we've got a whole Victorian country town on our side LOL.
― Rik E Boy (Rik E Boy), Friday, 20 February 2004 02:24 (twenty-two years ago)
from nfi.com.au
"benny graham bwhahahaha"
LOL
― Rik E Boy (Rik E Boy), Saturday, 21 February 2004 14:16 (twenty-two years ago)
― jsa, Sunday, 22 February 2004 22:00 (twenty-two years ago)
I was an absolute shocker, overumpired, shite conditions and geelong won.
But saturday night and yesterday, when the cows who declared they wanted to win it all had there pants pulled dowm was blissful
Perhaps carey should retire now
― jsa, Sunday, 22 February 2004 22:07 (twenty-two years ago)
Primus looked awesome early though but you're right about the umpiring, but a lot of it is to do with the Harry Potter cup rules. Bad luck about Wangers and Monty, you blokes can't afford to have too many more injuries this year.
PS - LOL at the Cows...and the Pies!
― Rik E Boy (Rik E Boy), Monday, 23 February 2004 00:23 (twenty-two years ago)
id say it was teh worst game ive seen in a while, plus not sure whats up with the lights and the camera's. If port never travel to cairns again it will be too soon. It was like travelling in a time warp back 20 years.
Paxman was made a scape goat, ridiculous seeing as he finished inside the top 10 B&F
One thing port power doesnt seem to appeciate is blokes who have a crack and get the hard ball, ie james has never been a high B&F finisher, when hes just about there bestonballer, franco never truly appreciated, 2nd and 3rd in brownlow , finished low on B&F
― jsa, Monday, 23 February 2004 00:29 (twenty-two years ago)
― Rik E Boy (Rik E Boy), Monday, 23 February 2004 01:10 (twenty-two years ago)