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    AFL 2023 season.

    AFL storylines for 2023 — can Geelong win again, the return of Lyon and Clarkson, will Gawn/Grundy work at Melbourne, and more


    Seven months, 18 teams and 207 games (including finals) lie ahead of us, from the start with Richmond-Carlton on Thursday to the meeting of a mystery pair of teams at the same MCG on September 30 to decide who will follow Geelong as the champions of the AFL.
    As ever, on the cusp of the season there are a million different storylines and questions that teams, fans and media alike want answered.
    Some things will become clear early on, while other stories will go deeper into the year before the truth is revealed — and for some, the football world may receive only partial information by the end of 2023.


    Let's take a look at some of the storylines that will run through season 2023.

    Can Geelong go back to back?



    Geelong's premiership win was the end of an era, as skipper Joel Selwood (right) went out on top.(Getty Images: Morgan Hancock)Geelong had one of the dominant seasons in 2022, culminating in a cakewalk over the Swans on grand final day — but can they do it again?
    Last year's squad's average age of 27.8 showed a team late in their window. The victory proved to be the end of an era with Joel Selwood's retirement. The Cats also saw Luke Dahlhaus and Shaun Higgins finishing their careers. That's a fair bit of experience going out the door.
    Geelong pays tribute to Selwood

    Selwood's on-field achievements are impressive enough, but it's his selflessness that Cats coach Chris Scott will miss the most now the 34-year-old has retired.





    Read more


    But then ... trading in Ollie Henry from the Magpies, taking on the contract of Jack Bowes from the Suns and using the pick for Jhye Clark, and trading in a strong clearance man in Tanner Bruhn from GWS.
    We know the Cats' system works, and the bottom line is the team has now gotten younger and given themselves depth across the ground. But are they all-in on another flag?
    Going back-to-back is a difficult ask — only three teams have done it in the last 20 years.
    The Demons showed last year (after going 10-0 to start the season) that things can go pear-shaped very quickly.
    But aside from the off-season add-ons, if Jeremy Cameron stays healthy and Tom Hawkins's dodgy toe doesn't disrupt his season; if Tom Stewart can have another big year down back and Cam Guthrie and Patrick Dangerfield maintain their high standards; and if Tyson Stengle continues to provide the X-Factor, there's no reason why Geelong can't get back to the grand final, at least.

    What does the return of Ross Lyon mean at St Kilda?



    Ross Lyon has returned to where it all began, beginning a second stint as senior coach of St Kilda. (Getty Images: AFL Photos/Michael Willson)Last year, the Saints pulled the pin on Brett Ratten's coaching time at the club, and less than a fortnight later, went back to the future, hiring Ross Lyon for a second stint in charge.
    Playing word association with Ross Lyon and football teams, you get terms like "defence", "tough", "experience", and "intensity". Some of these elements would be welcome add-ons after the last few years at the Saints.
    Lyon to return to the Saints

    It's been 11 years since Ross Lyon left for Fremantle, now St Kilda tells members that he is returning to the club as coach.





    Read more


    The talk is Lyon Mark II has mellowed slightly, but doubtless, the coach will not be backing away from making tough calls if necessary.
    The question remains, is he the difference-maker to get St Kilda back to finals?
    Lyon hasn't been a senior coach in four years, but he has a solid coaching group around him, including Corey Enright and Saints' figures Robert Harvey and Lenny Hayes.
    For all that he and the club can control, there is plenty he can't — an embarrassing audio leak from training providing an early distraction.
    The other big obstacle is injured players. Spearhead Max King's shoulder reconstruction, Jack Billings' fractured fibula and Jack Hayes' foot problem are only the headlines as the Saints' injury list sits at more than a dozen ahead of round one. Not what you want as a St Kilda fan — or coach — going into 2023.

    Will Ashcroft — will he live up to the hype?



    Will Ashcroft has already showed signs that he is AFL-ready for the Lions in 2023.(AAP: Darren England)Since the middle of last year, the murmurs have grown from north of the Queensland border about the 2022 AFL Draft and a certain father-son selection on the way for the Lions.
    If you believe some of the talk on Will Ashcroft, anything short of the second coming will be a disappointment for the son of former Brisbane player Marcus Ashcroft.
    His performances in practice matches and match simulations for Brisbane have done nothing to dispel this idea. The 18-year-old has looked completely AFL-ready so far — he displays game sense beyond his years, clean hands, wins his own ball, hits targets and has tackling ability.
    So what's ahead? Let's take a deep breath here. He's not going to win the Brownlow, although absolutely no one will be surprised if he takes out the Rising Star.
    The great thing for him and Brisbane is that he doesn't have to be the second coming. As part of THAT midfield with Lachie Neale, Hugh McCluggage and another new recruit, Josh Dunkley, he just has to play his role and help the Lions move the ball quicker and give forwards like recruit Jack Gunston proper service.
    On early evidence, he can do that and a lot more.

    Can Freo score enough, and is Nat Fyfe the answer?



    If Nat Fyfe can get his body right and fire up forward, the Dockers may be closer to having the attack they need.(Getty Images: AFL Photos/James Worsfold)It's sometimes hard to remember, but the Fremantle Dockers have not always struggled to kick a regular winning score. In 2007, for example, they averaged 102.4 points a game — although that year they also conceded 99.9 points per game and missed the finals.
    The issue, however, came into sharp focus in the later years under Ross Lyon, and in particular, post-2015, when the Dockers fell off a cliff after their prelim loss to Hawthorn.
    From 2003 to 2015, Freo averaged 91.1 points a game (home and away only) — since then, excluding the shorter season of 2020, they have averaged just 72.95 points a game.
    This year we have a Fremantle side on the up after a 15-win season and a first finals appearance in seven years — but the Dockers had by far the worst scoring record of any of the top eight, so once again, the question is where are the goals going to come from?
    Nat Fyfe reveals mental health battle

    Outgoing Fremantle Dockers Captain Nat Fyfe admits he suffered from anxiety and depression.





    Read more


    Last year, Rory Lobb led the way with 36 goals — and the ruck-forward is now a Bulldog. Lachie Schultz (30) and Michael Walters (25) followed, with Matt Taberner further back.
    This year, a changing cast may provide more. New arrival Luke Jackson will give a physical presence up forward, while ex-Suns player Josh Corbett adds an attacking option and Jaeger O'Meara may be able to swing through the forward line as well.
    The other likely contributor is former skipper Nat Fyfe, who has properly shifted into the forward line this season after giving up the captaincy. We know what Fyfe could do in midfield, but a return of six goals and a stack of score involvements in two preseason games is exactly what the Dockers were looking for.
    Is he a game-changer? Who knows — but if he can deliver something like that on a regular basis for Freo, the ability to put points on the board will be far less of a problem.

    Can Clarko save North Melbourne?



    Alastair Clarkson has a job ahead in trying to lift the Kangaroos after a two-win season in 2022.(Getty Images: AFL Photos/Daniel Pockett)When North Melbourne won the race to sign Alastair Clarkson, the club was clearly excited to get one of the all-time great coaches in to lead the rebuild.





    In 2019, the last season of Brad Scott as coach, the Kangaroos won 10 games. In the three years since, they have won a total of nine.
    The task ahead is sizeable.
    It has been an interrupted start, with the shadow of ongoing investigations into allegations of racism in Clarkson's time at Hawthorn. But the spotlight is firmly on what the four-time premiership coach can do to turn things around at Arden Street.
    There are pieces to build around, like Luke Davies-Uniacke and Jy Simpkin in midfield, Cameron Zurhaar up forward and newly arrived ex-Docker Griffin Logue down back.
    Early evidence also suggests draftee Harry Sheezel has the potential to be very good for the Roos at both ends of the ground. Injuries to ruck forward Callum Coleman-Jones and key defender Ben McKay don't help, however.
    This isn't a one or two-year project at North, even for a coach as skilled as Clarkson — and the footy world will be watching to see how things go.

    Will Gawn/Grundy work at the Demons?



    Stopping either Brodie Grundy or Max Gawn is a difficult proposition — how will Melbourne opponents stop both?(Getty Images: AFL Photos/Dylan Burns)Melbourne's decision to trade for Collingwood's Brodie Grundy was one of the talking points of the off-season.
    The Demons want to get back to the top, and the new "Twin Towers" of Grundy and skipper Max Gawn are their main point of difference.





    On a very small sample so far, it seems like the risky move could well work rather than detract from both men's numbers.
    Against Richmond in preseason, Grundy's presence in and around the goal square and his marking ability was a definite plus, while Gawn's potential to score, as well as drift behind the ball and take marks, plus his on-field leadership, all added up to an impressive combination.
    This is, of course, totally aside from both men's elite ruck skills.
    How opposing teams will handle the duo is a huge question for 2023 — if the pair stays healthy, they could provide a combination not seen since the days of Dean Cox and a younger Nic Naitanui at West Coast.

    Can young Hawks list stay competitive amid Mitchell rebuild?

    If there were any doubts about the direction the Hawks were going in under Sam Mitchell, the club's actions during the trade period made things crystal clear.
    The decision to trade Tom Mitchell to Collingwood, Jaeger O'Meara west to Fremantle and Jack Gunston north to the Lions removed three players who had played a combined 416 games in black and gold and a total of 533 in the AFL.





    Add in the retirement of Ben McEvoy and the departure of Liam Shiels, and this suggested going back right to the AFL basement before going forward as a club.
    So what does 2023 look like?
    The preseason began with a match simulation thumping at the hands of Geelong, but the final practice match against Collingwood saw the Hawks push the Pies all the way for a six-point loss.
    It's a very different Hawks line-up, but they already have plenty of young talent, and they have added the likes of exciting mid-forward Cam McKenzie, ex-Cat Cooper Stephens and VFL forward Fergus Greene.
    It's not going to be a year for measuring wins at Hawthorn — the question is, can they show enough to avoid criticism of the speed of change?

    Which way for the Magpies after a stunning 2022?



    Jack Ginnivan and Nick Daicos helped take the Magpies to a prelim in 2022 — can the loss drive even further gains in 2023?(Getty Images: AFL Photos/Mark Kolbe)One of the biggest questions to be answered in 2023 is can Collingwood keep up the momentum that carried them within a kick of the grand final?
    Under Craig McRae, the Pies played a fearless, high-intensity brand of football that made use of some brilliant young talent — including forward Jack Ginnivan and unanimous Rising Star winner Nick Daicos — not to mention the marking presence and leadership of Darcy Moore and others.





    The most incredible part of last year's run to the prelim was the string of close wins Collingwood put together — at one point, they won 11 out of 12 games, with 10 of the 11 wins being by under 12 points. The run ran out in finals, with losses to Geelong by six points and Sydney by a solitary point.
    The law of averages suggests the Pies can't keep this up — and a bad shoulder injury to Patrick Lipinski will rob the Pies of some of their drive — but what if Ginnivan, Daicos and others continue to trend upward?
    What if Darcy Cameron and Mason Cox can keep holding their own to cover the loss of Brodie Grundy, Dan McStay can be a solid if not superstar contributor up forward, and ex-Hawk Tom Mitchell can add to Collingwood's elite midfield? Not to mention the boost for the Pies if Jordan de Goey puts together the complete, elite season he is capable of.
    The pressure will be on at Collingwood, but write them off at your peril.

    Who can stop the Bulldogs' tall brigade?



    Jamarra Ugle-Hagan (centre), Aaron Naughton (right) and Sam Darcy (left) will form part of a truly tall Dogs forward line.(Getty Images: AFL Photos/Daniel Pockett)There are some accepted truths in football — among them are that the Brownlow is a midfielders' award; 50 games is the key marker for players' going to the next level, and playing too many talls up forward is a recipe for disaster.
    In 2023, the Western Bulldogs appear set not just to challenge the last of these statements, but shatter the concept entirely.
    A look around the league shows most teams like to build forward lines around one or two focal points, such as Cameron and Hawkins at Geelong and Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay at Carlton.
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    The Bulldogs already had spearhead Aaron Naughton (195cm), young forward Jamarra Ugle-Hagan (197cm) and key position player Sam Darcy (204cm) to provide plenty of height in the front six.
    Not only did they then trade for wantaway Docker Rory Lobb (207cm), the Dogs have opted to play all four together in attack. Against the Kangaroos in preseason, all four kicked goals and the team booted 22 in total.
    This is an unorthodox set-up which could backfire if oppositions out-crumb them, but the potential to overload defences is there — if their midfield can win enough ball and get decent service inside 50, Luke Beveridge's men could provide the Bulldogs' version of shock and awe in 2023. It will be fascinating to see if the plan works.



    https://www.abc.
    net.au/news/2023-03-16/afl-storylines-for-2023/102061666

  2. #2
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    Can Geelong go back to back?
    no, they will be up the top of the eight but no victory lap of the MCG this year.

    What does the return of Ross Lyon mean at St Kilda?
    well it doesn't mean they will be playing finals this year....about 10th to 12th IMHO.

    Will Ashcroft — will he live up to the hype?
    His highlights reel looks very good, but then they don't show his mistakes, do they ? So we will have to wait and see.

    Can Freo score enough, and is Nat Fyfe the answer?
    As an Eagles fan, gosh I hope not, or my brother will never shut up.

    Can Clarko save North Melbourne?
    Only if the board is prepared to give him at least 3 years. Wooden spoon again this year.

    Will Gawn/Grundy work at the Demons?
    Why not ? It worked for the Eagles with Coxie and Nic Nat.

    Can young Hawks list stay competitive amid Mitchell rebuild?
    Competitive with Norths, at the bottom of the ladder. 17th

    Which way for the Magpies after a stunning 2022?
    Down. No Grundy now, and don't be surprised if de Goey and Ginnivan miss several weeks for transgressions. On the fringes of the eight..7-10th


    Who can stop the Bulldogs' tall brigade?
    Anybody who can control the midfield, or keep the ball down the other end. It won't matter how tall their forward line is if they cannot get hold of the ball. Their talls will be handy when they play in the dry Marvel Stadium with the roof closed but might be a liability on a wet ground.

    Many things could happen over the next few months, but my predictions are :
    top 6: Geelong, Richmond, Brisbane, melbourne, Sydney, Freo...with Brisbane to beat Melbourne in the GF
    Fighting for the last places in the finals : Collingwood, Carlton, GWS, Port Adelaide, Bulldogs, Bombers, West Coast, Suns.
    Will probably be Bulldogs and Port ?
    (I reckon those last places are going to be down to last weekend results, it's going to be close in the middle of the pack)

    Which leaves : Adelaide, Saints, ".......daylight......." ,Hawthorn, Norths.

    I see a lot of the media experts have written off my team (West Coast) already but I think that they cannot be that unlucky with injuries again (but yes I know Nic Nat is out for week 1
    ) draftee Reuben Gimbey is going to be a star and will give Ashcroft some competition in the Rising Star award. I reckon WCE will finish about 10th....but remember Robert Walls prediction in 2018 ..wooden spoon LOL.

    Last edited by mikenot; 16-03-2023 at 03:21 PM.

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    Thailand Expat harrybarracuda's Avatar
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    Great thread.

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    Bloody hell that's a crowd and then some at The G for the season opener, looks not far away from being full. Not bad for a weeknight game.

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    After all that a draw. Carlton should've won apart from about 7 minutes they were in front all night. I dont know if the match tells us much about either side but it is only round 1.

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    Thailand Expat DrWilly's Avatar
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    AFL 2023 season.-cc40c5fb-52ae-4f88-b7cb-713cc391ff71-jpeg

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    Quote Originally Posted by Hugh Cow View Post
    I dont know if the match tells us much about either side but it is only round 1.
    AFL and NRL, give them 3 to 5 rounds to get their acts together before drawing a line through a team or thinking they're finals contenders. Happens every year that teams have slow starts then power home at the business end of the year, or start like they're on fire before spiralling into obscurity as the finals approach. As the great Wayne Bennett often deadpans, you don't win a Premiership on week one.

    Jeez that was a good game to watch though, the fans got their money worth. 88,000+ in attendance, that's just ridiculous for a Thursday night game.

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    Thailand Expat DrWilly's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Headworx View Post
    88,000+ in attendance, that's just ridiculous for a Thursday night game.
    That's AFL.

    Well actually, that's the marque AFL teams playing each other. There are a few teams that will attract a lot less, and there's time slots such as Sunday afternoon that are much slower than the Thursday/Friday/Saturday evening games that work.

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    They finished 7th and 9th on the ladder last year, 1st v 4th play today (Cats v Pies) and they're saying 90,000+ for that. It never ceases to amaze me how big the crowd numbers are that they get to most sports events in Melbourne. Or concert numbers, Ed Sheeran played to around 210,000 people at The G over 2 nights a few weeks back

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    Thailand Expat DrWilly's Avatar
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    Melbourians.

    We broke history and filled a stadium for an evening of the first every indoors hit and giggle on a Wednesday in the middle of winter! (actually not quite, only 25,000 turned up)

    On this day: First-ever international match to be played indoors

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    MCG members bars run out of beer in opening-round debacle

    Punters at the Richmond-Carlton opening blockbuster were left fuming after an absolute debacle at the bars of the MCG.


    It costs you more than ever to go to the footy at the MCG these days, but the extortionate cost of a night out at the biggest sporting coliseum in the country still can’t get you a beer in the members, it seems.

    Despite 88,000 fans packing into the MCG for the traditional Richmond-Carlton season opener on Thursday night, and the fact that (barring Covid-19 years) the blockbuster fixture hasn’t had less than 70,000 in the house for over a decade, the Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC), who manage the MCG, were caught asleep at the wheel, with bars reportedly running out of beer.
    The MCC have managed the Ground since 1853, with the ground owned by the Victorian Government through the MCG Trust.
    Watch every match of every round of the 2023 Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE on Kayo Sports. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >
    A footy fan, identified only as Russ, called into Neil Mitchell’s 3AW Mornings program on Friday morning, exclaiming “Delaware (North, the hospitality partner of the MCC as of 2022) have just got to go”.
    “That organisation at the MCG last night was just dreadful,” he said.
    “Dreadful, dreadful, dreadful.
    “Members area, level 1, beer stall ran out of beer, cold beer, just after half time.
    “We were left drinking the fruit-infused beer!
    “We were drinking (fruit-infused) craft beer because they ran out of standard, normal beer in level one in the members.


    “In the Stumps bar (the STUMPS Tavern, a premium bar bordering the Olympic Stand), they would’ve had 200 people waiting but they had only four or five staff on.”
    Mitchell said that there had been ongoing staff issues at the MCG.
    Another patron in the MCC members on Thursday night confirmed to news.com.au that “they did run out of beer.”
    “It took a whole quarter to line up for a drink,” they said.
    “Only two staff on any bar at any one time.”
    Delaware North manage several large sporting venues around the world, including London’s Wembley Stadium, and MetLife Stadium in New York.
    Delaware North have also been responsible for hospitality at the Australian Open since 1988.


    The queues and waits come as footy food prices rose at the MCG this year for the first time in four years.


    Hot chips, meat pies and hot dogs went from $4.50 to $5.50, while a schooner of beer rose by a dollar to $10.50, and a 600ml bottle of soft drink went up 80c to $5.50.
    MCC chief executive Stuart Fox said in early March that the MCG wasn’t “immune to inflation, supply chain issues or the steadily rising cost of labour in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, making it necessary for us to adjust prices for some food and beverage items.”
    “We continue to strive to maintain price points that are manageable for all fans, and in particular families, coming to the footy,” he said.


    Richmond would end up drawing with Carlton in a thrilling start to the season on Thursday night, with the Blues letting yet another lead slip from their grasp.
    Delaware North and the MCC have been contacted for comment.

    https://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/mcg-runs-out-of-beer-in-openinground-debacle/news-story/c0d05360a94b87252ff5fdb8ebd43eac

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    Quote Originally Posted by DrWilly View Post
    “We were left drinking the fruit-infused beer!
    “We were drinking (fruit-infused) craft beer because they ran out of standard, normal beer in level one in the members.
    Fruit-infused craft beer...good grief.

  13. #13
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    Oi! Don’t attribute that bogan comment to me!

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    Sorry 'bout that.

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    Thailand Expat DrWilly's Avatar
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    blood pies won from behind kicking last 8 goals.

    sounds like the cats run out of steam.

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    ^ That spoiled the opening round.
    Been great weather at all venues,life is good,Footy and more Footy for the next 6 months.

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    Amen to that brother!

    Bombers smashed it home yesterday!

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    Well, that was a low scoring but interesting affair. Dogs hold on against the Lions. Jamarra kicked five goals.

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    Quote Originally Posted by mikenot View Post
    Can Geelong go back to back?
    no, they will be up the top of the eight but no victory lap of the MCG this year.

    What does the return of Ross Lyon mean at St Kilda?
    well it doesn't mean they will be playing finals this year....about 10th to 12th IMHO.

    Will Ashcroft — will he live up to the hype?
    His highlights reel looks very good, but then they don't show his mistakes, do they ? So we will have to wait and see.

    Can Freo score enough, and is Nat Fyfe the answer?
    As an Eagles fan, gosh I hope not, or my brother will never shut up.

    Can Clarko save North Melbourne?
    Only if the board is prepared to give him at least 3 years. Wooden spoon again this year.

    Will Gawn/Grundy work at the Demons?
    Why not ? It worked for the Eagles with Coxie and Nic Nat.

    Can young Hawks list stay competitive amid Mitchell rebuild?
    Competitive with Norths, at the bottom of the ladder. 17th

    Which way for the Magpies after a stunning 2022?
    Down. No Grundy now, and don't be surprised if de Goey and Ginnivan miss several weeks for transgressions. On the fringes of the eight..7-10th


    Who can stop the Bulldogs' tall brigade?
    Anybody who can control the midfield, or keep the ball down the other end. It won't matter how tall their forward line is if they cannot get hold of the ball. Their talls will be handy when they play in the dry Marvel Stadium with the roof closed but might be a liability on a wet ground.

    Many things could happen over the next few months, but my predictions are :
    top 6: Geelong, Richmond, Brisbane, melbourne, Sydney, Freo...with Brisbane to beat Melbourne in the GF
    Fighting for the last places in the finals : Collingwood, Carlton, GWS, Port Adelaide, Bulldogs, Bombers, West Coast, Suns.
    Will probably be Bulldogs and Port ?
    (I reckon those last places are going to be down to last weekend results, it's going to be close in the middle of the pack)

    Which leaves : Adelaide, Saints, ".......daylight......." ,Hawthorn, Norths.

    I see a lot of the media experts have written off my team (West Coast) already but I think that they cannot be that unlucky with injuries again (but yes I know Nic Nat is out for week 1
    ) draftee Reuben Gimbey is going to be a star and will give Ashcroft some competition in the Rising Star award. I reckon WCE will finish about 10th....but remember Robert Walls prediction in 2018 ..wooden spoon LOL.

    This is such a topsy turvy season so far but i havent read much into it. Tiges have a few outs this week otherwise I'd back them against the pies.
    Brisbane were poor in the forward line. They rely a lot on Hipwood and Daniher and Danihers too inconsistent. Neal is looking like another good year from him.
    I think you are a little hard on wet toast. I've picked them as my smokey to down freo in the derby. No Fyfe will help if for no other reason than it takes an A grade player to cover him. When you look at the names in wet toast you wonder how the team is so lowly rated. Thats why I expect them to surprise. Lobb less forward line means those goals have to come from somewhere else but who?
    I'm tipping a close one between Blues and Giants.
    Nth and Hawthorn? A tale of two coaches.
    Saints over Essendon. Has Ross got them better or is this another early season rise before a fade?
    Port over Adelaide but again not a done deal. Especially if Tex kicks a bag.
    I never tip against my pussies and a few starting to come back (especially if Stewart makes it) will help them get over the line against GCS. Scott loves to experiment in the early part of the season bit he wont want to be 3 zip.
    Should be a good game between Swans and Melbourne. Another that can go either way, Whoever wins the commentators will be talking up the winner. I have to go with the Demons but it is there for the swans to win.

    I agree back to back is hard. Hawks did it in the compromised draft years and Tigers in the covid years. To go back to back in normal seasons will be a huge challenge. I will look to see if the pussies are capable after the finish of round 14 although around round 9 will be a fair indication in which direction teams are heading.
    Last edited by Hugh Cow; 31-03-2023 at 03:42 PM.

  20. #20
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    Watched the Cats against the Suns,good game till the last quarter then the Cats turned into pussies.
    Bit hard to think back to back for them at the moment with 3 losses in a row.
    Nice to ST Kilda at the top, but hope to see, like any fair minded supporter and watch the Magpies head south from second.

  21. #21
    Thailand Expat DrWilly's Avatar
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    Stringer is on fire for the premiership quarter...C'mon Bombers!

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