2017 Crystal Ball: climbers, sliders and mystery bags

[Dry Rot]

OK, here's the ladder at the end of the 2016 H&A season. Who are your climbers, sliders and mystery bags in 2017?

AFL HOME AND AWAY 2016 LADDER

Pos Team P W L D B F A % Pts
1 Sydney Swans 22 17 5 0 1 2221 1469 151.19 68
2 Geelong Cats 22 17 5 0 1 2235 1554 143.82 68
3 Hawthorn 22 17 5 0 1 2134 1800 118.56 68
4 GWS Giants 22 16 6 0 1 2380 1663 143.11 64
5 Adelaide Crows 22 16 6 0 1 2483 1795 138.33 64
6 West Coast Eagles 22 16 6 0 1 2181 1678 129.98 64
7 Western Bulldogs 22 15 7 0 1 1857 1609 115.41 60
8 North Melbourne 22 12 10 0 1 1956 1859 105.22 48
9 St Kilda 22 12 10 0 1 1953 2041 95.69 48
10 Port Adelaide 22 10 12 0 1 2055 1939 105.98 40
11 Melbourne 22 10 12 0 1 1944 1991 97.64 40
12 Collingwood 22 9 13 0 1 1910 1998 95.60 36
13 Richmond 22 8 14 0 1 1713 2155 79.49 32
14 Carlton 22 7 15 0 1 1568 1978 79.27 28
15 Gold Coast Suns 22 6 16 0 1 1778 2273 78.22 24
16 Fremantle 22 4 18 0 1 1574 2119 74.28 16
17 Brisbane Lions 22 3 19 0 1 1770 2872 61.63 12
18 Essendon 22 3 19 0 1 1437 2356 60.99 12

My climbers:

Young punk developing list teams Saints and Demons - one or both to make the finals. And Gold Coast Suns to do a lot a better than many think.

My sliders:

North (there're basically not a good team who don't belong in the 8)
Carlton (yes they will slip lower as the Suns, Freo and the Bombers go past them)
Cats to be more bottom top 8 than top 4.

My mystery bags:

The Bombers - got a lot to prove, including how they'll go with half a side who haven't played for a year.
Port - IMO they are simply better than the way they played this year (or are they?)
Hawks - pretty radical list changes, and is it finally time for their remaining old players to start breaking down?

What do you think?

[Twodogs]

I have North as big sliders but the more I think about it throwing open 5 spots in the team gives their young guys hope after not being considered for years. And if a draftee or two can take a spot that's insane vindication of their drafting.

They might get a fair bit of improvement from the competition for spots and even head up the ladder with solid form from their Dad's Army brigade.

Against it is their coach who I don't rate at all. And they still have an alignment with a VFL club. They won't be able to develop their youngsters exactly the way they want to. If the AFL were serious about equalisation they must ensure that all Victorian and maybe Sydney clubs have VFL reserve sides. That's a huge advantage to us to be able to virtually fast track our young guys development.
.

[boydogs]

Hawthorn will cop some mighty floggings next year. Against a decent midfield they won't get enough it to stay in games

[bornadog]

Climbers - GWs and Port
Sliders - North and Hawks
Mystery Bag -
Saints,
Geelong (Could Slide dramatically or could stay top 4)
GC -real mystery

[GVGjr]

Essendon have to be the biggest climbers with all the players back plus a very easy draw
I think Melbourne have a great balance and should climb

North and West to slide this year and as Boydogs said, I'm not sure if Hawthorn can maintain top 8 form.

[Twodogs]

Essendon have to be the biggest climbers with all the players back plus a very easy draw
I think Melbourne have a great balance and should climb

North and West to slide this year and as Boydogs said, I'm not sure if Hawthorn can maintain top 8 form.

Agree with Essendon climbing. The AFEL seem hell bent on making Essendon a powerhouse again as well.

[Bulldog Joe]

My climbers:

Saints and Demons - should climb and I have both making finals.
Port Adelaide have the top end talent and they did introduce a few to the side last year. Need a good year or it will be bye bye Hinkley.

Brisbane
They have some good young talent and the coaching change may just bring them together. While they will still cop some floggings I expect them to spring a surprise or 2 with more victories but nothing more than marginal ladder improvement.

My sliders:

North - Just have to fall down the ladder. They have gone from the oldest list to the 2nd youngest and the youth is untried. They will get some floggings.

Cats - Expect them to miss the 8. They lacked depth last year and have lost more. Odd list management.

Hawthorn - Will struggle to play finals. Very thin for proven first team quality and any injury will hurt. The strategy from trade/draft appeared to be just clear cap space. Expect plays for free agents at end of 2017. They seem have decided the draft is not for them.

My mystery bags:

Essendon are the real mystery bags. The returning players will make them better, but I doubt they will all be as good as they were. They also have a coach from the old school, that may not be tactically adept with the modern coaches.

Gold Coast
They have had horrendous injury issues the last 2 seasons, but have top quality in their key positions. May challenge for finals. Coaching and off field are issues.

[comrade]

North are in for a run similar to our 2011-2014 era.