2012 Ladder Predictor

[AndrewP6]

It is hard to maintain form and they approach 2012 with a few potential issues.

What effect will Buckley have?

Minor - He'll want to put his stamp on it, but there won't be wholesale changes to the way they go about it.

Will they lose the team effect for personal glory?

No

Can Jolly come up and without Leigh Brown, who gave them a point of difference over the last 2 years.

Fair point, I'll give you that

Speculation on out of contract players.

Won't have any impact on a professional outfit like that.

[Bulldog Joe]

Without going through and requoting, I think it will be fascinating to see how things unfold at Collingwood. If they do lose a few games the relationship between Buckley and the players may be tested. There is not likely to have the aura of "doing it for Mick" that was there in 2011.
They do have 3 losable games in the first 5 (Hawthorn, Carlton and Essendon on ANZAC day).

I am not saying they will lose all 3 but how would they react if they did?

[jazzadogs]

Without doing a full ladder, and without any in depth analysis of their list, I don't think the Lions will do as badly as some expect. Their young players are actually quite promising from what I've seen, admittedly with a lot still relying on injuries to players like Brown, Merrett, Black, Rockliff. They've blooded a decent number of good kids in the last year or two, and I think they will start to benefit a bit more this year. Not expecting them to challenge the 8, but I think they'll do better than bottom 4.

The two WA teams will be very interesting to watch. Will Lyon be able to manage the Freo youngsters effectively, and implement a game plan which suits their style? Will WCE be able to build upon their success in 2011, with continued improvement in their 18-24 year olds, or will the oldies fall down with no-one to pick up the pieces?

As for the Dogs, I think we should realistically have a season slightly better than last year. With more games into Jones, Dahlhaus, Wood, Libba, Tutt etc and increased output from Lake and Cooney, we surely can't do worse?

[Go_Dogs]

Had another look at this and went through the fixture as I believe when and where you meet other teams really does impact the results.

Perhaps my optimism for the Dogs shows, but I did try to look at on a week to week and collated the results only after going through the entire fixture.

Just having a close look at our fixture, and I think we'll end up somewhere between 9-12 wins.

We could easily be 3-7 when we have our bye as we play some tough teams, some teams around our mark at their home ground etc. The only matches I'm confident about are Melbourne, GWS and GC. Crows, Saints and North all potentially winnable, but no certainties.

Having to play Geelong and then Swans in Sydney after going to Darwin is going to be a tough lead up to the bye.

We then get a couple of games we should win against Port and Brisbane, a tough game against Essendon before another very tough 3 weeks including Freo at Perth, followed by Hawthorn and Carlton.

The last 6 rounds should include some games we'll win and maybe we'll be able to finish strongly as players who haven't done full pre-seasons are fully conditioned and back in good form, etc. It could go the other way and get pretty ugly.

Depressing post, I'm sorry, but I think we need to be realistic about our expectations this year. There's definitely a chance we can play finals, but really we should be content to see how the new coach can develop our younger players and our squad to again be contending for grand finals and premierships. If it comes together this year that would be an unbelievable result IMO. (That said - I'm sure once the pre-season games start and we go alright I'll be calling us finals certainties )

[Bulldog Joe]

Just having a close look at our fixture, and I think we'll end up somewhere between 9-12 wins.

We could easily be 3-7 when we have our bye as we play some tough teams, some teams around our mark at their home ground etc. The only matches I'm confident about are Melbourne, GWS and GC. Crows, Saints and North all potentially winnable, but no certainties.Having to play Geelong and then Swans in Sydney after going to Darwin is going to be a tough lead up to the bye.

We then get a couple of games we should win against Port and Brisbane, a tough game against Essendon before another very tough 3 weeks including Freo at Perth, followed by Hawthorn and Carlton.

The last 6 rounds should include some games we'll win and maybe we'll be able to finish strongly as players who haven't done full pre-seasons are fully conditioned and back in good form, etc. It could go the other way and get pretty ugly.

Depressing post, I'm sorry, but I think we need to be realistic about our expectations this year. There's definitely a chance we can play finals, but really we should be content to see how the new coach can develop our younger players and our squad to again be contending for grand finals and premierships. If it comes together this year that would be an unbelievable result IMO. (That said - I'm sure once the pre-season games start and we go alright I'll be calling us finals certainties )

The early games are key and we are no chance of figuring if we don't start the season well. While you see only 3 wins in the first 10, I see 6 wins in the first 8 as a real possibility. The first 5 are all winnable.

[LostDoggy]

Without going through and requoting, I think it will be fascinating to see how things unfold at Collingwood. If they do lose a few games the relationship between Buckley and the players may be tested. There is not likely to have the aura of "doing it for Mick" that was there in 2011.
They do have 3 losable games in the first 5 (Hawthorn, Carlton and Essendon on ANZAC day).

I am not saying they will lose all 3 but how would they react if they did?

If they drop away early in the season, due to any number of reasons, there's also the pressure of defending their succession plan, which has been constantly critiqued since the minute it left Eddie's mouth. “Why did we get rid of Malthouse?” The wheels could easily fall off. Personally, I don't think they will, but it's more than possible.

Will they lose the team effect for personal glory?

No

Good point.

[AndrewP6]

Good point.

Haha, I don't like to mince words. Straight to the point, that's me!

[Dry Rot]

Hawthorn/Collingwood Grand Final with Hawks winning IMO.

1. Hawthorn
2. Collingwood
3. Carlton
4. Geelong
5. Essendon
6. West Coast
7. Adelaide
8. Richmond
---------
9. Fremantle
10. St. Kilda
11. Sydney
12. North Melbourne
13. Melbourne
14. Western Bulldogs (Don't think we'll be anywhere near it this season unfortunately)
15. Brisbane
16. Gold Coast
17. Port Adelaide
18. West Sydney

Positions 7 - 13 I think you could put anywhere in those positions. Pretty certain on the teams 1 - 6 and 14 - 18 will finish in that range give or take a couple of positions.

Not sure why there is so much love shown for the Hawks in this thread.

Isn't there rack division pretty ordinary? And aren't they are tall defender short?

Don't get me wrong, they are definitely in the mix and should be at least top 6 but I'm not sure why something they are issuing the grand final.

My best guess is that the top 5 this year will be the same as last year but not necessarily in that order. You would think that West Coast would improve and there are question marks over the ruck division of Geelong, plus their older players are close to the brink.

[jeemak]

Not sure why there is so much love shown for the Hawks in this thread.

Isn't there rack division pretty ordinary? And aren't they are tall defender short?

Don't get me wrong, they are definitely in the mix and should be at least top 6 but I'm not sure why something they are issuing the grand final.

My best guess is that the top 5 this year will be the same as last year but not necessarily in that order. You would think that West Coast would improve and there are question marks over the ruck division of Geelong, plus their older players are close to the brink.

Rack division

[G-Mo77]

Not sure why there is so much love shown for the Hawks in this thread.

Isn't there rack division pretty ordinary? And aren't they are tall defender short?

Don't get me wrong, they are definitely in the mix and should be at least top 6 but I'm not sure why something they are issuing the grand final.
.

In all honesty had it not been for so many injuries last season I thought they would have taken it out. If they can stay healthy I can't see many getting close to them apart from Collingwood. Their Ruck division is fine IMO. Hale has made this team very dangerous by pinch hitting ruck duties and going forward. There back half is questionable and no they don't have a real KPD but don't under estimate a good team defence which they certainly have when healthy.

[DOG GOD]

My ladder prediction

Cwood
Hawthorn
Geelong
Carlton
West Coast
Fremantle
Essendon
Sydney
--------------------
North
Stkilda
Richmond
Melbourne
West Bulldogs
Adelaide
Brisbane
Port
Gcoast
GWS

[Ghost Dog]

Cwood
Carlton
Geelong top three

Us to be fifth or sixth. I'm actually pretty confident about next season.

[Greystache]

1. Collingwood
2. Geelong
3. Hawthorn
4. Carlton
5. West Coast
6. Fremantle
7. Essendon
8. Sydney

9. Bulldogs
10. Norf
11. St Kilda
12. Richmond
13. Melbourne
14. Brisbane
15. Adelaide
16. Gold Coast
17. Port
18. GWS

[SlimPickens]

1. Collingwood
2. Hawks
3.Cats
4. Freo (Will surprise a few this year)
5. Carlton
6. WCE
7. St Kilda
8. Essendon

9. Sydney
10.Norf
11. Dogs
12. Melbourne
13. Tigers
14. Adelaide
15.Brisbane
16. Port
17.Gold coast
18. GWS

[bornadog]

1. Collingwood
2. Geelong
3. Hawthorn
4. Carlton
5. West Coast
6. Fremantle
7. Essendon
8. Sydney

9. Bulldogs
10. Norf
11. St Kilda
12. Richmond
13. Melbourne
14. Brisbane
15. Adelaide
16. Gold Coast
17. Port
18. GWS

Hopefully I am wrong, but agree Dogs to just miss.