2016 Predictions
1st Place – Wizards
(Last Year Finished 4th, Last Year Predicted 6th)
Predicted Average: 1727
This is absolutely huge! The Wiz come in at number 1. I gave the Heat a hard time about the great choke, so fair is fair….it is a disgrace that the Wiz didnt win it all last year, everything fell into place for them with the Warriors struck down by injury and the Heat….well, being the Heat. Wiz players not standing up in big games is not a good enough excuse, something has to be done. The Wiz have evolved into the team to beat in 2016 and we should have seen this coming with their run home last year barring the disgraceful finals exit. Awesome backline, solid forward line, quality midfield and Goldy in the rucks.
Breakout Player – Jason Johannissen
Boy did this guy look good in pre-season. The Bulldogs are going to be a very exciting, high possession team this year and with some quality ball users down back in Bob Murphy and Matt Suckling, this guy is going to get off the leash. JJ averaged a very healthy 77 last year and I really think he is going to take his game up another gear this year and go 80-85. With a backline already boasting Shaw, Boyd and Gibson, if this guy can take his game to the next level, the Wiz backline is streets ahead of the rest.
Time to Slide – Stevie J
This is a tough one, because Stevie could enjoy plenty of good times this year at GWS, but I dont see him getting any time in the midfield and he will be relying solely on scoreboard impact to get his score. I dont think GWS are in their premiership window, so Stevie will be there purely as an on field teacher for the kids to show them what it takes to take the next step. I think Stevie will probably be rested for quite a few games this year and his scoring will be all over the place. It will be hard for the Wiz to keep him in their side every week as he will have some shockers along the way. He will not achieve his last year average of 87 and I wouldn’t be surprised if he sinks below 80 this year.
Make or Break – Jack Viney
Viney’s performance is going to be huge for the Wizards this year. A top 3 midfield of Hanneberry, Thompson, Armitage then falls away to a long list of players who are around the same mark. Jack Viney could be the one who steps up and breaks away from that pack to be the Wiz’s clear M4. Viney has all the attributes of a gun dream teamer but injury has really stopped him from being able to break free. Viney finished the season with 130 and 122 showing that he is capable of going big. I get the feeling Viney could really step it up a notch this year, and that would give the Wizards a really big step up in their midfield. He could be the man to lead the Wiz to glory. If Viney falters though, i’m not sure who will step up to take their midfield to the next level.
Summary
I’m putting it in writing. The Wiz will win the premiership in 2016. The best backline in the competition, strong forward line, very solid midfield with plenty of upside and one of the best ruckmen in the league . Sure their R2 is very questionable, but I think they more than cover for that this year primarily through the strength of their backline. Tyson, Cleaver, Arvo (the three main instigators) – prepare yourselves for a year of Putland domination…….it’s coming. Wiz to win the GF by 60 points from the Warriors.
Rankings
Defense 1st
Midfield 5th
Ruck 2nd
Forwards 3rd
Overall WRS Summary
| Back | Mid | Ruck | Fwd | Predicted Average | ||
| 1 | Wizards | 1 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 1727 |
| 2 | Warriors | 6 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1723 |
| 3 | Heat | 4 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 1700 |
| 4 | Stars | 10 | 8 | 8 | 1 | 1683 |
| 5 | Turtles | 4 | 10 | 5 | 8 | 1668 |
| 6 | Rattlesnakes | 2 | 5 | 10 | 4 | 1664 |
| 7 | Falcons | 9 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 1659 |
| 8 | Vikings | 7 | 1 | 7 | 9 | 1651 |
| 9 | Blaze | 3 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 1643 |
| 10 | Boats | 7 | 4 | 4 | 10 | 1634 |
2nd Place – Warriors
(Last Year Finished 1st, Last Year Predicted 1st – WRS at its finest)
Predicted Average: 1723
Wowee – widely tipped as a certainty to go back-to-back, WRS has the Warriors 2nd. In the Vikings write up, I said that they were the second most affected club by the Essendon saga….well meet the first. You cannot underestimate the loss of Dyson Heppell to the Warriors backline, a defender averaging over 100 is absolutely huge in this league and loses the Warriors at least 30 points every single week. Of course the Warriors will be hard to beat again this year, but this has really brought them back to the pack. Strong across all lines as we have come to expect, but a little more beatable this year.
Breakout Player – Jesse Lonergan
The Warriors have been master of the draft over the past few years, which has got them into the position they are currently in and they did it yet again this year. The Warriors nabbed Lonergan at pick 10, another young talented defender who actually plays through the midfield. With a plethora of injuries at Gold Coast, Lonergan has been earmarked for a position in the middle, which means he could find plenty of the footy. Lonergan won’t fill the void left by Heppell, but he will go a long way to holding up this backline.
Time to Slide – Warriors Backline
Impossible to find a Warriors player that is going to go backwards as they are still so young. Instead I will just emphasise the loss of Heppell. 30 points a week is absolutely massive and almost impossible to recover from…..almost.
Make or Break – Brodie Grundy
Grundy really holds the key to the Warriors fortunes this year. The Warriors have the strongest ruck division in the league, but that assumes Grundy doesn’t completely regress from his 90 point average last year. Grundy is a great fantasy player – but there is still a (very small) question mark over his role as number 1 ruck at Collingwood. If Grundy can play a significant amount of time in the ruck, he could easily surpass his 90 point average, but the great unknown is his ability to go forward. Collingwood are overly tall in the forward line with Witts, Cloke, Moore, Gault, White and Cox all to choose from which could mean that Grundy rests on the bench rather than forward. For the record, I think Grundy will stay around the 90 average mark, but he is definitely a barometer for the Warriors this year.
Summary
The Warriors will once again be a powerhouse. Credit where it is due, Lister has done an amazing job of putting together this list of young midfielders across every line. The loss of Heppell has cost them a certain premiership, but they are still most certainly a chance. They would still be installed as favourites by the bookie’s, but one team has emerged as a clear leader for the number 1 pick under the WRS. The Warriors are a force to be reckoned with over the next decade, so for the sake of the league (sorry Lister) let’s hope someone else can get the job done this year, because the Warriors are going to win plenty over the years to come.
Rankings
Defense 6th
Midfield 2nd
Ruck 1st
Forwards 2nd
3rd Place – Heat
(Last Year Finished 2nd, Last Year Predicted 8th)
Predicted Average: 1700
We had Greg Norman in the ’96 Masters, the 18-0 Patriots in the ’07 Super Bowl, South Africa in the ’99 cricket world cup semi final and now the 2015 Heat eclipsing them all as the biggest choke job in sports history! I’m going on record to say that the mental scars will sit with the Heat for a decade and they will not win a Grand Final under the current coach. Onto 2016 though and it is unbelievable that the Heat come in this high in the rankings. Having said that, they have the only Essendon midfielder who is not an AFL-reject anchored in their backline, an absolute ball magnet in Micky Barlow moved to their forward line and arguably the greatest midfielder of all time as their captain in the midfield. Do not sleep on the Heat, they are strong on every single line.
Breakout Player – Tommy Sheridan
Pretty much anyone that can get a regular game in the Dockers team should score well. Sheridan secured a spot in the Dockers team last year and really started to build as a player in the second half of the year. Taking out sub affected scores, Sheridan’s last 5 games averaged 91, which is absolutely massive for a defender. Averaging only 65 for the year as a result of vests and injury, Sheridan could easily become a premium defender averaging around the 80 mark, which would boost the Heat’s score in a big way. If Sheridan can really turn it on this year, the Heat’s backline is right up there with the best.
Time to Slide – Jimmy Bartel
What a gun he has been over the years – you would be hard pressed to find anyone who does not love this man – but his body has taken a serious beating and I will throw it out there and say there is a fair chance Jimmy doesn’t make it through the year without retiring. The spotlight is on concussions at the moment, and Jimmy has way too many hits to the head over the past few years and copped yet another one during the preseason. In addition to this, Jimmy is being pushed aside as a result of the younger brigade pushing through so will see very limited midfield minutes. You’ve been a superstar Jimmy but you’ve got nothing left to prove….time to hang ’em up.
Make or Break – Matthew Kreuzer
It is no secret that I have been a massive fan of Kreeeeeuuuuuuzzzzeee for years now and there is no doubt in my mind he can be a number 1 ruck if things fall his way. Kreuze averaged 83 last year and surely with a new coach they stop trying spuds like Wood and just stick to Krueze as the only ruck. The big if with Kreuze is health – if he can stay healthy, Kreuze can be one of the best ruckmen in the league – his athletecism is perfect for Carlton who need all the help in the mdifield they can get. If Kreuze stays injury free and takes his game to another level, the Heat could seriously challenge.
Summary
As much as it is hard to say, the Heat really are a genuine chance this year. After making the GF last year, they have Barlow going forward, added Sam Mitchell to their midfield and have a lot of upside in players like Kreuzer and Sheridan. One thing I will say is that it is now or never for the Heat, names like Riewoldt, Mitchell, Sandilands and Bartel are all done after this year so they better make it count. I think I have made it very clear that in my opinion, it will be never. Heat to choke come finals time all over again.
Rankings
Defense 4th
Midfield 3rd
Ruck 5th
Forwards 5th
4th Place – Stars
(Last Year Finished 6th, Last Year Predicted 3rd)
Predicted Average: 1683
The same old story for the Stars – always up around the mark, but just getting killed with their weak backline. While Sam Gray will no doubt be a great pickup, the Stars are so stacked in the forward line that i’m surprised they didn’t try to flip that pick for a defender. The Stars really rely on Rocky and their forward line to get them through the majority of the games, however that heavy reliance means one off game from Rocky really hurts them. If the Stars manage to finish top 2 and get that second chance, I really like their chances, but its a tough ask to beat the 3 teams ahead of them.
Breakout Player – Jack Ziebell
Ive been a big fan of Ziebell for a long time, but he has never really lived up to his potential in fantasy. The removal of the sub and the cap on interchange players will really improve Jack’s numbers this year because he is so strong in the forward line. Hopefully (for the Stars sake) he spends the majority of his time in the midfield and rests forward rather than churning up their interchange numbers by resting on the bench. Ziebell averaged 90 last year after an average of 85 the year before and I expect to see him continue that trend with an average over 95 this year. Just another solid forward line player at the Stars.
Time to Slide – Jasper Pittard
The guy is just a spud. It would not surprise me in the slightest if he loses his spot in Port’s best 22 this year, even though he seems to have been a bit of a coach’s favourite over the past two years. Pittard will likely continue to score close to his average if he retains his spot at Port, but he is not the best user of the ball and often gets beaten one on one….. honestly, if he was black he would be Tony Armstrong. SPUD.
Make or Break – Tom Langdon
I was not a fan of Langdon early in his career, but i’ve recently been converted, despite the shit haircut. Langdon is going to float back and take intercept marks which have been the main source of his fantasy points to date, but during the preseason it was very evident that the Pies want to get the ball in his hands as often as possible. My knock on Langdon was always his disposal – not so much that he couldnt hit targets, but he often chose the safer long option, which allowed opposition teams to set up their zones and gave us no chance of a fast break into the forward line. Langdon appears to be hitting shorter hard targets and if he keeps his “quarterback” role, could really provide the Stars the backline gun that they badly badly need.
Summary
The Stars need someone in their backline, it is as simple as that. Quite clearly the strongest forward line in their league and with some solid depth backing it up, surely it makes sense for the Stars to lift their trade embargo to land a defender. With forwards like Bennell, Gray and Lecras not on the field, surely one of them gets thrown out as trade bait to a team with some backline depth. It would make a huge difference to the Stars and would move them from finals also-rans to serious premiership contenders. Any team with Tom Rockliff has the ability to beat any other team in the league on any given day. Feels like the same old story for the Stars, fix your backline!
Rankings
Defense 10th
Midfield 8th
Ruck 8th
Forwards 1st
5th Place – Turtles
(Last Year Finished 10th, Last Year Predicted 7th)
Predicted Average: 1668
First WRS bombshell dropped. Turtles to miss the finals….again. The Melbourne of our ultimate league has not made the finals in 6 attempts, and is about to make it 0 from 7. Where did it all go so wrong for this promising team? Obviously they have had an absolute horror run with injuries over the past few years and were handed an absolute mess when they took over in year 2 – but it has been a sloooooow recovery since then. I think the thing that is most evident is that they lack a genuine star of the comp. That hurts them in the captaincy stakes and while their midfield is even, it really lacks any real firepower.
Breakout Player – Rory Sloane
Rory has been living in the shadow of Dangerfield over the past few years and with Dangerfield gone and Scott Thompson another year older, Rory has to be the main man in the Adelaide midfield. Sloane averaged 105 2 years ago and then dropped down to 95 last year, I think he can rise back up to where he was and eclipse that 100 mark again. If Sloane can do that he will provide a captaincy option to the Turtles and some much needed punch. Sloane getting back to his best is the only real chance the Turtles have of breaking through for that maiden finals birth.
Time to Slide – Mark Blicavs
Yep – I said it. Boy will this be controversial. I have already admitted on numerous occasions that I was wrong last year and Blicavs was fantastic. All I am saying is that he wont be able to sustain that fantastic form this year. The biggest uncertainty surrounding Blicavs is what his role is…. if he continues to roam through the midfield and on a wing, he is every chance to maintain his near 100 average but the problem is that Geelong bolstered its ruck and midfield division over the off-season. I dont see Blicavs continuing his midfield role, and has been touted to spend some time down back. Obviously they will continue to use his endurance as much as possible, so his floor is still high – I just dont see a 95+ average again.
Make or Break – Elliot Yeo
Yeo has been earmarked time and time again for a massive breakout – defender eligibility has made him super important to the Turtles team but he is yet to really set the world alight. Despite being a flat track bully in the last round of NAB playing against AFL rejects, he really did look quite ordinary during the pre-season. Yeo has been called the next Nat Fyfe, and there was a period of about a month last year where he really looked like he could turn into a star, but since then has really tailed off. Yeo is a huge wildcard for the Turtles and could average anywhere from 70 to 90 this year and the two extremes have massive ramifications for the Turtles. If Yeo averages 70, the Turtles cannot make the finals, but if he can push the 90 mark they will really push the top 4. Clearly the most important player at the Turtles.
Summary
I’ve said for years the Turtles are coming, but I might have to say it one more time – coming, but not quite arrived. They have a quality core of young players, but the theme seems to be no superstars. Across every line they are solid, without any top echelon players who can really do damage. If they can have one of Sloane, Gray or Mundy really step up this year, they can do some damage but its hard to see any one of them really becoming superstar material and that lack of firepower is what costs the Turtles a spot in the finals…..yet again.
Rankings
Defense 4th
Midfield 10th
Ruck 5th
Forwards 7th
6th Place – Rattle$nakes
(Last Year Finished 5th, Last Year Predicted 5th)
Predicted Average: 1664
The mighty Rattle$nakes missed the finals for the first time last year and we always said that once they started to slide, it would be a tough road back. To Sud’s credit he has stuck to his guns and continued to recycle through players at the end of their career, this year finally nabbing his perpetual target in Dane Swan. The $nakes are once again one of the older teams in the comp and unfortunately those older guns aren’t going to be enough to carry them to a finals series. The core of stars are there again, and with a bit of tweaking the $nakes will rise again, but its a tough road back with the age of this list.
Breakout Player – Jordan De Goey
This kid looked an absolute star in the preseason. He seems to be position proof, in that when he’s on the ground, he’s just going to be where the ball is and isnt dependent on anyone else feeding him the pill – he is a true ball winner. De Goey was pried away from the Boats while his ability was still in question, but after seeing his NAB cup form, its safe to say everyone would have liked Tyson’s side of that trade. De Goey will certainly improve on his 62 point average as a rookie last year and there really isnt a limit on what he can do this year, but im going to predict an 80 point average.
Time to Slide – Liam Picken
Picken was a revelation last year and went a long way towards the $nakes pushing for a finals birth right until the death. I have a feeling there is just too much talent at the Dogs this year for Picken to continue his free running game. Surely there are plenty other options who they would prefer with the ball in their hands. Picken averaged a ton last year, and it just feels that that is an unsustainable and a slide is inevitable. Picken is lucky he is on such a free scoring side in the Bulldogs and will still score well, but surely retraces from that ton average.
Make or Break – Dane Swan
The pig has landed at yet another ultimate team and getting towards the end of his career who knows how he is going to go. One thing for certain is that he will not have the midfield time he has enjoyed throughout the best part of his career, but having said that he has shown that he can score well wherever he lines up. If Swanny can maintain his piggish best, the $nakes will continue to cause headaches to the rest of the competition, but if he slides quickly, the $nakes really could go downhill fast. I think Swanny probably has one more good one in him.
Summary
One thing for sure is that Sudjovic will hit out this review straight away. With names like Hodge, Swan, Lewis etc its hard to imagine them missing finals, but as we all know, its really the ruck division that gives the $nakes up. They went to the cupboard, but the cupboard was bare – Ceglar, Clarke, Griffen is by far the worst ruck division in the league and barring a Sandilands injury will be the cause of their demise. In addition the midfield is incredibly top heavy and if I’ve said it once, I’ll say it again, a midfield with Stephen Hill rolling on the field cannot be successful.
Rankings
Defense 2nd
Midfield 5th
Ruck 10th
Forwards 3rd
7th Place – Falcons
(Last Year Finished 3rd, Last Year Predicted 9th)
Predicted Average 1659
The Falcons were the big surprise packet of 2015, making the finals for the first time in the clubs history, but ultimately falling short. The rapid rise of the Falcons was quite clearly the result of a huge start to the year by Cale Hooker – who slowed towards the end of the year, but really got the Falcons off to a flyer. Unfortunately they will have to do it without him this year as he spends a year on the sideline, but the good news for the Falcons is that there are plenty of upside players in their list who could be the surprise packet this year.
Breakout Player – Isaac Heeney
Heeney showed he has exactly what it takes in his first year in the league last year and gave the Falcons a nice little lift by adding forward eligibility this year. Heeney was subbed 4 times on his way to a 66 point average last year and that obviously cannot happen again this year. Heeney looks like a DT star in the making and I have no doubt will explode this year given full playing time. An average under 80 will be a disappointing year from this young gun, and it will be interesting to see just how big this kid can go.
Time to Slide – Jack Gunston
I think Jacky boy is going to find life that little bit tougher this year with Roughead out for half a year. Gunston has excelled at being the second target inside the Hawks forward line, and reached an average of over 90 last year as a result. This year, however he goes into round 1 as the number 1 forward in the Hawks forward line and with not a lot of support around him. We saw during pre-season that the Hawks forward line sputtered a bit, and as always, it will be their powerful midfield rather than another forward who will supply the extra goals needed as a result of Roughy’s injury. Gunston is a great player, but I think he slides a bit as a result this year.
Make or Break – Matt Rosa
Defender eligibility at a new team, all things were pointing towards a breakout for Matt Rosa this year, however he really struggled to find his feet in the pre-season. It was seen as another coup for the Falcs when Rosa made the switch and was given def eligibility and was the early candidate for “Breakout Player”. Rosa could still very well breakout this year at Gold Coast, but he could also fail miserably if we see what we have seen during the NAB Cup. How Rosa adapts to his new team will go a long way to whether the Falcs can exceed expectations yet again and push for finals once more.
Summary
In my opinion, definitely the biggest unknown in the league and have been ranked as high as 4th and as low as 8th in the various iterations of the WRS this preseason. Boasting a super strong ruck division and with names like Rosa, Yarran, Miles and Polec who are all very hard to predict, any one of those could surprise to the upside in a big way. Got a feeling the Falcons are going to make a mockery of the WRS and push for another finals birth, but I just cant rank them higher than the teams above them. They are the big question mark coming into this year, with a lot of unknowns and will be dangerous all year.
Rankings
Defense 9th
Midfield 5th
Ruck 3rd
Forwards 4th
8th Place – Vikings
(Last Year Finished 7th, Last Year Predicted 4th)
Predicted Average: 1651
The mighty Vikes were the second hardest hit team as a result of the Essendon saga. Hibberd, Watson, Hurley in one foul swoop really hurt the Vikes, coupled with losing Roughead for half the year and then former captain Dayne Beams for at least a month. The offseason from hell. There are problems all over the Vikings list with the ruck division being a particular weak spot and the forward line lacking some serious depth.
Breakout Player – Aaron Hall
Probably the easiest breakout player to pick this year after his incredible finish to last season followed by his preseason form and coupled with the fact the Gold Coast midfield is currently decimated. Hall looks to be one of the best forwards in the league this year and has been touted as keeping his midfield spot even when the GCS star midfielders return. Hall is going to go berserk and will go a long way to keeping the Vikes afloat while they await the return of Beams and Roughead in 2015.
Time to Slide – Matthew Lobbe
After almost carrying the Vikes to a premiership 2 years ago, Lobbe has been nothing short of awful since. Lobbe’s average went from 89 to 77 last year and even without Paddy Ryder in the side, I cant see him improving on that again this year given what we have seen in the preseason. Lobbe looks slow and disinterested and nothing like the player he was 2 years ago. Turning into the king of spuds.
Make or Break – Sam Gilbert
He’s back! One of the Vikes favourites made his way back to the team after some solid form at the end of 2015. When at his best and playing the right role, Gilbert is a DT king and he looks as though he could be pushing back towards that game. The Vikings boast a very even backline without any true stars while Hibberd is out and Gilbert could either become that star, or be irrelevant to the Vikings outfit. One thing we know for sure, however it turns out, its good to have him home.
Summary
Tough times at the Vikings and they are in for a rough year for sure. The good news is though that it is all upside in the future, with Beams, Roughead, Watson and Hibberd to come back in 2017, with the addition of Kerridge, Oliver and Hall the Vikes will be right back at the pointy end in 2017. They really are on the lookout for a star defender and will need to hope either Witts or Hickey develops in a hurry if they want to really challenge next year. The Vike are sure to cause some headaches later in the year.
Rankings
Defense 7th
Midfield 1st
Ruck 7th
Forwards 9th
9th Place – Blaze
(Last Year Finished 8th, Last Year Predicted 2nd)
Predicted Average: 1643
Well, they certainly fooled me last year and it’s not gonna happen again. The once mighty Blaze have really fallen by the wayside over the past few years and it wouldnt surprise to see a sustained period towards the bottom of the ladder. The team is starting to get to that point where some of their more important players are getting towards the pointy end of their career, and BlazeCorp must look at doing something soon before they endure a “Turtles-like” run at the foot of the ladder. The back line is of most concern with their 3 leading players being Enright, Murphy and McVeigh – I see a tough few years ahead.
Breakout Player – Luke Shuey
Shuey is a player who is all class when he is fit, but has never turned in a truly dominant fantasy year, with his best average not eclipsing 95. If Luke Shuey can remain fit (and thats a big if) I think he breaks above the 100 point barrier for the first time in his career. Shuey is the most damaging of the Eagles dominant midfield, and as a result has warranted the attention of the opposition more so than the others in his team. With Gaff becoming more and more damaging, and Priddis still accumulating as much as ever, Shuey is set to get let off the leash on occasions this year and the thing about Shuey is that he has the capability to really go big and with WCE expected to have another big year this year, he really could take his game to another level.
Time to Slide – Travis Cloke
Clokey has looked awful this pre-season and really can no longer be viewed as a fantasy relevant player. The emergence of Darcy Moore as an exciting young forward prospect and Fasolo’s emergence this pre-season has meant that Cloke is no longer the one and only option in the Pies forward line. Cloke has had the ball kicked to him on more occasions than any other player in the competition over the past couple of years, and even with that has only managed an average of just over 70. This year he will be bypassed more and more and although will still be a vital player to the Pies, wont be able to score as well as he has over the past couple of years through sheer weight of numbers.
Make or Break – Rory Laird
Rory Laird really came from nowhere last year to be a pivotal part of the Blaze defense and in reality one of the best defenders in the league. Laird broke out to average 88 in 2015 and if he can build from that breakout he would be set to be the center piece of the Blaze back line for years to come. As mentioned earlier the Blaze back line is one of the older back lines in the league and that makes Laird all the more important to their future. If Laird’s 2015 turns out to be a flash in the pan, then Blaze really could be staring down the barrel of their first spoon in the competition, but if he can increase his average, will spare the Blaze from that spoon. Realistically though, finals are out of the question this year so a big season from Laird will really just be giving Blaze confidence to build around him over the years to come.
Summary
Blaze Corp are in a power of trouble over the next few years and I for one put it down to the lack of interest shown from Mick Donovan. Clearly the brains trust behind the operation, Mick’s absence has coincided with the Blaze fall from grace and it just goes to show that Tim was a puppet all along. The Blaze are arguably in a worse position than the lower ranked Boars – some off field moves may be required at the once might Blaze Corp.
Rankings
Defense 3rd
Midfield 7th
Ruck 8th
Forwards 6th
10th Place – Boars
(Last Year Finished 9th, Last Year Predicted 10th)
Predicted Average 1634
The slide is on. We predicted the large slide down the ladder last year, and in reality the Boars were saved from the spoon by a horror injury run down at the Turtles. That wont save the Boats this year though. Credit where it is due, Coach Camporeale has got a list that can bounce back quickly with a great young midfield, and one of the better ruck divisions in the league. While we have the Boars last, the reality is that they are not that far off the pace and I don’t imagine them being down much past this year.
Breakout Player – Patrick Cripps
I think everyone loves this guy, and he looks to be a genuine superstar in the making. He is the future captain of this club, and im sure Camporeale will be looking to develop him at every opportunity. He will be given plenty of midfield time by Carlton this year and I see him improving on what was a pretty remarkable first real season last year where he averaged 86. Cripps will average 90+ this year and will cement himself as a star of the fantasy world.
Time to Slide – Steven Motlop
Campo is not going to like this, but the reality is that Marlon has looked fat and lazy in preseason, and doesn’t look anything like carrying his 90 point average through this year. Motlop has the talent, and when fit is unreal to watch but he looks like getting off to a slow start this year and my feeling is, the damage will be done in the first half of the year. He may well bounce back towards the end of this year, but by then it will be too late. Lay off the burgers Marlon!
Make or Break – Shane Savage
Savage could do anything this year. After what can only be described as a very average first 2 years at the Saints, I think he is poised to really fulfill his potential as an outsider runner at a team that will move the ball quickly and exploit outside run as much as possible. Having said that, Savage hasn’t been able to really capitalise on it thus far, so what will make this year any different. Maybe he is just a dud after all. How Savage goes this year will go a long way to telling us whether the Boats can pick themselves up off the bottom of this league.
Summary
The Boats really aren’t that bad, and are probably the best “bottom ranked” team that this league has seen in its 7 year history…but someone has to finish last, and this year it should be the Boars. There are a few teams that are pretty close in the averages, so really they could finish anywhere up to 5th but you can certainly write finals off this year. With a bit of luck in the mid season draft, the Boats can turn things around next season. Look for the midseason Maric trade spam – its the move he has to make.
Rankings
Defense 7th
Midfield 4th
Ruck 4th
Forwards 10th
DT Keeper League 