[SIZE=3][FONT=Arial]AFL Season Preview 2013[/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=3][FONT=Arial]Seeing as there is no thread set up for the upcoming season, I thought it would be prudent to set one up on the opening day of the NAB cup preseason tournament. [/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=3][FONT=Arial]So after Sydney’s magnificent win last year, can they repeat and win it out again? The bookies don’t think so, with Hawthorn ranked as favourites in all sectors to go one better and win out this year. Sydney are second favourites, closely followed by West Coast, Collingwood, and perennial underachievers Carlton.[/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=3][FONT=Arial]Sydney were well in the media spotlight not long after their victory, getting caught up in the Kurt Tippet scandal, where he basically took money under the table and outside of the contract agreement with Adelaide to get a higher payment, but that it wouldn’t register on Adelaides cap space. Both club and player took heavy punishment, with Tippet suspended for the first 12 games of the season, basically half the year. Sydney took him on in spite of this, but it was a messy affair that dominated headlines pre season.[/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=3][FONT=Arial]The biggest headlines were made by Essendon, who were caught up in the PED scandal. And with former players coming out saying they were given supplements and tablets etc and didn’t know what they were, and the subsequent WADA report, things don’t look good for the Bombers, and I’m sure a few other teams might yet be embroiled in the scandal.[/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=3][FONT=Arial]As for the season ahead, I tipped Hawthorn last year, and I think going so close last year, they will recover to make another push for the premiership crown. They have a very good side, with a good blend of youth and experience and talent. I think the Eagles could do very well, as long as key players stay healthy. Carlton are always an outside pick, and with Mick Malthouse now over them, they’ll be media favourites again. But for too many years they have flattered to deceive, so I don’t see how this year will be any different.[/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=3][FONT=Arial]Hawthorn – Not too many off season changes, the biggest addition being Brian Lake, who has a lot of experience at full back and is a very capable player. Hasn’t been playing well the last couple of years, so will be interesting to see how he fares. But with Buddy Franklin and Cyril Rioli, they have 2 of the most exciting players in the league, ably backed up by Hodge, Mitchell and Gibson, and younger players Puopolo and Savage in the mix, they are one of the best depth teams around. Frankilns refusal to sign a contract though must be of concern to them.[/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=3][FONT=Arial]West Coast Eagles – Main addition was Sharrod Wellingham from Collingwood and Cale Morton from Melbourne, but Le Cras and Nicoski back from injury will be huge additions after missing last season. Nic Natanui, Waters and Kerr though have injury doubts coming into the season, so if they prove to be worse than feared, then they will struggle. If they are good to go, I think they will push on to a high placing. [/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=3][FONT=Arial]Sydney Swans – Reigning premiers, and boosted by the addition of Kurt Tippett, but will be without him for half of the season, which will do Tommy Walsh no harm, although early training reports have him playing defence in some games so he could be in a new role. I think last year was a last hurrah for some of the aging players, it is quite an old squad, but if they can keep injury free, Tippetts inclusion for the latter half of the year might be enough for another tilt at the Premiership.[/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=3][FONT=Arial]Collingwood – Nathan Buckley got through a tough opening half of last season to start getting his gameplan and shape to the team set up, and with a pre season behind them, they will be up amongst the top again. Clokes contract being sorted, and with key players back from injury, the addition of Lynch to replace Dawes, they start this year in better shape than last year.[/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=3][FONT=Arial]Carlton – Mick Malthouse wasted no time in creating another media frenzy with Carlton, who cant keep out of the news. Judd relinquished his captains role and whilst Malthouse will take a lot of the spotlight away from the players, it will take time for him to implement his gameplan. He has talented players at his disposal, Gibbs, Murphy, Judd, Scotland would be the envy of most teams midfield, so it will be another interesting year in the circus that is Carlton.[/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=3][FONT=Arial]Adelaide – The Tippett saga didn’t help them, at all. But losing him wont be much of a loss from last year, as he was very patchy. Tex Walker was their main player, and if he keeps on form, add in Dangerfield, Sloane and Thompson, and you could have a team that might surprise a few others.[/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=3][FONT=Arial]Geelong – Suffered a demoralising defeat to Freo last year in the finals, and their golden era might be behind them. They acquired Josh Caddy from GCS, and Hamish Macintosh from the Roos, but they will again be depending on Bartell, Selwood, Corey and Hawkins to lead them to another finals spot. They have a few young players coming through, Menzel, Smidts, Vardy, etc, but if these don’t get up to pace quickly, their season could be over early.[/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=3][FONT=Arial]Fremantle – Loath to place them in the finals, but that was a magnificent win over Geelong last year, and it sets them up well for the season ahead. Ross Lyons has set up a really boring gameplan with them, alá Donegal 2011, so hopefully after setting up a good foundation they will start expanding a bit more like they did against Geelong in the finals. Danyle Pearce was the main addition, and with the ever excellent Pavlich, the little annoying cunt, but good player Ballintyne, a fit Nathan Fyfe, and if they can improve their record in Melbourne, they will be one to watch.[/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=3][FONT=Arial]Essendon – Hard to know how the PED scandal will affect them. They got big name Brendan Goddard from St Kilda, and with reigning Brownlow winner Watson, midfielder Zaharakis and draftee Joe Danniher, they will seek to improve on last year. James Hird got rid of a few regulars, so it will be a make or break year for him in a lot of ways.[/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=3][FONT=Arial]North Melbourne – a team with few supporters, and one that generally does nothing of much significance. They’ll again be on the fringes of finals, neither being at the bottom, nor really at the top. They made last years finals, but were absolutely destroyed by the Eagles. They got rid of a few players on the fringes, and recruited some depth type players. Majak Daw might finally get some game time this year. [/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=3][FONT=Arial]Brisbane Lions – A decent year of some progress last year, they didn’t change much of the squad from last year. Black and Brown are 2 veteran quality players, so a lot depends on them keeping their form. Daniel Rich and Jack Redden made progress last year, so they need more younger players to add to that. Hanley had a great year last year, finishing 3rd in the clubs player of the year awards.[/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=3][FONT=Arial]Richmond – Dustin Martin will be key. Keep him out of the bars and spotlight, and they will be in with a shout of finals. If he self destructs, he could be gone, and so will the Tigers. Riewoldt had a good year last year, and Trent Cotchin has been made captain at 22, a real young star of the game. A decent team, they just need to get things going right for them. [/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=3][FONT=Arial]St Kilda – On a downward spiral, with loss of form in big name players like Riewoldt, rumours of Lenny Hayes wanting to retire, Gram being let go for off field behaviour, and losing Goddard to Essendon, I cant see St Kilda doing much. They still have some good players, but they are a mess at the moment.[/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=3][FONT=Arial]Port Adelaide – Angus Monfries was a nice addition, but their off season mainly figured small time players. Travis Boak is the player needed to fire them back into the limelight, but it will be a while yet before they are back challenging at the top.[/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=3][FONT=Arial]Western Bulldogs – Lost Brian Lake, and still havent got a top rated forward to spearhead their attack. They’ll win the odd game, but low mid table obscurity looms again.[/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=3][FONT=Arial]Melbourne – I tipped them for finals last year. I should have known better. They have been heavily fined with regards to “tanking” over a few seasons aiming for the bottom to get high drafts. Its ongoing, but not good news for the club. Signed Chris Dawes, but he is very average. Play like a team with no heart or effort, and have done for a while.[/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=3][FONT=Arial]Gold Coast – Making a bit of progress, they played well in a few games, before losing touch towards the end. Have some excellent midfielders in Swallow and new recruit Jaeger O Meara (what an utterly ridiculous first name by the way). Gary Ablett is still key to them though, although it’s a shame seeing him wasted in a club at the bottom of the league.[/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=3][FONT=Arial]Greater Western Sydney – Lost some of the veteran players who joined for a last year payday, so that wont help, but they’ll be at the bottom again. Former NRL player Izzy Floau has given up too, but he was utter shite. Toby Greene is a good player, so they’ll do well to keep him there. O hAilpin is coming back from knee surgery, so might see some action after the start of the season. [/FONT][/SIZE]
