The "Why Your Team Can Win It Thread"

[Rustay]

This year shapes up as one of the most even competitions in recent memory. Last year was very close but i always had the feeling that Brisbane had it, i dont know why but i just did. This year might be too much of an ask for the mighty Lions, although i wouldnt put it past them. So with the competition so toight (like a toiger) i want everyone to say why there team can win the comp. Sure some teams have little to no chance but give yourself some hope that a Penrith like turnaround can happen.

Right. I support West Coast and we have a good young squad. The midfield is where we can win it. Cousins, Fletcher, Judd, Kerr, Embley and Gardiner of course make one of the best midfields in the competition and showed in parts of last year that when on their game, they can be very hard to shut down. If they can have a big year, then we have a shot.

Up front and down back are the areas we have to improve. Down back is probably the more worrying part because we dont have a great defence. Phil Matera, MacDougall, Gaspar up front barring injuries could do the business if they stay injury free and live up to potential.

So, there ya go. That wasted some time . I wouldnt bet my house on us winning it, but they are the reasons why i think we can.

Your turn. Tell us what your team can do....

 

[choc_soldier]

The Swans.

OK, we've lost a few experienced players through retirement and the draft, but we have picked up a few promising youngsters in the draft, and Paul Roos has this thing for developing a young list into a hungry pack.

We still have a number of experienced players... Hall upfront is a dominant feature, and players like O'Loughlin and Goodes always do the job, and then some. And Maxfield will provide inspired leadership.

I was very surprised that the red and white reached as far as they did last year. But they can build on that this year. I think there will be a weight of expectation in Sydney this year with their team, and I think that the Swannies can deliver the goods.

The Lions may be on the slide a bit this year, enough to probably not snatch the four-play. Another tream will win the flag this year.

 

[woodgers]

I'm a Carlton fan and don't wish to contribute to this thread.

Thank you

 

[PB]

I'm a Carlton fan and don't wish to contribute to this thread.

Thank you

 

[Stormin Norman]

Carlton
we are shit. last yr only had 3 real midfielders this year we have 4 and sevral band aid saloutions. imo i think we should stay shit for 2/3 seasons draft guns and pick up the odd superstar like stevens if it comes up.
the ruck we went from having the best afl ruckman and a very good back up to now having a spud and a fat back up. out of 6 fwd's one of the best centre half fwd's in the game will now even play there and a full fwd who is showing a little.
backling well alot of good talent in 2 or 3 years there the only prob will be inexperience.
a couple of qualit utilitys in kouta and lappin other than that we have nothing. as long as win more games than last yr and keep going up the ladder.

my guess 10th-14th
GO THE MIGHTY BLUES

 

[aqua_duck]

West coast eagles, the continued development of younger guys like Judd, Kerr, Embley, Fletcher, and Jones, the leadership of Ben cousins, the best ruckman in the AFL in Michael Gardiner, the experience of Glen Jakovich, and arguably the best small forward in the AFL in Phil Matera.

 

[Rustay]

Eagles are 8)

 

[The Vern]

Essendon can win it because they have the Lloyd, Hird and Fletcher and then a good group of second tier players. Lloyd is the best forward in the game and will kick close to 100 goals again. Lloyd along with Cupido who is continuing to improve, hayne, hird, rioli and bolton form a very dangerous forward line. Theier midfeild is strong lead by hird. Some very good ball winners in Johnson x2 solomon and peverill. Hille is also improving and with the introduction of Allan hopefully hille can spend some more time up forward where he is very dangerous. Their defence is also very good with Fletcher Lucas and wellman taking the tall defenders and McVeigh and Welsh (one of the best small defender combinations in the league) taking the opposition same forwards. They also have some very impressive youngsters in Winderlich, Watson, Welsh, Walsh (the 4 W's) Laycock, Johns,Richards, Bullen, Reynolds and this years draftees.

 

[Rustay]

What do you think of the recruiting of Murphy? Will he do any good do ya reckon?

 

[The Vern]

What do you think of the recruiting of Murphy? Will he do any good do ya reckon?

Was a surprise. Think he will be good but not great. He was recruited because the dons needed a classy, goal kicking midfeilder/wingman and thats the kind of player he is. He has a great kick (one of the biggest at the club) and can definatley kick a bag of goals. He will have to work hard to get and keep a spot though becuase of some of the youngsters coming through

 

[aqua_duck]

I think Kepler Bradley will be a big hit for the bombers

 

[The Vern]

I think Kepler Bradley will be a big hit for the bombers

The only problem is where to play him. In his junior days he played on the wing but in the AFL any winger will be able to beat him for speed and exploit him defensively. But he did look quite comfortable in defence againist the swans so maybe thats where he will play. He also need to put on some weight, 196cm but only 90kg is a problem.

 

[t-ba]

I'll use the Carlton Defence, Replacing that name with Footscray...

 

[JTR]

I dunno about winning it, but if previous years are anything to go by, this should at least be an "up" year for the Demons

Look at their final ladder positions over the last few years

1997 - 16th
1998 - 4th
1999 - 14th
2000 - 3rd
2001 - 11th
2002 - 6th
2003 - 14th
2004 - ?

 

[meltiger]

What do you think of the recruiting of Murphy? Will he do any good do ya reckon?

Was a surprise. Think he will be good but not great. He was recruited because the dons needed a classy, goal kicking midfeilder/wingman and thats the kind of player he is. He has a great kick (one of the biggest at the club) and can definatley kick a bag of goals. He will have to work hard to get and keep a spot though becuase of some of the youngsters coming through

Murph's problem has always been his tendancy towards brain explosions though. Has always been a great talent but look back at the Wizard Cup Semi against Saints and some of the silly frees he gave away that were conmpletely avoidable.

If he hasn't learnt by now, he will never fulfill his potential on a consistent basis.

 

[meltiger]

Richmond - Why they can potentially win it

The forward line. With Staff and Richo standing up there, and Krak, Rodan and Brown rotating between the midfield/small forwards they have a forward line that is pretty much unstoppable when most are on song & has the potential to inflict a spanking on almost every side in the comp. Tivendale and Bowden (If he steps up this year, although practice match form has been iffy at best) feeding the forward line with long raking kicks assuming they hit their targets makes things very easy for the tall forwards. Otto has been mostly sensational so far since the Wizard Cup and you can expect him to be the #1 ruckman this year and a Brownlow chance. If Coughlan continues his form from last year and Kane Johnson steps up a notch - With the added support of Browny/Krak/Rodan they should be able to send alot of football into the forward line.

Richmond - Why they won't win it

They are Richmond

Richo's 7 from 14 against Brisbane two weeks ago is the perfect example. 7 goals, 4 behinds, 2 out on the full and one across the face of goal in a side that lost by less than 3 goals.

Whilst on paper, the Richmond side is stronger than most in the football community believe, when you have players like Joel Bowden in the club who are just truely lazy - the problems that the "name" players in the club have to commiting on a week to week basis seem to filter down through the rest of the list like a disease. When on song my Tigers are unstoppable, once they get four goals down though, they drop their heads almost every time.

& that's why my Tigers will be lucky to just make the 8

 

[Lucas]

Kangaroos.

Because we are underrated by many, especially the incompetent media outlets. We also have just as good a youngsters as anyone, Wells, Harris, Motlop, Hale, Grima, Watson, Sansbury and the list goes on and on. Also our group of senior players is second to none, Simpson, Harvey, Grant, Stevo, Colbert, Archer, McKernan, Petrie, Rawlings, King and Sinclair. Sensational!

Underrated backline with Watt, Baird, Makepeace, Colbert and Sansbury doing brilliantly back there.

Forward line is a question mark, but we have shown that kicking goals won't be too much of a worry.

Premiership in the bag 8)

 

[Joshua]

After 6 rounds...........I'll stick with the SWANS

We're 3-3 so far but we've lost all our games to teams who will be up there this year(including Melbourne) and we've lost them all by a combined total of 24 points. If they play like they played against the Roos, they could beat anyone.

Barry Hall is in brilliant form and is a good chance for CHF for the All-australian team, ahead of Tredrea, and should kick a couple this week against the Tigers

 

[AuckMel]

Collingwood

Put simply, they can't win it.

Who do I think will win now? I'm still sticking with the Lions to beat Port in the GF.

 

[Rustay]

Lions will win it again. St Kilda will eventually drop a game and it will probably be this week (i hate to say it) against Freo. I like the saints tho so i hope they continue to play well.

My Eagles on the other hand need to get rid of some useless players like Carroll etc. Gaspar was disappointing, but it was his first game back to i will give him a break. Im not looking forward to this weeks game.