2007 Ladder

As some of you may have noticed, I have a predicted end of season ladder for next year at the bottom of this page. Well wether you agree with it in any way completely disagree with it, let me state my reasons. I'll begin with the bottom 8:

16th - Essendon
My case for the Dons is more or less their team not being able to make a case for themselves. With Hird approaching retirement, a suspect Mathew Loyd, the skills loss with the departure of Dean Rioli and a growing side, I can't see the Bombers taking more than 8 points for the year. Count next season as Sheedy's last as a coach with a retirement announcement. Look out for a younger coach to take the helm of the side during its resurrection. (Guy McKenna, Mark Harvey)

15th - Brisbane
They've lost leadership with the retirement announcement of Voss, a champion player in Mal Michael and a large list of young, growing players much like the Bombers. Leigh Matthews really doesn't have too much to work with however this all depends on how the draft goes and how they can capitalise on a possible Ackermanis trade. Yet I still can't see this side getting more than 8 wins under its belt.

14th - Carlton
The team on the rise and the one to watch over the next 5 years. Expect them to pick up some great draft picks over the next month and develop their talent as far as possible. This team has the potential to become a powerhouse if upper management gets its act together. Denis Pagan is a great coach who has suffered by coming into a depleted side in recent years, he'll get them up and running again. Look out for Fevola to continually win the Coleman medal for a few more years and possibly kick over 100 goals in a season. The Blues will make the finals in 2008, the top 4 in 2009 and expect them to win a premiership sometime between 2010 to 2012.

13th - Hawthorn
Luke Hodge is the only shining light in a team that has lost its direction completely. Shane Crawford hasn't had an impact on the game since he won his Brownlow in 1998, picking up Spida Everrit didn't help the sides cause either. They'll be trading him soon so they could possibly gain something from that, however I can't see them getting over the line next year. Look out for Crawford's retirement sometime in the next couple of years.

12th - Port Adelaide
They won't stop stop stop till they're the top top top. Don't expect Port Adelaide to stop for a long time then.

11th - Geelong
I think disappointment is the only word to describe the Cats last few seasons. High expectations have allowed for this. However the one good thing for Geelong next year is that those same expectations won't be so high and they can go about concentrating on playing footy and rebuilding the club. They'll have a decent year in '07 and may even win half their amount of games, yet it won't be enough to keep up with the other sides.

10th - Richmond
Countless others have told me time and time again that they will make the finals in 2007. After considering this I've had to thing to myself, "why?" I see no seperating this side from the Cats or Port Adelaide and the only reason I've placed them higher is because they have a slightly better list than those two teams. However I will concede that they will hold their place in the top 8 for the first half of the season, then the usual disappointing final 11 games will kick in like it does every other year.

9th - Collingwood
I struggle to work out how they made the finals in '06. Then I remembered, it was because these guys weren't able to break in.....

8th - Kangaroos
Even though there aren't any more home games at Manuka, the Roos will definitely be a much improved side in '07. Expect some awesome draft picks from them this year as they try to replace holes in the side that have been evident for years already. The loss of Sav Rocca will hurt them a little yet other younger players will step up to the plate. Hamish McIntosh, Leigh Brown and Josh Gibson to be big names at the club and make a huge impact.

7th - Melbourne
Last season people would have said the Demons did well to make it into the second week of the finals. In my opinion they got lucky. Neil Daniher does have a great side, yet a side that still hasn't built on its potential and will find that its window of opportunity to have success is about to close. Expect Neitz to retire at seasons end.

6th - Adelaide
And yet another team that is finding time to win a premiership run out. Injuries plagued them last season, this year it will be retirements with the exit of Bigglands and Clark in '06. This hole can't realistically be filled in quickly and the Crows awesome form of 2005 and 2006 will be extremely hard for them to continue. Expect Ricciuto's retirement within 2 years.

5th - St Kilda
They'll improve by one spot next season, possibly with John Longmire at the helm. Look out for a season without major injuries to key players and a huge improvement in front of goal by Riewoldt, who'll place top 4 in the Coleman medal count. Frasier Gherig will have a shocker however, expect retirement rumours next year.

4th - Sydney
A great spot for Sydney to finish. Under the radar is where the Swans like to be as well as attaining underdog status for much of the seaons up until a strong run home in the final few weeks of home and away football. Look out for a Grand Final finish yet again in '07.

3rd - Fremantle
Whoever doesn't attribute the success of the Dockers to Mark Harvey has got a lot to learn about Aussie Rules Footy. He's the reason the side improved dramatically last season and once again he'll have those accolades in '07. The most improved sides in 2007 will be the Kangaroos and the Dockers. Expect Pavlich to finally have a consistent year and Josh Carr to poll highly in the Brownlow.

2nd - Western Bulldogs
And speaking of greatly improved sides. The Doggies were a good team in 2006, and in 2007 they'll be a great team. If Ackermanis is picked up and concentrates on footy they'll do well, if they pick up some height they do even better and if they reach a more cohesive game plan through the midfield, which they will, they'll finish second.

1st - West Coast
Any team that has Chris Judd would be a good side. However footy is a team sport and they would only be a good side, nothing more. Any team that has Chris Judd, Daniel Kerr and Ben Cousins is a better side. However a team cannot only rely on its midfield alone. Throw in the big man Dean Cox and you've got a better run in the middle of the ground. Chuck in flankers Andrew Embley, Ash Hansen and Adam Hunter and the recipe is alllllmost complete. Now you just need an All-Australian fullback and an awesome Full Forward who is continually improving such as Darren Glass and Quinten Lynch.

Expect a more consistent year from an even better Eagles squad, expect a premiership cup again as well as another blockbuster of a grand final match with the Swans.

Well that's it for that. If you have any comments on this post please don't hesitate to put one in.