It is that time of the year, the cricket is nearing the end of its season in Australia and the Footy is back in town. 
The Wizard Cup begins in less then a week when many of us see our football teams for the first time in 2005.
My pre-season prediction for the ladder in 2005 is here
Port Adelaide
St Kilda
Collingwood
Brisbane
Essendon
Kangaroos
West Coast
Carlton
--------------------
Sydney
Fremantle
Richmond
Geelong
Melbourne
Hawthorn
Western Bulldogs
Adelaide
My reasoning behind this.
Port have the strongest squad, the most depth and are the Premiers and I see them going back to back.
St Kilda have a solid group of players, a top midfield, very good back line and a forward line that can outscore most teams
Collingwood will be back, I hate the black and white but after a poor 2004, I think this may be a season of redemption
Brisbane are a strong side, and even from 4th I see them making their 5th Grand Final in a row for a rematch of the 2004 Grand Final against Port. There midfield and back line will see them turn into a more defensive minded team I feel with the loss of Lynch.
Essendon are a very underrated team. Watch out for Laycock and Watson in 2005. If they with Dyson and some of the other young players can step up and Hird, Lloyd, McPhee and Fletcher stay fit, anything can happen. They were 11points away from the Prelim Final in 2004 and I see much room for improvement.
Kangaroos will finally make the 8 in 2005. I think if Laidley plays Rocca they may be a threat, they have a decent midfield and a list with heaps of potential.
West Coast is the most over rated side in the AFL but will still make the 8. All they have is a good midfield and a massive home advantage.
Carlton will make the 8, they have a great group of young players and Pagan knows how to harness there potential.
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Sydney are a team who I struggle too see doing anything this year. They are decent at best but will struggle to beat the likes of the Kangaroos and West Coast.
Fremantle will struggle outside of Perth and this will prove their downfall.
Richmond will make a big improvement this year, they have made some great picks from the draft and Wallace is a great coach wanting to prove himself as a Premiership one.
Geelong will not make the 8 after a fantastic 2004. They like Melbourne struggle to back up performances of previous years.
Hawthorn will improve but they lack a decent forward line and Clarkson may struggle to find the right formula.
The Bulldogs season could go two ways, up or down. I think that if Eade can find something in this side they might go higher, but I have them at 2nd last because I think the other teams will go better ... slightly.
Adelaide is pathetic. Nuff Said
The Wizard Cup begins in less then a week when many of us see our football teams for the first time in 2005.
My pre-season prediction for the ladder in 2005 is here
Port Adelaide
St Kilda
Collingwood
Brisbane
Essendon
Kangaroos
West Coast
Carlton
--------------------
Sydney
Fremantle
Richmond
Geelong
Melbourne
Hawthorn
Western Bulldogs
Adelaide
My reasoning behind this.
Port have the strongest squad, the most depth and are the Premiers and I see them going back to back.
St Kilda have a solid group of players, a top midfield, very good back line and a forward line that can outscore most teams
Collingwood will be back, I hate the black and white but after a poor 2004, I think this may be a season of redemption
Brisbane are a strong side, and even from 4th I see them making their 5th Grand Final in a row for a rematch of the 2004 Grand Final against Port. There midfield and back line will see them turn into a more defensive minded team I feel with the loss of Lynch.
Essendon are a very underrated team. Watch out for Laycock and Watson in 2005. If they with Dyson and some of the other young players can step up and Hird, Lloyd, McPhee and Fletcher stay fit, anything can happen. They were 11points away from the Prelim Final in 2004 and I see much room for improvement.
Kangaroos will finally make the 8 in 2005. I think if Laidley plays Rocca they may be a threat, they have a decent midfield and a list with heaps of potential.
West Coast is the most over rated side in the AFL but will still make the 8. All they have is a good midfield and a massive home advantage.
Carlton will make the 8, they have a great group of young players and Pagan knows how to harness there potential.
---------------------------------------
Sydney are a team who I struggle too see doing anything this year. They are decent at best but will struggle to beat the likes of the Kangaroos and West Coast.
Fremantle will struggle outside of Perth and this will prove their downfall.
Richmond will make a big improvement this year, they have made some great picks from the draft and Wallace is a great coach wanting to prove himself as a Premiership one.
Geelong will not make the 8 after a fantastic 2004. They like Melbourne struggle to back up performances of previous years.
Hawthorn will improve but they lack a decent forward line and Clarkson may struggle to find the right formula.
The Bulldogs season could go two ways, up or down. I think that if Eade can find something in this side they might go higher, but I have them at 2nd last because I think the other teams will go better ... slightly.
Adelaide is pathetic. Nuff Said
