Here is the 2018 season preview... Last year 1st - Mt Thirsty Boozers, 13-2 regular season record @leematty1 The reigning premiers are riding a 12 game winning streak, and based on the amount of trades they have been involved in over the preseason, it appears they will be disappointed with anything short of a grand final appearance in 2018. The highest scoring team of 2017 has added Heath Shaw, Steven Motlop, Luke McDonald and Marc Murphy to their premiership team in search of a back to back title. With 4 of the so called 9 "millionaire" players, we have no idea how they remain under the salary cap. Prediction: Top 4 material 2nd - Drouin Dropbears, 10-5 @stowie Back to back GF losses for one of the highest scoring teams in the ORFFF. Will be keen to go one better in 2018 and with three picks inside the first 20 in the preseason draft and moving on Docherty, their coach is going all out to achieve that ultimate success this year. Will Danger take them there? Prediction: Top 4 material 3rd - Walpole Woylies, 10-4-1 @port_leschenault If anyone has traded successfully it has to be the Woylies, finishing third, yet entering the draft with picks 3, 4 and 14 and they would be expecting instant dividends from Paddy Dow this year and look forward to Jack Higgins in the second half of the season. They appear to have a list set up for future success, however the ruck may be their downfall in 2018. Prediction: Top 4 material 4th - Jan Juc Ducks, 10-5 @thokash Much like the Boozers, the Ducks have traded away early picks and remarkably didnt enter the draft until pick 57. With new additions, Lewis, Zaharakis and Wallis, the Ducks have extra reinforcements for 2018. An extremely risky midfield led by Ablett and Hanners, no doubt this team will pump out some high weekly scores, the questions remains, can they do this consistently throughout the season. Prediction: 3-6th 5th - Neptune Island Noahs, 10-5 @That KI Guy Relatively quiet in the preseason, the Noahs will again rely on one of the strongest ruck and midfields among the league, led by Max Gawn. Weaknesses appear to be in the defence and forward lines, but should still be competing for a top 8 position. Prediction: 5-8th 6th - Macquarie Island Whales, 9-6 @Darran The Whales have added Jamie Elliott, Taylor Walker and even Brodie Smith will be waiting in the wings when he returns from injury. A lot will rest on the return of NicNat, but with the swans ruck woes, Cameron may be a perfect saviour in the short term. Prediction: 7-10th 7th - Rutherglen Fugitives, 9-6 @tyze1 Probably under achieved last year even though being one of the highest scoring teams in the league with 7th not doing the Fugitives justice. A very well rounded team with plenty of forwards jostling for a starting spot. Can Stefan Martin back up last year and lead the fugitives back to the top end of the ladder. Prediction: Top 4 material 8th - Useless Loop Virgins, 8-6-1 @YAD69 Being able to select Coffield and Naughton early in the draft, gives the Virgins a couple of ready role replacements in 2018. The loss of Naismith leaves a lot on the shoulders of Sandilands and even Stanley to pinch hit when required. With a strong forward line, their midfield might be a level below whats required. Prediction: 9-13th 9th - Maralinga Atoms, 8-7 @Brett Sanders A lot will rely on Dusty and Gibbs in 2018 as well as a return to form for big Goldy, so any injuries to one of those will derail the Atoms chance this season. Prediction: 9-13th 10th - Heard Island Shags, 7-8 @anthak My pick to be the team most likely from the bottom half to be in the finals in 2018. With a team that boasts the likes of Fyfe, Kreuzer, Matt Crouch, Daniher, Jake Lloyd, and co, the shags should easily win more than they lose in 2018. Prediction: 3-6th 11th - Cockburn Avengers, 6-9 @Len Wont be in contention this year as they rebuild their list, but with quite a few good kids coming through, expect them to challenge in the coming years. Added Zac Smith for some ruck cover in 2018. Prediction: Bottom 4 12th - Wedge Island White Pointers, 6-9 @Bearfly The rucks might be the issues for the White Pointers, with Vardy out for the start of the season. With the likes of Laird, Menegola, Hogan, Wines and Adams, we should expect a push for the final 8 this year. Prediction: 8-12 13th - Black Swamp 29ers, 4-11 @TheTassieHawk Probably a year too early for the 29ers, but expect them to take some scalps in 2018. Also a chance of some great scores with the likes of Selwood, Beams, Bont and Viney in the guts. Prediction: 8-12 14th - Port Lincoln Power, 4-11 @MrsBear Might be a tough year this year as they also rebuild their list. Have some good kids like LDU so might be able to trade themselves into contention with some decent 2018 PSD draft picks. Prediction: Bottom 4 15th - Nangkita Bucks, 4-11 @Dale Duivesteyn 2019 might be the year of the bucks, when Docherty returns and another year under the belt from O'Meara. Also added Treloar to strengthen the load in the interim. Prediction: 10-14 16th - Mole Creek Glow Worms, 1-14 @ViQBoZ Another team setting up for the future, with some up and coming future stars in the likes of Heeney, Petracca and Cripps. Will be a force for a long time in the coming years. Prediction: Bottom 4
Nice work @leematty1 On the money here. Yeah the Noahs are putting a boot in both camps and probably frigging it all up in the process. Pretty ho hum trade/draft period with 2 wingers and a defender traded out and replaced with 2 wingers and a fwd. Targeted a swag of speculative free agents to keep some youngish blood coming through with the hope that maybe one or two can cement a spot. If anyone happens to see Ahern and Dawson kicking around, kindly inform them that training started weeks ago!
If you find young Jordan before I do, can you let me know as he hasn't turned up to Banchang's pre-season training either....
Went to plug in my team for Round 1 and realised just how many players I have in doubt. Tom McDonald Pearce Hanley Lachie Henderson Bachar Houli Travis Boak Mitch Wallis Daniel Rioli Gary Ablett Daniel Hannebery David Zaharakis Jordan Lewis Might be a slow start for the "old" Ducks. Not sure why I used quotation marks, we are actually just very old.
Thanks for the writeup. I’m chuffed you’re picking me for top 6, but I don’t think my list is there yet, still very young.