David EdwardsAFL Season to Begin, And Not a Moment Too Soon
March 29th 2007 12:59
A coach of a high profile side once joked that he wished his side played twelve months out of the year so it would not give his players a chance to cause trouble. Well after the last five months do not be surprised if the AFL will consider this next season…
It is not a surprise that nearly everyone involved in the Australian Football League is very excited that the 2007 season is only twenty four hours away, when the Melbourne Demons take on the St. Kilda Saints at the MCG, because above all, it means that they can finally put one of their worst off-seasons behind them and finally focus on the game itself.
Whilst it is no secret that during the summer months the public managers for the clubs and the league work overtime to overcome all the public scandals that break, the AFL had no where to hide as it seems that they could not get their house into order, and had to brave the storm until now.
Players sent home from the International Series in disgrace, relations with Ireland breaking down over brawls, players found drunk in public, players involved in fights and assaults, players found out with substance abuse problems, and all on top of the league losing one of their much loved chairmen Ron Evans, who passed away from cancer in March, the AFL were in a world of hurt and seemed to looking for the vultures to pick them off.
However, with that said, the footy is starting, and with it all the problems that arrived over the summer will be gone as soon as the football is bounced on Friday night. So with that said, let’s dismiss their checkered past for one second as we take a look at the
AFL 2007 Crystal Bowl
Frontrunners - First lets look at the teams that are going to emerge at the top of the ladder for the majority of the season. Two of the big sides who have been there for a number of season, Sydney & Adelaide, will again be there, and they will probably coast this season into the finals once again. But the other side to keep a close eye on is last year’s dark horse, Fremantle, who will be looking for blood as they attempt to get that elusive first flag. And as for the premiers, West Coast? It is too hard to predict, simple as that. But my instinct is that they will not be as hard as they have been last year and the year before.
Also Rans – The sides who will not be able to make any headway this year are two sides that have been disappointing in 2006. Brisbane and the Kangaroos will be the two sides that will be fighting not to get the wooden spoon. As they both have lost a key forward (Kangaroos with Nathan Thompson, Brisbane with Daniel Bradshaw), and with an already limited squad list, they simply will not be able to make any move upwards in 2007.
Biggest Change – Interestingly I cannot split the last two sides in 2006 in who will make the biggest change in 2007. Carlton & Essendon have sufficiently bolstered their squads (the Bombers with players such as Mal Michael, the Blues with a number of youngsters), and I think that both of these will make the biggest shift upwards from their disappointing places last year.
Dark Horse – The one side that will be unpredictable is the Western Bulldogs. Last year they had a horror run with injuries, yet were still able to make a push to the finals until the last possible second. Now with a stronger list (including Brisbane star Jason Akermanis), and with a bit of luck injury side, do not be surprised if they make a stronger push up the eight, all the way to September.
Finals Contenders – Sydney, Adelaide, Fremantle, Western Bulldogs, Collingwood, West Coast, Melbourne, St. Kilda.
Grand Finallists – Sydney v Fremantle
Brownlow Medallist – Between Sydney’s Adam Goodes & Fremantle’s Matthew Pavlich
Norm Smith – Expect Essendon’s Matthew Lloyd to put behind his injury stricken season last year and lead the way throughout 2007.
Game to Watch – Whilst the 1st Round match between Sydney and West Coast will be a great gauge to see how the Eagles will perform, expect the best when Brisbane face up against their former teammate Akermanis with the Bulldogs in Round 11. That’s when the sparks will truly fly.
What to Expect – To put it simply, expect the unexpected. The drugs issue will run rampant all season, and it seems that the sides are finally becoming too close to call. Maybe Richmond will be in the top eight, maybe West Coast will bomb out. Maybe on the back on Lloyd Essendon will be able to climb into the eight, or maybe Hawthorn will be able to bounce back after all these years with their squad of talented youngsters. Whatever you think, it is obvious that this will be a fantastic season.
Until next time, sports minds.
It is not a surprise that nearly everyone involved in the Australian Football League is very excited that the 2007 season is only twenty four hours away, when the Melbourne Demons take on the St. Kilda Saints at the MCG, because above all, it means that they can finally put one of their worst off-seasons behind them and finally focus on the game itself.
Whilst it is no secret that during the summer months the public managers for the clubs and the league work overtime to overcome all the public scandals that break, the AFL had no where to hide as it seems that they could not get their house into order, and had to brave the storm until now.
Players sent home from the International Series in disgrace, relations with Ireland breaking down over brawls, players found drunk in public, players involved in fights and assaults, players found out with substance abuse problems, and all on top of the league losing one of their much loved chairmen Ron Evans, who passed away from cancer in March, the AFL were in a world of hurt and seemed to looking for the vultures to pick them off.
However, with that said, the footy is starting, and with it all the problems that arrived over the summer will be gone as soon as the football is bounced on Friday night. So with that said, let’s dismiss their checkered past for one second as we take a look at the
AFL 2007 Crystal Bowl
Frontrunners - First lets look at the teams that are going to emerge at the top of the ladder for the majority of the season. Two of the big sides who have been there for a number of season, Sydney & Adelaide, will again be there, and they will probably coast this season into the finals once again. But the other side to keep a close eye on is last year’s dark horse, Fremantle, who will be looking for blood as they attempt to get that elusive first flag. And as for the premiers, West Coast? It is too hard to predict, simple as that. But my instinct is that they will not be as hard as they have been last year and the year before.
Also Rans – The sides who will not be able to make any headway this year are two sides that have been disappointing in 2006. Brisbane and the Kangaroos will be the two sides that will be fighting not to get the wooden spoon. As they both have lost a key forward (Kangaroos with Nathan Thompson, Brisbane with Daniel Bradshaw), and with an already limited squad list, they simply will not be able to make any move upwards in 2007.
Biggest Change – Interestingly I cannot split the last two sides in 2006 in who will make the biggest change in 2007. Carlton & Essendon have sufficiently bolstered their squads (the Bombers with players such as Mal Michael, the Blues with a number of youngsters), and I think that both of these will make the biggest shift upwards from their disappointing places last year.
Dark Horse – The one side that will be unpredictable is the Western Bulldogs. Last year they had a horror run with injuries, yet were still able to make a push to the finals until the last possible second. Now with a stronger list (including Brisbane star Jason Akermanis), and with a bit of luck injury side, do not be surprised if they make a stronger push up the eight, all the way to September.
Finals Contenders – Sydney, Adelaide, Fremantle, Western Bulldogs, Collingwood, West Coast, Melbourne, St. Kilda.
Grand Finallists – Sydney v Fremantle
Brownlow Medallist – Between Sydney’s Adam Goodes & Fremantle’s Matthew Pavlich
Norm Smith – Expect Essendon’s Matthew Lloyd to put behind his injury stricken season last year and lead the way throughout 2007.
Game to Watch – Whilst the 1st Round match between Sydney and West Coast will be a great gauge to see how the Eagles will perform, expect the best when Brisbane face up against their former teammate Akermanis with the Bulldogs in Round 11. That’s when the sparks will truly fly.
What to Expect – To put it simply, expect the unexpected. The drugs issue will run rampant all season, and it seems that the sides are finally becoming too close to call. Maybe Richmond will be in the top eight, maybe West Coast will bomb out. Maybe on the back on Lloyd Essendon will be able to climb into the eight, or maybe Hawthorn will be able to bounce back after all these years with their squad of talented youngsters. Whatever you think, it is obvious that this will be a fantastic season.
Until next time, sports minds.
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