The Advertiser and Sunday Mail’s team of AFL experts revisit their early tips for the 2018 season
THE 2018 season started with such hope for SA’s AFL teams, reflected in the predictions of our football team. As we go into September without the Crows and Power, we revisit their pre-season calls and give them a chance to right their wrongs.
THE 2018 season started with such hope for the South Australian footy teams, which was reflected in the crystal ball gazing from The Advertiser/Sunday Mail football team.
As we go into September without the Crows and Power, we revisit their preseason predictions and give them a chance to right their wrongs, and throw in a few more curly questions.
WHAT 2018 PREDICTION WOULD YOU LIKE TO REVISIT?
Malcolm Blight: Greater Western Sydney to win the flag. Who was to know that the Giants were going to book a ward in every hospital from Sydney to Canberra to test the club’s health insurance policies? So Richmond will finish top while the Giants wonder what might have been with less injuries.
Graham Cornes: Richmond would not make the eight in 2018. A disastrous prediction based on the failings of the Bulldogs in 2017.
Mark Bickley: Adelaide to the win the premiership stands out. Hard to win the flag when you don’t qualify for the finals.
Warren Tredrea: I predicted both SA clubs would be entrenched in the top four for most of the year with improving list depth in off season.
Kane Cornes: That the Crows will make the top four again. I also questioned whether Port’s inexperienced backline could stand up?
Dwayne Russell: I’m happy to have egg on my face for picking Port to win the flag and the Crows to finish fourth. Champion Data rated Port’s list the second best in the AFL, and the Crows were coming off the sting of an embarrassing grand final loss. No-one would have predicted South Australia to have it’s most disappointing year in national competition history.
Reece Homfray: Adelaide to win the flag.
Michelangelo Rucci: Adelaide to dominate again. And West Coast to crash. Adelaide’s search for a winning edge went too far — and, hopefully, the Crows understand that nothing prepares a team better than good old-fashioned hard work.
Andrew Capel: Adelaide to win the premiership. With a disastrous pre-season camp and a horror injury run — much self-inflicted because of a bungled pre-season training program — the Crows never got going.
Richard Earle: I thought headline you wouldn’t see would be Port short of scoring options.
The acquisition of Steve Motlop, Jack Watts and midfield Tom Rockliff complementing Charlie Dixon, Hamish Marhsall, Robbie Gray and Chad Wingard looked explosive on paper. Instead Robbie Gray was leading scoring with 36 goals with Dixon restricted to 26 in a cautious, defensive strategy entering 50.
Jesper Fjeldstad: Adelaide to win the flag. Who would have known the hamstring curse would derail the season — if it had not already hit a bump during the pre-season camp and been scarred by last year’s grand final?
WHO HAD THE MORE DISAPPOINTING 2018, ADELAIDE OR PORT ADELAIDE?
Malcolm Blight: Even Stevens won the 1962 Melbourne Cup. And that is where the pendulum is with the Crows and Port Adelaide season — even stevens for disappointment. The Crows’ fall from grand final to out of the eight is greater than Port Adelaide’s fall, but everyone starts the season at 0-0.
Graham Cornes: Adelaide. The only acceptable outcome for the Crows in 2018 was to again play in and win the grand final.
Mark Bickley: Adelaide. Dropping from minor premiers to 12th is an enormous slide. Hamstrung by injuries as well as a significant drop off in scoring saw the Crows never get close to replicating their 2017 form. Port Adelaide made a late charge to win this category with their end of season slump.
Warren Tredrea: Adelaide has been more disappointing- Grand finalist to missing finals is a big fall from grace. Port can’t be ignored 11-4 to missing finals is poor
Kane Cornes: Port Adelaide.
Dwayne Russell: Port were far more disappointing than the Crows. It wasn’t just the fact they missed the finals despite securing three new recruits most once considered A-grade stars.
It was the way they played and lost.
Reece Homfray: Adelaide. It might seem like Port Adelaide right now but that’s only because Adelaide has had eight weeks to get used to the idea of missing finals. The nail in the coffin was the Hawthorn loss at the MCG.
Michelangelo Rucci: Adelaide. Grand final to also-ran while the tax man is arriving in July is a massive fail. Not playing finals with that squad is a football crime. Port Adelaide’s fall from seventh to ninth is a fail, but nowhere near as disappointing as throwing away a genuine opportunity to win the flag.
Andrew Capel: I can’t separate them because both have been terribly disappointing. The two clubs started the year with premiership aspirations — the Crows were coming off a grand final and the Power a massive recruiting spree — and didn’t even make the finals. Injuries hurt Adelaide’s chances while Port’s late season collapse after being 11-4 is hard to excuse.
Richard Earle: Port and the Crows finished in disappointing 11th and 12th places respectively for different reasons. Port threw the kitchen sink at its recruiting and the tone of Ken Hinkley’s final round, post match press conference showed a frustrated and shattered coach. Sure, Adelaide dreamt of another grand final appearance but Don Pyke’s final round press conference after hammering Carlton was filled with more optimism.
Jesper Fjeldstad: Port Adelaide. The Crows struggled from early on — the Power put itself in a great position only to inexplicably fall away.
IF RICHMOND DOESN’T WIN THE PREMIERSHIP, WHO DOES?
Malcolm Blight: West Coast could surprise. Coll … Collin … Colling … no, sorry, I can’t say it. Sydney? Five weeks ago it seemed impossible, but “Buddy” is back!
Graham Cornes: I still like Sydney but don’t write off Melbourne.
Mark Bickley: Melbourne. The Demons scored more than any other team this year and that is what it’s going to take to beat the tigers. Gawn to be the difference.
Warren Tredrea: Collingwood
Kane Cornes: Melbourne.
Dwayne Russell: If the Eagles can secure a home preliminary final, they will be the team to beat.
Reece Homfray: Melbourne.
Michelangelo Rucci: Collingwood. Remarkable that the Magpies — after all the injuries this season — could finish up with a home preliminary final and look to depose Richmond in the grand final. Grand final ticket scalpers would retire on their gains from this match-up.
Andrew Capel: I think the Tigers are good things but Collingwood is building nicely. Injuries have left them thin defensively but the Magpies, like the Tigers, play good team football and if they can have a good injury run in September they are a chance.
Richard Earle: If GWS can get skipper Phil Davis, Greene, Kelly Deledio, de Boer, Corr and Taylor fit for finals then it has chance to trouble Richmond with its pace, transition and slick ball movement.
Jesper Fjeldstad: West Coast’s best is impressive, but don’t discard Hawthorn. Alastair Clarkson seems to have an edge on the rest of the coaches.
WHO WINS THE CLUB CHAMPION AWARDS AT ADELAIDE, PORT ADELAIDE
Malcolm Blight: ADELAIDE — Rory Laird.
PORT ADELAIDE — Robbie Gray.
Graham Cornes: ADELAIDE: Rory Laird.
PORT: Three way tie between Westhoff, Polec and Jonas.
Mark Bickley: ADELAIDE: Rory Laird.
PORT: Jared Polec
Warren Tredrea: ADELAIDE — Rory Laird.
PORT ADELAIDE — Robbie Gray.
Kane Cornes: ADELAIDE: Rory Laird.
PORT: Justin Westhoff.
Dwayne Russell: ADELAIDE — Rory Laird.
PORT ADELAIDE — Robbie Gray.
Reece Homfray: ADELAIDE — Rory Laird.
PORT ADELAIDE — Tom Jonas.
Michelangelo Rucci: ADELAIDE — Rory Laird.
PORT ADELAIDE — Robbie Gray
Andrew Capel: ADELAIDE — Rory Laird.
PORT ADELAIDE — Justin Westhoff
Richard Earle: I predicted Bryce Gibbs would win Adelaide’s club champion award and that hasn’t changed with Rory Laird runner up. I predicted another John Cahill medal for Robbie Gray but can’t go past Justin Westhoff after an exceptional season, papering over cracks as Port Adelaide’s veteran Mr Fixit
Jesper Fjeldstad: ADELAIDE: Rory Laird
PORT ADELAIDE: Tom Jonas.
WHO MOST DESERVES A SLICE OF SEPTEMBER SUCCESS?
Malcolm Blight: Melbourne or Geelong. Melbourne because of Simon Goodwin’s influence that enhances SA football’s image. And Geelong for all the great memories that came flooding back while the Cats gave me life membership.
Graham Cornes: Melbourne
Mark Bickley: The Demons. 1964 was their last flag. on the back of the Bulldogs and the Tigers breaking long droughts, the Demons could be next.
Warren Tredrea: No one — you have to earn it. Finals start now
Kane Cornes: Nathan Jones.
Dwayne Russell: It won’t go down well in Adelaide, but I’d like Patrick Dangerfield to add a flag to his resume.
Reece Homfray: Richmond.
Michelangelo Rucci: Richmond. For being even better than last season, the Tigers are the ones who deserve to be rewarded with back-to-back flags.
Andrew Capel: Melbourne. Will play in its first finals series since 2006 and hasn’t won a flag since 1964. Is the fairytale team of this finals series.
Richard Earle: West Coast has come from the clouds to finish in the top two despite being written off. The Eagles have to travel every second week, have missed Josh Kennedy for periods and lost Nic Naitanui. Adam Simpson’s men expertly led by Shannon Hurn deserves success in September.
Jesper Fjeldstad: Melbourne. Its supporters have suffered long enough.
WHO WINS THE BROWNLOW MEDAL AND RISING STAR?
Malcolm Blight: BROWNLOW — Tom Mitchell (Hawthorn) by the length of the Flemington straight.
RISING STAR — Jaidyn Stephenson (Collingwood)
Graham Cornes: BROWNLOW: Tom Mitchell.
RISING STAR: Jaidyn Stephenson
Mark Bickley: BROWNLOW: Max Gawn.
RISING STAR: Jaidyn Stephenson
Warren Tredrea: BROWNLOW — Tom Mitchell (Hawthorn),
RISING STAR — Pass (Warren Tredrea is a selector)
Kane Cornes: BROWNLOW: Brodie Grundy.
RISING STAR: Jaidyn Stephenson
Dwayne Russell: BROWNLOW: Tom Mitchell.
RISING STAR: Jaidyn Stephenson
Reece Homfray: BROWNLOW — Max Gawn (Melbourne).
RISING STAR — Tom Doedee (Adelaide)
Michelangelo Rucci: BROWNLOW — Tom Mitchell (Hawthorn) with plenty of time to prepare for his speech as he dominated a leaderboard filled with asterisks.
RISING STAR — Jaidyn Stephenson (Collingwood).
Andrew Capel: Tom Mitchell (Hawthorn) has been a consistent ball magnet and deserves to be clear favourite to win the Brownlow.
Jaidyn Stephenson (Collingwood) has physically outlasted key rivals Tom Doedee (Adelaide) and Alex Witherden (Brisbane) and will be rewarded for his goalkicking prowess with the Rising Star award.
Richard Earle: Patrick Cripps was a one man contested possession and clearance machine but Carlton’s lack of wins means Hawthorn’s Tom Mitchell should clinch a deserved Brownlow Medal. Tom Doedee didn’t put a foot wrong in his debut season in Adelaide’s defence. Doedee’s composure was remarkable, his intercepts intelligent and disposal crisp for a backman.
Jesper Fjeldstad: BROWNLOW: Tom Mitchell
RISING STAR: Cam Rayner
WHERE WILL JARED POLEC AND MITCH McGOVERN PLAY NEXT YEAR?
Malcolm Blight: POLEC — he will play in a midfield … and he will play out wide somewhere. Oh, which club? Neither Port Adelaide nor North Melbourne.
McGOVERN — Adelaide. He does have a contract.
Graham Cornes: POLEC: North Melbourne
McGOVERN: Adelaide
Mark Bickley: POLEC: North Melbourne
McGOVERN: Hawthorn
Warren Tredrea: POLEC — Already committed to North Melbourne.
McGOVERN — West Coast — if Adelaide wants more early picks.
Kane Cornes: POLEC: North Melbourne
McGOVERN: Hawthorn
Dwayne Russell: POLEC — North Melbourne
McGOVERN — Adelaide
Reece Homfray: POLEC — North Melbourne.
McGOVERN — Carlton.
Michelangelo Rucci: POLEC — Port Adelaide when he realises home is best.
McGOVERN — Adelaide because there is no deal that wins for the Crows by trading him.
Andrew Capel: POLEC — will take up a five-year deal worth more than $3 million to join North Melbourne.
McGOVERN — wants out so the Crows should try to ship him to Carlton in a package that can net them the No. 1 draft pick and SA sensation Jack Lukosius.
Richard Earle: POLEC — will play at Port Adelaide next year unless he has overcome the homesickness that caused him to return from Brisbane.
McGOVERN — will be at Carlton next year if it can strike a fair trade for the gun utility.
Jesper Fjeldstad: POLEC — North Melbourne.
McGOVERN — Hawthorn.