Herald Sun chief football writer Mark Robinson’s likes and dislikes for every club ahead of 2019
Carlton has always said it expected the third and fourth years of its rebuild to be the toughest but is that just giving coach Brendon Bolton and his players an easy out? Mark Robinson on what he likes and dislikes at every club as we head into the 2019 season.
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As we count down to the first bounce on season 2019, Herald Sun chief football writer Mark Robinson puts every club under the microscope.
See his concerns and likes about your club.
CRYSTAL BALL: EVERY REPORTER GIVES THEIR TOP 8
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ADELAIDE
WHAT I LIKE
Plenty. The co-captain strategy received wide support and it is a significant change in light of the disappointment of 2018. Keep Tex Walker, add Rory Sloane and there’s a newness about the leadership, a kind of necessary step forward while maintaining and respecting the essence of the incumbent. On paper, the Crows appear strong in the three areas of the ground and the strategy under Don Pyke is strong.
Reckon the likes of Wayne Milera, Hugh Greenwood (a serious footballer), Tom Doedee and Jordan Gallucci will continue to improve, Brodie Smith (two games) will be fitter, and so will Sloane. The Crows won three of four coming home last year, which is a plus, but only time will tell if this group has restored its trust across the board. Reckon they will have.
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WHAT I DON’T LIKE
It can’t get any worse than what happened in 2018.
The camp, the injuries, the doubts, the injuries, the denials, the injuries and, ultimately, the defeats consigned the Crows to 12th, winning 12 games and losing 10. The club had its soul scrutinised, as well as the players questioned, which probably did their heads in. Collectively, they will be competitive, but questions remain.
Can Eddie Betts respond after a so-so season by his standards? Can Walker stay on the park (26 goals from 14 games)? Is Sam Jacobs almost cooked? The Crows brought in mostly kids, so there’s confidence the existing group can bounce back.
VERDICT
Top six
BRISBANE LIONS
WHAT I LIKE
It would appear it’s all going to plan, albeit slowly. In the 2016 season, the Lions gave away an average of 131 points and kicked an average of 80 points. In Chris Fagan’s first two years, it was 115-85 and last year 93-83.
That’s an eight-goal improvement in defence. The scoring, however, is stagnating. That’s the next area of improvement. If they find goalkickers and keep it longer in their half, the Lions should win more games.
Last year, they found a defender in Darcy Gardiner. He, Harris Andrews and Luke Hodge will form the defence. Jarrod Berry, Hugh McCluggage and Alex Witherden were top 10 B&F finishers in 2018 and will get better. Of them, Berry looks real smart. They lost Dayne Beams in the most curious fashion and gained Lachie Neale. They will miss Beams’ goals, but Charlie Cameron is back from injury, so there’s a huge plus. And clearly Cam Rayner will be better again.
WHAT I DON’T LIKE
It’s not so much a dislike, but it’s reality: How long do we keep saying the Lions are building before they start beating teams.
Have won five, five, three and four games in the past four seasons, two of those seasons under Fagan. The time has come for all of us to stop the pandering and the delivering of feel-good words of encouragement and for the team to start winning games and be a finals contender.
Am sure the heavy hitters at the club are demanding the same. Of all the players who need to step up, it’s Eric Hipwood. Kicked 37 goals in 2018, and needs to push that to 50-plus this year. It’s not all on him, of course, but this young man needs more volume to add to the highlight reel.
VERDICT
Would like to see eight, nine wins
CARLTON
WHAT I LIKE
Let’s be frank, there hasn’t been a lot in recent years, and when news broke Sam Docherty had ripped his knee again, it was devastating for him and for all Blue Baggers. He will be badly missed. So, what do we like? Patrick Cripps, Charlie Curnow, Paddy Dow, can’t wait to see Sam Walsh, Zac Fisher, Kade Simpson and sometimes Jacob Weitering, sometimes Sam Petrevski-Seton, sometimes Lachie Plowman and sometimes Caleb Marchbank.
There are too many “sometimes’’ players in a game plan that, at this stage, requires strong, sustained effort. Of course, skill is another component. But football is about hope and let’s hope 2018 was the absolute wasteland and it’s small steps forward in 2019.
WHAT I DON’T LIKE
One of the most intriguing issues in football is directed at Brendon Bolton: How much time does he get?
We know the Blues scuppered their list and, in Bolton’s three years, they have won seven, six and a nightmarish two games last year. It has to improve, surely, though the Blues said last year they expected his third and fourth years to be the most challenging. Is that an easy out?
Or does Bolton need four years to build before he is judged? If the Blues aren’t more competitive, and kick more goals (they averaged 62 points in 2018), there will be a flashpoint at some point this season. Will the Blues hold their nerve and continue to back the coach in?
VERDICT
Bottom three
COLLINGWOOD
WHAT I LIKE
Add Dayne Beams to a strong midfield and it only gets better. Add experience to Mason Cox and he could be one of the most influential forwards in the game. You can’t forget his preliminary final game too quickly.
They have talent, the Pies. Found Jordan De Goey, Brody Mihocek, Cox and Jaidyn Stephenson in the forward half, Brayden Sier and Tom Phillips in the midfield, and Matthew Scharenberg and Levi Greenwood in the back half. The Pies intercept in defence, they win plenty of ball through the middle and De Goey and Cox are super dangerous.
That’s the personnel. Arguably, their key is their mindset. Developed formidable spirit and respect — throughout the club — and all overseen by Nathan Buckley. In the end they failed by a kick in 2018, and if the mindset is near the same, they will be there when the whips are cracking.
WHAT I DON’T LIKE
Negatives are few, but the query will be if they can maintain the rage of 2018. Personnel is not the issue; the game plan looks solid with interceptors at the back; fast, long ball movement; and a penchant to defend when the ball is inside 50m. So, can they rage again? You have to say yes.
Would hate to see Brodie Grundy go down, which would mean Cox rucking and not terrorising defenders as much, which would reshape the forward group. Fitting in Jamie Elliott and Darcy Moore is a nice problem and there will be some disappointed players at selection. All in all, am just nit-picking at a team that will be a strong contender.
VERDICT
Top two
ESSENDON
WHAT I LIKE
Joe Daniher (seven games in 2018), Dylan Shiel (recruit) and Aaron Francis (five games) are starting 18 players, so they are a big plus.
The possible emergence of Kobe Mutch, Jordan Ridley, Mason Redman, Jayden Laverde and Matt Guelfi adds depth, Conor McKenna, Andrew McGrath, Kyle Langford and Darcy Parish will be better again, and they have other good and great players throughout the midfield, defence and the forward 50m. They look superb on paper, but football is about attitude as much as it is talent, and attitude is not simply being hard at the ball.
More trust, more care, more selfless football are the buzzwords at the Bombers in the pre-season. Ben Rutten has arrived from Richmond and he should have handy ideas about greater team defence. They kicked 100-plus points in four of their final five matches (only twice in the other 17), so maybe it was falling into place as the season ended.
WHAT I DON’T LIKE
For all the razzamatazz, the Bombers finished 11th, yet they would argue seven of their 10 defeats were by fewer than 24 points, and the last two by four points (Hawthorn) and eight points (Richmond) cost them a finals spot. So they are close. But have they the absolute grunt to go deep in September?
They run, they move the ball, they share, but too many times last year they failed to close down the opposition’s best midfielder. A tagger might help occasionally. A career season from Tom Bellchambers is also crucial. After losing four of the first six last year, they responded to John Worsfold’s demands, namely that the players had to set the standard and not the coach. Not a lot of excuses in 2019.
VERDICT
Missing finals would be a vast disappointment
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JLT1 SUPERCOACH SCORES
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FREMANTLE
WHAT I LIKE
My kingdom for a key forward ... and coach Ross Lyon’s desperate search is finally over. In fact, the Dockers nabbed two: Jesse Hogan and Rory Lobb. The two inclusions surely have to add scores to a team that averaged 72, 73 and 71 points in the past three years. They are diabolical numbers and one of the reasons the Dockers have been stuck in the mud. They have been rebuilding, mind you.
Travis Colyer and Reece Conca will add to their depth, Connor Blakely, Andrew Brayshaw, Ed Langdon, Taylin Duman, Luke Ryan and Adam Cerra surely improve and there are stars around them, led by Nat Fyfe. Have been asking about Lyon and the Dockers for a couple of years and 2019 shapes as perhaps his most confronting. They need consistency and results.
WHAT I DON’T LIKE
They tease, the Dockers. In 2018, they were 6-7 win-loss at Round 13 and 2‑7 after that. The year before, they were 6-3 at Round 9 and came home 2-11.
Their best is more than competitive, but clearly they can’t sustain it. Injuries to key players and blooding youth can play havoc with results, we accept that, but when the Dockers falter they tend to get smashed. It has to change. Lyon has to change it.
Am more bullish about the Dockers this year because of their four recruits and natural progression with their youth. Clearly, they would want to improve because once again the football world is looking at Lyon and wanting results.
VERDICT
Push for finals spot
GEELONG
WHAT I LIKE
Gotta like reviews, because recent history — reviews at Richmond and Collingwood — has resulted in spectacular seasons. The Cats, according to chief executive Brian Cook, needed “deep analysis’’ around “the coaches and our strategy’’ at the end of last season.
Don’t know if coach Chris Scott was enamoured with Cook’s comments, but if change was needed and change was made, and results follow, then everyone stays friends. List management was fierce, which was part of the analysis, and in some ways they offloaded some mediocre performers.
Luke Dahlhaus will help, if he is ready to work hard, and they will play Gary Rohan, so we will see changes forward, especially if Gary Ablett is deployed there. But we always talk about the Cats’ players and how great and very good they are — Patrick Dangerfield, Joel Selwood, Tom Hawkins, Mitch Duncan, Tim Kelly, Mark Blicavs, Tom Stewart, Zach Tuohy, Ablett and Sam Menegola — yet they can’t win finals.
WHAT I DON’T LIKE
They are a solid team, although defensive coach Matty Scarlett said pre-Christmas the team was mediocre. He does see rejuvenation, though. Sounds like some serious self-assessment at the club and, clearly, it will be up to the coach, and then players, to drive whatever trademarks/strategy/environment the review has provided. Something has to change.
On the field, I’m not sure if Gazza forward will result in the rich pickings some expect. Last year he largely became a receiver — albeit a quite brilliant one — but hunting, small forwards need to hunt defensively. The stars aside, there’s a freshness about the Cats and, by God, there needed to be.
VERDICT
In the mix for the eight
GOLD COAST
WHAT I LIKE
Colleague David King always says a team needs to know where it is at — and the Suns certainly do.
They have drafted high-end talent into a program with salary cap issues and successfully brought in players on cheapish coin to help said kids. Corey Ellis, Anthony Miles, George Horlin-Smith and Jack Hombsch will help Alex Sexton, last year’s most improved player, fill the void on and off the field. Gee whiz, the draftees — Jack Lukosius, Izak Rankine, Ben King and Jez McLennan — come with heavy reps, so let’s hope it’s the start of an era of success and player retention.
This is a club on its knees with a coach trying to teach its players how to walk. For sure, they will stumble several times.
WHAT I DON’T LIKE
If you bet on footy, dump a truckload on the Suns for the wooden spoon. That’s not kicking a team while it’s down, but being competitive enough for long enough in games is the eternal problem for teams loaded with youth.
The on-field battle this year is only half the battle. The Suns know they will struggle to win games and they know the commentariat will come after them with every musket, bayonet and cannon when they do.
The PR battle will be equally as tough. With Steven May and Tom Lynch gone — and who could blame them after devoting their careers to the AFL-run club — the Suns are close to ground zero. The results will indicate as much.
VERDICT
Wooden spoon
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY
WHAT I LIKE
Gee, the Giants are a resilient mob. Beset by injury last year and suspension, they won nine from 10 after losing four on the trot and eventually were beaten by grand finalist Collingwood on semi-final weekend.
They were accused of lacking steel, but that’s far from the reality. The salary squeeze meant they lost Dylan Shiel, but kept the other 12 players who finished top 10 in the best and fairest (three tied for 10th). Yep, Rory Lobb was not a top tenner and Tom Scully didn’t play anyway. If Shane Mumford’s body holds up, he will be an asset.
If all their bodies hold up, the Giants will be difficult opposition. Harry Himmelberg, Zac Langdon and Tim Taranto should improve again.
WHAT I DON’T LIKE
Wrote this for the 2018 magazine: “People are keen to put the spotlight on the coach, but look forward to seeing him with close to a full list.”
Well, that was far from what happened. Injuries killed them and you have to wonder if there was deep analysis of what’s going wrong. Or is it simply bad luck?
Let’s hope for a change in fortune. Can’t fault ball movement, style and commitment, yet the spotlight is on a few players, namely Jeremy Cameron. The million-dollar player needs to cool his jets and play the ball, and needs to be a Coleman Medal contender.
VERDICT
Fourth to eighth
HAWTHORN
WHAT I LIKE
Finished top four in 2018 without too much fanfare and, as usual, it was a superb coaching effort from Alastair Clarkson. Hands up who thought the Hawks were top-four material. I didn’t. Anyway, they finished fourth before losing both finals.
Tom Mitchell aside, they have a terrific core of Jack Gunston, Luke Breust, Jarryd Roughead, James Frawley, Blake Hardwick, Ben McEvoy, Ben Stratton, Isaac Smith, Jaeger O’Meara and a bloody star in James Sicily. He needs to cool his jets, but he is a star nonetheless.
Cut mid-range player Will Langford and traded Taylor Duryea and Ryan Burton — so the rebuild on the run will continue. More kids, Tom Scully (hopefully) and Chad Wingard surely will be the new faces. Won six games by under 11 points last year and that can’t be a fluke, hence the Hawks’ discussion always has to include the coach’s influence.
WHAT I DON’T LIKE
It’s obvious — Tom Mitchell’s broken leg. You can talk about sharing the load and/or finding a replacement and playing system football, but 40-possession ballwinners and clearance monsters are rare and the Hawks will desperately miss him. Not saying anything you don’t already know, but am not confident the Hawks can play September without him. Yep, he’s that important.
Wingard is brilliant but was let go by Port for a reason — does he work hard enough? And who knows about Scully? The Hawks finished fourth last year and went bang bang, which tells us they are off the pace. Now Mitchell is missing. It would be a mighty effort to go top four again.
VERDICT
Eighth to 12th
MELBOURNE
WHAT I LIKE
They are the classic, if not the cliche — driven by the previous year’s disappointment. Won 14 games and two finals, and had the football world buzzing before West Coast gave them the dagger. Wonder how coach Simon Goodwin reviewed it — watched it with the players with the remote in his hand to highlight the jumpy moments?
Or simply move on? It has to be used as a lesson learnt, because they will be thereabouts again. How can they not be? Well-resourced midfield, averaged 101 points in offence and 79 defensively, secured Steven May in the off-season and Jake Lever will be back from injury. No excuses, barring savage injury.
WHAT I DON’T LIKE
The preliminary final losers get scant attention because Grand Final week is all about the teams competing.
The loss to West Coast was shameful, not because they lost, but how they lost. Fumbled when under pressure, they succumbed in the first half and it was game over. It was a performance that lives with them until they get back there again. As said, it should be some sort of motivation.
Jesse Hogan will hardly be missed, and he’s probably already been forgotten, and Tom McDonald and Sam Weideman will be one-two up forward. It’s difficult to find fault with the style of play and personnel under Goodwin, so it might be a test of nerve deep in September.
VERDICT
Top four
NORTH MELBOURNE
WHAT I LIKE
Identified areas of concern after a super competitive 2018 and landed Jared Polec and Aaron Hall as the outside runners and carriers, and midfield depth with Dom Tyson. Add Ben Jacobs who played one game after Round 12 and North’s midfield group looms imposing.
It reads Ben Cunnington, Shaun Higgins, Trent Dumont, Polec, Hall, Tyson, Jacobs, Jed Anderson and Jy Simpkin, with Jack Ziebell as an extra. Dumont is ready to launch as a midfielder, if he hasn’t already. They will be better again this year the Kangas.
Won 12 games and lost another six by 17 points or fewer in 2018. They were more than competitive last year and have better players this year. Suspect they will be one of the more exciting teams in 2019. If Mason Wood, Kayne Turner, Luke Davies-Uniacke and Taylor Garner (forever injured) can take next steps, the Roos could be up and running early.
WHAT I DON’T LIKE
Majak Daw emerged as an elite intercept/contested mark in 2018 and he is expected to miss all of 2019.
It is a horrible story off the field and a frustrating story on the field. It probably gives Ben McKay or Sam Durdin an opportunity. Never thought I’d say this about Daw, but he will be a monster loss. Todd Goldstein is fit and would want to be as the pickings are slim after him. Picked up Tom Campbell (former Bulldog) but while he has positives, am not sure he can carry a team in the ruck if Goldstein goes down.
Still, injuries are just fearful thinking. Need Wood (who we spoke about last year in much the same way) and Turner to add elements to their game, namely consistency for Wood and scores for Turner.
VERDICT
Eighth spot
PORT ADELAIDE
WHAT I LIKE
It started with tough decisions by the football department, led by the trading of Chad Wingard. It was a kind of line-in-the-sand dumping which suggested coach Ken Hinkley had a gutful of underperforming players. And he loved Wingard. A shameful finish to 2018 — they lost six of their last seven and couldn’t buy a goal — was the catalyst for the tough decisions.
I expect Port to be a tougher, more resilient unit to help their solid defence this year. But I’ve said that before. Tom Clurey, Darcy Byrne-Jones and Dan Houston were inside the top 10 in the B&F in 2018, which is a positive. Recruits Scott Lycett, Sam Mayes and Ryan Burton and draftee Connor Rozee will be in the 22, and the return of Hamish Hartlett and Matthew Broadbent will toughen them even more.
WHAT I DON’T LIKE
They tease too much and whatever trust you grow in Port is eroded by its failures season after season. Twelve, 14, 10, 12, 16 (preliminary final) and 13 wins in their past six seasons tell us they hover around the bottom of the eight, and barring 2014, can’t go further for whatever reason. Perhaps they have too many holes when the whips are cracking.
They seriously need a solution for their lack of scores from Round 17 last year. What was it? Slow ball movement (probably).
Lack personnel in form (probably). Flooded forward line (probably). It was boring football. Quicker ball movement might help. Of the departures, Jared Polec will be missed in Port’s midfield.
VERDICT
Reckon they can play finals
RICHMOND
WHAT I LIKE
Similar to Melbourne, they crumbled on the second most important weekend of the year, and suspect the Tigers will learn plenty about themselves because of it. They’ll be contenders again, barring a load of injuries.
The positive is Tom Lynch — he and Jack Riewoldt loom as a formidable front two if the chemistry is right. You know what the Tigers will do. They will defend forward, move the ball forward by hand and run hard, and Dustin Martin will play midfield forward.
Don’t know it will happen too many times, because Damien Hardwick likes Martin one-out deep, but Martin, Riewoldt and Lynch in the same 50m will be frightening for opposition defences.
WHAT I DON’T LIKE
Mucked up preliminary final weekend, but the issues probably started six weeks out.
They knew they would finish top two and the mindset of knowing that could have played against them, as predicted by Denis Pagan. In hindsight, they seemed to play within themselves and lacked the absolute death football they played every week from Round 17 the previous season. The club will learn from that, if, in fact, it was the case.
But they weren’t the same team against Hawthorn either, before being shellacked by Collingwood. The Tigers have the game plan, the experience and now Lynch, so it could be theirs to lose if the mindset is astray. One question: Will teams try to match up Alex Rance with a mid-sized player, a la Jordan De Goey in the preliminary final? You’d expect so.
VERDICT
Top two
ST KILDA
WHAT I LIKE
Yep, another in-depth post-season review — and a host of changes (Brett Ratten, Brendon Lade for example) — has set the bar at “excitable’’ levels.
There’s plenty of nice noise, encouraging noise, and if the turnaround comes as planned the review by Simon Lethlean will be seen as a successful one. If not, then more heads will roll. A changed environment — they say it has been bold — was needed after a dismal 2018.
If Dan Hannebery holds up, he will be a plus, Dean Kent is the sort of player they needed forward of centre. If he’s good enough is the question. Dylan Roberton is also a key return and can’t wait to see Max King as a forward. Of the rest, Blake Acres, Tim Membrey, Jack Sinclair, Billy Longer, Jack Lonie, Paddy McCartin, Hunter Clark, Ben Long, Rowan Marshall and Nick Coffield simply have to improve output and/or consistency.
WHAT I DON’T LIKE
Coach Alan Richardson put his faith in the young leaders after the departures of Nick Riewoldt, Leigh Montagna and Sean Dempster, and his faith was not rewarded, leading to a demanding season for all involved.
It’s understood Richo was told by some players post-season that he concentrated too much on what the players weren’t doing, or doing badly, and not dishing enough praise for their good work.
Balance had to be the aim. He’s under the pump, the coach, and they start the season with Gold Coast, Essendon, Fremantle, Melbourne, Richmond, Port Adelaide, GWS, West Coast and Collingwood. If they are 2-7, the horrid headlines will come. The equation is simple: kick more goals (averaged 73 points in ‘18) and stop more goals (averaged 97 against). Getting it done, however, won’t be easy.
VERDICT
Need 8-10 wins
SYDNEY SWANS
WHAT I LIKE
Suspect John Longmire has assessed the numbers and rankings in key areas and has had the off-season to rectify or at least improve in those areas. Sam Reid played one game in 2018, and we tend to talk about Reid every pre-season, but if he can stay on the park, he and Franklin will be formidable together.
A forward group of Buddy, Reid, Dan Menzel, Ben Ronke, Tom Papley and a mix of Isaac Heeney, Tom McCartin and Will Hayward is easy on the eye. Callum Mills and Lewis Melican return to back flanks to join Jake Lloyd, Jarrad McVeigh and Aliir Aliir, while Dane Rampe and Nick Smith would hope for better seasons.
They have stars and they have question marks, the Swans, but those questions will be answered by the coach and how he wants his team to play. More of the same trench footy will get the more of the same trench-footy results, so am expecting a slightly different Swans style this year.
WHAT I DON’T LIKE
Semi-courageous move to leave the Swans out of the pre-season finals predictions, for they have lived in September for the best part of 15 years.
But they have fallen off the pace. Outside run, defensive pressure, inside-50 numbers and reliance on Buddy Franklin are issues. There’s no doubt the Swans have top-shelf inside mids who win the ball, but they don’t win enough 50-50 ball in general play, according to Champion Data.
Plainly, they have to improve on the outside in several areas, and need to find more goalkickers. Recruits Jackson Thurlow and Ryan Clarke are on the watch list and Menzel no doubt will kick goals, so would rate their recruiting as only fair.
VERDICT
To miss finals
WEST COAST
WHAT I LIKE
The coach and the players have the respect of the competition. Not just because they won the flag, but how they achieved it. Injuries beset them, and they were under the pump in several finals, yet they still won. Coach Adam Simpson instilled character and camaraderie in his team and his players ran with it.
It really was a premiership of valour under a coach who, from afar, seemingly has terrific people skills to get the best out of the individual and the team and, clearly, football nous. Now they will have Andrew Gaff for the whole season, Brad Sheppard, who was injured in the finals, and Nic Naitanui back by Round 10.
Do I have to mention the most potent forward group in the comp? OK, Josh Kennedy, Jack Darling, Liam Ryan, Willie Rioli, Jamie Cripps and take your pick. If the mentality is strong, they will be there in late September.
WHAT I DON’T LIKE
Will be curious how the Eagles start the season because of personnel missing pre-season, combined with a late start and extended holidays. Might be picky, but they could be vulnerable early.
It’s difficult to be critical of a team which displayed enormous heart and team values and played terrific football on their way to winning the premiership. Always, though, the desire and commitment coming off a flag season is arguably the greatest concern for a team. Clearly, Scott Lycett leaving could pose a problem if Nathan Vardy and Tom Hickey are so-so, but there are ample replacements for Mark Le Cras.
VERDICT
Will defend flag strongly
WESTERN BULLDOGS
WHAT I LIKE
First year post-flag was a bomb, and last year was hardly better. But winning three of four games coming home — and the loss was to Richmond by three points — plus a return to the high-possession and clearance-winning football was pleasing to see. Suspect coach Luke Beveridge used it to propel the group into 2019. They’re an invigorating group, the Dogs. Bailey Williams, Caleb Daniel, Patrick Lipinski, Lewis Young, Marcus Bontempelli, Aaron Naughton, Ed Richards, Toby McLean, Josh Dunkley, Josh Schache, Billy Gowers, Fergus Greene and Tim English are all under 23.
All of them could play Round 1, barring injuries. It makes them young, but also attractive to the futures markets. Add the returning injured players — Liam Picken, Tom Liberatore, Tory Dickson and Easton Wood, who all missed large chunks — and the Bulldogs are looming. Finals? They could.
WHAT I DON’T LIKE
Need to hunt and kill. Revered for the contested ball when they won the flag, the Bulldogs were 16th in contested ball differential in 2018. The numbers tell us that but the naked eye also tells us that they simply aren’t as menacing.
But contested ball is not the No.1 priority. The Bulldogs must fix their scoring, be it by personnel, structure or game style. They averaged 72 points a game in 2018, which is mediocre. Schache and Gowers will be required to be commanding inside 50m, and not sure either of them are capable just yet.
While the need for kicking scores is evident, at the same time 10 of their 14 losses last year were by more than 35 points. You can blame some of that on injuries, but it clearly can’t happen in successive seasons.
VERDICT
13th or 14th
The Herald Sun’s expert footy team give their predictions for the 2019 AFL season
* Footy19 is available from March 2 while stocks last at participating newsagents and IGA and Woolworths stores in Victoria/Riverina. Cost is $4.95 plus purchase price of that day’s Herald Sun.
Originally published as Herald Sun chief football writer Mark Robinson’s likes and dislikes for every club ahead of 2019
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