Four week forecast: Your club’s next month rated
A shock loss to North Melbourne has seen the Tigers slip outside the top four. With a tough fortnight ahead, are Richmond set to fall? Meanwhile, are the Pies in trouble after their upset defeat? FOUR WEEK FORECAST
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The month of June looms as season-shaping for many clubs in finals contention.
Some clubs are set for a mid-season boost with injured stars returning, while others face a difficult
Can the Blues notch their second win of the season?
Meanwhile, are the Pies and Tigers top-four hopes in strife after upset losses?
Check out your club’s four week forecast:
ADELAIDE
Ladder position: 8th (6-5)
Next month: GWS (away), Richmond (home), BYE, Geelong (away)
A vital come from behind win up north sees the Crows just holding on to a spot in the top-eight, but a difficult run awaits. An injury to co-captain Rory Sloane will hurt, while a return date for fellow midfielder Matt Crouch remains unclear. Coaches will have to make a call on whether to bring Sam Jacobs back this week — following a dominant game five goal display in the SANFL — at the expense of impressive back-up Reilly O’Brien.
End of June prediction: 7-7
-Al Paton
BRISBANE LIONS
Ladder position: 5th (7-4)
Next month: Carlton (away), BYE, St Kilda (away), Melbourne (home)
The Lions’ ladder position has surprised plenty but it’s unlikely to change in June based on that schedule — in fact, they might even put some heat on teams like Richmond. Their surging win over the Hawks they set up an unbeaten month which would just about lock in a first finals appearance since 2009.
End of June prediction: 9-5
-Al Paton
CARLTON
Ladder position: 18th (1-10)
Next month: Brisbane Lions (home), Western Bulldogs (home), BYE, Fremantle (away)
Hard to see the struggling Blues winning away to Fremantle in Round 15, but surely Brendon Bolton’s side claims its second win in the next two weeks. The Lions haven’t travelled well this year but should have the quality to overcome the Blues. Carlton has already beaten Western Bulldogs once this year. Could lightning strike again?
End of June prediction: 2-12
-Tim Michell
COLLINGWOOD
Ladder position: 3rd (8-3)
Next month: Melbourne (home), BYE, Western Bulldogs (away), North Melbourne (home)
It was difficult to see where their next loss would come until Fremantle pulled off one of the upsets of the season — with help from the score review. The Pies haven’t been in peak form for the past few weeks, but then you don’t need to be at this stage of the year — and they have troops returning. They could drop another winnable game in the next month, with Saturday’s loss setting up an interesting Queen’s Birthday clash next Monday.
End of June prediction: 11-3
-Al Paton
ESSENDON
Ladder position: 10th (5-6)
Next month: BYE, Hawthorn (home), West Coast (away), GWS (home)
The weeks rest couldn’t come at a better time for the injury stricken Bombers. Blows to key players have cruelled the Dons chances, but if they can get a couple back for the Hawks — namely Dylan Shiel and Orazio Fantasia — maybe momentum can turn their way as they approach some daunting fixtures.
End of June prediction: 5-9
-Ben Broad
FREMANTLE
Ladder position: 9th (6-5)
Next month: BYE, Port Adelaide (home), Melbourne (away), Carlton (home)
Another last-gasp win off the boot of Michael Walters has seen the Dockers stake its claim as a genuine finals contender — despite sitting just outside the eight at the minute. No-one expected them to beat Bucks’ boys away from home, with the defiant effort showing they bring more to the table than just a stingy defence. But if the Dockers are a legitimate top-eight team in 2019 they should win their next three, potentially consolidating their spot in the eight.
End of June prediction: 8-6
-Ben Broad
GEELONG
Ladder position: 1st (10-1)
Next month: Richmond (away), BYE, Port Adelaide (away), Adelaide (home)
Surely the Cats can’t just keep winning, can they? Expect them to continue getting the job done at home (despite their only loss for the year coming at GMHBA Stadium) but the away fixtures are tricky. The Tigers are a force at the ‘G, but the Cats will throw everything at the clash before a week off. Should beat Port but interstate trips are never easy. A top-two finish is there for the taking.
End of June prediction: 12-2
-Ben Broad
GOLD COAST
Ladder position: 17th (3-8)
Next month: North Melbourne (home), St Kilda (home), BYE, Sydney Swans (away)
The Suns have been right in most contests this year, but their second half against the Giants won’t fill fans with confidence. The two games at Metricon Stadium provide very winnable opportunities. They should go to the bye with at least one more win — unless Stuart Dew young team starts to tire. The footy world is looking forward to seeing more of Izak Rankine, Jack Lukosius and Ben King.
End of June prediction: 4-10
-Ben Broad
GWS GIANTS
Ladder position: 2nd (8-3)
Next month: Adelaide (away), North Melbourne (away), BYE, Essendon (away)
The Ferrari is humming and could go to another gear against the Suns. A trip to Adelaide to face the Crows presents the biggest danger and Essendon will be hoping to reverse the 12-goal drubbing they copped in Round 1.
End of June prediction: 10-4
-Al Paton
WHY SHIEL DEAL HAS GIANTS SITTING PRETTY
SAINTS BACK COACH ALAN RICHARDSON
POTENTIAL MID-SEASON DRAFTEES IN PREVIOUS YEARS
HAWTHORN
Ladder position: 11th (5-6)
Next month: BYE, Essendon (away), Sydney (away), West Coast (home)
A defining month awaits the Hawks. Alastair Clarkson is known for rebuilding on the run and he’s again managed to introduce young talent while keeping Hawthorn in finals contention. The Hawks will be favoured to defeat Essendon and Sydney, and they will be rueing their loss over the weekend after a strong start. It leaves the Hawks behind the Eight ball going into the bye, with their next two games looming as must-wins to keep their season alive.
End of June prediction: 7-7
-Tim Michell
MELBOURNE
Ladder position: 16th (3-8)
Next month: Collingwood (away), BYE, Fremantle (home), Brisbane Lions (away)
Their heartbreaking loss in Darwin — due to a series of missed chances in the last quarter — epitomised their frustrating season. However, their forward line was functioning as good as it has all season and their underperforming stars are back in-form. It will be interesting to see what direction coach Simon Goodwin takes from here. Does he back in young talent such as Oskar Baker to play for the rest of the season with Melbourne top-eight chances slimming by the week? The Demons should be a chance in each of their next three games, with Collingwood’s slip-up giving them hope of a Queen’s Birthday upset.
End of June prediction: 5-9
-Tim Michell
NORTH MELBOURNE
Ladder position: 14th (4-7)
Next month: Gold Coast (away), GWS Giants (home), BYE, Collingwood (away)
Will the Roos continue to surge under interim coach Rhyce Shaw? The emotion of Brad Scott’s last match helped North Melbourne produce a gallant effort against Western Bulldogs last round, and the Roos backed it up with their best performance of the season on Friday night. Matches against premiership contenders GWS and Collingwood will be a stretch, but a date with the lowly Suns this week could provide a springboard for an upset against either of the current top-four teams.
End of June prediction: 5-10
-Tim Michell
PORT ADELAIDE
Ladder position: 7th (6-5)
Next month: BYE, Fremantle (away), Geelong (home), Western Bulldogs (home)
The upcoming month will be season defining for the Power as they look to cement a top eight spot. They should be helped by the return key players Tom Rockliff (hamstring), Charlie Dixon (leg), Ollie Wines (leg) and Brad Ebert (concussion) in the coming weeks, with all a chance to return post-bye. The Power have a tough trip to Perth and a date with the ladder leaders following their week off. If they can pinch a win in either of these two matches, they will be taken seriously as a finals contender.
End of June prediction: (7-7)
-Dan Batten
RICHMOND
Ladder position: 6th (7-4)
Next month: Geelong (home), Adelaide (away), BYE, St Kilda (away)
A shock loss to the Roos sees the Tigers at a crossroads before their bye in Round 14. Richmond has a difficult fortnight ahead up against the ladder leaders and the Crows in Adelaide. Winning one of these matches will be a good result with their young side. Star forward Jack Riewoldt (PCL), ruckman Toby Nankervis (adductor) and Jayden Short are at least a month away and will be welcome additions at the back-end of the season. Until then, their young stars will need to continue to fire.
End of June prediction: (9-5)
-Dan Batten
ST KILDA
Ladder position: 12th (5-6)
Next month: BYE, Gold Coast (away), Brisbane (home), Richmond (home)
It’s been a gallant effort for the Saints considering their horror injury run. Their misfortune continued after returning skipper Jarryn Geary broke his leg in their Shanghai shellacking, The Suns and Lions loom as possible wins after the bye, but. a victory over the former isn’t guaranteed after beating them by a point in Round 1. In better injury news, Jimmy Webster (hand) could return in a few weeks, while Jake Carlisle (back) is a chance to play his first game for the season in a month’s time.
End of June prediction: (6-8)
-Dan Batten
SYDNEY
Ladder position: 15th (3-8)
Next month: West Coast (home), BYE, Hawthorn (home), Gold Coast (home)
It was an admirable loss at the Cattery on Saturday as the Swans continue to click into gear.
It doesn’t get any easier for the Swans this weekend, up against the in-form Eagles before their draw starts to open up. Veteran Jarrad McVeigh will add valuable experience, while new addition Dan Menzel will only get better following his meagre return against his old side. They will enter as favourites in just one of their next four — and we know what the Suns did to them last year at home. Finals seem out of the question.
End of June prediction: (4-10)
-Dan Batten
WEST COAST
Ladder position: 4th (8-3)
Next month: Sydney (away), BYE, Essendon (home), Hawthorn (away)
The Eagles were easing into the season over the past month and their momentous comeback win against the Crows in Adelaide has spurred them into action. Their next three games are refreshing reading for coach Adam Simpson, facing three bottom ten sides. Essendon knocked them off at home last year, but if the injury plagued Bombers are their biggest challenge, it must be a pretty carefree month. Expect the Eagles to be well placed to secure a home final if they continue to dodge injuries to key pillars.
End of June prediction: (11-3)
-Dan Batten
WESTERN BULLDOGS
Ladder position: 14th (4-7)
Next month: West Coast (away), BYE, Carlton (away), Collingwood (home), Port Adelaide (away).
A record of 4-7 makes a finals appearance pretty tough but predicting this team been just about impossible this year. They’ve thrashed Richmond, taken it up to Geelong and lost to Carlton and the Suns. A rematch with the Blues should reverse that result before a meeting with the competition’s other enigma, Port Adelaide.
End of June prediction: (6-8)
-Al Paton
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