Essendon: Yet another team I underestimated, although they are starting to slow up as the season goes on. Took full advantage of the draw to get off to a flying start, with many players formerly known as "role players" stepping up to become stars of the team. Defeat of ladder leaders West Coast the highlight, along with the victory over Carlton that announced the 'Dons this year. Another unmitigated disaster for my pre-season players to watch, with Dustin Fletcher finally seeming to slow down with age and Kyle Reimers sole contribution so fat the season has been this.
Fremantle: Ah Freo, you've got to love them, halfway through the season and still no one has any idea what they are about. Their ladder position, 12th despite a 7-7 record, just about sums them up: not a bad team but for some reason can't quite become a good one. To be fair though, they've been hobbled by injuries to the best player (Nat Fyfe), fastest player (Stephen Hill) and tallest player (Aaron Sandilands). Still, with Super Pav at the helm they can still make the finals and improve my accurate prediction strike rate. The less said about my players to watch the better.
Geelong: It seems I should be auditioning for the Kiss of Death position as the Cats, who I had high hopes for, have not fired a shot this season. Ditto for my preseason players to watch, Stevie J and Orren Stephenson. Having said that though, Geelong are only two games off top spot. Like fellow 2011 grand finalist Collingwood, they have the ability to grind out wins despite playing far from their best football, something which will hold them in great stead if they can get some more output from their younger players. Cats fan should bear in mind that it is an even numbered year, which doesn't bode well for the 2007, 2009 and 2011 premiers.
Gold Coast: The dreaded second year blues have hit the winless Suns badly. Injuries to their few experienced players and the slower than expected rate of development from their young players on top of that hasn't helped either. In their defence, they have been much more competitive this year and with a bit of luck could have pinched a few wins instead of some tight losses. Their loss to GWS though, despite being not a large defeat, was by far their most disappointing performance as it was the first time there was some measure of expectation on the team. It's not all doom and gloom though as the much improved performance of Karmichael Hunt, and the addition of Liam Patrick to the team has made my preseason prediction for the Suns look quite good.
Fremantle: Ah Freo, you've got to love them, halfway through the season and still no one has any idea what they are about. Their ladder position, 12th despite a 7-7 record, just about sums them up: not a bad team but for some reason can't quite become a good one. To be fair though, they've been hobbled by injuries to the best player (Nat Fyfe), fastest player (Stephen Hill) and tallest player (Aaron Sandilands). Still, with Super Pav at the helm they can still make the finals and improve my accurate prediction strike rate. The less said about my players to watch the better.
Geelong: It seems I should be auditioning for the Kiss of Death position as the Cats, who I had high hopes for, have not fired a shot this season. Ditto for my preseason players to watch, Stevie J and Orren Stephenson. Having said that though, Geelong are only two games off top spot. Like fellow 2011 grand finalist Collingwood, they have the ability to grind out wins despite playing far from their best football, something which will hold them in great stead if they can get some more output from their younger players. Cats fan should bear in mind that it is an even numbered year, which doesn't bode well for the 2007, 2009 and 2011 premiers.
Gold Coast: The dreaded second year blues have hit the winless Suns badly. Injuries to their few experienced players and the slower than expected rate of development from their young players on top of that hasn't helped either. In their defence, they have been much more competitive this year and with a bit of luck could have pinched a few wins instead of some tight losses. Their loss to GWS though, despite being not a large defeat, was by far their most disappointing performance as it was the first time there was some measure of expectation on the team. It's not all doom and gloom though as the much improved performance of Karmichael Hunt, and the addition of Liam Patrick to the team has made my preseason prediction for the Suns look quite good.
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