After 11 rounds the AFL season is half way and Kick2Kick in part one will review the teams that will play finals and part two will be the other teams which years highlight will be the draft. Will also highlight AFL 2008 season news.
Teams that will make the finals
The top 8 will stay the same as it is at the end of round 11, although ST Kilda and Carlton both have a chance to slot into eighth spot with Kangaroos only 2 points on top of them.
AFL Ladder half way through season 2008
Hawthorn Hawks
Hawthorn have gone on from their 2007 return to the finals but are yet to face Sydney and Geelong and have to travel to Perth and Adelaide. The secret is Buddy and if they can keep him fit, out of trouble and hungry for the football rather than some skirt they will win the Grand Final.
Geelong Cats
Geelong will stay one or two. In between round 14 and round 17 they play Adelaide, Hawthorn and Western Bulldogs which will show were they are. Besides Scartlett who was down before his hammy their backline misses a good tall with Harley also out of form.
Lance 'Buddy' Franklin will take the Hawks into the Grand Final.
Western Bulldogs
While the Bulldogs have beaten the Hawks they have had a soft draw. Trips to Brisbane (play twice), Geelong and Adelaide will show how real deal they are.
Adelaide Crows
Like the Bulldogs have not really played any top teams but the next 11 games will show if they are as good as some think with games against Geelong, Hawthorn, Western Bulldogs, Sydney and Collingwood.
Sydney Swans
Again has a hard fixture with 7 out of 11 games against the current top 8 to come. If they win most of these will be a premiership threat and Barry Hall back will help.
Collingwood Magpies
Collingwood are always sure of getting a soft fixture. Maybe if they actually played on an even playing field instead with a silver spoon in their mouth, they would have won more Grand Finals.
Brisbane Lions
Also have had a fairly hard fixture so far and I think Brisbane is one team to watch with their midfield and forward line. Their backline is still a bit thin though.
North Melbourne
You look at their draw and then look at Collingwoods and its chalk and cheese. North is going to have a tough draw with their Gold Coast games but should hold onto eighth spot.
St Kilda
Almost took the disappointing tag from West Coast and Port Adelaide but amazingly they still have a chance for finals. Tough with four interstate games left (Subiaco twice, Sydney and Gold Coast).
Carlton
Judd, money and Ratten has removed the ‘basket case’ tag away, which no one besides Carlton are happy about. However having to play six of their last seven games against top 8 teams will ensure they wont play finals again.
Who will play off in the Grand Final
Going on from the first 11 rounds you would say Bulldogs are a chance with Geelong and Hawthorn but imo Bulldogs still have not answered the problem of not having a key forward. Johnson and Welsh does not match up to Buddy or even Mooney.
Adelaide, Collingwood and Sydney will wilt when the pressure comes and while Brisbane is the team to watch in the last 11 rounds they have an inconsistent midfield, Nigel Lappin could help. So I expect Geelong and Hawthorn to play off in the Grand Final.
Tomorrow will be the second part of this mini series of the mid season report. Please comment what you think of the teams that can make the finals and who will make the Grand Final and which team to watch.
If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!
June 11th, 2008 at 9:15 pm
Goodes shouldn’t have gotten off without a weeks suspension, but the only constellation is that he’s no longer able to win the brownlolw…
@germ - i have to disagree with a few things you’ve written here,
first off i do not think that the bulldogs have had a soft draw… they’ve played 4 teams currently in the top 8, Hawthorn, Sydney, North Melbourne and Adelaide, they have won two of those (Swans & Hawks comfortably) had a hard fought win over the crows, and shouldve beaten the Kangaroos if not for some inaccurate kicking during the game and after the final siren.
yes they’ve played St Kilda twice, beating them by in excess of 30 points both times, Fremantle, West Coast, Essendon, richmond and melbourne…but apart from the slipuo against the tigers and near miss against the dockers(who by the way have challenged every single team they’ve played this year) they have beaten all these teams, and convincingly.
soft? i dont think so…theyve got some challenges ahead yes, but to say they’ve had a soft year is a joke. also they have a forward line…it may not be the tallest but with Rob Murphy, Welsh, Johnson, Akermanis, Higgins to return and the improving Minson, they’ve got more than enough firepower…and lets not forget they are the HIGHEST SCORING team in the league…funny that? how they have forward line issues yet no other team has kicked within 50 points accumulative this season? hmmmm…
also i dont think you should write off the blues, theyve got some character and spirit, and i still think they’re a good chance to make the 8 with the Roos to struggle in the final part of the season.
also Mooney has barely done a thing this season, and Buddy is fantastic, but needs to learn how to kick alot more accurately, he gets the ball, and will get the colman medal…but if he really wants to dominate and become possibly the best of all time…tighten those bootlaces and kick straight more often…
June 11th, 2008 at 9:23 pm
so the question is, is do u really need a key forward when you’ve got 5 or six blokes who can and do dominate the forward line week in and week out?
June 12th, 2008 at 9:06 am
@SunCity_Royal
>> do u really need a key forward
I would say yes. The only team in the last 20 odd years to win a Grand Final without a key forward would be Adelaide. They do not have to kick massive amounts of goals like the 80s and 90s but they need to contest marks etc.
Finals is different to the regular season and when the pressure is on and you are not able to pin point kicks to leading forwards all you have to do is kick it long. Why do you think that (Adelaide 2005-2006) who were top 2-3 but dropped out without a Grand Final spot? They had no key forward to contest marks when the pressure is on.
I reckon we can do an article on the power of a key forward and will it help win a Grand Final.
June 12th, 2008 at 9:08 am
also i dont think you should write off the blues, theyve got some character and spirit, and i still think they’re a good chance to make the 8 with the Roos to struggle in the final part of the season.
If Kangaroos miss out on the 8, it wont be to Carlton as six of their last seven games are against current top 8 sides. Also they have not won against any current top 8 sides.
June 12th, 2008 at 5:36 pm
thats why i commented on Minson, he’s been playing alot more in the forward line this year, and is a good strong mark, can kick goals and always provides a contest to at least bring the ball to ground. if its brought to ground it gives the likes of Higgins, Aker, Welsh even Murphy and Johnno a chance to crumb and score
June 12th, 2008 at 6:14 pm
Unless the Saints pull their fingers out they’re no chance to make the finals. Too much reliance on their ego’s and reputations and not enough effort made to win games.
Gazs last blog post..The Modern Church isn’t Biblical
June 13th, 2008 at 9:18 am
@SunCity_Royal - Yes I do agree with that Minson has been a great revelation in that area and while he provide a contest, you do need him to actually mark a few.
Its hard for a natural tap ruckman to play key forward who has to read the play, lead in the right places, provide a contest and play ruck. That is a lot of work for a ruckman. Bulldogs would be better to recruit a key forward and keep him there. What about the Grant dude from last years draft? How is he looking?
Jermayns last blog post..What makes Sex and the City so popular?
June 13th, 2008 at 9:19 am
So Gaz what would you do as a Saints man to improve the team? Who would you get rid of, keep, play etc?
Jermayns last blog post..What makes Sex and the City so popular?
June 16th, 2008 at 4:14 pm
Found some information about Bulldogs number one draft pick last year Jared Grant.
“Stepped on a stingray ahead of his debut NAB Cup appearance and has since played a total of seven games for Williamstown for a return of 15 goals. However, he has been sidelined for the past two rounds.”
Sounds like you wont get much out of him this year as he has not done much.
more info (http://afl.com.au/tabid/208/default.aspx?newsid=61583)
Jermayns last blog post..Speed Racer