We will review the teams starting with West Coast, Richmond, Essendon and Brisbane. We will look at where Kick2Kick predicted them to finish, look at the highs and lows of the teams season and then which players we tip to be delisted or used as trade bait.
Quinten Lynch played Full Forward, Ruck, Midfield and quarter back in 2009. In 2010 he struggled to play full forward. Will 2011 see him playing at another club?
Please give us your comments, whether you agree with us or if we may have made a mistake in our review.
West Coast Eagles 2010 Season Review
Kick2Kick’s Prediction: 8th – 10th
2010 season Finish: 16th
Nothing went right for West Coast in 2010, had a few close losses at the start of the season which smashed all their confidence they had from a strong ending of the 2009 season. Injuries to Kerr, Glass and Cox meant there was hardly any experience out on the field, towards the end of the season they were fielding 20 odd players with 100 or less games.
LeCras, Kennedy, Rosa, Schofield and Priddas were the Eagles best all season.
Player Movement:
Lynch, Spangher, Brown and McKinley have some currency which can be used for trade bait but apart from them the rest in Hansen, Notte, Brett Jones and Wilks will be looking for a new team.
Richmond Tigers 2010 Season Review
Kick2Kick’s Prediction: 14th
2010 season Finish: 15th
14th was a positive tip by Geoff and after nine rounds it was looking like they would collect another wooden spoon. However from there the positives started with five wins out of six games and some where even thinking they could even sneak into the top 8.
The positives was Dustin Martin who even with his slap on the wrist should have won the Rising Star award (and I could have won a pre season tip) and Jack Riewoldt who stepped out of his cousins shadow and won the Coleman Medal. Cotchin, Conners, Graham and Deledio also took important step ups in their careers which Hardwick can build on.
Player Movement:
Richmond is developing a good team at the moment (yes I know we have heard that before but….) so they will just be trimming their squad with Adam Thomson, Dean Polo, Tom Hislop, Ben Cousins, Jordan McMahon, Troy Simmonds, Graham Polak and Relton Roberts looking to be on the outer or already retired.
Essendon Bombers 2010 Season Review
Kick2Kick’s Prediction: 8th – 12th
2010 season Finish: 14th
It was a season from hell and it saw an end to Matthew Knights a call which saw all supporters and ex players celebrating the decision. However lets remember he is the most successful Essendon coach for a few years and a warning that if Essendon does not get their act together, they will become a basket case like Carlton was.
Michael Hurley, Gumbleton, Hocking and Watson had great years but the rest of the team were either injured or badly out of form. They did have eight players debut in Ben Howlett, Jake Melksham and Travis Colyer who played the majority of the year along with appearances by Jake Carlisle, Stewart Crameri, Kyle Hardingham, Marcus Marigliani and Tyson Slattery. The promise is there but it takes more than that to make the climb back up the ladder.
Player Movement:
I think the new coach will get rid of a few players and on the shopping block could be Atkinson, Bellchambers, Darcy Daniher, Dyson, Laycock, Lonergan, Neagle, Reimers and high recruit Williams.
Brisbane Lions 2010 Season Review
Kick2Kick’s Prediction: 5th – 8th
2010 season Finish: 13th
It was a disappointing year and it could get even more disappointing if Brennan also goes to the Gold Coast as him along with Rischitelli were among the few shinning lights for 2010. Fevola, Drummond, Merrett, Brown, Adcock, Buchanan and many others struggled with injury along with Power who may finish his career down forward as he struggled to keep up with the pace of today’s AFL.
Staker and Maguire were golden pick ups but even after the dud season I can see why Voss did it, I just hope his brave move pays off. The young kids in Banfield, Redden and Rocklift were the find of the season along with Leuenberger and with a fully fit squad they may sneak back into the finals come 2011.
Player Movement:
Rischitelli has gone to the Gold Coast but expect a few others like Charman, Johnstone and Sheldon to be squeezed out. Troy Selwood has already been delisted.
September 8th, 2010 at 8:29 pm
Not all Bombers fans celebrated the Knights decision. I for one was, and remain, extremely disappointed. Wins against five top-eight teams — the Saints twice — suggest the Dons were more than capable of mixing it with the best when they got it right.
I know you don’t rate Fletcher, but nomination to the All Australian squad would suggest he also had a pretty decent year.
Of the players you’ve marked to leave, Reimers has just signed a new contract and Bellchambers is progressing very well. Laycock is probably gone, but I’m not convinced by Ryder as a ruckman.
I’m a lot more optimistic than the 14th place finish would suggest. Still lots of work to be done, but far from down and out.
aussierulesblog´s last [type]: Only a technicality
September 9th, 2010 at 11:36 am
@aussierulesblog, You and fellow K2K follower Craig were the only Dons fans I have ever heard who liked what they saw under Knights. I do agree that they may have jumped the gun quick and I am unsure if Williams will be the answer, I do not rate him as a coach.
I did miss Fletcher off the list of players who stepped up, thanks for the spot!
I agree the promise is there especially when you look at the spine (Pears, Hurley, Gumby, Ryder etc) it looks solid but like I said, promise means nothing. Look at West Coast, they had promise going into this year but they stunk in 2010! I stand by my comment (West Coast included) that they need to make some tough decisions otherwise you & WCE will become basket cases.
Jermayn´s last [type]: 2010 AFL Teams Review pt1