Part one of a four part series of a detailed review of all 16 AFL clubs and then in part four our experts will do their predictions. If you would like to give us your prediction on the ladder at the end of round 22 and who will win the Grand Final, Rising star, Brownlow and the Coleman medal, please contact us. The person closest at the end of the year will win an Amazon gift voucher worth $50.

Geelong Cats

Are Geelong their own enemy for a second consecutive Grand Final win? Geelong is home to the hardest Football city in Australia. Sydney and Brisbane are also one team cities but Geelong is in the middle of mad footy Victoria and the pressure on them is huge – just ask Nathan Ablett.

However I think Geelong can do what Port, West Coast and Sydney have failed to do since Brisbane and that is win consecutive premierships. Apart from Nathan Ablett and Steven King they have the same side and Geelong have ready made replacements for the duo. The only factors which can change their dominance is injuries. Geelong lost to Port in round 20 when they missed Gary Ablett jnr, Selwood and Bartel to injury. David Wojcinski is due to a miss a month, is this a trend or a once off? Top two easily for Geelong.

Collingwood Magpies

Last year Collingwood surprised many teams with the best softest draw in the competition and young players providing spark which meant they did not miss Buckley and Clement. Can they do it again? Players like Pendlebury, Cloke, Clarke and Goldsack will be expected to play even better.

What will be the difference between finishing top four or bottom eight is not the young players but rather the older established players. If they (Rocca, Burns, Wakelin and Lockyer) can provide another solid year they will finish top four. I tip Collingwood to finish between 5th and 8th.

Adelaide Crows

Last year I was one of the few that predicted they would struggle and this year? Well if the Pre Season is any form to go on (I know its not) they may struggle at times to kick a score (ie: NAB Grand Final) but with players like Tippet, Porplyzia and Van Berlo adding flair and excitement, they have something to build on and hopefully wont be the most boring-est team to watch like last year. Im tipping Adelaide to finish around 8th – 10th.

Brisbane Lions

Last year was a year of two halfs. Got into the NAB Grand Final and played some solid games in the regular AFL season and then had 12 odd weeks of losses and a draw. Then the last few games, they beat West Coast and won more games than lost. Brown was awesome and won himself a Coleman. Brennan, Hooper and Bradshaw will add bite to the forward line and Johnstone will add more depth to the midfield with the older guys (Power and Lappin) to help the young players.

Brisbane will surprise many teams this year and while will not challenge top four can well challenge a top eight spot. I however expect them to finish around 8th – 10th.

Melbourne Demons

Can Melbourne defeat their Demons this year? Since 2000 they have been play in finals and then miss finals the next year. In the eight years they have been the most average team as they have not finished top two or bottom two. Last year narrow losses and cruel injuries to their key players hurt them BIG time. But there are many problems that the injuries covered which need to be addressed. Neal Danihear was called “the Reverend” but he sure missed the old fire and brimstone like other reverends and was too soft.

Johnstone, White, Davey, Pickett, Rivers and many others were given a free ride under Danihears reign. The new coach Bailey must address this problem first and second continue to play the young promising players like Nathan Jones, Morton, Dunn, Petterd etc. I tip a struggling year for the Demons and will challenge Richmond for the Wooden Spoon.

Please add your views and comments to this and do not forget to send in your own predictions to be in a chance to win the Amazon $50 gift voucher.