My 2024 ladder was slightly better than 2023.
Some general thoughts about it:
- Carlton started well but injuries killed them, was a nightmare finals game for them
- Brisbane was a good call
- I was way off with Collingwood, they were just too unreliable last year
- I bombed with Adelaide, they had hype but didn't deliver
- Sydney were the best team all year then chocked in the granny
- I said this about Melbourne
there's some concerns about their team culture and leadership
and it came true, they had a terrible year for the list they have
- GWS were very strong and could have won the flag
- Gold Coast clearly have the list to make finals, they just need to be less flaky
- Essendon started well but bombed out
- Richmond was very bad, didn't realise how bad they would be
- Hawthorn were the surprise packet, they were fantastic in the finals
- Bulldogs have a great list, the finals performance was also very poor (like Carlton)
- Geelong were way better than I thought they would be, they will also be kicking themselves and could have won the flag (like GWS)
- Port Adelaide clung on last year, maybe this year will be when Ken will finally get the sack
Here's my ladder for the 2025 premiership season.
- Collingwood
- Fremantle
- Brisbane
- Hawthorn
- Carlton
- Gold Coast
- North Melbourne
- Essendon
- St Kilda
- GWS
- Adelaide
- Sydney
- Geelong
- Melbourne
- Port Adelaide
- Western Bulldogs
- West Coast
- Richmond
My logic for it is as follows:
- Collingwood have a stacked forward (Tim Membrey seems like a fantastic recruit), they're even better off half back with Houston, and Daicos will only get better in the midfield, I just get the feeling Collingwood will be very strong, even with injuries we should be able to replace guys
- Fremantle are the hype team this year, they've recruited well (Shai Bolton should be amazing) and a lot of young players coming in to their prime have signed new contracts, they basically should never lose games in Perth
- Brisbane have basically the same team (minus Joe Daniher) and added the theoretical number 1 draft pick (Will Ashcroft), seems like a good formula to be good again, they might lack a bit of hunger late in the season
- Hawthorn are just very very good team, they will get a bit more figured out this year though
- Carlton again have a fantastic list and spine of players, but they have a lot of injuries and can be flaky
- I'm a Gold Coast ride or die person, it's a good list and Dimma will have them playing good football
- My surprise and big riser this year is North, they have a lot of good players who will get some wins on the board, they will be the Hawthorn of last year
- Essendon will play finals, it'll be an up and down year but they will just scrape in
- Any team from 9 - 14 could play finals, Sydney, Geelong and GWS are the ones that are obviously good enough to be anywhere in the 8, I just don't rate them that highly
- Port and the Doggies will drop off this year, both coaches will get sacked
- West Coast will be a little better but still be pretty bad
- Richmond will just plain suck
Grand Final: Collingwood vs Fremantle
Premier: Collingwood
I tipped them last year and they let me down. Praying this is the year. It's a proper poker hand all in with how they've recruited.
