Preview 2007
Posted: Thu Oct 26, 2006 5:57 pmTime for an early preview of team’s chances in 2007:
Eagles
Cant see any reason why the club cant continue to be one of the strongest performers in the competition. They don’t look like losing too many players and will be looking to recruit a gun midfielder and versatile key position player to complement their existing personnel. I doubt whether complacency or any premiership hang-over will be an issue since they still need to pay back a couple of Grand Final losses. I expect this to keep spurring the players on for the foreseeable future. Prediction - top 2.
Bulldogs
Looks like they will lose another couple of premiership players and many of their prime movers arent getting any younger. If they don’t recruit well I can see them sliding a bit this year – their younger talent looks a bit limited. Having said all that, their game plan, culture and work ethic will still be rock solid and I expect this alone to get them enough wins to make the finals – but only just. Prediction – 4 to 6.
Roosters
If they don’t address their deficiencies they will still perform well but no better in 2007 than 2006. Will be interesting to see whether the club pursues their policy of recruiting ex-AFL types nearing the end of their career or whether they concentrate on giving their better juniors some real opportunity. Anyway I expect them to be strong again in 2007. Prediction - top 2.
Panthers
A talented list, they could improve a bit further next year given a bit of luck. One significant thing they did this year was improve their home record. It should always be extra hard for away teams to win at Noarlunga. If this trend continues it almost guarantees them enough wins to make the finals. There is still a worry over the culture of the club though and its difficult to know whether they could improve enough to grab a top three chance. If their list remains relatively injury free and they are able to keep their whole 2006 list I don’t think they will go backwards. Prediction 3-4.
Magpies
Im going to write exactly what I wrote last year because I don’t think there is any evidence that too much has changed. I cant see them taking another step to challenge for the flag - they just don’t have the personnel. In fact it wouldn’t surprise me to see them go backwards. They rely too much on their AFL players. There is not enough depth and the contribution from their second tier players is poor. Prediction 5-7.
Bays
My tip to be an improver in 2007. I liked what I saw in 2006. Their game plan impressed me. They would want to recruit a couple of really good midfielders though – they relied very heavily on Douglas and he may not always be available in 2007. A couple of talented lads will be off to the AFL too which wont help. But the thing that I liked is that there was a generally consistent contribution from the whole team in more games than not. If this continues I think they will get enough wins to play finals. Prediction 3-4.
Redlegs
A poor game plan, ordinary culture, and too much instability off the field. Im going to be popular with Leg’s fans! Prediction 6-8.
Blues
I cant see them going forward too much next year. It will take MacGowan at least two years to start to show any significant improvement. Keep in mind he is still a first year coach with a lot to learn. Anyway Sturt just don’t have the personnel. It would be a valid option to clean-out all the old experienced players who carry baggage and start fresh but it seems that this isn’t going to happen in 2007. And maybe it cant happen anyway because of limited talent in the youth ranks to bring up. So I can see them still under real pressure next year and struggling. Prediction 7-9.
Bloods
Same prediction as this time last year. Still cant see them turning it around in a hurry. Just too much ground to make up on the rest in all departments. Still in an obvious building phase. The one thing they do have going for them is a bit to work with in the juniors as evidenced by their finishing positions in 2006. Prediction 7-9.
Eagles
Cant see any reason why the club cant continue to be one of the strongest performers in the competition. They don’t look like losing too many players and will be looking to recruit a gun midfielder and versatile key position player to complement their existing personnel. I doubt whether complacency or any premiership hang-over will be an issue since they still need to pay back a couple of Grand Final losses. I expect this to keep spurring the players on for the foreseeable future. Prediction - top 2.
Bulldogs
Looks like they will lose another couple of premiership players and many of their prime movers arent getting any younger. If they don’t recruit well I can see them sliding a bit this year – their younger talent looks a bit limited. Having said all that, their game plan, culture and work ethic will still be rock solid and I expect this alone to get them enough wins to make the finals – but only just. Prediction – 4 to 6.
Roosters
If they don’t address their deficiencies they will still perform well but no better in 2007 than 2006. Will be interesting to see whether the club pursues their policy of recruiting ex-AFL types nearing the end of their career or whether they concentrate on giving their better juniors some real opportunity. Anyway I expect them to be strong again in 2007. Prediction - top 2.
Panthers
A talented list, they could improve a bit further next year given a bit of luck. One significant thing they did this year was improve their home record. It should always be extra hard for away teams to win at Noarlunga. If this trend continues it almost guarantees them enough wins to make the finals. There is still a worry over the culture of the club though and its difficult to know whether they could improve enough to grab a top three chance. If their list remains relatively injury free and they are able to keep their whole 2006 list I don’t think they will go backwards. Prediction 3-4.
Magpies
Im going to write exactly what I wrote last year because I don’t think there is any evidence that too much has changed. I cant see them taking another step to challenge for the flag - they just don’t have the personnel. In fact it wouldn’t surprise me to see them go backwards. They rely too much on their AFL players. There is not enough depth and the contribution from their second tier players is poor. Prediction 5-7.
Bays
My tip to be an improver in 2007. I liked what I saw in 2006. Their game plan impressed me. They would want to recruit a couple of really good midfielders though – they relied very heavily on Douglas and he may not always be available in 2007. A couple of talented lads will be off to the AFL too which wont help. But the thing that I liked is that there was a generally consistent contribution from the whole team in more games than not. If this continues I think they will get enough wins to play finals. Prediction 3-4.
Redlegs
A poor game plan, ordinary culture, and too much instability off the field. Im going to be popular with Leg’s fans! Prediction 6-8.
Blues
I cant see them going forward too much next year. It will take MacGowan at least two years to start to show any significant improvement. Keep in mind he is still a first year coach with a lot to learn. Anyway Sturt just don’t have the personnel. It would be a valid option to clean-out all the old experienced players who carry baggage and start fresh but it seems that this isn’t going to happen in 2007. And maybe it cant happen anyway because of limited talent in the youth ranks to bring up. So I can see them still under real pressure next year and struggling. Prediction 7-9.
Bloods
Same prediction as this time last year. Still cant see them turning it around in a hurry. Just too much ground to make up on the rest in all departments. Still in an obvious building phase. The one thing they do have going for them is a bit to work with in the juniors as evidenced by their finishing positions in 2006. Prediction 7-9.
), i hope the bays and south go deep into the finals and the dogs and port miss out....we need a changing of the guard to inject some excitement into the competition...sorry but the eags winning it hasnt done that at all, only made the eagles fans happy for once and maybe attracted a few old torrens and warrior fans 
