Who will win 2006 AFL flag?

[MW]

I am interested to know who we all think is the favourite for the 2006 flag as of now? I think West Coast will be hard to beat...seem to be peaking at the right time and had their slump mid season not like the Crows who are having it at the wrong end.

[Rik E Boy]

Sydney. Just like I said earlier in the year when I wasn't trying to pump up my pathetic mob.

regards,

REB

[Aerie]

I still think the Crows will win the premiership with West Coast the likely opponents. Sydney are a good chance also, but the competition drops away a bit after that.

[Dutchy]

Sydney are the one - been there done that and a lot of confidence in finals which is not the case for Adel and WC. They also have a good record at AAMI and Subi so could cause and upset in the first week or in the Prelim is they get that top 4 spot.

If I was framing a market I would have Adela, WCE and Swans all equal favs at $3-00 which makes the $5-00 on offer ($12- two weeks ago ) very good value

If there is a smoky it is the Saints, definately have the talent, but the coaching????

[Rik E Boy]

Saints no smokey. They've failed against Adelaide and West Coast home and away this season. Freo are a bigger threat than the Saints.

regards,

REB

[Booney]

Sydney from West Coast and Adelaide,the Saints are pretenders,the Dees are shot,the Painter's and will go ok until they either travel or play the Eagles,Colliwobbles,say no more.

[JK]

I'd leant toward Sydney most of the year, but now I think the West Coast will take the flag, most likely against Sydney depending on what side of the draw each ends up ... Think Adelaide are in real strife ... As silly as it sounds I would give Collingwood and Melbourne an outside chance, but both would need to look back on a finals series where EVERYTHING went right for them, but it is possible they could get it together for 4 weeks of footy IF lady luck came a smiling upon them in spades ...

[blink]

I think Sydney will take it home again this year, beating West Coast in the grand final once again.

I while back I posted on here that Melbourne would be a smokey for the premiership, and REB shot me down:

"Melbourne: Top eight side but no smokey. The defence is ordinary and if you take out Travis Johnstone there isn't much in the midfield either. McDonald is second rate and Maloney doesn't have a lot of tricks in the kit to me. Top ruckman get held back or developed for other clubs so Daniher (a very ordinary coach) can play Jeff White solo in the ruck.

Melbourne has a great forward line, expect plenty of high scoring games and a 55 percent winning ratio. 6-8 again as I don't see the improvement in this squad that you do Billy. "

I was saving that up to post it when Melbourne made it to the GF (was looking ok there for a while this year!), but now it pains me to see that REB was right!! But I still think they are a chance once Davey & Choppy re-appear in the side. Pickett is a proven big game player and will fire up in the finals.

[MightyEagles]

Adelaide arn't playing well at the moment, but should lift a bit when finals hit in the next 3 weeks. Main Rivals West Coast - only team to really dominate Adelaide all over the ground. Fremantle - all though they look like finishing 8th, their form of late is good and are the last team to beat Adelaide at home. Melbourne - pushed Adelaide at Carrara earlier in the year. St Kilda - if they finish 4th could mean that they play in Adelaide in a final for the 3rd straight year, they pushed Port to within a goal and won last year (well Adelaide were coming off a win and a game in Perth against WCE).

[Rik E Boy]

I think Sydney will take it home again this year, beating West Coast in the grand final once again.

I while back I posted on here that Melbourne would be a smokey for the premiership, and REB shot me down:

"Melbourne: Top eight side but no smokey. The defence is ordinary and if you take out Travis Johnstone there isn't much in the midfield either. McDonald is second rate and Maloney doesn't have a lot of tricks in the kit to me. Top ruckman get held back or developed for other clubs so Daniher (a very ordinary coach) can play Jeff White solo in the ruck.

Melbourne has a great forward line, expect plenty of high scoring games and a 55 percent winning ratio. 6-8 again as I don't see the improvement in this squad that you do Billy. "

I was saving that up to post it when Melbourne made it to the GF (was looking ok there for a while this year!), but now it pains me to see that REB was right!! But I still think they are a chance once Davey & Choppy re-appear in the side. Pickett is a proven big game player and will fire up in the finals.

DOH. You've got to watch out for blokes that store up your comments LOL. Thanks for doing this btw, as they are GAWN. Get on the Roos this week..and the Cats

regards,

REB

[blink]

Don't worry - it was the only one!

[TroyGFC]

Out of current teams with a chance (17/8/06 :3:40pm) I would say Dees but wouldnt mind Freo going all the way. As long as those Kuuuunnnnnntz the Crows arent there!!!!

[Rik E Boy]

LOL@Troy

[Dutchy]

LOL@Troy

where is the

regards,

REB

????????????????????????????????

[Footy Chick]

LOL@Troy

where is the

regards,

REB

????????????????????????????????

i THOUGHT there was something missing!!!!!!!

[mighty_tiger_79]

west coast will play sydney again

[sydney-dog]

I must be from a different football planet because I am amazed atthe confidence people have in Sydney

As said before, Sydney have only beaten 3 top 8 sides, Freo, Bulldogs and a depleted Melbourne and have lost to West Coast away, St Kilda, Collingwood and Adelaide at home....

I think Sydney have concerns in the ruck, Micky O'Laughlin is not fit , no Crouch and the players have lost faith in Davis...

We seem to be rating Sydney on their performance against sides Like the Bulldogs, Essendon, Power etc, so if we want to compare apples to apples, what did the crows do to these same sides..

Most importantly, West Coast and Freo in recent weeks have shown, that you need to play quick running direct footy to give yourself a shot at this years flag, Sydney still plays slow man on man possession footy and I think the top sides have worked this out.....

If Sydney are to win, they have to do it the hard way and win in either Adel or WA, personally I believe both the CROWS AND eAGLES ARE BETTER THEN LAST YEAR, WHILE THE SWANS ARE DOWN A COG OR TWO FROM LAST YEAR

Crows v Eagles GF for me

[am Bays]

Tipped the Crows, but not with the degree of confidence I had four weeks ago.

The reasons being is that the Crows are in a heavy training phase and that is making them appear worse than what they are
and the fact they are in the top 2 so will have the benefit of two home finals. Will be much better in September than they are in August.

key players such as McLoed, biglands and Ruccitio will benefit from the rests they have had.

The big cncern is the loss of Burton who is our "X" factor who with his high aerobic power can be in defence one minute provide the run and the cruise forward for the hanger. Two players in one really.

Mind you West Coast are doing nothing wrong ATM and just behind teh Crows on the 2nd line of betting.

[Dutchy]

I must be from a different football planet because I am amazed atthe confidence people have in Sydney

As said before, Sydney have only beaten 3 top 8 sides, Freo, Bulldogs and a depleted Melbourne and have lost to West Coast away by less than goal, St Kilda by less than a goal, Collingwood and Adelaide at home....(when in ordinary form and Coll/Adel were playing wellI think Sydney have concerns in the ruck, Micky O'Laughlin is not fit , no Crouch and the players have lost faith in Davis...

We seem to be rating Sydney on their performance against sides Like the Bulldogs, Essendon, Power etc, so if we want to compare apples to apples, what did the crows do to these same sides..

Most importantly, West Coast and Freo in recent weeks have shown, that you need to play quick running direct footy to give yourself a shot at this years flag, Sydney still plays slow man on man possession footy and I think the top sides have worked this out.....

If Sydney are to win, they have to do it the hard way and win in either Adel or WA, personally I believe both the CROWS AND eAGLES ARE BETTER THEN LAST YEAR, WHILE THE SWANS ARE DOWN A COG OR TWO FROM LAST YEAR

Crows v Eagles GF for me

time will tell dishlicker - but there is such a thing as timing your run and Sydney are doing this beautifully....the one side WCE or Adel wouldnt want to face in the finals...plus they have one significant factor - a champion forward - Adelaide/WCE dont have this

[sydney-dog]

Dish-licker ??