Halfway mark of the season- a glance at the teams

[David Votoupal]

Just a brief look at each of the teams' fortunes so far:

West Coast- 10-1 is same as this time last year, but will history repeat itself?
Adelaide- likewise, picking up from where they left off last year and should be up there, but finals as always a different ball game
Collingwood- revival of the year, they'll be telling you that they finished in a false position in 2004 and 2005. But of course, there's their penchant for choking in GFs...
Sydney- our premiership defence gaining momentum, despite losing (albeit just) to St Kilda
Western Bulldogs- look like doing the business so far, and of course Scott West deserves a Bronlow
Melbourne- as it's an even year, they've looked alright so far
St Kilda- that window of opportunity will close soon if they don't do it this year
Fremantle- as always, contenders but will they fall away at the end?
Richmond- can bounce back from heavy defeats, so should stay in contention
Port Adelaide- on the fringes of the finals race, but not much more
Geelong- after a horror first half of the year, Geelong should improve
Brisbane- see Port Adelaide
Hawthorn- despite current horror run, will definitely win more games than they did last year
Kangaroos- sadly looks like the Shinboner Spirit has died in 2006
Carlton- how unlucky were they @ Subiaco? Beating Essendon was probably enough to avoid another spoon
Essendon- on course for one of the worst runs in AFL history

[scott]

Good summary, but this year is seemingly a two-horse race with the rest to fill up the numbers.

West Coast and Adelaide are by far the most potent and strongest teams this season and will more than likely feature in the GF.

Collingwood - Just got brought down to earth by Melbourne. Should finish top four, though.

Sydney - Their season is back on track, but they were brought down to earth against a struggling Saints' unit. Though, it was probably a loss they needed to have (as strange as it sounds).

Bulldogs - Have been decimated by injuries, particularly to some of their key talls, which has dented their charge.

Melbourne - Are looking good but there's a lot of room for improvement.

St Kilda - Knocked off the Swans in a gritty win, but they've got an enormous job ahead of them if they're to feature prominently in September.

Fremantle - Inconsistent. Some story, each year. Playing well enough to make to eight this year, but that's about it.

Richmond - I think they'll finish in the top eight but I can't understand their squad at the moment. Two whopping losses, but they've looked decent in every other game this season. Nice young group that's going places.

Port - Three wins against feeble opponents. Let's see how we handle the Eagles this week before we think of soaring north again.

Geelong - Clearly a disappointing season to date. Expecting them to improve in the latter stages of the year also, but you don't really know what to expect from the Cats if this year is anything to go by.

Brisbane - Poor start. Good mid-season recovery. Brown will need to play a key role if they're to make the eight.

Hawthorn - Contrary to Brissie - great start but have headed south since.

Kangaroos - What you said Dave.

Carlton - Surprising result against the Eagles, but they choked, and it was indicative of their season.

Essendon - Improvement needed [/understatement]

[MightyEagles]

There's 2 W's in Brownlow, isn't there?

[Rik E Boy]

West Coast: Doesn't matter if they play like plonkers, maggots will win it for em. Tough nut to crack at home or away.
Adelaide: Going well but getting hurt this season, could start to drop a few.
Collingwood: Unfairly written off after one poor performance. Better now than on Grand Final day.
Sydney: Hit a flat spot but get on in September. Solid game plan.
Western Bulldogs: Played above themselves and with no troops will hit the wall in the second half of the season.
Melbourne: Bottom half of the eight again but could win a final this time round.
St Kilda: Will make the eight and make a nusicance of themselves for the rest of the season.
Freo: Trying hard to throw away their spot in the eight and will eventually succeed.

Richmond: Been given no respect this season and has done well but Rounds 13-18 will see them drop out of contention.
Port: Toughest team to work out this year. A younger side has given a greater gap between best and worst but best is good enough, match at Geelong could determine finals fate.
Geelong: Will make the eight if they defeat Port and Freo. Having said that, we have been shite plain and simple.
Brisbane: Mid range side these days that will keep opponents honest.
Hawthorn: Coach unfairly copping stick. Would be better off without the 'line in the sand' bull5hit.
Kangaroos: Bloody awful. Most disappointing side in the comp this year (Geelong a close second)
Carlton: Show glimpes of improvement but cannot sustain the rage. Could go as high as 13th this season.
Essendon: Top up list minus Lloyd and Hird equals the clubs first spoon since 1933 OUCH.

regards,

REB

[David Votoupal]

There's 2 W's in Brownlow, isn't there?

I learn something new every day

[sydney-dog]

West Coast- 10-1 is same as last year, but forward structure has improved with Lynch's good form
Adelaide- 9-2, have had injuries but this may be a blessing with players like Bock, Perrie and Welsh coming back fresh full of enthusiasm
Collingwood- obviouslyhas improved, will struggle to match top 4 if carrying injuries, lack of depth in midfield may cause burn out by season end
Sydney- hard to judge, at times ordinary, don't know if they have improved on last year and as much as Adelaide and Eagles
Western Bulldogs- should make top 8, have played well with injuries
Melbourne- recovered from a horror start but will they fall on their sword
St Kilda- over rated list that relies too heavily on top 6 players, their bottom 4-6 players are ordinary
Fremantle- need to start beating top teams away to be taken seriously
Richmond- bunch of workmen, need to add class to their list
Port Adelaide- second half of season too tough, will fall away again
Geelong- should improve, will improve ???, enough to save Bombers job ????
Brisbane- on the rise, a year or two away though
Hawthorn- good start, on the right track, short term pain for long time gain, congrats clarko
Kangaroos- disgrace - someone should be shot over their recruiting strategy
Carlton- need to improve all aspects off the club
Essendon- once again someone should be shot over recent recruiting decisions

[Punk Rooster]

Kangaroos: Bloody awful. Most disappointing side in the comp this year (Geelong a close second)

regards,

REB

You are joking, aren't you?
Geelong are the length of the Flemington straight in front of the rest, with regards to being the most disappointing team of the year (read Decade/Century). Unbeatable pre-season, now couldn't fend off the Wirrabra U/8's!

[Rik E Boy]

Kangaroos: Bloody awful. Most disappointing side in the comp this year (Geelong a close second)

regards,

REB

You are joking, aren't you?
Geelong are the length of the Flemington straight in front of the rest, with regards to being the most disappointing team of the year (read Decade/Century). Unbeatable pre-season, now couldn't fend off the Wirrabra U/8's!

and somehow we've managed to defeat four teams in the AFL this season, including the Kangaroos by 14 odd goals. Plenty of people were talking up the Roos pre-season and they are getting flogged on a weekly basis, where only your lot and maybe Hawthorn have flogged us this year. I guess we have to agree to disagree on this one.

regards,

REB

[Punk Rooster]

REB-
The Shinboners definition of success is fielding a side each year!

[Rik E Boy]

REB-
The Shinboners definition of success is fielding a side each year!

Typical Collingwood arrogance Joffa. They've won four flags since 75. Your lot has one once and you presume yourselves to be Australia's answer to Manchester United. Can always count on the Pies for a good laugh.

regards,

REB

[MatteeG]

Who actually expected the Roos to do much this year anyway?

[JK]

Who actually expected the Roos to do much this year anyway?

Didn't expect them to be world beaters, but thought there would be a clear gap between them and bottom 3 material ... Harvey, Grant, Corey Jones, Wells ... Quality talent going to waste there ... Should give them a run in the Magoo's regardless of name if they're not performing, in the hope of running them into the form we know they're capable of ..

[ORDoubleBlues]

Kangaroos: Bloody awful. Most disappointing side in the comp this year

regards,

REB

Think it's got to the point where the blowtorch must be placed on the clubs recruiting department.
Sure, we hear all the stories about the Kangaroos having very substandard facilities and bugger all money but it's the same warhorses towing the line at the Roos i.e. Simpson, Archer, Grant, Wells, Jones, Harvey and nearly every draft choice in the last 5 years looks like they won't be able to cut the mustard at AFL level. They did draft Wells at No.2 in 2002 but he was a no brainer and if Carlton hadn't lost their picks, he'd be playing for the Navy blues.
They took the enormous salary of Johnathon Hay of Hawthorns hands and they obviosly didn't learn their lesson when they went out and got Jade Rawlings.
Someone at that club needs to look at how another club with not much financial resource, the Western Bulldogs, have gone about it in the last 5 or 6 years under the guidance of Scott Clayton. Sure, they've had some high draft picks but some of their key players were late selections in the draft or promoted rookies.

[Punk Rooster]

REB-
The Shinboners definition of success is fielding a side each year!

Typical Collingwood arrogance Joffa. They've won four flags since 75. Your lot has one once and you presume yourselves to be Australia's answer to Manchester United. Can always count on the Pies for a good laugh.

regards,

REB

Nothing to do with arrogance, moreso the fact that the Roos are/have always been financially unstable. So my point is a valid one.
We've won one, how many have your lot won???

[Rik E Boy]

Who actually expected the Roos to do much this year anyway?

Mike Shehan for starters MatteeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeG.

regards,

REB

[David Votoupal]

Well, the Kangaroos have usually been there or thereabouts- occasional premiership contenders, never near the bottom, and always in finals contention. Hence 2006 is seen as a massive reversal compared to the past decade and a half.

[stan]

The kangaroos. The shin-bonner spirit. Bloody hell they lose and lose and then they get a win and we all cry shin-bonner spirit. The guys that have the spirit are guys like Archer. Hes the one with the spirit. The only thing that is different is that he is older and slower. Once he goes, the shin-bonner spirit will leave as well.

[Rik E Boy]

Interesting to hear Peter 'Crackers' Keenan say that he had never heard of the 'shinboner spirit' when he played at the club (1970's, a succesful period at the club). Media invention, a modern journo has run with the 'shinboner' moniker that was attributed to North Melbourne during the time before they won their first flag and were normally battlers.

regards,

REB

[Punk Rooster]

Well, the Kangaroos have usually been there or thereabouts- occasional premiership contenders, never near the bottom, and always in finals contention. Hence 2006 is seen as a massive reversal compared to the past decade and a half.

We're now seeing the Shinboners sans Carey

[Magpiespower]

Nothing 'Shinboner' about those 70s Kangaroos teams.

Reakon 'Hollywood' is a more apt description.