THE AFL season is about to start and the chatter about what will happen will rev up to a crescendo.
So many theories in the media, so many predictions. Bottom line is very few football media pundits want to be reminded of what they predicted and at best their strike rate is poor.
Remember last year when two members of the one media organisation selected Essendon to win the flag.
One had coached premierships and the other is their chief football writer and they tipped a team which sacked their coach during the season.
This year the scribes and ex-players plus the bookies have isolated three teams as the major stand-outs which are Geelong, Brisbane and Melbourne.
Let’s have a look at best chances to win the flag and whether they are any value.
PREMIERHSIP: ALL ODDS TOP SPORT
BEST VALUE – MELBOURNE $6 PREMIERSHIP
They should be outright favourites and are likely to shorten once the season rolls on. They are ready to go and they have recruited Brodie Grundy and Lachie Hunter. They aren’t perfect but when they are at their best they are probably the best team in it.
RICHMOND – $8 PREMIERSHIP
They lost several matches last year by less than a goal and some were due to ill-discipline or bewildering umpiring decisions. They virtually didn’t have Dustin Martin last season and he will return. The recruiting of Tim Taranto and Jacob Hooper looks like a master stroke.
Bottom line is who wants to play the Tiges in September at the MCG.
CARLTON – $9.50 PREMIERSHIP
They are the sleeping giant of the competition and could run all over every team in September if they click. They have great on-ballers and forwards plus a serviceable backline.
FREMANTLE – $16 PREMIERSHIP
They are the other team which is poised to win a flag if everything clicks into place. They have a strong defence, top on-ballers and also they have depth. They tasted finals experience last year for the first time in years and they will be better off for that.
BEST SMOKIE – GWS: PREMIERSHIP $81 & TO MAKE THE FINALS $6
If there’s a team that could come from a long way back it’s them. Their best team is a good team and they will be boosted by having Adam Kingsley coaching them.
ODDS CORRECT – BRISBANE ODDS: $7.50 PREMIERSHIP
They look primed to be a challenger. The recruitment of Josh Dunkley, Jack Gunston and even Connor McKenna look like master strokes. Plus they have the best talent from last year’s draft in Will Ashcroft. There are queries on their back line but that’s about it.
SYDNEY ODDS – $10 PREMIERSHIP
They did enough to make the Grand Final and have a swarm of talented players. Their tall forwards and ruck divisions though are concerns.
NO VALUE – GEELONG $5.50 PREMIERSHIP
It’s an obvious but easy choice to select them based on their smashing of Sydney in the AFL Grand Final. The Swans were done before even a ball was bounced in the Grand Final as they were spent. Everything fell into place perfectly for the Cats last year. They are still the oldest team in the competition and they won’t have Joel Selwood. Will they have the hunger.
COLLINGWOOD – $8.50 PREMIERSHIP
Everything went right for them last season except at the finish. Other teams have woken to their strengths and weaknesses but they have enough brilliant footballers to be a force again.
WESTERN BULLDOGS – $16 PREMIERSHIP
As per every season since their premiership win in 2016 pundits are suggesting they can win the flag. Once they were too small, now they are going tall. Lots of queries on every line with them.
PORT ADELAIDE – $15 PREMIERSHIP
They dropped out of the eight last year but have enough clever players to worry other teams. It would be a surprise if they were in contention for a premiership.
