Tipping the 2017 season

Less than a week to go until we run out to play for premiership points. I have felt weirdly detached from AFL season 2017; due to a combination of AFLW and the Tiges fairly good recruiting. I am enjoying the positive buzz about the new players and not really ready to have it all blown to shreds by reality.

I am doing this ladder because I feel I should, rather than because I have any strong views. Like many I see Richmond improving position a little but not a lot. We were so dire in 2016 that we could improve 25% and still be waaaaay off the pace.

Hang onto your hats and dentures; I am tipping the Western Footscrays to go back to back (I refuse to be spooked by Leicester’s follow-up season). Ignore the Dogs’ premiership drought for a minute, and the feeling of freakishness about their finals campaign. Their coach is a genius, they won the VFL flag so depth does not appear to be a problem, their confidence to beat anybody on their day is going to be sky high. Doggie insanity to pervade September again.

Who are they going to disappoint on Grand Final day? West Coast. Yeah nah, trust me. A very good side who could well be minor premiers but are going to stutter on the big day. Wood to blanket Kennedy. This is actually the GF matchup I tipped last year, I realise now.

Dogs and Eagles get there by beating Swans and GWS. Same last four as 2016. I just can’t see another team forcing their way in. Last year’s 5 to 8 all look to me to be treading water at best.

This year I tip Hawthorn, St Kilda, Adelaide, Geelong to round out the finals.

Close but no cigar to Melbourne and Collingwood – they’ll be in the hunt until round 23. It will be over by round 20 for North, Essendon, Richmond, Gold Coast and Carlton. And it will be over by July for Port, Fremantle and Brisbane.

My tip in the popular “ladder” format;

Western Bulldogs
West Coast

Sydney
Greater Western Sydney

Hawthorn
St Kilda
Adelaide
Geelong

Melbourne
Collingwood
North Melbourne
Essendon
Richmond
Gold Coast
Carlton
Port Adelaide
Fremantle
Brisbane