Butsy's AFL Season Preview

The snorefest that is the NAB cup is thankfully nearly finished. I grow tired of the continual Andrew Dee-Meat Tray rhetoric about this useless competition and the changing rules etc etc. The paying AFL public which gives his non profit organisation their bonuses every year is continually treated with contempt. We will be further treated with contempt when he signs over the TV rights for $1Billion and have to put up with delayed advert ridden telecasts. The AFL spin on this issue would make even the most dishonest politician blush. A complete load of rubbish. The Non Profit AFL would be best served to settle the TV rights for a more reasonable fee say $760M and demand that the Friday & Saturday night football is LIVE. The fans would be happy, the Networks would be happy and the AFL would be happy...oh no thats right they wont be because they wont get their multi million dollar bonuses. So please tell me who the AFL are representing, their members or themselves? Anyways here is my very brief AFL Season Preview.

Collingwood ($2.70* – Flag/$1.01 – Make the 8) - Hot favourites to go back to back, purely on depth of playing list. Very balanced side with a dearth of talent.

Players to watch: Didak, Blair, Reid, Dawes, Sidebottom, Toovey.

Predicted Ladder: 1

Brownlow flutter: Pendlebury

Geelong ($8.00*/$1.30*) – New coach Chris Scott will struggle to keep the Cats momentum of the last few years with an ageing list and the loss of No 29.

Players to watch: Travis Varcoe, Daniel Menzel, Joel Selwood

Predicted Ladder: 7

Brownlow Flutter: Joel Selwood

St Kilda ($5.90*/$1.19*) - The Saints will be even more determined to turn it around after losing the last two GFs. The off field drama seems only to have made them stronger.

Players to watch: Ryan Gamble, Jamie Cripps

Predicted Ladder: 3

Brownlow Flutter: Lenny Hayes

Western Bulldogs ($10.00*/$1.27*) - The Doggies look fitter than ever and their youngsters look more mature. Expect them to be prominent.

Players to watch: Jarrad Grant, Easton Wood

Predicted Ladder: 4

Brownlow Flutter: Shaun Higgins

Sydney ($26.00*/$1.85*) - The Swans always pull out a few surprises and John Longmire will be eager to stamp his authority with a new game plan.

Players to watch: Mark Seaby, Dan Hannebery

Predicted Ladder: 11

Brownlow Flutter: Kieren Jack

Fremantle ($13.00*/$1.49*) – Morabito's season ending ACL injury is a massive loss for the purple haze midfield but gives young Tassie wingman Jesse Crighton a chance to make a name for himself.

Players to watch: Nathan Fyfe, Tendai Mzungu, Rhys Palmer

Predicted Ladder: 8

Brownlow flutter: Stephen Hill

Hawthorn ($6.80*/$1.20*) - The Hawks are flying in the pre-season and a top two finish is not out of reach. Luke Hodge could set a new standard of “premium” player. Look out!

Players to watch: Max Bailey, Issac Smith, Paul Pupolo

Predicted Ladder: 2

Brownlow Flutter: Luke Hodge

Carlton ($15.00*/$1.60*) - Brett Ratten faces the sack if he doesn’t go deep into the finals so the pressure is on. They need to find a forward to kick goals. Did someone say Fevola?

Players to watch: Chris Yarran, Nick Duigan, Marc Murphy

Predicted Ladder: 5

Brownlow Flutter: Bryce Gibbs

North Melbourne ($61.00*/$3.15*) - The Kangaroos have been decimated by injuries this pre season and will struggle for continuity. Have some talented youngsters but will struggle.

Players to watch: Cam Richardson, Drew Petrie

Predicted Ladder: 14

Brownlow Flutter: Andrew Swallow

Port Adelaide ($126.00*/$5.30*) - A tonne of talented youth at the Power but not enough consistency. I can’t see them posing much more than nuisance value this year

Players to watch: Jackson Trengove, Dominic Cassisi, Danyle Pearce

Predicted Ladder: 12

Brownlow Flutter: Travis Boak

Adelaide ($26.00*/$1.86*) - The Crows are the dark horse this season. Neil Craig put the cue in the rack after R8 last year and concentrated solely on this year thereafter. Smokey

Players to watch: Ian Callinan, Brodie Smith, James Seller, Matthew Jaensch

Predicted Ladder: 6

Brownlow Flutter: Richard Douglas

Melbourne ($26.00*/$1.65*) – Can this be the year that the D’s finally break the shackles? I think so. Their list is talented with a nice blend of youth and experience. Dangerous.

Players to watch: Liam Jurrah, Tom Scully, Brad Green, Jack Grimes

Predicted Ladder: 10

Brownlow Flutter: Colin Sylvia

Brisbane ($81.00*/$4.90*) - Absolute rabble who are poorly coached and an overrated list. Jonathon Brown cannot do everything on his own. Last place finish on the cards.

Players to watch: Jared Polec, Jack Redden, Tom Rockliff

Predicted Ladder: 17

Brownlow Flutter: Jonathan Brown

Essendon ($41.00*/$2.90*) - Bombers Fans should not get to carried away with NAB cup performances. Bombers fans need to be patient and confident in the knowledge that James "The MESSIAH” Hird has got the team up and about with a progressive game plan.

Players to watch: Dyson Heppell, Jake Melsham, Michael Hurley

Predicted Ladder: 13

Brownlow Flutter: Watson

Richmond ($126.00*/$3.15*) - Looking for another year of solid improvement as expectations at Punt Road increase after promising signs emerged in the second half of last season.

Players to watch: Nathan Foley, Alex Rance, Reece Conca, Dan Jackson

Predicted Ladder: 9

Brownlow flutter: Trent Cotchin

West Coast ($67.00*/$4.25*) - The mail is that training is very flat at Eagle land and John Worsfold will be shown the door before season’s end. Not a good sign.

Players to watch: Luke Shuey, Andrew Gaff, Brad Dalziel, Gerrick Weedon

Predicted Ladder: 16

Brownlow Flutter: Mark LeCras

Gold Coast ($31.00*/$6.50*) - Word on the street is that Ablett has got the dreaded OP. However they have recruited aggressively and should be more than competitive.

Players to watch: Josh Toy, Sam Day, David Swallow

Predicted Ladder: 15

Brownlow Flutter: Daniel Harris

 *Odds are as at 10:00am 3/3/11@  The Tote - BetaSport