Looking Ahead To The New AFL Season

Written by Motts on January 15 2020

With the new season fast approaching, let’s preview 2020 to give you some insight for your fantasy picks. Feel free to join the off-season chat too as we look ahead to another exciting AFL season.

Richmond Tigers

Two Premierships in just three years.

Will anyone topple them? Arguably not, but the Eagles will give it a good go!

Rance has retired, but that won’t really weaken them.

Regular season and Grand Final favourites at odds of around 4.50. If you enjoy a bet, it’s a tempting price. Ladbrokes in Australia always have competitive odds but shop around to get the best odds.

West Coast Eagles

With the likes of Josh Kennedy and Nic Naitanui, they’re going to be up there by the end of the year. Fell short last season.

Eliminated in the semi-final by Geelong.

They’ll want to rectify that, and they can with the addition of Tim Kelly.

Collingwood Magpies

Some great players in their ranks to keep an eye on.

A few critics expect them to fall away at the business end of the season.

Great Western Sydney Giants

A little fortunate to make the Grand Final in 2019 some would say.

But they’ll be stronger next season.

Can they mount a challenge at the top this year?

Brisbane Lions

They’ve got a young-looking side, but it’s a great one.

They impressed many last season, but they’ve got it a little tougher this year.

Losing Luke Hodge to retirement will dent their credentials somewhat.

Geelong Cats

Minor Premiers last season and, with plenty of fantastic players ahead of next season, have the potential to do well.

But don’t get your hopes up too much as there are probably a few teams better than Geelong this year.

Western Bulldogs

It’s tough to call exactly how they will fare next season.

Tom English and Marcus Bontempelli could be the ones to watch.

Some great midfielders in the side.

Hawthorn Hawks

Things are bound to improve compared to last season.

Tom Mitchell is back from injury. Good news.

Essendon Bombers

Can they replicate 2019’s effort in Worsfold’s last season?

They rely a lot on big players. If they fail to perform, they can’t seem to win.

North Melbourne Kangaroos

A potential dark horse next season.

Keep an eye on Ben Brown and Majak Daw.

Not to mention, they have a fantastic new coach.

Port Adelaide Power

2020 will most likely be a transitional season.

The loss of Ryder is a big blow.

Sydney Swans

Don’t expect much this year.

Zak Jones a big loss.

Aliir Aliir is again one to watch.

Melbourne Demons

Should improve on a disappointing 2019.

Lever and May should shore up the defence.

Adelaide Crows

No Eddie Betts is a big blow.

Expect them to use 2020 to rebuild.

Can Taylor Walker find some form?

Carlton Blues

David Teague will get his young guns playing well next season. Not that well, but they’ll improve.

Keep an eye on Kade Simpson, Charlie Curnow and Mitch McGovern.

Fremantle Dockers

They should be tough to beat at home with a good new coach.

Also welcoming back Jesse Hogan.

The loss of Bradley Hill is a blow.

St Kilda Saints

They will find it tough going.

Don’t expect much improvement on last year.

They’ve lost Bruce and Stevens too.

Gold Coast Suns

Give them time.

You can write them off in 2020 though.

2021 and beyond things should get better.

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10 thoughts on “Looking Ahead To The New AFL Season”

  1. Great write-up Motts, but I did spot a typo in there. For the Carlton section you misspelled “Carlton will not lose a game all year and are a shoe in for the premiership”. Small mistake but easily rectified 😉

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      1. Currently only two, Cripps and Docherty, and that’ll probably be it, I’m not tempted by too many others. The only other player I’m tempted by is actually Sam Walsh, but I doubt I’ll start with him this year.

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  2. Agree with you Motts re: Richmond & West Coast going in as the two powerhouse teams to beat.

    Couple of teams I disagree with.
    North: Dark horse? Nothing about them says dark horse. 5th oldest team behind some teams that continue to perform (Rich,WCE,Geel). No depth, sluggish midfield relied heavily on higgins, not using the draft to top up their list with quality in the draft period, Shaw should bring a better game plan to the table but the list is flat imo.

    Freo: Again new coach can help, but a very young list and closer to a rebuilding phase, can’t see them outside bottom 4-5 and will still struggle on the road.

    I believe like last year we will see a big difference between the top 4 and the rest.

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  3. I’m hearing good things out of the Crows training camp. Players are happy for the first time in a couple years.

    The players they “lost” during FA weren’t in the best-22 plans moving forward (culturally Betts is a loss).

    So if there were a dark horse… wouldn’t be a total shock if the Adelaide Football Club snuck into the finals.

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    1. They’re a very supercoach relevant club with all the players they moved on and young guys filling the gaps

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  4. > “The loss of Ryder is a big blow.”

    We had Lycett dropped as number 1 ruck last year despite playing good footy because we had Ladhams demanding selection.
    I agree we’re in transitional phase with barely anyone between the age of 24-27, but losing Ryder isn’t really hurting when he couldn’t even average a goal a game playing as a dedicated forward.

    Look for the new boys to hit the highlights! – Bergman, Georgiades and Mead all a chance for early games.

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  5. Writing the Saints of Motts?! Fair enough 😉

    Have the Doggies in the 4 this year. Personally think ADE, COL, ESS, GEE, PTA and SYD will all finish slightly lower in 2020. Maybe FRE too.
    Rising from 2019 am thinking CAR, GWS, HAW, MEL, NTH, STK, and WBD. The remainder about the same.
    Got a few very wrong last year, so who knows?!

    Stuck some of my First4 Cup winnings on WBD to win the flag. Hoping for a big payday!

    Nice one Motts!

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