6-to-7 flag contenders / Who will hold the cup aloft this year? (Herald-Sun/SEN)

[one-eyed]

We're flavour of the month again with the footy media.

Wide open: Experts’ flag tips

Herald Sun
July 24, 2019

Geelong is a game clear on top of the ladder but there are up to six teams in contention for one of the most open flags in recent memory.

With that in mind, we’ve asked the experts to list — in order — who they think are the teams to beat this season. Right now.

It’s not an easy task. See below to see who the Herald Sun footy team thinks will be holding the premiership cup aloft on that last Saturday in September.

JON ANDERSON

Richmond

West Coast

Geelong

Collingwood

Ando says: The Tigers were clearly the best team for all but one game in 2018 when they were embarrassed by Collingwood. That pain will be the difference.

CHRIS CAVANAGH

Richmond

West Coast

Geelong

Brisbane

Essendon

Cav says: Tiger Time might be upon us once again. Richmond is looking ripe at the right time of year, has been to the pinnacle before and now has Tom Lynch in the forward line.

If the Eagles do enough to earn home finals in Perth, watch out.

Geelong is in a rut but still has the No.1 defence in the competition and defence wins premierships, as they say.

Like West Coast, Brisbane will be dangerous if it gets home finals, having gone 7-1 at the Gabba this year.

Essendon is the wildcard and if it can mend its injury list before finals and continue its momentum, I wouldn’t be counting the Bombers out of making a serious run, even from outside the top-four.

SCOTT GULLAN

Geelong

Richmond

Collingwood

West Coast

Scotty says: The Cats are having the speed hump they needed. Will realign come September.

JON RALPH

Richmond

Brisbane

West Coast

Geelong

Ralphy says: Brisbane are bringing sexy back and the Tigers are playing the type of intoxicating, fast-forward football that brings fans through the gates. I believe Brisbane’s brand of football can stand up in September and I hope it can too for the sake of eye-catching football. The trend is your friend in AFL and imagine what it would do if two teams who love attack (but still value defence) played off in a Grand Final.”

MARK ROBINSON

West Coast

Richmond

Geelong

Brisbane

Collingwood

Essendon

Robbo says: Reckon the Eagles will finish top two. That means home finals. That means plenty.

MICHAEL WARNER

Richmond

Geelong

West Coast

GWS

Mick says: Shades of 2014 when an injury-ravaged Hawthorn got all their soldiers back at the business end of the season.

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/more-news/herald-sun-experts-list-their-flag-fancies-in-one-of-the-most-even-afl-seasons-in-memory/news-story/c2679e57fd5db1afc8262cbcb975eb5f

[one-eyed]

Matthew Lloyd ranks the top seven teams he trusts to win the flag

By SEN
24 July 2019

Former Essendon captain Matthew Lloyd has ranked the seven teams he trusts most to win the premiership this year.

From first to seventh, he is rating these teams based on how much faith he has in them to get the job done in September.

“I’m going to do this again in four weeks, but the top seven teams you can trust from here to win the premiership,” Lloyd told Sportsday.

“We’re two months out and these are the teams you can trust.”

7. GWS

“Stephen Coniglio gone, Callan Ward gone and in Melbourne I just can’t trust them. I can’t wait to watch them play Port Adelaide. Apart from the weekend they’ve been pretty disappointing.”

6. Collingwood

“I just think their depth is a little bit of an issue, their ball movement is an issue, there’s not too many players in good form and their stars aren’t in great form at the moment.”

5. Essendon

“I think it’s their speed. The speed that they’ve got, they got hold of Hawthorn and there’s not too many teams like them. They have Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti, Orazio Fantasia, Zach Merrett’s got speed, Adam Saad and Conor McKenna. There’s just five or six of them. Not having Tom Bellchambers in the ruck could come back to haunt them come the business end.”

4. Brisbane

“I just think their experience come the business end might hurt them, but they are dynamic.”

3. Geelong

“I still think that game buffer on top of the ladder is important.”

2. West Coast

“I’ve got them at two because I think they’ll get two home finals. I’m a little bit concerned about their recent form, but at home they’re still scary.”

1. Richmond

“At number one is the Tigers because I think it’s all coming together at the right time for them. Toby Nankervis back this week as well.”

https://www.sen.com.au/news/2019/07/23/lloyd-ranks-the-top-seven-teams-he-trusts-to-win-the-flag/

[wayne]

Next minute, the big dumb yank inspires the Pies to a win and everyones predictions change next week.

[pmac21]

Your always only one bad game from being in the media headlights.  They have no idea.