Who will be our challengers in 2021?

[mightytiges]

It goes the other way too. One top 4 club from the previous year crashes out of the Eight the following year. The Giants were that club in 2020, Melbourne in 2019, Adelaide in 2018 thanks to their camping trip  and the Dogs in 2017 after their last flag. Touchwood it isn't us and we instead three-peat  . That leaves one of Geelong, Port or Brisbane to miss the finals this year. Be hilarious if it's the Cats that crash in 2021 as they've gone all in again with their Dad's Army recruiting. 

[lamington]

Please be Geelong!!!!

[one-eyed]

CATS KEEN TO EMBRACE PUBLIC HYPE FOR 2021

IT is only January but Geelong is already embracing the public’s expectations that it can go one better than 2020 following its off-season recruiting spree.

https://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/sport/afl/geelong-cats-2021-cats-keen-to-embrace-public-hype-for-2021/news-story/f758a330408d076acfc71b3be6761f9c

[one-eyed]

Port is another club talking premierships in January while WA reporters asked Simpson if the Eagles are a top 2 team.

https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-2021-port-adelaide-ken-hinkley-coaching-contract-david-koch-finals-or-bust/news-story/a075dbb414dd91b9dea7904f1de988ac

-----------------------------------------------------------

When asked if he thought the Eagles were a top two team this year, Simpson admitted there’s too many variables to know at this stage of the year.

“I don’t know, it’s really hard to tell (if we’re a top two team this year). I’d love to think that’s the case, but it’s really difficult to project the draw, which team’s going to bounce up, injuries, anything off the field that’s happening,” he said.

Source: SEN

[one-eyed]

The latest premiership odds by the way:

                     $
Richmond       4
Geelong         5 .... in from 6 over past month
Brisbane         8
Port Adelaide  9
West Coast     9
W.Bulldogs    13 ... in from 15
Collingwood   14
St Kilda         17
GWS             17
Melbourne     26
Carlton          34
Fremantle      51
Hawthorn       51
Essendon       67
Adelaide        81
Gold Coast     81
Sydney          81
North Melb.  201

Source: TAB

[georgies31]

Same as last year big talking Port and cats.

[Lozza]

Always interesting to compare the current odds to what they are after the first game of the season, teams tend to get written off by the "experts" pretty early following a poor performance.

[Rampsation]

Im hoping we beat a melbourne based team at the mcg in next years grand final.

[Andyy]

Im hoping we beat a melbourne based team at the mcg in next years grand final.

Haters are running out of excuses aren't they?

I kind of hope it's Port or Brisbane so they can keep complaining that we've beaten another visiting team and none of them have been good for a sustained period etc

[Damo]

Ourselves

[one-eyed]

2021 top four predictions

zerohanger.com
15 January 2021

1. BRISBANE LIONS
Despite suffering some defeats at the end of the 2020 season, the Lions have invested heavily into new signings for the upcoming season and with the addition of Joe Daniher and Nakia Cockatoo – creating a more potent forward line. Added to the new talent coming through like Zac Bailey, they will be a force to be reckoned with.

2. GEELONG CATS
Perhaps the best team that didn’t win in 2020, the Cats have an impressive array of talent, including Coleman Medal Winners Tom Hawkins and Jeremy Cameron. With the power of Shaun Higgins and the stamina of Isaac Smith, the Cats are perfectly placed to make a flag tilt.

3. PORT ADELAIDE
With a coach voted by his peers as the best in the business, and strong youngsters coming through the ranks, there is no reason that the strong and young Port Adelaide Team cannot give current premiers a run for their money and be successful in securing the premiership.

4. RICHMOND
Last year’s winners show no sign of slowing down, and despite some changes to the list, their clear cohesiveness as a team and ability to adapt and overcome make them a strong contender for the flag.

https://www.zerohanger.com/predictions-for-the-2021-afl-season-74914/

[wayne]

Really gone out on a limb with those predictions 

[pmac21]

According to Nicky D.  This is the best midfield in the comp.
(Adam) Treloar, (Marcus) Bontempelli, Jack Macrae, (Lachie) Hunter, (Bailey) Smith, (Josh) Dunkley and ‘Libba’ (Tom Liberatore). 


I think ours compare well with this. 
Dusty, Cotchin, Prestia, Edwards, Lambert, Graham

[one-eyed]

Dangerfield (groin) and now Jeremy Cameron (hammy) injured down at the Cattery. Soft tissue injuries the risk with an old list.

[one-eyed]

Only early February yet St Kilda players are already talking about making the GF.

https://www.sen.com.au/news/2021/02/03/hopefully-a-grand-final-saints-eager-to-push-on-in-2021/