Some called it the Power Rangers’ stance. In the 2017 AFL finals series, Adelaide eschewed tradition during the Australian national anthem to stand, side-by-side, staring down their opponents with arms clenched. Chris Scott, in the pre-game build-up to their preliminary final showdown, laughed it off as an ineffective intimidation tactic. But whatever they were doing, it was working. Adelaide swept aside premiership fancies GWS and Geelong in succession, cruising into the grand final after finishing minor premiers. The rest, of course, is red-faced history, and the Crows were not so mighty morphin’ after an embarrassing capitulation at the ‘G.
Come 2018, there is hope yet that the Crows will again morph into a menacing force. Prodigal son Bryce Gibbs has finally arrived, albeit a year too late and for a handsome price. In a midfield that also boasts the vastly improved Crouch brothers, it is likely his arrival will take some of the heat (and tagging pressure) off Rory Sloane, so critical to his side’s fortunes – if he stays, of course. The Crows will be hoping he follows in the footsteps of Dustin Martin and Josh Kelly when it comes to his contract negotiations; external pressure forcing him to take that extra step into the indisputable elite.
Should all go to plan for the Crows, there is no reason they could not top the ladder once more, although Jake Lever’s loss cannot be overstated. Certainly, Adelaide has been here before, recovering remarkably from the loss of Phil Davis, Kurt Tippett and so many more. Lever, however, has all the makings of an All-Australian half-back, while the Crows have already lost Brodie Smith to a knee reconstruction. Charlie Cameron, although less spoken about, also leaves the forward line with considerably less spark at the feet of Tex Walker, himself yet to overcome a plantar fascia strain that robbed him of any pre-season. In his place, look for draft slider Darcy Fogarty to woo the loyalists of West Lakes.
If not Adelaide, then who? The obvious answer is Richmond, but enough has already been written on them. Given two consecutive fairytale premierships, many have touted Melbourne as the team most likely to break their own historic drought – now the league’s longest. Lever’s addition, arguably the recruit of the off-season, will go a long way toward fulfilling that aim. Alongside Michael Hibberd, who has been excellent since crossing from Essendon, the pair will provide the intercept, run and carry necessary for the Dees to penetrate from half-back. In the middle, Max Gawn is back to peak fitness and the premier ruckman of the competition, while Clayton Oliver is primed to step up yet again. Christian Petracca, meanwhile, is the obvious breakout contender set to take his game to another level.
Still, Melbourne are a team notoriously difficult to trust – for good reason. The most recent example was their inability to display any heart or fight with a finals spot on the line against Collingwood in the final round of the 2017 season. Captain Jack Viney’s return is a boost in that regard and he is on track to play in round one after having returned too soon from injury last season. Jesse Hogan, meanwhile, can’t possibly have a worse off-field year than his last – and will be a formidable opponent now he can (hopefully) focus on football.
The other Victorian team impossible to trust is the Western Bulldogs, whose virtually media silent off-season suggests there have been further internal movements to redress their disastrous premiership defence. The moving on of Jake Stringer – despite initial fan outrage – was just the kind of bold move needed to address purported cultural issues. Whether he was a lone ranger, or part of a broader rat pack, remains to be seen as rumours continue to swirl about the Dogs also having been keen to trade Luke Dahlhaus, Tom Liberatore and Clay Smith. As livid as Luke Beveridge has been that those names were floated publicly, he will know that the best way to respond is on-field, with a return to the rabid pressure and hunger that made them the envy of the league in 2016.
Already, however, the Dogs have their worries, down back in particular. Dale Morris is out for an extended period with a small tear to his ACL, while Marcus Adams is set to miss several months with a high grade syndesmosis injury. It is surprising in this context that Beveridge wants to persist with his trial of Easton Wood as a forward, although with Liam Picken missing for an indefinite period with concussion issues, and leading 2015-17 goal-scorer Stringer gone, one can see the coach’s logic. Time will tell if a taller Bulldogs side than ever – thanks to the addition of Josh Schache the acquisition of Jackson Trengove amongst others – will prove a shrewd move in the model of the Crows’ tall towers, or a failure to read the tea leaves after Richmond’s success with its mosquito fleet.
Further north, the Dogs’ rivals in western Sydney will be looking to shake the preliminary final curse that has now come to define their short history. Unlucky against the Bulldogs in 2016, the Giants capitulated in 2017 against the Tiger juggernaut, albeit with a horror injury list. They will hope for better luck in 2018 given Victorian clubs have successfully wrested away some of their envied depth. Devon Smith to Essendon is the most likely regret. Still, securing star Josh Kelly’s signature, alongside public enemy Toby Greene, is a significant tick for a club whose premiership window some muse may be closing.
Over the other side of Parramatta Road, it is likewise hard to write off the Swans, so long the architects of avoiding the rebuild. While questions have been asked as to the merit of Lance Franklin’s recruitment, he has started the pre-season in ominous form, indicating this may finally be the year their significant gamble pays off. In that respect, that the much-maligned Kurt Tippett is gone may prove to be a blessing in disguise given how much has been made of salary pressure and cap space. In the absence of trading stars in, the Swans have yet again backed in their younger players, and famed team culture, to take them a step forward. Let us not forget, either, that this team won 15 games of 17 after a horror start to the 2017 season.
And how could we forget Geelong, particularly in the context of the return of their own prodigal son. Gary Ablett Jr has struggled with injury in recent years, but in the context of names like Patrick Dangerfield and Joel Selwood, his acquisition is more than just sentimental. While attention has understandably been on Ablett, however, it may be another midfielder by the name of Mitch Duncan whose game is spoken about on par with Dangerwood this season. All the signs were there in the JLT, while the club has yet again proved its recruitment second to none, Tim Kelly a ready-made player in line for a round one debut.
With apologies to Port Adelaide, Essendon is likely the final wildcard worth mentioning. Stringer, as Dogs fans well know, could be anything, and Adrian Dodoro’s typically poker face trade period performance delivered him on the cheap. The same is true of the deal struck by the Dons with GWS and Gold Coast for Smith and Adam Saad, shoring up the Bombers’ pace. Once again, Joe Daniher will have to shoulder more expectation than a player of his age and height may normally expect, but so far, he has delivered admirably. It’s a shame the Dons didn’t somehow manufacture Lever’s acquisition in the trade period, because alongside Michael Hurley, he may have been just the puzzle piece needed to deliver the ultimate prize to Tullamarine after years in the wilderness.
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