What Your Team Wants For Christmas
Christmas is here and everyone has their eyes on a new set of golf clubs, a few books or maybe even just some socks. But what do the 18 AFL clubs have at the top of their lists? We took at look at what each team is hoping to wake up to on Christmas morning.
Adelaide
A medal for Tex or Rory
Adelaide are a quality outfit, but if Tex Walker or Rory Sloane are able to take their game to the level needed to win a Coleman or Brownlow the Crows will be right in the mix for a flag tilt.
Brisbane
Their youth to develop ASAP
By all accounts the Lions have a bumper draft crop, but with little top end talent in the side to prop things up they’ll be hoping the young cubs don’t take too long to find their feet.
Carlton
A private jet
The Blues have two trips all the way over to Perth, so the added comfort of a private jet would make the world of difference. I wonder if the Pratt’s have any spare cash hanging around?
Collingwood
Lachie Keeffe to slot right back in
Tall defender stocks at Collingwood are bare, very very bare. Having missed two years of footy the Pies need Keeffe to slot back into the back six quick smart so that they aren’t hammered by multiple tall forwards from the opposition.
Essendon
An incident free off season
The Dons have had nothing but headline after headline written about them for the last four years for all the wrong reasons. Now with the supplement sage done and dusted (please let it be over) a pre-season without any off the field incidents would be a dream come true.
Fremantle
No more pre-season injuries
Post season 2016 has gone about as well as in season 2016 for Freo. The injury list is already piling up so anymore before they return to the track in 2017 would be a disaster.
Geelong
Their conditioning staff to be at the top of their game
The cats have a six-day turnaround eight times through the season (the equal most in the league). To contend in finals they’ll need to be fighting fit in their best 22 as the depth starts to tail away quickly after that.
Gold Coast
An injury free Gary Ablett
Gaz is a star, end of story. Getting 22 games out of the dual Brownlow medalist would make a huge difference to even the best teams, so the difference it will make to the lacklustre Suns will be immense.
GWS
More room in their salary cap
There are a heap of Giants out of contract at the end of 2017 and fitting them all into a salary cap that is now at the same level as all other clubs will be a serious task. A little wiggle room from this would make things a lot easier, but we can’t see that happening.
Hawthorn
Jaeger not to be a flop
It’s been well publicised that the Hawks went to some extreme lengths to clear enough room in thier salary cap to fit in Rising Star winner O’Meara into their list. If the former Sun breaks down with another long term injury or doesn’t perform to his expected level that strategy will be in for some hefty criticism.
Melbourne
A seamless post-Roos transition
The Messiah has come and gone, building the Dees up from a basket case into a team expected to contend for a final berth in 2017. If all goes to plan Simon Goodwin will continue that upward trend.
North Melbourne
Fans to turn up
North supporters were rightfully livid at the club for how it handled the sacking of several club greats at the end of the season. If the Roos start the year off badly don’t expect supports to keep showing up as they turn that bitterness into empty seats.
Port Adelaide
Mandarin classes for the club
Port put themselves out there by championing the China experiment. The club has only recently turned its finances around, so a failure here could have them heading down an old path.
Richmond
Stability through the club
Board challenges are a clear sign that all is not well at a football club. Richmond haven’t been performing on the field so that has led to instability off it. For the Tigers to improve they’ll need everyone in the same boat working toward the same goal, on and off the track.
St Kilda
McCartin to overtake Riewoldt as the number one forward
Nick Riewoldt has for far too long been the Saints saviour, but that can only last for so much longer. To ensure they have a strong presence unforward for years to come they need Paddy to step up into that number one forward roll before Roo retires.
Sydney
History for Alex Johnson
After five knee reconstructions Alex Johnson will be creating history if he manages to make it back and play an AFL game. Footy can be a cruel game, but this would be the good news story of the year. Here’s hoping.
West Coast
Another Coleman for Kennedy
To contend for a Grand Final the Eagles will need Kennedy to be in Coleman medal winning form, simple as that.
Western Bulldogs
History to repeat itself for Bob
The only draw back from the fairytale story of the Dogs 2016 season was that Bob Murphy had to watch it from the sidelines. Having led the club from it’s low points it’s only fair that Murph be there to play during the highest.
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