David Harding
Cain Lynch2010 Predictions (Before List Changes)
January 29th 2010 05:39
The second season of the Tasmanian State League will see the same 10 teams go forward again, and fight it out for the 2010 Premiership. The first Statewide league season since the death of Statewide football in 9 years saw the Roos who were dominate in the 1990s of the TFL walk away with the flag, taking the cup away from Glenorchy who had won the last two SFL Premier League Premierships. Launceston who were the heavy favourites for the flag eary in the year, they managed to fail to fire a shot in the TSL Finals. They had a good start, their middle of the season fell apart, and then they tried to recover the season. North Hobart had a mixed season themselves, but they went out in back fashion against the eventual premiers.
Devonport started well, and were looking to be a wild card in the finals a team that were not expected to be in the finals or around the top end of the table, started to to have people believing that Coastal rivalry was going to go one further being a 1-2 finish. Devonport went on an 8 game losing streak, which almost saw them bow out of the finals before ever making it. They got to the finals and they blew past the Blues, a feat that had a lot of people surprised. Glenorchy were not early favourites for the flag, they were a contender to some, to others they weren't well they had an awesome season, but they failed to take out the title but they went from 5th to 1st with a massive 9 game winning streak, after the hiccup against the Tigers before the State of Origin break, which saw Tasmania score a historic win against the Queensland side.
Burnie took over this seasons favourites tag, with a strong showing most of the season, but they started to take their foot off the pedal and they surrendered top spot to Glenorchy, and then the finals came and they were blown away at Bellerive Oval by a hungry Magpie team who wanted to avenge the 2 point loss early in the season by 2 points. Burnie looked strong against Clarence at Aurora Stadium, even had the chance for playing coach Justin Plapp to win the game for them, but plapp missed a kick on goal and the fighting Dockers fell short in the best final this season.
That there is my run down of the contenders this season, how about those who were not going to figure in this? South Launceston looked like they were going to go through this season without a win, they travelled South and played North Hobart, a game I tipped as an easy win for the Demons but a spirited young Bulldogs side managed to win the game by 2 points, and you know the Dogs loved this win as Marjek Miar went and showered in the North Hobart change rooms. The Dogs managed to take another big name, again in a tight tussle, you just thought maybhe they would do enough to get off the bottom of the table, but that was all they would do they won the spoon for the season. Lauderdale played in their first TSL season, and they managed to at times stand up, but a lot of the time they were out of their depth they pulled off the occasional win here and there even got a big name, but they missed the finals.
Hobart were the Tigers of old, but they were not strong, and bold, they managed a few wins, and even claimed the big scalp of Glenorchy early, this was after the Magpies had flogged them back in Round 1 by 94 points. Glenorchy had a massive fight back (the same as the 2009 Grand final!) to almost claim the points, but the Tigers escaped the TCA Ground with the win, but the next time they met, they lost the points, and lost forward Patrick Bass for the season. Graeme Fox took over midseason for Todd Lewis who was sent packing mid season, there was a minor revival in part, but the Tigers still didn't roar.
North Launceston, remember them? The Bombers were a force in the 1990s when David Rhys-Jones came and took over the coaching role, taking them to a flag over the Roos, and making them a dangerous side, and team to be feared, since then Rod Hill took them to a Grand final which saw the Magpies turn around a season that could have been a car crash, and turn it into their first flag since 1988. Hill left, and then the Bombers faced off against the Roos again in the 2000 Grand Final, the first Grand final away from North Hobart Oval, and the biggest flop in Grand Final history, on a miserably wet day at Launceston a poor crowd watched the final TFL Grand Final, oh and Clarence won, for the record. But anyway, back on the Bombers, they had a mixed season, they had big wins here and there but they failed to land any blow that could see them play finals, they were left to sit and watch the finals from Launceston. It was probably a good thing, a few one sided results would have made anyone wish they'd stayed home.
So that's the analogy of the season, and the lead in to my first ever predictions I am going to take this chance to stick my neck out before the list changes come in, and by all reports Burnie are looking at a miserable 2010, if the rumours are true the North West Coast will be trying to go into early hibernation. It is already confirmed that Justin Plapp has hung up the boots and left the Dockers, he is off to Box Hill as a part time coach there for the Hawks joining another former Tasmanian in Brendon Bolton who is already there as a coach. Matthew Geappen has made his way back to the Eastern Shore after a successful knee surgery to be apart of the Roos as his brother coaches him. Clinton Brown will be coaching the Demons, with former Magpie Nathan Street who comes back to Tasmania will be his assistant. Ben Setchell retires affter a long and pretty decent career after crossing to the Devils from Werribee, and playing for the Roos.
Now it's time to predict, in alphabetical order...
2010 Predictions
Burnie
2009 Finish: 2nd
Predicted Finish: 3-6
Likely Finish: 3rd
Analysis
The Dockers played above themselves for most of the seaosn and then they fell away, they limped over the line to get to where they were and were lucky not to have given up 2nd spot to Clarence. The loses of Luke Russell, Clinton Brown, Tyson Mihocek and Justin Plapp at the moment are big loses for the Dockers for the 2010 season. Strong rumours suggest there are more on the way out at the Dockers, but if they can manage to recruit, they should have a massive impact unless they've lost more then they can recover.
I believe they are a top three side and could make a late run for 2nd if they are on their toes, and do not have a midseason fade out that will cost them again.
Clarence
2009 Finish: 3rd
Predicted Finish: 1-2
Likely Finish: 2nd
Analysis
The Roos had a big season, they managed to finish 3rd in a spot they had not thought they would get at the start of the seaosn, even a few loses made them think they were going to maybe miss out as the table was jammed there for most of the middle season. The Roos have only at this stage lost Jeromey Webberley, and Ben Setchell, Setchell to reitrement, and Webberley was a surprise draftee at last months National Draft. This lose however has been well filled by Matthew Geappen who returns after a knee injury and a couple of season as the Demons coach where he failed to assist the Demons to a flag.
The Roos managed to build themselves a fortress at Bellerive Oval this season, and got out of this season unbeaten there which assisted them in a Premiership which no one really expected, as most had Launceston as the unbackable favourites before the season started, and after the season opener when they beat a young Magpie side. If the Roos can keep their winning streak at Bellerive Oval alive and keep themselves on the winners list they can finish between 1st and 2nd on the TSL ladder.
Devonport
2009 Finish: 4th
Predicted Finish 3-6
Likely Finish: 4th
Analysis
The Magpies were a surprise packet early in the season, they got themselves to 2nd spot on the ladder and they never looked like letting go of that spot on the ladder, well that was until they went on an 8 game losing streak which also saw them lose to the bottom placed South Launceston and fail to use the home ground wind to win the battle of the Magpies. There were times on the run home that they looked like they were not going to take any part in the finals series, but the Magpies regained their form, and even took an upset first final win against the Blues.
But that was it for the Magpies, this was a team that played in 2 Grand Finals in a row and lost them both beaten soundly by Launceston in their last NTFL Grand Final appearance. This was why the Blues were given the favoruitism for the flag early on, but the Magpies managed to slam the door shut on a finals revival for the Blues.
Glenorchy
2009 Finsh: 1st
Predicted Finish: 1-2
Likely Finish: 1st
Analysis
Call me biased but when I look at the Glenorchy side I see a team that can take out another minor premiership and possibly the premiership. The Magpies have only lost one player so far and that was Ryan Harwood who was taken by the Brisbane Lions, another Magpie premiership player off to play for the Lions. He lines up next to Aaron Cornelius who the Magpies probably could have used in that Grand Final loss.
Glenorchy have a very young side, they have three men who are close to retiring David Kameric who injured his knee and missed the rest of 2009, Jamie Kaye who injured his back and missed a lot of the 2009 season. Chris Glenn is getting on in years as well, but he still maanges to bob up here and there and gets the ball. The young Magpies in Jaye Bowden, David Hunt, Jake Cox, Daniel Muir, David O'Garey, Bryce O'Garey, Nathan Matthews, Marcus Parker make the Magpies what they are. Along with veterans in Jesse Crouch, Shane Piuselli, and Mark Corbett.
The Magpies still have a few aces up their sleeves, and if they manage to pick up New Norfolk pair Nathan Ross and Eagles captain Brad Carver it could bolster and already talented list.
Hobart
2009 Finish: 8th
Predicted Finish: 5-9
Likely Finish: 9th
Analysis
Not the best season for the Tigers, they returned to their old Tigers colours, and removed the Lions of old and tried to put to rest their last 10 years of turmoil since their last premiership which was in the STFL before the likes of Glenorchy, North Hobart, Clarence all came calling for the league. Hobart pulled off their biggest win against Glenorchy by a goal, they were close to 45 points up going into the last quarter and Glenorchy came home with a wet sail the Tigers barely managed to hold onto that win, that would be the Magpies last loss until Grand final day.
The Tigers managed to picked up a few wins past that point but weren't able to really get anywhere this season, they lost their coach mid season and had a former Magpie and Tiger in Graeme Fox come in and coach the club. They lost Patrick Bass for the season after their next lost to Glenorchy which was not as bad as their round 1 smashing from the Magpies. I think that the Tigers are still in a bit of a rebuilding period, unless they are able to recruit some players in the offseason I see about the same happening as this season, mind you the 9th finish I am giving them is probably a bit harsh, but this is before the list changes that are going to come after Christmas and into the new year before the 2010 season begins.
Lauderdale
2009 Finish: 9th
Predicted Finish: 6-10
Likely Finish: 8th
Analysis
Their first ever season in the Statewide League and this was an uphill battle for the Bombers, some have the opinion they did not deserve to be there, well they tried to impress but they didn't really get to the heights they would have set for themselves. They likely to lose Cameron Milne should he be rookie listed this month in the Rookie Draft, Cam De Gooyer and maybe even Kane Richter also leaving the 'Dale for maybe a return to the Demons. Who knows? The Bombers need to find a way to recruit some names, and get themselves a competive line up. Right now they are going to not get that far out of the bottom area of the ladder.
Launceston
2009 Finish: 5th
Predicted Finish: 5-7
Likely Finish: 5th
Analysis
I am not sold on the Blues, once Adam Derbyshire went down, they were lost, they failed to fire and they failed to impress and even when he came back they had that period that they didn't seem like they could buy a win. They really did struggle in the second half of the season to get to finals, it was probably just dumb luck that they made it in the end. The NTFL Reigning premiers won the season opener against Glenorchy, a side that was missing a fair few players should the game have been played late in the season like it wa scheduled the Blues may have been shown up.
I do not see the Blues as a threat to the flag next season, their hot and cold spells make me think that they are going to again find the goings tough next season. I could be very wrong about the Blues, but they do not strike me as a contender at the present moment.
North Hobart
2009 Finish: 6th
Predicted Finish: 4-7
Likely Finish: 6th
Analysis
The Demons started the season looking good, they managed to beat the Roos in Round 1 at North Hobart, a come from behind win which would have given the young Demons a real big boost for the season ahead after they were smashed by Glenorchy the season before in the Grand Final, the last of the Premier League Grand Finals. The Demons were shown up a few times throughout the season, spent some time out of the 6, some may have been saying that they were not going to make the finals, their last round game probably wasn't the best way to enter the finals. The Demons traveled to Bellerive Oval and were blown out of out the water but the worst part of their season was the loss of Matthew Geappen for the season, and possibly for good with a knee injury. At season's end Geappen did not want to retain his position as coach, and left the club.
The Demons have also lost young gun Marcus Davies, drafted to Carlton, the Demons have picked up Clinton Brown from Burnie as their coach, and Nathan Street who has made his return to Tasmania to play for them, he will be their assistant coach. It remains to be seen how Brown goes as a coach for the Demons, he has the experienced for Magpie and Devils midfielder Nathan Street there as an assistant so this could be a good partnership for them.
North Launceston
2009 Finish: 7th
Predicted Finish: 6-7
Likely Finish: 7th
Analysis
The main loss right now for the Bombers was Jesse Crichton who is off to the Fremantle Dockers and will start a new career in the West, while his former side the Bombers look at how they are going to go about their season in 2010. The Bombers had some injuries, had a lot of inconsistent performances throughout the season, and just failed to really live upto their old selves. They did lose Ty Stewart to a knee in Round 12, for the season which was a big blow to them and other injuries too throughout the season worked against the Bombers.
I do not see a big improvement by the Bombers, they have to recruit, with the rumours of them possibly losing Shane Wager ahead of the next seaosn, that could add more worry to the bombers. But they do have an exciting young forward in Darren Crawford, if he was more accuate in his shots on goal he could have easily have helped the Bombers in more games. He has a poor goals to behinds ratio and I would hope he has been looking at making himself a new more accurate small forward.
South Launceston
2009 Finish: 10th
Predicted Finish: 9-10
Likely Finish: 10th
Analysis
The young Dogs, one of the most unsuccessful teams in the past Statewide League, they entered the league and were never really a force. Even in the NTFL the Bulldogs were never a team that struck fear into the hearts of any side. But this season they managed 2 big wins, which were close games, they beat Devonport and North Hobart, but very close, both I expected them to be pumped. But the Bulldogs travelled down to North Hobart Oval, and they faced a Demons side on a wet ground and managed to take home a two point win. And to add insult to injury Marjek Miar, went and showered in the North Hobart rooms, why? Well there was no more hot water in the Dogs rooms and he wanted a hot shower.
The Bulldogs failed to make the most of this big win, and they failed to make the most of their other win as well, they were pumped the week after both wins and were pumped most of the season. I do not see much changes here, unless there are some big recruits coming into the Dogs line up which could happen when the list changes start happening. But right now its looking likely that either the Dogs will take the spoon, or if rumours are true and the Dockers have the mass walk out, the Dockers could.
Devonport started well, and were looking to be a wild card in the finals a team that were not expected to be in the finals or around the top end of the table, started to to have people believing that Coastal rivalry was going to go one further being a 1-2 finish. Devonport went on an 8 game losing streak, which almost saw them bow out of the finals before ever making it. They got to the finals and they blew past the Blues, a feat that had a lot of people surprised. Glenorchy were not early favourites for the flag, they were a contender to some, to others they weren't well they had an awesome season, but they failed to take out the title but they went from 5th to 1st with a massive 9 game winning streak, after the hiccup against the Tigers before the State of Origin break, which saw Tasmania score a historic win against the Queensland side.
Burnie took over this seasons favourites tag, with a strong showing most of the season, but they started to take their foot off the pedal and they surrendered top spot to Glenorchy, and then the finals came and they were blown away at Bellerive Oval by a hungry Magpie team who wanted to avenge the 2 point loss early in the season by 2 points. Burnie looked strong against Clarence at Aurora Stadium, even had the chance for playing coach Justin Plapp to win the game for them, but plapp missed a kick on goal and the fighting Dockers fell short in the best final this season.
That there is my run down of the contenders this season, how about those who were not going to figure in this? South Launceston looked like they were going to go through this season without a win, they travelled South and played North Hobart, a game I tipped as an easy win for the Demons but a spirited young Bulldogs side managed to win the game by 2 points, and you know the Dogs loved this win as Marjek Miar went and showered in the North Hobart change rooms. The Dogs managed to take another big name, again in a tight tussle, you just thought maybhe they would do enough to get off the bottom of the table, but that was all they would do they won the spoon for the season. Lauderdale played in their first TSL season, and they managed to at times stand up, but a lot of the time they were out of their depth they pulled off the occasional win here and there even got a big name, but they missed the finals.
Hobart were the Tigers of old, but they were not strong, and bold, they managed a few wins, and even claimed the big scalp of Glenorchy early, this was after the Magpies had flogged them back in Round 1 by 94 points. Glenorchy had a massive fight back (the same as the 2009 Grand final!) to almost claim the points, but the Tigers escaped the TCA Ground with the win, but the next time they met, they lost the points, and lost forward Patrick Bass for the season. Graeme Fox took over midseason for Todd Lewis who was sent packing mid season, there was a minor revival in part, but the Tigers still didn't roar.
North Launceston, remember them? The Bombers were a force in the 1990s when David Rhys-Jones came and took over the coaching role, taking them to a flag over the Roos, and making them a dangerous side, and team to be feared, since then Rod Hill took them to a Grand final which saw the Magpies turn around a season that could have been a car crash, and turn it into their first flag since 1988. Hill left, and then the Bombers faced off against the Roos again in the 2000 Grand Final, the first Grand final away from North Hobart Oval, and the biggest flop in Grand Final history, on a miserably wet day at Launceston a poor crowd watched the final TFL Grand Final, oh and Clarence won, for the record. But anyway, back on the Bombers, they had a mixed season, they had big wins here and there but they failed to land any blow that could see them play finals, they were left to sit and watch the finals from Launceston. It was probably a good thing, a few one sided results would have made anyone wish they'd stayed home.
So that's the analogy of the season, and the lead in to my first ever predictions I am going to take this chance to stick my neck out before the list changes come in, and by all reports Burnie are looking at a miserable 2010, if the rumours are true the North West Coast will be trying to go into early hibernation. It is already confirmed that Justin Plapp has hung up the boots and left the Dockers, he is off to Box Hill as a part time coach there for the Hawks joining another former Tasmanian in Brendon Bolton who is already there as a coach. Matthew Geappen has made his way back to the Eastern Shore after a successful knee surgery to be apart of the Roos as his brother coaches him. Clinton Brown will be coaching the Demons, with former Magpie Nathan Street who comes back to Tasmania will be his assistant. Ben Setchell retires affter a long and pretty decent career after crossing to the Devils from Werribee, and playing for the Roos.
Now it's time to predict, in alphabetical order...
2010 Predictions
Burnie
2009 Finish: 2nd
Predicted Finish: 3-6
Likely Finish: 3rd
Analysis
The Dockers played above themselves for most of the seaosn and then they fell away, they limped over the line to get to where they were and were lucky not to have given up 2nd spot to Clarence. The loses of Luke Russell, Clinton Brown, Tyson Mihocek and Justin Plapp at the moment are big loses for the Dockers for the 2010 season. Strong rumours suggest there are more on the way out at the Dockers, but if they can manage to recruit, they should have a massive impact unless they've lost more then they can recover.
I believe they are a top three side and could make a late run for 2nd if they are on their toes, and do not have a midseason fade out that will cost them again.
Clarence
2009 Finish: 3rd
Predicted Finish: 1-2
Likely Finish: 2nd
Analysis
The Roos had a big season, they managed to finish 3rd in a spot they had not thought they would get at the start of the seaosn, even a few loses made them think they were going to maybe miss out as the table was jammed there for most of the middle season. The Roos have only at this stage lost Jeromey Webberley, and Ben Setchell, Setchell to reitrement, and Webberley was a surprise draftee at last months National Draft. This lose however has been well filled by Matthew Geappen who returns after a knee injury and a couple of season as the Demons coach where he failed to assist the Demons to a flag.
The Roos managed to build themselves a fortress at Bellerive Oval this season, and got out of this season unbeaten there which assisted them in a Premiership which no one really expected, as most had Launceston as the unbackable favourites before the season started, and after the season opener when they beat a young Magpie side. If the Roos can keep their winning streak at Bellerive Oval alive and keep themselves on the winners list they can finish between 1st and 2nd on the TSL ladder.
Devonport
2009 Finish: 4th
Predicted Finish 3-6
Likely Finish: 4th
Analysis
The Magpies were a surprise packet early in the season, they got themselves to 2nd spot on the ladder and they never looked like letting go of that spot on the ladder, well that was until they went on an 8 game losing streak which also saw them lose to the bottom placed South Launceston and fail to use the home ground wind to win the battle of the Magpies. There were times on the run home that they looked like they were not going to take any part in the finals series, but the Magpies regained their form, and even took an upset first final win against the Blues.
But that was it for the Magpies, this was a team that played in 2 Grand Finals in a row and lost them both beaten soundly by Launceston in their last NTFL Grand Final appearance. This was why the Blues were given the favoruitism for the flag early on, but the Magpies managed to slam the door shut on a finals revival for the Blues.
Glenorchy
2009 Finsh: 1st
Predicted Finish: 1-2
Likely Finish: 1st
Analysis
Call me biased but when I look at the Glenorchy side I see a team that can take out another minor premiership and possibly the premiership. The Magpies have only lost one player so far and that was Ryan Harwood who was taken by the Brisbane Lions, another Magpie premiership player off to play for the Lions. He lines up next to Aaron Cornelius who the Magpies probably could have used in that Grand Final loss.
Glenorchy have a very young side, they have three men who are close to retiring David Kameric who injured his knee and missed the rest of 2009, Jamie Kaye who injured his back and missed a lot of the 2009 season. Chris Glenn is getting on in years as well, but he still maanges to bob up here and there and gets the ball. The young Magpies in Jaye Bowden, David Hunt, Jake Cox, Daniel Muir, David O'Garey, Bryce O'Garey, Nathan Matthews, Marcus Parker make the Magpies what they are. Along with veterans in Jesse Crouch, Shane Piuselli, and Mark Corbett.
The Magpies still have a few aces up their sleeves, and if they manage to pick up New Norfolk pair Nathan Ross and Eagles captain Brad Carver it could bolster and already talented list.
Hobart
2009 Finish: 8th
Predicted Finish: 5-9
Likely Finish: 9th
Analysis
Not the best season for the Tigers, they returned to their old Tigers colours, and removed the Lions of old and tried to put to rest their last 10 years of turmoil since their last premiership which was in the STFL before the likes of Glenorchy, North Hobart, Clarence all came calling for the league. Hobart pulled off their biggest win against Glenorchy by a goal, they were close to 45 points up going into the last quarter and Glenorchy came home with a wet sail the Tigers barely managed to hold onto that win, that would be the Magpies last loss until Grand final day.
The Tigers managed to picked up a few wins past that point but weren't able to really get anywhere this season, they lost their coach mid season and had a former Magpie and Tiger in Graeme Fox come in and coach the club. They lost Patrick Bass for the season after their next lost to Glenorchy which was not as bad as their round 1 smashing from the Magpies. I think that the Tigers are still in a bit of a rebuilding period, unless they are able to recruit some players in the offseason I see about the same happening as this season, mind you the 9th finish I am giving them is probably a bit harsh, but this is before the list changes that are going to come after Christmas and into the new year before the 2010 season begins.
Lauderdale
2009 Finish: 9th
Predicted Finish: 6-10
Likely Finish: 8th
Analysis
Their first ever season in the Statewide League and this was an uphill battle for the Bombers, some have the opinion they did not deserve to be there, well they tried to impress but they didn't really get to the heights they would have set for themselves. They likely to lose Cameron Milne should he be rookie listed this month in the Rookie Draft, Cam De Gooyer and maybe even Kane Richter also leaving the 'Dale for maybe a return to the Demons. Who knows? The Bombers need to find a way to recruit some names, and get themselves a competive line up. Right now they are going to not get that far out of the bottom area of the ladder.
Launceston
2009 Finish: 5th
Predicted Finish: 5-7
Likely Finish: 5th
Analysis
I am not sold on the Blues, once Adam Derbyshire went down, they were lost, they failed to fire and they failed to impress and even when he came back they had that period that they didn't seem like they could buy a win. They really did struggle in the second half of the season to get to finals, it was probably just dumb luck that they made it in the end. The NTFL Reigning premiers won the season opener against Glenorchy, a side that was missing a fair few players should the game have been played late in the season like it wa scheduled the Blues may have been shown up.
I do not see the Blues as a threat to the flag next season, their hot and cold spells make me think that they are going to again find the goings tough next season. I could be very wrong about the Blues, but they do not strike me as a contender at the present moment.
North Hobart
2009 Finish: 6th
Predicted Finish: 4-7
Likely Finish: 6th
Analysis
The Demons started the season looking good, they managed to beat the Roos in Round 1 at North Hobart, a come from behind win which would have given the young Demons a real big boost for the season ahead after they were smashed by Glenorchy the season before in the Grand Final, the last of the Premier League Grand Finals. The Demons were shown up a few times throughout the season, spent some time out of the 6, some may have been saying that they were not going to make the finals, their last round game probably wasn't the best way to enter the finals. The Demons traveled to Bellerive Oval and were blown out of out the water but the worst part of their season was the loss of Matthew Geappen for the season, and possibly for good with a knee injury. At season's end Geappen did not want to retain his position as coach, and left the club.
The Demons have also lost young gun Marcus Davies, drafted to Carlton, the Demons have picked up Clinton Brown from Burnie as their coach, and Nathan Street who has made his return to Tasmania to play for them, he will be their assistant coach. It remains to be seen how Brown goes as a coach for the Demons, he has the experienced for Magpie and Devils midfielder Nathan Street there as an assistant so this could be a good partnership for them.
North Launceston
2009 Finish: 7th
Predicted Finish: 6-7
Likely Finish: 7th
Analysis
The main loss right now for the Bombers was Jesse Crichton who is off to the Fremantle Dockers and will start a new career in the West, while his former side the Bombers look at how they are going to go about their season in 2010. The Bombers had some injuries, had a lot of inconsistent performances throughout the season, and just failed to really live upto their old selves. They did lose Ty Stewart to a knee in Round 12, for the season which was a big blow to them and other injuries too throughout the season worked against the Bombers.
I do not see a big improvement by the Bombers, they have to recruit, with the rumours of them possibly losing Shane Wager ahead of the next seaosn, that could add more worry to the bombers. But they do have an exciting young forward in Darren Crawford, if he was more accuate in his shots on goal he could have easily have helped the Bombers in more games. He has a poor goals to behinds ratio and I would hope he has been looking at making himself a new more accurate small forward.
South Launceston
2009 Finish: 10th
Predicted Finish: 9-10
Likely Finish: 10th
Analysis
The young Dogs, one of the most unsuccessful teams in the past Statewide League, they entered the league and were never really a force. Even in the NTFL the Bulldogs were never a team that struck fear into the hearts of any side. But this season they managed 2 big wins, which were close games, they beat Devonport and North Hobart, but very close, both I expected them to be pumped. But the Bulldogs travelled down to North Hobart Oval, and they faced a Demons side on a wet ground and managed to take home a two point win. And to add insult to injury Marjek Miar, went and showered in the North Hobart rooms, why? Well there was no more hot water in the Dogs rooms and he wanted a hot shower.
The Bulldogs failed to make the most of this big win, and they failed to make the most of their other win as well, they were pumped the week after both wins and were pumped most of the season. I do not see much changes here, unless there are some big recruits coming into the Dogs line up which could happen when the list changes start happening. But right now its looking likely that either the Dogs will take the spoon, or if rumours are true and the Dockers have the mass walk out, the Dockers could.
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