by Josh Barnstable

Ever since Max Rooke grubbered through that final goal of the 2009 Grand Final to put the final nail in the St Kilda coffin, I’ve been waiting for this moment. Not knowing at the time what date this game would be played on, but I knew, like everybody else, that the first game of the 2010 Season would be between rivals Richmond and Carlton. Finally, after almost six months of waiting, that day has arrived. Read the rest of this entry »

By Josh Barnstable

After reading a couple of stories on the Almanac about rivalry and how teams stack up against others in terms of a rivalry, I decided to dedicate this piece to some of the great games that North Melbourne have played against the other teams in the league over the past few years. Read the rest of this entry »

By Josh Barnstable

School athletics have always been fun to me, through primary school years and in high school. In primary school, you strive for that finish line, trying to win points for your house, while in high school, many kids, like myself, would rather go down the street to grab some fish and chips and return to watch the action from the comfort of the high-jump bags. Some just take the day off, like my friend Jeff. Read the rest of this entry »

West Coast Eagles:

Some teams are good, not great, but just good. Sometimes they are great and shoot to the top of the ladder and win the odd premiership, but then they lose some skill and drop down in the top 8. The Eagles used to be like this. 2002, they finished 8^th. 2003, they finished 7^th. 2004, they finished 7^th again. In 2005, the Eagles rose to 2^nd and competed in the Grand Final but lost to the Swans by four points. In 2006, the Eagles were the minor premiers and the real premiers, defeating Sydney by a point. 2007, Judd was injured for most of it and Ben Cousins has his issues, but still they finished 3^rd. With the loss of Cousins and Judd in 2008, the Eagles plummeted to 15^th on the ladder, and suddenly were one of the weaker sides of the competition. But in 2009, the Eagles were insipid but showed some great form at times, and finished 11^th. Read the rest of this entry »

by Josh Barnstable

St Kilda:

So close, yet so far was the story for St Kilda in 2009. 22 wins from 25 games but failed on the big stage against Geelong. That hurt them. It hurt them more then any other premiership loss would have hurt any other club. They have a great team that so many people failed to rate before 2009. The forward line is great, Nick Riewoldt and Justin Koschitzke form a great goalkicking duo, while crumbers Stephen Milne and Adam Schneider will be looking to redeem themselves after wasting many opportunities on Grand Final day. Untried trio Tommy Walsh, Tom Lynch and Andrew Lovett will also play a role in the forward line in 2010, and Brett Peake may be a dangerous crumber at times. The midfield is strong, Lenny Hayes is durable, while Nick Dal Santo and Clint Jones have plenty of class. Andrew McQualter came of age in 2009, Jack Steven showed potential, David Armitage should get a few games and the likes of Brendon Goddard, Leigh Montagna, Farren Ray and Jason Gram should find it easy to get a game. Michael Gardiner and Steven King form a dangerous duo in the Ruck, with Gardiner showing he has the ability to go forward and kick goals. Adam Pattison was recruited in the draft as a back-up option if King or Gardiner go down with injury or suspension. The back half was sensational in ’09, but the question remains if they can keep it up in 2010. Zac Dawson was a revelation at Full Back, he got plenty of support from Sam Fisher, Sam Gilbert, Jason Blake and Steven Baker. The recruitment of Jesse Smith was an absolute steal, you f***** thieves! I would like to see the Saints go that one step further, but I guess they would then be two premiership’s behind North Melbourne’s total of four, and with the Saints known as the worst team in football historically, that doesn’t show well for my team.

My prediction:

Leading goalkicker: Nick Riewoldt

Best and Fairest: Lenny Hayes

Sydney Swans:

The ugly ducklings finally look set to becoming the Swans that they are, with the arrival of John Longmire in the main seat coming in a couple of years, the recruitment of Daniel Bradshaw, Lewis Jetta, Gary Rohan and Byron Sumner, the Swans already look faster, stronger and more exciting on paper. The forward line took some major blows in 2009, but they were coming and it heralded a new start, Hall is gone, O’Loughlin is gone, Schneider left at the end of 2007, that’s three main goalkickers from the Swans’ premiership days. Jesse White has major potential; Adam Goodes showed he had more strings in his bow, capable of playing at Centre-Half Forward and first-round draft pick Lewis Johnston is finally fit and raring to go. Throw in Rohan and Jetta, plus Ryan O’Keefe and Pat Veszpremi, that forward line is better than one that would boast both a fit Hall and O’Loughlin. The midfield is, as always, blue-collar workers. Jude Bolton, Jarrad McVeigh, Brett Kirk and O’Keefe lead a strong, young midfield such as Kieren Jack, Craig Bird, Dan Hannebery, Brett Meredith, Ed Barlow and the Hawthorn recruits, Josh Kennedy and Ben McGlynn. Jarred Moore has been around for a while, but is starting to become a great player, while the likes of Marty Mattner and Tadhg Kennelly will play up through the midfield from the defence. This is where the question mark lays for the Swans. Craig Bolton is one of their most important players, Lewis Roberts-Thomson is skilled but doesn’t make the back of the Sydney Morning Herald. Perhaps LRT would be better suited up forward, where Johnston could possibly take up the Centre-Half Back post. Mattner is fast becoming one of the most important playmakers for the Swans, while the return of a fit Kennelly will help tremendously. In the Ruck, there was major panic for a while after Darren Jolly packed his bags and went to the Lexus Centre, but with the arrival of the skilled Shane Mumford and the out-of-favour Eagle Mark Seaby, as well as White and the development of Daniel Currie, the Ruck stocks are refreshed, young and strong. The Swans are set for a big season, if Paul Roos employs an attacking-style of play, Bradshaw, Goodes etc. will be getting on the end of plenty of goals.

My prediction:

Leading goalkicker: Daniel Bradshaw

Best and Fairest: Adam Goodes

Tomorrow: West Coast and the Western Bulldogs

To see Josh Barnstable’s other 2010 previews, click on his name at the right of this screen.

by Josh Barnstable

Port Adelaide Power:

The Power made a resurgence of sorts on the field, putting in some good displays while also getting rid of that shocking home guernsey that they have worn since their inception to the AFL in 1997. Port Adelaide will now sport a new guernsey made by a six year old girl, a black number with a white and teal V. The away variation of it is white with a black and teal V. This will supposedly give Port a new, harder, stronger look and it has actually worked with me, they look scary wearing these jumpers, compared to the flashy jumpers that looked gay (the homosexual way.) They secured two skillful young players in the draft and these two will be the foundation of success in the years to come. They were John Butcher, the best forward in the draft, and Andrew Moore, likened to Ryan O’Keefe and Shannon Grant. These players will be great inclusions to the forward line that boasts 2009 Best and Fairest winner and former skipper Warren Tredrea, Brett Ebert, Robbie Gray and Justin Westhoff. Jay Schulz was picked up in the trade week, Daniel Motlop will hopefully make some more Youtube videos of his wizardry skills, as well as getting over his ankle complaint, while Jason Davenport, Wade Thompson and Nick Salter are young guns on the rise. The midfield is solid at best, but can be deplorable when form is down. Kane Cornes is the leader, Josh Carr is the spirit, Hamish Hartlett is the future and Danyle Pearce is the skill. David Rodan has recently done his knee, whether he tries the LARS treatment or the traditional recovering is still to be determined but I am confident we will see him playing late in 2010. Mitchell Banner and Matthew Broadbent showed promise in 2009, while Domenic Cassisi had a terrific first year as skipper, he will be looking to follow it up, and Steven Salopek is yet to fully cement his spot in the side. The backline has its issues, it can just give up sometimes, but the trio of Alipate Carlile, Troy Chaplin and Jacob Surjan are experienced and will lead the younger players. Chad Cornes plays at Centre Half Back when not in the forward line and midfield, the recruitment of Jay Nash will give them more experience and Tom Logan is a solid utility player. Michael Pettigrew needs more consistency, and the recruitment of Cameron Cloke from Carlton will help the Power if they are short down back or up forward. They have serious issues in the Ruck, Dean Brogan is approaching his farewell, Daniel Bass is a basketball convert, Cloke is known for his inconsistency and Glenn Dawson is inexperienced. Port Adelaide needs desperate help in the financial side of things to keep afloat in the AFL league, or its back down to the SANFL.

My prediction:
Leading goalkicker: Daniel Motlop
Best and Fairest: Chad Cornes

Richmond:
They carried rocks and stones in pre-season training, will this make them as tough as those objects? Carrying a rock may not seem very hard, but seeing pictures of the hardened youngster Dustin Martin grimacing in pain with a rock in his hands and wearing a painful face, you could tell it was hard work. Will it pay off though? Richmond have failed to be dangerous to any teams since early 2005, and haven’t made the finals since 2001. The forward line lost Matthew Richardson, Richmond’s favourite son and Nathan Brown. Robbie Nahas provided zip and defenders were wary when he was near. Mitch Morton’s season had its moments of controversy; Troy Simmonds will play his last season possibly up forward alongside Tyrone Vickery and Jack Riewoldt showed promise in what was a mini-breakout year. Jayden Post showed major skill and mobility, Richard Tambling had a career-best season and the duo in Andrew Collins and Danny Connors will be a dangerous pair if they both get a game. The midfield has some skill, but lacks consistency. Martin will slot straight into the centre, Brett Deledio will follow-up his great season and Ben Cousins showed he has not loss any class or poise in his one-year absence from the game. Chris Newman was solid in his first year as skipper, while Jake King became part of the team after being a bit player. Nathan Foley should be a welcome return after he missed from Round 14-onwards in 2009 with injury. In defence, they recruited Aboriginal sensation Troy Taylor, who can play up back or in the forward line. Kelvin Moore, Will Thursfield and Alex Rance are a solid trio of the backline, while Dean Polo, Luke McGuane and Jordan McMahon had good years. Graham Polak can also fill a hole if need be. In the Ruck, Vickery and Angus Graham form a good young duo. It’s a good team on paper, Daniel Jackson, Shane Tuck, Matthew White, Shane Edwards and Tom Hislop are also usual starters for the Tigers. New coach Damien Hardwick has his work cut out or him, as did every other Tigers coach before him, but I feel he can take this team somewhere. And it won’t be to another wooden spoon anytime soon.

My prediction:
Leading goalkicker: Jack Riewoldt
Best and Fairest: Richard Tambling

Tomorrow: St Kilda and Sydney

To see Josh Barnstable’s other 2010 previews, click on his name at the right of this screen.

by Josh Barnstable

Melbourne:

Off the bottom of the ladder into finals contention is where the Dees will find themselves in the next couple of seasons. What’s so different though? Dean Bailey has predicted a change, he has changed the gamestyle that was, at times, ugly, recruited the best two kids in the country and have an absolute phenomenon in the forward line. That phenomenon is known as Liam Jurrah. The kid from Yuendumu averaged more than two goals a game in his nine matches this season, and after inheriting Russell Robertson’s number 24 guernsey, we have to wonder if he will be better than Robbo. He already is a cult figure, and perhaps his biggest fan is none other than Steve Healy. Read the rest of this entry »

by Josh Barnstable

Geelong Cats:
The premiers, in decline maybe? You wouldn’t think so, as the only major loss from the premiership side of 2009 is captain Tom Harley, but form in the second half of the season pointed towards a change of form in the next couple of seasons. The forward line lacks a big forward who kicks goals regularly, but they have plenty of guys who pop up for a few goals each game. Paul Chapman is the X-factor, his starring role in the Grand Final win will be talked about in years to come, while Shannon Byrnes showed real promise by becoming a crumbing forward. Read the rest of this entry »

by Josh Barnstable

Essendon:

A tough year for the Bombers finished in an unlikely finals berth that they didn’t deserve, and it showed with a 96-point thumping by the Crows showing them the exit from September. Matthew Lloyd and Scott Lucas are gone, their two goalkicking stars of the past decade. The Bombers don’t have any real quality Full Forwards, but they do have plenty of guys who have proved they can kick goals, such as young star Michael Hurley and Jay Neagle, while crumbers Angus Monfries, Kyle Reimers, Alwyn Davey and new addition from Hawthorn Mark Williams. Scott Gumbleton may fit down in the goalsquare or roaming half forward, but he may also play in defence if he can get his body right, I don’t think anyone remembers that he was a number two draft pick. Read the rest of this entry »

By Josh Barnstable

Carlton:
After such a promising season, it seems it could all go down the drain with the loss of Brendan Fevola. The two-time Coleman Medalist departed during trade week after the Blues were angered by his performance at the Brownlow Medal. Getting Lachie Henderson for Fevola was a dud deal, but a similar situation happened a couple of years ago: Chris Judd went to Carlton in exchange for Josh Kennedy. Kennedy has become a focal point up forward for the Eagles while Judd has not hit his peak form just yet. I doubt Henderson will replace Fevola at Full Forward, but he may be a key goalkicker. Eddie Betts had a career best season in 2009, he will battle consistency to follow it up in 2010. Jeff Garlett showed true promise, while Chris Yarran has yet to show any real potential. Those three will be a dangerous trio when the ball is not marked by Jarrad Waite, Matthew Kreuzer or Setanta O’hAilpin. Mitch Robinson and Brad Fisher can become key members of the forward line, but will need major consistency. Read the rest of this entry »