Heres the Herald Suns preview 2012
Ultimate VFL season 2012 preview
Sam Landsberger
From:Herald Sun
March 23, 201212:00AM
THE 2012 VFL season kicks off on Saturday. VFL expert Sam Landsberger previews every club and nominates the ladder order.
BENDIGO
Coach: Hayden Skipworth (new)
Captain: Ben Duscher
AFL affiliate: Essendon (final season)
Key arrivals: Rick Ladson, Jordan Williams (both Hawthorn), Brendan Lee (WAFL)
Key departures: Tory Dickson, Tom Campbell, Sam Dunnell
AFL watch: Ben Duscher - tough yet classy ball magnet, can kick goals and was stiff to miss out in last year's draft.
Coach says: "We want to get the best results for the VFL side and obviously try and develop and fast-track the Essendon guys, and maybe provide a few guys to be drafted to Essendon.''
Sam says: AFL clubs picked Bendigo's VFL cream and with a stronger Essendon focus, finals look a stretch.
Prediction: 10th (7th last year)
BOX HILL HAWKS
Coach: Damian Carroll
Captain: Daniel Pratt and Beau Muston (new)
AFL affiliate: Hawthorn
Key arrivals: Daniel Pratt (North Melbourne), Danny Hughes (Melbourne), Will Johnson (St Kilda)
Key departures: Sam Gibson, Jordan Lisle, Will Sierakowski
AFL watch: Tim Northe - Small, but a playmaker who can push forward. Had 30 touches in a TAC Cup grand final.
Coach says: "It's important we continue to improve and try to play finals again and go further, which will be good for us and Hawthorn.''
Sam says: Quality VFL ins coupled with a fit Hawthorn list bodes well. Will now wear Hawthorn jumpers.
Prediction: 5th (8th)
CASEY SCORPIONS
Coach: Brett Lovett (new)
Captains: Kyle Matthews and Evan Panozza (new)
AFL affiliate: Melbourne
Key arrivals: James Magner (Sandringham), Josh Tynan (Gippsland Power), Tom Couch (Collingwood VFL)
Key departures: Brendan Fevola, Tim Mohr, Matthew Warnock
AFL watch: Luke Tynan - brother of Dee Josh, Tynan is a mid-sized defender capable of negating talls and smalls. Had a bumper pre-season.
Coach says: "We haven't set any targets, all we know is we want to compete and play hard. It'll probably take to Round 6 to know where we sit.''
Sam says: Can't replace the star power lost but with Casey's trademark spirit and a clever coach could stay in the eight.
Prediction: 8th (6th)
COBURG TIGERS
Coach: Adam Potter
Captain: Nick Carnell
AFL affiliate: Richmond
Key arrivals: Pat Contin (Richmond), Daniel Vendetti (Perth), Ozgur Uysal (Calder Cannons)
Key departures: Sam Power, Mitch Morton, Justin Kahlefeldt
AFL watch: Pat Contin - delisted by Richmond despite a sizzling finish to 2011, Contin has raised the bar this pre-season as a hard-running midfielder.
Coach says: "We aim to play finals but we're at a stage now where I want our senior-listed players to take the next step.''
Sam says: A spread of emerging talent and a fit Richmond list will see Coburg improve, particularly within games.
Prediction: 9th (11th)
COLLINGWOOD
Coach: Tarkyn Lockyer
Captain: Kris Pendlebury
Key arrivals: Matthew Boland, Ricky Ferraro (both Sandringham), Jamie Elliot (Murray Bushrangers)
Key departures: Jye Bolton, John McCarthy, Tom Couch
AFL watch: Brett Eddy - Overcoming a knee injury but an agile key forward with a golden set-shot boot and soft hands.
Coach says: "The list looks stronger than last year, but we're really determined by the how many injuries the AFL side gets. To help the senior side, we need the VFL guys to hang strong.''
Sam says: Lockyer's recruiting - on and off the field - has been shrewd, but with a horror injury run at AFL level it could be a tough year.
Prediction: 12th (12th)
FRANKSTON DOLPHINS
Coach: Simon Goosey
Captain: Mitch Bosward and Luke Potts (new)
Key arrivals: Jackson Sketcher, Leigh Kitchin (both Box Hill), Ben Waite (Casey)
Key departures: Mark Baguley, Russell Gabriel, Paul Kenendy
AFL watch: Luke Potts - Glides around the park collecting touches with ease and hurts sides with his vision and foot skills.
Coach says: "I won't go into a season without aiming to play finals otherwise you may as well not play, so who knows how far we can improve.''
Sam says: Again the wooden spoon fancy, but expect fewer spankings with Goosey's young side finally starting to mature.
Prediction: Last (Last)
GEELONG CATS
Coach: Matthew Knights (new)
Captain: Troy Selwood
Key arrivals: Dom Gleeson (Werribee), Shane Kersten (South Fremantle), Rob Condy (Collingwood VFL)
Key departures: Matt Firman, Ben Johnson, Mark Blake
AFL watch: Ben Raidme - at 24 the clock is ticking but a tough onballer who can negate and has caught Knights' eye early.
Coach says: "We'd like to start the season like we finished last year, there was some really good momentum so we'd like to take that into this year. I'm just excited about coaching and coaching a young group."
Sam says: The Cats' AFL list is as deep as the ocean in a scary thought for rivals. This should ensure a VFL resurgence to finals.
Prediction: 6th (9th)
NORTH BALLARAT ROOSTERS
Coach: Gerard FitzGerald
Captain: Marc Greig
AFL affiliate: North Melbourne (partial)
Key arrivals: Matt Austin (Brisbane Lions), Paul McMahon (Lake Wendouree), Michael Searl (former Rooster)
Key departures: Orren Stephenson, Matt Sharkey, Ryan McKenzie
AFL watch: Marcus Darmody - injury-plagued summer but a marvel swingman at his best. Think Adam Hunter, exciting to watch.
Coach says: "Out here in Ballarat we don't know how good the other teams are so there's been no thought about where we'll finish.''
Sam says: Ability to replenish under FitzGerald astounding as AFL clubs continue to whittle away at the empire. Bank on a finals finish.
Prediction: 7th (5th)
NORTHERN BLUES
Coach: Robert Hyde (new)
Captain: Andre Gianfagna and Brent Bransgrove (new)
AFL affiliate: Carlton
Key arrivals: Carl Peterson (VAFA), Alex Benbow (Dandenong Stingrays), Frazer Dale (Calder Cannons)
Key departures: Ahmed Saad, Adam Iacobucci, Jarrod McCorkell
AFL watch: Adam Marcon - He's tough, agile and nearly ready for AFL. Came of age as a midfielder in last year's finals along with Kane Lambert.
Coach says: "We've lost a fair few senior players but that's fine. The average age is probably 20 but the kids are ready to step up.''
Sam says: Some outstanding junior talent will excite at draft time but a tumble seems inevitable.
Prediction: 11th (4th)
PORT MELBOURNE
Coach: Gary Ayres
Captain: John Baird
Key arrivals: Clayton Hinkley (Fremantle), Ryan Gale (Northern Blues), Clinton Benjamin (North City)
Key departures: Malcolm Lynch, Jarrod Dalton, Patrick Rose
AFL watch: Damian Mascitti - Still raw but can kick goals with both feet, has good hands and wins the ball on the outside.
Coach says: "The pressure is always going to be there if we're reigning premiers or not because the competition is very, very even.''
Sam says: Eight premiership stars have gone but Port had such a big lead on the competition it will remain top four and a force.
Prediction: 3rd (Premier)
SANDRINGHAM ZEBRAS
Coach: Simon McPhee (new)
Captain: Beau Dowler (new)
AFL affiliate: St Kilda
Key arrivals: Adam Cockie (West Coast), Beau Dowler (Noble Park), Myke Cook (Adelaide)
Key departures: David Gallagher, James Magner, Matthew Boland
AFL watch: James Hallahan - Brother of Hawk Mitch is a genuine all-rounder. Can mark, kick, read the play and a strong leader. Trained with St Kilda last year.
Coach says: "The competition is all so new to me. I know we lost a few but the ones we've picked up are pretty good, so we're pretty happy and we're trying to play finals footy.''
Sam says: With quality mature recruits, potent scoring power and a healthier Saints alignment the Zebs will be big, big improvers. Watch for Cockie, a jet.
Prediction: 4th (10th)
WERRIBEE TIGERS
Coach: Scott West (new)
Captain: Robbie Castello (new)
AFL affiliate: North Melbourne (partial)
Key arrivals: Nathan Ablett (Gold Coast), Malcolm Lynch (Port Melbourne), Sam Gibson (Box Hill)
Key departures: Dom Gleeson, Sean Tighe, Michael Rockefeller
AFL watch: Kyle Hartigan - the key defender has beefed up and is capable of containing the best forwards. Saints had a close look last year.
Coach says: "We've got no qualms in saying that we've added some really good players. (The goal is) to minimise the difference in your best and worst performance. If you can do that, it gets you in most games.''
Sam says: With a sparkling list and even better coach, who is headed for the AFL, Werribee is a huge premiership threat.
Prediction: 2nd (3rd)
WILLIAMSTOWN SEAGULLS
Coach: Peter German
Captain: Ben Jolley (new)
AFL affiliate: Western Bulldogs
Key arrivals: Jamie McNamara (East Fremantle), Michael Stockdale, James Wall (both Casey)
Key departures: Brett Johnson, Ben Davies, Mitch Hahn
AFL watch: Stephen Witowski - powerful defender who can player taller than his 188cm height. Kicking still developing but a rough chance.
Coach says: "The VFL list is on a par to last year. Our goal is to develop Western Bulldogs players and see if we can marry the two groups together to play good football.''
Sam says: Has a ripe recipe of VFL talent, a deep AFL list and a proven coach after a run of painful September exits.
Prediction: 1st (Runner-up)
VFL PREMIERSHIP ODDS
Williamstown $3.10
North Ballarat $5.50
Werribee $6
Port Melbourne $7
Box Hill $9
Geelong $15
Sandringham $15
Bendigo $26
Northern Blues $31
Casey $41
Collingwood $41
Coburg $51
Frankston $101
(Odds courtesy sportsbet.com.au)
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