Season 2013 Predictions: Blood Curdling Countdown Continues...

Not long now. Not long until the siren sounds, the ball is bounced, dreams are crushed and legends are made. Yes, I am so looking forward to playing some AFL Live against a kid in the ACT this afternoon...Oh and the AFL season begins this week too.

I'm Ready!

But before then, here are some more predictions for you to silently mock...

6. Biggest Improver?

Chris Masten is always a popular pick for this pre-season honour. But he's no longer the pariah that he once was, though not a star and I'm not sure whether he will get much better. In fact this is a rather difficult selection to make, as there's no one player of superb talent who hasn't already realised his potential (well, despite NicNat but I've already dissed him so there's no going back). I'm going with Kennedy on the basis that his 2012 season was fairly horrendous. Yes, it was mainly injury-related but when he did play it wasn't pretty and he seemed to operate as more of a decoy than a real threat. If he stays fit there's no reason why he won't return to his rightful place as our prime forward threat.

5. One Game you won't want to miss...

Our fixture is full of big matches against good teams, rivals and cheats^* (hint: see the ____ fly up!). But for me it's Round 22, a Friday night blockbuster against the Bogan Empire in Collingwood. This match is part of an absolutely brutal final month of matches including away to Essendon and home against the Cats and Crows. But this game is full of meaning. There's something special about beating the bloody annoying Pies, their bloody annoying fans and bloody annoying President. Especially after last year's superb effort in the corresponding fixture and the disappointing semi-final loss. There will be passion in this one plus a vital 4 points which again may influence who finishes top 4.

4.  Oh Gee, Wow-ee, Did you see that!?

Yes, Brian Taylor will be of extreme annoyance this season. There will be talk of 'benders' and references to Mandurah, the Mining Tax and how great a player he was. But this prediction relates to the fact that I've run out of actual predictions and thought I'd make fun of this guy for a bit. So yeah, he'll be a pain the ass, but at least he's not Wallsy.

Tune in tomorrow for the final 3 predictions including; where we'll finish, our record and perhaps another filler Brian Taylor-esque prediction.

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^ Relax, it's a joke.
* Which may/may not be true.

13 Predictions for Season 2013: No. 10

As I sit here typing, I can't help but think I'd only have 7 predictions to go had I gone with the conventional '10'. But that would be too easy and...lame. But I’ve decided to post the final 10 one at a time to trick you into thinking I’ve done more work.

  All the more impressive now that we know that 

the Bombers are half-man, half-robot.

10. Leading Goalkicker

This is a difficult one. You would think that there are three bona-fide potential leaders here in Kennedy, Lecras and Darling. Looking back upon the last few years, due to injuries, form and other factors no one player has locked down the ‘No.1 goal kicker’ position.

2012	Jack Darling	53
2011	Josh Kennedy	59
2010	Mark Lecras	63
2009	Mark Lecras	58
2008	Ben Mckinley	42
2007	Quinten ‘Magpie’ Lynch	52

 source: AFL Stats

In fact, that’s probably become one of the strengths of the team over the last couple of seasons. We have a strong array of options, making it difficult for opposing teams to focus on just one key guy. That strength was, of course, tested last season with the long-term injuries to stars Lecras and Kennedy, but others, notably Hams and Hill, stepped up and filled the void nicely. This year I also suspect we will see a nice spread of goals, with Lecras with 51 stealing the show. I’m a little worried about Kennedy’s propensity for injury, while I assume (my) Darling’s tally will come down a little with the return of the two guns.

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