Victoria
South Australia
Western Australia
Nick Bowen believes Hawthorn are not going to improve their 2016 ladder position this year, and is adamant that Melbourne and St. Kilda will both threaten the top eight in 2017.
The AFL.com.au reporter says that while improvement from the Hawks is possible if new recruit Jaeger O’Meara has a full season, he considers it more likely that they will at best finish where they did last year, possibly even falling a few places.
Despite the crucial return of Jarryd Roughead’s to give a massive boost to the Hawks forward setup, Bowen cites Hawthorn’s defence as the most questionable aspect of their aspirations this season.
“I reckon they can hold their ground, if not do a little bit better if Jaeger O’Meara has a full season and that’s a big if,” he said on SEN’s The Run Home.
“I think most likely probably down. I think Josh Gibson is nearing the end of his career and I think they’re a bit skinny down back.
“Even with Roughy getting back and playing some good footy, they’re probably at best going to hold their ground, most likely go back a little bit.”
Bowen has backed in Melbourne and St. Kilda to be the big improvers of 2017, with the journalist expecting both sides to make serious pushes for a finals place.
“The two teams who I see really improving and going up the ladder – and it’s more organic improvement from the last couple of years – is Melbourne and St. Kilda,” he said.
“I think those two teams are really primed to go up there. I think that the youthful sort of rebuild that they have both undergone and with enough experience around the top that they should both really make a strong push for the eight.
“They’re the ones that just based on that overall growth that should continue to make that progression.”
Click here to view SEN Inside Football AFL Player Ratings for EVERY Hawthorn player.
Click here to view SEN Inside Football AFL Player Ratings for EVERY Melbourne player.
Click here to view SEN Inside Football AFL Player Ratings for EVERY St. Kilda player.