Coaches are predicting a much more open competition in 2019. Tom Mitchell’s absence clearly looms large.
Last year only two teams were backed for the flag, with one of those teams – the Defenestrators – being backed by 7 coaches.
Three coaches have backed them again this season, making them the narrow favourites in the eyes of their peers. But two others have backed the back-to-back champions, the Puttanesca Chiefs. Another two think last year’s runners-up, the Roughnecks, will go one better. Another coach has gone for an apparent outsider in The Love Sparkles.
Variance in opinion was a recurring theme throughout this year’s survey.
The Chiefs and Defenestrators are the standouts here, both being back by a majority of coaches. The two coaches who backed the Roughnecks for the flag are the only ones who believe they’ll even make it to the final round. One coach has backed the Sparkles to win it all, but another also thinks they’ll make the grand final.
The Puttanesca Chiefs have been widely backed as the best team over the home & away season, with 6 coaches putting their name forward. The Defenestrators and the Roughnecks are the other teams in the mix, scoring 1 vote each.
It’s interesting to compare this result with the flag winner, where the Defenestrators are the favourite.
3 unanimous selections here, but the surprise will no doubt be repeat cellar dwellers the Soldiers. Two teams think they will make the finals for the first time in the competition’s history.
Perhaps topping that surprise is the team picked to make way for them – two-time grand finalists and inaugural premiers Shire Scourers. Material for the locker room one suspects.
A dead heat here in the coaches’ eyes, with the recently rebranded – and current spoon holders – the Taxmanian Devils backed for a second successive stint at the foot by four coaches. The Redshins, who have never finished lower than 8th, have also been widely backed for a plummet down the ladder.
Another tick of approval for the Soldiers though – nobody thinks they’ll add a third spoon in 2019.
A lot of variation here!
Two votes each for perennial contenders the Chiefs and Defenestrators – with the Love Sparkles also backed twice (that Rockliff score influencing decisions perhaps…)
The Roughnecks and MaherShalalHashBaz have also been
nominated.
For those playing at home, the Chiefs won this last year with a 2219. The
Defenestrators took it out in year one with a 2152. And the Roughnecks took the
crown in season 2 with a still competition leading 2272.
A few different options here, but three of them play for the Chiefs, so, less variance in that sense I suppose.
Rockliff, who has been backed every year, is backed once again. Treloar, who was backed last year, is backed again, while Seb Ross is the outside bet here.
Tom Mitchell being out opens up the field here too. Several of the Dangergawn nominees are backed again, with Brayshaw and Josh Kelly joining the brigade. No Grundy here is interesting…
Lloyd and Whitfield are both backed by three coaches here, with another Chief – and past winner of this title – Laird also backed.
Grundy backed widely here – and in 3 different ways. But the fact it wasn’t unanimous is perhaps surprising, given the concerns around Preuss’ presence at the Demons.
The closest we’ve gotten to a unanimous verdict. Last year’s winner Fritz Smith is backed again by a solitary coach, but Dangerfield is the irrepressible favourite here.
Eight different nominees here! This will be very interesting to look back on come season’s end.
Every coach thinks two-time reigning premiers will have the first week of finals off. Most think the Defenestrators will join them.
The Shire Scourers have been backed as high as 4th and as low as 8th (8th!) – though most think they’ll finish 6th.
Where coaches think he’ll face the Roughnecks, who have been backed to finish 3rd by 5 coaches. One thinks they’ll be minor premier, though another thinks they’ll finish 5th.
The Soldiers take the cake for disparity though. One coach thinks they’ll finish 4th, but two think they’ll finish 9th.
5 coaches think MaherShalalHashBaz will finish 5th, with 1 backing them as high as third.
4 coaches think the Love Sparkles will finish 4th, with 1 coach backing them to push into the top two.
Everyone wants to be Buzz or Paul. Owning the cream will do that.
Some very interesting answers here. Once again, no player is selected twice. Nobody has selected Grundy, which I find fascinating. Macrae can’t get a look in either.
All those years at the bottom will pay off according to three coaches, with the Soldiers best placed in four years according to them. The Chiefs and the Roughnecks have both been selected twice, which speaks volumes of the dynasty potential the Chiefs possess.
The Defenestrators have also been nominated.