We’ve seen plenty of teams fail the year after a flag – the Western Bulldogs in 2017, Richmond in 2021 to name just two, but there are many others. They are hard to win. Does the club have the will and desire to do everything needed to go again?

2. WESTERN BULLDOGS

Was the season a success?
(8th in 2020) 18 wins 8 losses, including a 48-point elimination final win over Essendon, a one-point semi-final win over the Brisbane Lions, a 71-point preliminary final win over Port Adelaide, and a 74-point grand final loss to Melbourne.

It all worked well until midway through the third quarter of the grand final, when the wheels fell off. The Dogs already had a great midfield heading into the season and added Adam Treloar, so it was going to be very difficult to beat them in 2021 with their variety and depth. They lost their way at the end of the home-and-away season but found their mojo again after half-time in the first final against Essendon. The loss of Stefan Martin and then Josh Bruce hurt through the year because it took Tim English away from the forward line and left far too much pressure on two young players, Aaron Naughton and Cody Weightman, to do most of the scoring. Mitch Hannan and Josh Schache stepped up and the finals return of Martin in the ruck was beautifully timed. Their unheralded defence held up as Taylor Duryea had a career-best year, All-Australian Bailey Dale was an inspired move to half-back and Caleb Daniel was great. The underrated Bailey Williams was good, although not so much in the grand final. The combination of Naughton, English and Schache lacks potency in attack, with only Naughton being reliable all year. The midfield will again be one of the best in the business in 2022 and they have depth with Toby McLean, Riley Garcia, Rhylee West and Ed Richards waiting to play a more prominent role in 2022. Mind you, this midfield was blown away in the last quarter-and-a-half of the decider and that will really sting in the off-season.

What needs to happen over the off-season?
They don’t need to trade in many players this year. If anything, a back-up ruck, so English can stay forward. Their midfield is outstanding but an attack of Weightman, Naughton, English, Hannan, Jamarra Ugle-Hagan and a midfielder doesn’t inspire. It’s young and talented, but Bruce isn’t back until at least mid-season and I am not sure they can win a flag with such a young forward line. Can they trade English for Rory Lobb at Fremantle or bring in Mason Cox? I would investigate both options. It will be a really interesting trade period for the Bulldogs because they have many good players on their list who could easily be in other teams’ best 18 but can’t get a look-in here. They won’t want to go but football careers are short. If Richards isn’t being chased by other clubs I would be shocked – he’s worth a late first-round pick. Several players are worth second-round picks, including West, who is a fair way back on finding a spot in the Bulldogs’ midfield but is still young. The Dogs love Laitham Vandermeer and McLean and so will others. They will attract second-round picks if available and if Jason Johannisen, at 28, looks elsewhere – yes for me – the same applies. The interesting player is Josh Dunkley, who tried to get to Essendon last year, but his currency is much better than it will be at the end of 2022 when he is out of contract. Essendon do not appear to be interested this time but if a club was looking at him they would require a late first-round pick. Patrick Lipinski, knowing he will be starved of opportunity again next year, looks headed to Collingwood. With him being out of contract and the threat of the pre-season draft, where the Magpies hold pick two, it becomes difficult for the Bulldogs to receive fair compensation, which would be a high third-rounder. So, it’s a trade for next year’s picks or accept what the Pies will offer now. It won’t be much.

How should they approach the November draft? (Picks 14, 69)
The good news for the Bulldogs is that for the second year in a row they finish high up the ladder and will have a player come to them inside the top three players in the draft. They were very lucky with Ugle-Hagan as that rule has now changed (any Next Generation Academy player inside pick 20 goes to whichever club calls his name first). Father-son picks, though, can still be matched and Sam Darcy, son of Luke, will be nominated in the top three. He is a 203-centimetre forward/ruck and the Bulldogs will require 2000-odd points if, I expect, he is nominated with pick two. That will take in their first-round selection at 17, so the interest will be whether they trade that pick for a player or 2022 picks and find the points with some other trades. If no deals are done they will need 17 for Darcy. If they keep all their young players bar Lipinski they will retain great depth. Ugle-Hagan should play regularly, which would worry Schache and Hannan. Richards, McLean, Vandermeer and Louis Butler will all require game time but it will still be a very young attack, although supremely talented. This has been a masterful rejuvenation of their list after losing key players – Jake Stringer and Joel Hamling, to name just two – after their 2016 flag. Trading in players such as Martin, Hannan, Treloar, Duryea, Hayden Crozier and in particular Alex Keath has been very astute and with their depth and talent in the midfield it will allow them to be at the pointy end again next year and hunt a second premiership under coach Luke Beveridge.

3. PORT ADELAIDE

Was the season a success?

(3rd in 2020) 18 wins 6 losses, including a 43-point qualifying final win over Geelong, and a 71-point preliminary final loss to the Western Bulldogs.

Can you surreptitiously finish the home-and-away second on the ladder with a 17-5 win-loss record? Port did, beating a top-four team for the first time in the last round and pushing Western Bulldogs to fifth. While the Bulldogs and the Demons were receiving all the plaudits, Power just hung around and struck when it mattered most and then coasted through to the preliminary final. How did they do this? Great seasons from onballers such as Travis Boak, Ollie Wines, Karl Amon and Willem Drew and a rock-solid defence that had no injuries. They managed to score well enough without Zak Butters, Xavier Duursma, Orazio Fantasia and Robbie Gray for long periods. That is a testament to the depth on this excellent list. Almost every player seemed to improve slightly and young players such as Drew, Miles Bergman and Mitch Georgiades improved greatly. Only Darcy Byrne-Jones went backwards from his 2020 All-Australian year. What a disaster then the preliminary final was when they had everything in their favour and were insipid, not bringing anywhere near the amount of pressure required to win. They were looking for a soft kill with a bruise-free game and paid the price.

What needs to happen over the off-season?

Port have a highly skilled list, with in particular outstanding kicking skills but they had too many very similar players in the preliminary-final debacle: athletic runners with greats skills, decision-making and versatility who were not physically or mentally strong enough in this game. This is the biggest problem they have to confront this trade period and pre-season because they need to win a premiership with Gray and Boak still at the top of their game. They are a massive chance again next year, but they won’t have a gilt-edged opportunity like they did in 2021.

How should they approach the November draft? (Picks 17, 60, 71, 72)

Port are chasing Jordan Dawson from Sydney, as are the Crows, and he had a great year as a wing or half-back. His kicking skills and decision making are elite but what to do with Duursma and Amon, the regular wingers, and Dan Houston, Riley Bonner and Byrne-Jones, the regular half backs? Don’t forget Lachie Jones, who is going to be a star across half-back but was injured for most of the year. If they secure Dawson - and it will cost them their pick 17 in the draft – it tells me someone is about to be traded out. Hamish Hartlett, one of my favourites, is already gone, and I’d be nervous if I were Byrne-Jones or even Houston - who will attract at least high second-round picks – because I think Dawson and Jones will slot straight into defence. Houston for Dawson seems a good trade for me if they are desperate to get him in and Dawson chooses Port over the Crows, plus the Swans would see this as a good replacement. Sam Hayes, a very good young ruckman with a year to go on his contract, should request a trade because he is ready to go and he’s behind Scott Lycett and Peter Ladhams. He could command a late first-round pick, but likely a second. Kane Farrell should move as well as they have better players in his position. He’s a second-round pick at best, but he has elite kicking skills clubs will love. Jeremy Finlayson from Greater Western Sydney is also on the wish list and if this happens, they definitely will be trading players out or using next year’s picks. Not sure why they want him as Todd Marshall is a very similar player, so maybe Marshall might be going as well. Marshall would be required at many clubs in Victoria but, again, for a second-round pick.

4. GEELONG

Was the season a success?
(Runner-up in 2020), 17 wins 8 losses, including a 43-point qualifying final loss to Port Adelaide, a 35-point semi-final win over GWS, and an 83-point loss to Melbourne in the preliminary final.

This isn’t brain surgery but Geelong have gone for the doctor and failed miserably at the penultimate hurdle. It was such a comprehensive thrashing by Melbourne in the prelim and it exposed major flaws. Slow backline, beaten with the ball on the ground, poor in defence and disposal out of defence average at best, Tom Stewart excluded. Stewart was a massive loss for the finals. Throw in their lack of depth, pace and running power in the midfield and we have problems going forward. The positives are that I don’t see any retirements for 2022 and while their older players continue to play very good football, they don’t look like winning one. It will take some of list manager Stephen Wells and his team’s best work to not bottom out in two to three years. Rhys Stanley, Shaun Higgins, Zach Tuohy, Isaac Smith, Josh Jenkins, Joel Selwood, Mitch Duncan, Gary Rohan, Lachie Henderson, Mark Blicavs, and Patrick Dangerfield are all aged 30-plus. A few others are very close, not that you’re over the hill at 30, but when roughly half of your team is, it spells trouble.

What needs to happen over the off-season?
Their game plan needs to be a major focus in the pre-season because slow, kick-mark football in 2021 became outdated with the introduction of the stand rule. The Cats are capable of risk-taking, throwing caution to the wind - watch the Collingwood final of 2020 - but we hardly saw that style this year.

Geelong have some younger players who might want out to seek opportunities elsewhere. Inside mid Charlie Constable, key position player Nathan Kreuger, in/out mid Quinton Narkle, in and running wing/half-back Jordan Clark are the main ones. None are going to bring great riches if they leave, with second round trades at best, but with picks 30, 32 and 35 in the second round they could have many options come draft time if they end up with seven second-rounders.

How should they approach the November draft?
What do they need? A young, dynamic running back, a more competitive and reliable ruckman and two pacy midfielders should be high on their list. Zach Guthrie, Jack Henry, Brad Close, Sam Simpson, Gryan Miers and Brandon Parfitt are all around 22 years old and must form the bulk of their best team next year.

Geelong will make the finals again next season; they have great bunch of very proud, honest, reliable, tough, skilful leaders who come to play every week. But can their bodies keep up with their minds? That is the massive question mark for me. More importantly, is the coaching group going to arrive at a better game plan, as that last game against Melbourne will burn a hole in their guts over the pre-season.

5th. BRISBANE LIONS

Was the season a success?
(4th in 2020) 15 wins 9 losses in 2021, including 33-point qualifying final loss to Melbourne, one-point semi-final loss to Western Bulldogs.
Considering the Lions started the season with a 1-3 win-loss record and had to stay in Melbourne for three weeks because of COVID-19 protocols, getting into the finals in fourth with a 15-7 record was a super effort. Having lost Cam Rayner, one of their main forward/midfielders, to injury at the start of the season and key forward Eric Hipwood halfway through made their task even more difficult. And they had the audacity to lead the AFL in scoring, which tells me they have a great system, culture and an exciting game plan under coach Chris Fagan. They have a few years left to win the premiership: their list is ranked 12th for experience and 14th for age. Daniel Rich is 30 and made All-Australian, Mitch Robinson is 31 and had another very good year, and Dayne Zorko is 32 and still playing great football, so there is no letdown here.

They have good depth with key backs and key forwards and they are interchangeable, they have the best small forward (Charlie Cameron), a deep midfield with young players ready to go in Ely Smith, Blake Coleman, Harry Sharp and Deven Robertson, who was excellent in 2021. Nakia Cockatoo finally played and, although he wasn’t super, there is better to come with another pre-season. Keidean Coleman made half-back his and Brandon Starcevich is an elite lockdown small back. Lachie Neale has decided to stay, which keeps their midfield in the elite category, and after a troubled year with a shoulder injury he will be back to his best in 2022.
They have good ruck stocks as well and this has led to Archie Smith wanting to move for opportunities. He has been there for at least six years and he’s very athletic. I assume he has a suitor but a third-round selection, at best, is all they will receive. Rhys Mathieson might look for a move also, but their age profile tells me that everyone else will be happy to stay. This is an excellent list profile.

What needs to happen during the off-season?
They don’t need anything specifically, either, to fill a hole because I can’t see any – maybe a ready-to-go ruck, as their back-ups to Oscar McInerney are young. Even though they were the highest scorers, I would love to see a strong running half-back as Rich is more a “stand-and- deliver” player and it might require some creativity: maybe Zorko or Hugh McCluggage to half-back, but they really want for nothing.

How should they approach the November draft? (Picks 14, 18, 47, 51, 57, 73)
Go to the draft with picks 14 and 18 – they are hugely valuable. But they could pair them up and move into the 5-10 range if there is a player they really like. They have options and will be a contender again in 2022.

6th. GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY

Was the season a success?
(10th in 2020) 12 wins, 11 losses, 1 draw in 2021, including a one-point elimination final win over Sydney, 35-point semi-final loss to Geelong.

At the start of 2021 everyone would have thought GWS would finish in the top eight and it was a major struggle to finally get there. There were plenty of reasons for that. One of their best three players in Lachie Whitfield missed two thirds of the season. The back line was decimated by long-term injuries to Lachie O’Keefe, Jack Buckley and, for chunks of the season, Phil Davis. But Sam Taylor stood up, as did Connor Idun, Isaac Cumming and Jake Stein. They blooded many promising players, including Tom Green, Tanner Bruhn, Connor Stone and the above defenders. They have a plethora of gun midfielders, with a great balance between tough inside and outside runners who are great kicks and good decision-makers.

What needs to happen during the off-season?
What to do with Stephen Coniglio? It was another poor year injury-wise, and he looked a shell of the player he was two years ago. He is on too good a contract to trade, so he stays and hopefully has a very good pre-season. Jake Riccardi, key forward and back, Matthew Flynn, ruck, should be looking for new clubs because they have something to give but are behind a few players to get a game. Both should command second-round selections. GWS really don’t need any players as they have a very well-balanced list, with good young key backs and forwards. The midfield is arguably the best in the competition.

How should they approach the November draft? (Picks 2, 13, 50, 68)
The list management team made one of the greatest trading moves last year in securing Collingwood’s first round pick. No one in their wildest dreams thought it would end up being pick 2, which is unbelievably valuable. If North Melbourne call out Jason Horne-Francis at No.1, as I think they will, GWS will definitely call out Sam Darcy and Nick Daicos, then take the next best player, which might be Finn Callaghan, a quick, left-footed midfielder with great running powers.
Considering the Giants are 15th in the competition for experience, they have much improvement to come. Brayden Preuss to replace ruckman Shane Mumford, who is likely to retire, is perfect. The only trouble they will have is fitting their gun young players into the midfield in Stone, who I really like, and Bruhn. They will have many suitors next year. GWS should be challenging the top four next year and are very capable of winning their first premiership as long as they stay healthy, which has been their biggest challenge.

7th. SYDNEY

Was the season a success?
(16th in 2020) 15 wins, 8 losses in 2021, including 1-point loss to elimination final.
Sydney had an unexpectedly good season, similar to Essendon’s, despite their heartbreaking loss to GWS in an elimination final. The Swans completely changed their brand of football in 2021 but this started in 2020, not long after the boring debacle of a game against Richmond. While the change didn’t transfer to wins last year because of major injuries, it sowed the seeds for 2021. Why wouldn’t you take the game on and play aggressive fast football when you have the likes of Nick Blakey, Chad Warner, Errol Gulden, Oliver Florent, Braeden Campbell and Justin McInerney – all runners under 22 – kicking into an electric forward line of Buddy Franklin, Tom Papley, Will Hayward, Isaac Heeney and Sam Wicks? Desperate to find a ruck, they settled on Tom Hickey but because of a very tight salary cap had to release Aliir Aliir and put their faith in Tom McCartin and Dane Rampe, who were excellent all year as key backs. I thought Hickey was the third-best ruck this year behind Max Gawn and Sean Darcy. Players who have been around a while and who had their best years were Callum Mills, Harry Cunningham, Jordan Dawson and George Hewett.

What needs to happen during the off-season?
Keeping their best players on the oval each week is the key to any side but especially the Swans. Depth on their list is only average and we saw last year what happens when they have injuries to multiple key players. Having re-signed Luke Parker (crucial), they have two or three players they might put on the trade table. The Swans would love to have another key back who can lock down and ex-Crow Daniel Talia should be contacted. It will be interesting to see where Talia ends up, because I think a few clubs should sound him out.

How should they approach the November draft? (Picks 12, 31, 67)
Sydney could grow their draft hand by bringing in some picks with a couple of trades. Dawson has told the club he wants to return home to South Australia, and he is being courted with substantial money by the two Adelaide clubs. That should bring in an early second-round pick. Hewett is another trade option who could bring in a second-round pick. He is a lockdown midfielder and the Swans have a couple who could replace him in James Rowbottom and Ryan Clarke, if he stays on the list. There has been talk about Dylan Stephens returning to South Australia as well, and having been taken at pick five two years ago he won’t be cheap. Port have pick 17, which might get it done, and the Crows’ pick 23 could be packaged with something else thrown in to seal the deal. The Swans are going to be around the mark again next year, especially if that forward line can stay healthy. Mainly Franklin – he takes the pressure off everyone. He can expect Logan McDonald to be with him for most of the year and that’s an extremely dangerous front six. Joel Amartey, Sam Reid and Hayden McLean can also help out as tall forwards and local products in Gulden (who had an outstanding first year) and Campbell will only improve. There are exciting times ahead for Sydney.

8th. ESSENDON

Was the season a success?
(13th in 2020), 11 wins, 12 losses, including 49-point elimination final loss to Western Bulldogs.
What a super season Essendon had, off the back of a handover to coach Ben Rutten and the loss of key players in Joe Daniher, Orazio Fantasia and Adam Saad, although the first two had hardly played for two years. There was doom and gloom from all the pundits, but they underestimated the new coach and his main assistant Blake Caracella, who had come from the best system of the past four years in Richmond. Credit should also go to list/draft boss Adrian Dodoro, who had a stellar off-season. The only game I could view live was the Anzac Day game and I really liked what I saw, which had strong elements of the Richmond brand.

New acquisitions in Nick Hind and Peter Wright had strong years and the positional moves of Jayden Laverde and James Stewart (out of necessity) to defence were inspired. Draftees Nik Cox and Archie Perkins had great first years, while Jake Stringer elevated himself to match-winner. Improvement came across the board and that tells me the coaching group has developed a great culture in quick time.

What needs to happen during the off-season?
The midfield is super strong, which allowed Essendon to be the fourth-highest scoring team in the competition without any superstars in the forward line, except when Stringer was prowling. They have great key back and forward depth, but those players are young in Zach Reid, Harrison Jones, Cody Brand and Josh Eyre. The back line stood up without Michael Hurley, who missed the whole year, and this is an area they need to bolster if they are going to challenge the top four. Essendon are set to pick up Crow Jake Kelly through free agency, while they could get Daniel Talia cheaply if they desire.

How should they approach the November draft? (Picks 11, 48, 54)
I would go to the draft again with pick 11 and take the next best player with their first round selection because they want for nothing.

They really haven’t got any players to put on the trade table because they are all playing, and playing well, or are very young. Positions will need to be created for these young players, or some may wish to move at the end of next season.

This list looks outstanding with great balance and considering they made the top eight with the 17th-most experienced list and 15th-oldest is a brilliant achievement, and credit to Dodoro and his team. They are not without issues, though, with Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti missing the last few rounds with off-field issues and the promising Irving Mosquito - both small forwards - struggling after his knee reconstruction.

This list has the smell of “Baby Bombers” mark two, and that should excite Essendon supporters. They have senior players at the top of their game and gun kids coming through with a great culture and brand of football. It sounds simple, doesn’t it?

9. WEST COAST

Was the season a success?
(7th in 2020) 10 wins 12 losses in 2021
For the Eagles to miss the finals and have a 10-12 win-loss record is an indictment on this group of players. Put their best 25 players down on paper, and it looks excellent, but you don’t win games on paper. They rarely took the game on, played risk-free football, and tried to control the ball with kicks and marks, and that style of play has become outdated. The loss of Luke Shuey for large parts of the year, a late start by Elliot Yeo, and the absence of Tim Kelly for a few crucial weeks really hurt their midfield. A heavy reliance on their key forwards to kick goals also hurt as that is not sustainable. They also did not look fit as a group and I suggest they had too many good players carrying extra kilos. They need a seriously tough pre-season and to find pace in the midfield and off half-back. As good as the players in the back line are, and they are great at intercept marks, they do not provide any run or dash since Lewis Jetta retired. Jack Petruccelle needs to play wing or half-back and I know he can turn the ball over, but he is one of the few who can run and break lines. The return of Willie Rioli will also help, and they unearthed some likely types in Harry Edwards, Connor West and Luke Foley, but they are very similar types to their good players.

What needs to happen during the off-season?
They should investigate the possibility of attracting Carlton’s Sam Petrevski-Seton (it would require a late first-round pick or two seconds, or include Jarrod Brander or Tom Cole in the trade). Brander, Cole and Jackson Nelson are handy players who could attract second-round selections to help with any trades. I would also chase Jordan Clark from Geelong, who has genuine speed and toughness and can play half-back. He needs to tidy up his kicking and decision-making, but it’s only tinkering needed. A second-round pick would be all that’s required there. I feel that the Eagles can challenge again in 2022 as they have loads of talent, but they require a seriously difficult pre-season, a return of their hard-nosed desire - which was severely lacking this year - and a massive review of their game plan. When you have players with the capabilities of Liam Ryan, Willie Rioli, Oscar Allen, Jack Darling, Josh Kennedy and Jamie Cripps in the forward line you have to move the ball quickly for this group to be at their best.

How should they approach the November draft?
(Picks 10, 29, 36, 50, 65)
If the Eagles don’t trade their first pick, they could take a local player and there are three who are around the top 15: Jacob van Rooyen, a third tall forward who can really cover ground with a great work ethic, Matt Johnson, a big-bodied midfielder, and Rhett Bazzo, a very accomplished key back. Van Rooyen would be my pick if he is still available, as he might also be capable as a midfielder down the track.

10. ST KILDA

Was the season a success?
(5th in 2020) 10 wins, 12 losses in 2021
St Kilda had a really disappointing season after looking as if they might challenge after an excellent 2020. My information is that they had a poor pre-season, allocating a lot of time to strategy and tactics at the expense of strength and conditioning. Players who were on top of the ground and running hard last year were nowhere near that level in 2021. They had an exciting brand of “take the game on, run and gun” and hit the top of the square using their fleet-of-foot, deep group of smaller runners and put massive forward pressure on opposition defences. They weren’t even close to that brand his year. I’ve seen this error made numerous times over my time in football, and it astounds me it still happens. That they still nearly made the finals is testament to a very good and experienced playing list and the loss of, in particular, Jade Gresham and Ben Paton for the whole year and Zak Jones, Paddy Ryder, Jimmy Webster and Hunter Clark for large chunks of the season. Highly paid players Brad Hill and Dan Hannebery had very disappointing seasons with the latter unlikely to be at St Kilda next year after only appearing late in the season.

They found some good players, though: promising midfielder Ryan Byrnes, Cooper Sharman as a hybrid forward, intercept defender Tom Highmore and lockdown defender Callum Wilkie. A special mention goes to Jack Steele, All-Australian midfielder. The combination of Ryder and Rohan Marshall as ruck/forwards is crucial to the success of this team, and that didn’t happen often enough in 2021.

What needs to happen during the off-season?
Jack Lonie, Luke Dunstan, Seb Ross and Josh Battle should go into the trade pool. They are all good players but could find a home where they can receive more opportunities. They are unlikely to bring more than third-round selections. Jack Billings is an interesting case as he was a high draft pick (No. 3 in 2013) and struggled this year. St Kilda might put him on the trade table but at best he’s going to attract a late first-round selection. The Saints need another gun key back and Daniel Talia should be on their radar. If Hannebery and Jake Carlisle are gone they should have some money to spend. Their best 25 looks well-balanced and is capable of challenging again next year with a good pre-season. Paton and Gresham returning adds real speed and football smarts to this team.

How should they approach the November draft? (Picks 9, 46, 64)
St Kilda have pick nine in the draft, which will effectively become 11. If Talia decides to go elsewhere they need to use that selection on a key back. Josh Gibcus is the best key back in the draft but highly likely to be gone by 11. So a leap of faith is required in selecting Josh Sinn or Campbell Chesser. Why? Because neither would have played more than five games over the past two seasons. Both are Sandringham Dragon players, although Chesser is from the country on scholarship in Melbourne. Both had serious injuries this year but on my observations from the under-16 games in 2019, they could have gone in the top five. Lack of games will mean both will spill to around pick 11, and, again, I would suggest judging them on their best - and their best in the under 16s was great.

11th. FREMANTLE

Was the season a success?
(12th in 2020) 10 wins and 12 losses
Fremantle should be proud of their season. They were in contention to play finals right up to the last round. You know you have great coaching, culture, system, process and communication when the young players on your list play beyond expectations, middle range players play to their ability and the senior players are playing some of the best football of their careers. That’s what Fremantle have produced for the past two years under Justin Longmuir.

What they haven’t produced yet is a healthy list. They have had a wretched run. Alex Pearce missed the first half of the year, as well as young guns Sam Sturt and Hayden Young missing early games. Then, when still in contention, they lost Nat Fyfe, Michael Walters, Rory Lobb, Brennan Cox and Nathan Wilson with around six rounds left. The beauty about this was they were able to put games into their good young players in Brandon Walker and Liam Henry – loved them both in last year’s draft – and Josh Treacy. I can’t believe he went through to the rookie stage.

Great seasons were had by several Dockers: Sean Darcy should have been All-Australian second ruck; James Aish has turned out to be a super pick-up from Collingwood; and David Mundy, at 35 years old, had his best season. Also starring in 2021 were young guns Andrew Brayshaw – I would make him captain next year – Caleb Serong and Adam Cerra, with Luke Ryan and Griffin Logue also having excellent years in defence. They were competitive virtually every week bar one and there is a lot to like about Fremantle next year, when they will surely have better luck with injuries.

What needs to happen during the off-season?
Cerra has requested a trade back to his home city of Melbourne, but they should receive great compensation. The talk is Carlton is on his wish list, and the Blues have pick six. But they will need to give up more and could throw Sam Petrevski-Seton into the mix, as he had an indifferent year and is a WA boy via Halls Creek. He could slot straight into the midfield in Cerra’s place and his best is great.

The talk around Lachie Neale returning from the Lions is strong and Fremantle received great compensation for him originally. I would offer pick eight for him and nothing else. Fremantle are in the box seat and Brisbane in a very tricky situation. Neale still has many good years left but turns 29 early next year, and you don’t command anything more than pick eight for a player of that age, no matter how good. Elsewhere, perhaps Cox (second round) could attract interest on the trade table.

How should they approach the November draft? (Picks 8, 27)
Fremantle do not want for much bar a 40-goal-a-year small forward or two – but those roles might be filled by Walters and Henry – and a midfielder to replace Cerra. They are loaded with key backs.

The aforementioned trade with Carlton would leave them with picks six and eight in the draft, a magnificent hand, though they would likely have to give Carlton a second-round pick back. There are some players from WA who could be around the top 10 in Jacob van Rooyen (key forward), Rhett Bazzo (key back) and Matt Johnson (midfielder), but it is way too early to predict the draft.

12th. RICHMOND

Was the season a success?
(Premiers in 2020) 9 wins, 12 losses, 1 draw in 2021.
Who’d have thought Richmond would fall to 12th after winning three of the past four premierships? They had injuries to key players, but still, they should still have made the finals. I would suggest a very late start to the pre-season played a part in the fact that they didn’t make the eight, along with the large chunks of footy missed by Kane Lambert, Dion Prestia, Nick Vlastuin, Toby Nankervis, Bachar Houli, Tom Lynch, Ivan Soldo, Noah Balta, Nathan Broad and Shane Edwards. Then disaster hit when Dustin Martin suffered a kidney injury when they were still in contention for finals. The season dissipated very quickly without him.

The Tigers will have a great lead-in to 2022 and I suspect they will rebound quickly. They are fourth for age and experience, so their list shouldn’t fall off a cliff. Their best 23 next year contains 11 players who are 28 years old or over. Six of those players are in their best 10, with Jayden Short, Nankervis, Liam Baker and Shai Bolton rounding out the numbers. None of their older players look like retiring at the end of 2022, bar perhaps Trent Cotchin and Jack Riewoldt.

The return of players such as Balta and Soldo after knee reconstructions, and the beauty of the games put into Callum Coleman-Jones, Mabior Chol, Thomson Dow, Hugo Ralphsmith, Riley Collier-Dawkins and Maurice Rioli will stand them in good stead next year. They have announced two retirements already in David Astbury and Houli, but Daniel Rioli is going to fill in beautifully down back.

What needs to happen during the off-season?
For the first time in a long time, the Tigers have draft selections to play with: two first-round picks and two second-rounders. The only problem is this is a terribly difficult draft because of the lack of viewing and the fact some prospects have played fewer than 10 games over two years. In addition, some of the best talent, Josh Sinn and Campbell Chesser in particular, have been injured for most of the year. Richmond don’t need anything in the trade market; at a pinch, maybe a key back to replace Astbury and Daniel Talia might be on their radar, but they are well-served everywhere else. Unrestricted free agent Chol and Coleman-Jones will struggle to be in their best team next year. They played some very good football this year and will have suitors and should be looking for opportunities. Both would likely bring second-round picks, which would give the Tigers an even stronger hand in the draft.

How should they approach the November draft? (Picks 7, 16, 26, 28, 40, 44)
They could package 26 and 28 and have another selection in the first round. North Melbourne, Adelaide and Gold Coast could accommodate them as their draft is still about the number of players they bring in to complement great young players. The Tigers could use one of their first-rounders to trade into next year’s draft as well, but that might be difficult as most clubs might be attempting this too. Richmond are in a very good position to go again next year after a big pre-season reset. Their brand of football is excellent and stands up, but they only have a year or two left in their premiership window.

13th. CARLTON

Was the season a success?
(11th in 2020) 8 wins, 14 losses in 2021.
I expected Carlton to make the final eight this year and they failed miserably, winning only eight games and losing four of their last five under David Teague.
Closer inspection of their list reveals they do not have one player aged 28 or older who I consider to be in their best 10 players, except for Ed Curnow.
My conclusion is they are not quite ready and have major problems with their defensive capabilities, mental aptitude and work rate/effort. There were just too many games where they did not turn up to play as a group. That is alarming, and why they had a mid-year review.

Jacob Weitering, Liam Jones, Sam Walsh, Patrick Cripps, Harry McKay, Curnow, Jack Silvagni and Matthew Kennedy gave their all most of the time, but the rest were found wanting.
The positives were McKay winning the Coleman Medal and coming of age as a key forward, Weitering’s development into one of the league’s best key backs and the return of Charlie Curnow. I liked what I saw of Tom De Koning in the ruck.
The disappointments were Sam Petrevski-Seton, Jack Martin, Zac Williams, Mitch McGovern and Will Setterfield. I expected more from some of their higher-paid players.

What needs to happen during the off-season?
The information is that Adam Cerra from Fremantle will be joining the Blues, and he’s a star. He will complement the midfield beautifully. He will cost them their pick in the first round of the draft and then some, but I’m happy with that. He has done his development at Fremantle and is ready to go. The big improvement will come from the above players who under-performed, particularly Petrevski-Seton and Martin. I would test the trade waters with Petrevski-Seton, particularly with West Coast, who are in desperate need of some straight-ahead speed in their midfield. The Blues might be able to entice their first round selection for him, and his best deserves that. McGovern has to go on the table along with Setterfield. If Cerra is arriving I can’t see Setterfield getting back in, and he might attract a second round pick. Cory Durdin has to fill the Eddie Betts role but don’t expect too much too soon.

How should they approach the November draft? (Picks 6, 25, 61)
There’s plenty of upsides here. They should take ex-Crow Tyson Stengle in the draft. I was surprised they didn’t take him in the mid-season one. Caleb Marchbank should return, a good pre-season will help Cripps, and they have some good kids ready to go in Brodie Kemp, Sam Philp, Jack Carroll, Durdin, Luke Parks and Josh Honey.

Improvement from the players who had poor years should see Carlton make the eight next year, no matter who is coaching, because this list is ready to go.

14th. HAWTHORN

Was the season a success?
(15th in 2020) 7 wins, 13 losses, 2 draws in 2021
We weren’t sure what we were going to see from Hawthorn in 2021. Their form was inconsistent leading up to their bye but in typical fashion under Alastair Clarkson, they knuckled down and produced some great results in the second half of the season. The Hawks plan for the opposition as well as anyone in the competition, and they took out some contenders while unearthing some exciting players. Across half-back, Will Day and Changkuoth Jiath look exciting; Jack Scrimshaw finished off the season outstandingly well and is justifying his lofty selection in the draft. The moves of