AFL Ontario is the last of the major Canadian leagues to kick off and hasn't it been a long time coming? Plenty of unanswered questions from the end of season 2014 will be answered ... Are the Swans for real? Can Broadview do a Brissy Lions and win 3 in a row? Who will replace Morgz's fascinating interviews on Rogers TV?
Phantom's early predictions are for all ten teams to win the flag based on their pre-season recruitment of gun new Aussies. Each team starts the season at 2/1 odds and each gun Aussie also starts the season at 2/1 for the league best and fairest. Place your bets!
Before anyone can win the flag we need to play the games so here's round 1 starting with a grand final rematch.
Broadview Hawks v Central Blues
Just like Hawthorn the Broadview Hawks have gone back to back, but Hawthorn are struggling so Phantom expects the same for Ontario's version. Killa has gone home which means no more Big 3 for Phantom to drool over and no-one for Morgs to interview although new Aussie Olli Stoltz could make the step up. Hawks have a tough run home with Guelph, Ottawa, Eagles and Roos in last 5 weeks so a strong start is needed. Hawks do have strong instagram game with 86 likes on last post.
The Blues have been quiet over the winter as well, maybe licking their wounds after a tough GF loss. Like the Hawks it looks like the Blues have most of their core group together, losing Doc and Chopper but keeping Willsy and Shorty. Questions marks surround AFLO's power couple Steve Rutledge and Jen Nicholls and whether they will suit up for the Blues or Edmonton. Reasonable instagram game out of the boys in Blue has them trending in the right direction.
Phantom Prediction: Hawks by 8
High Park Demons v Hamilton Wildcats
Battle of the 2014 cellar dwellars but two very proud footy clubs.
Hamilton started preseason in October 2014 so they should be fit and fired up to avenge their 1 win season last year. Instagram game has been strong with lots of black and white photos uploaded, not sure if that will land them any wins but it's possible. Word is the prodigal son Justin Settle returns and while the Wildcats are usually pretty decent at landing some gun new Aussies there are no clearances at the moment.
The Dees went from perennial contenders to easy beats last year and their instagram account has been equally as shocking. From the pictures posted it's unclear if the Dees have done any preseason or just sat in a bar for 6 months. Doggett has gone back to Oz and Phantom doubts the influx of young fellas on Marty Walter's 'scholarship' will arrive. Where have the glory days gone?
Phantom Prediction: Wildcats by 30
Grand River Gargoyles v Etobicoke Kangaroos
Game of the Round!
Guelph as everyone still calls them had the coup of the off-season by landing High Park's best player Big Red Neil Casey. They were probably due for some bad karma after poaching another team's best player and had there coach Ben Roberts go home to Australia. Word is Dyer might have a bit of head wobble going after his recent appearance on 'Inside Guelph' on Rogers TV. Check it out maybe he's the new Morgz? No instagram account is dissapointing, Phantom would like to see videos of Kerm yelling at innocent rookie Canadians. Ge your act together Gargs.
The Roos snuck into sixth place last year and made a finals appearance, getting touched up by the eventual premiers. Chippa has returned but looks like Morgs from 2013 so maybe Chippa should do the Rogers TV interviews? Word is the Roos will be good again after a couple of years in the wilderness and between Harris, Cuznir and Connell there's no doubt they will be able to dominate some teams. No instagram account for the Roos either making this game tough to pick. Both teams needs to step up.
Phantom Prediction: Guelph by 19
Toronto Dingos v Toronto Eagles
This would have been a good game in 2005. These two traded Premierships between 2002 and 2009 but have fallen on tougher times of late.
The Dingos were unlucky to miss the playoffs after a large charge. They are one of the better traveling teams and were the only AFLO club to go on a pre-season trip heading down to London. By the looks of it their new gun Aussie 'Fridge' has been enjoying the North American fast food options but could form a dangerous forward combo with Phantom favourite Big Wade. Instagram is the only thing letting the Dingos down at this early stage of the season with the last post 42 weeks ago!
Eagles have gone 1 win, 8 wins, 3 wins over the last 3 years but according to Azza they have recruited Nat Fyfe, Patrick Dangerfield, Scott Pendlebury and Lance Buddy Franklin straight out of the AFL. This should make them hard to beat for the flag and will also have them in a four way tie for league b&f while Buddy should beat out Shutts for goal kicking award. Phantom predicts the Eagles to sweep all awards this year except for best instagram.
Phantom Prediction: Eagles by 94
Toronto Rebels v Ottawa Swans
The battle of the top 2 who bombed out before the GF.
#RebelsBrand has been strong on instagram but my tip is its a foil for them losing Morgz, Morgz's Rogers TV interviews, Kon, Prender and Murdoch. According to there instagram a good footy player will have the ball for 3 minutes which Phantom Analytics tells me is roughly 94 possessions. Seems like a lot. In fairness to the 12-0 Rebs at least their photos contain footy pics unlike the Dees. Phantom is predicting Rebels to be the big sliders in 2015 although their strong numbers could help compensate some big losses.
Ottawa got good, real good last season but couldn't take the final step. A solid mix of Aussies and Canucks fueled a 9-3 record including some strong wins in Toronto. Phantom hears that Ottawa proposed about 94 bylaw changes at the AFLO board meeting with most of the proposals ending with the Swans gaining financially. Pull your heads in boys. If Ottawa can win their home games, get an instagram account running and Strom can stay off twitter when hes drunk they could be playoff bound again.
Phantom Prediction: Swans by 44
There ya have it folks, my first preview of the season.. Until next week, here's to a ripping round one of footy.
-The Ghost who Handballs
Last Modified on 23/05/2015 04:39