Just like that, the home and away season is over for another year.
It was a mixed bag in 2019, a combination of teams surging into the top eight for the first time in years and other clubs underperforming into an early season exit.
It was a thrill to watch at times, but a struggle at others.
Here are a few of my takeaways from season 2019:
The biggest surprise:
The Brisbane Lions have to be the surprise package of the 2019 season.
If they win their first home final, they’re every chance to get to the big day… was any body predicting that?
Yes, they lost to Richmond on the weekend, but that home final next weekend could be all the difference.
Not to mention their superstar midfielder, Lachie Neale, racking up 51 touches against the Tigers.
Can he win the Brownlow? Yes… but he did cool off in the second half of the year.
It just depends on how much of a lead he can garner in the first half of the season, I feel like the pack will be hunting him down.
Dangerfield was amazing again on the weekend, Nat Fyfe may sneak in for another one…
We may even have a dual-winner.
The biggest letdown:
You’d have to say Adelaide and Port Adelaide not making finals again was a big miss.
It’s almost like both teams have followed each other: Adelaide have struggled since the bye, like Port Adelaide in 2018.
Meanwhile, the Power haven’t been able to stay consistent… it’s frustrating because we know their best footy is really good.
With both clubs, you really didn’t know what you were going to get.
Another year in South Australia without finals...
Coach of the year:
Right away, put Chris Fagan in there of course.
But the one who really took my eye was the great Alistair Clarkson for his deeds in the second half of the year.
Although the Hawks missed out on finals football (just), Clarkson managed some incredible wins in the latter half of the year - including knocking off West Coast in Round 23.
He manages to not only get his own team playing well, but can also craft a game plan that disrupts the opposition.
Many can do one or the other, very few can do both in unison.
The finals:
So, looking forward, here are my picks for the first week of the finals:
West Coast to beat Essendon
I couldn’t tell you the last time the Eagles have lost two in a row at home.
The Bombers took a risk last week and rested a couple, but West Coast should win by three or four.
Collingwood to beat Geelong
I’ll stick my neck out on this one and say the Pies can get something.
They’ve found their way back, even though the quality of opposition hasn’t been red hot.
I think Bucks has got them right at the right time.
Western Bulldogs to beat GWS
I’m on the Doggies train and have been for a while… there’s no reason to get off.
They are red hot and playing great footy.
Brisbane to beat Richmond
Let’s go with the fairytale, the Lions to keep on rolling in Brisbane.
It will be the closest match of the round, definitely.
Dale Lewis is the co-host of Triple M’s The Rush Hour with Jars & Louie, weekdays from 3-4pm and 6-7pm.
Lewis played 182 games for the Sydney Swans between 1990 and 2001.
