Mark Robinson

Top eight: Richmond, Geelong, Brisbane Lions, Western Bulldogs, GWS, Collingwood, West Coast, North Melbourne

Premiers: Richmond

Wooden spoon: Gold Coast

Brownlow Medal: Nat Fyfe

Coleman Medal: Tom Lynch (Rich)

Rising Star: Matt Rowell (GC)

Bold prediction: Retired Richmond star Alex Rance returns at the bye break.

 

David King

Top eight: West Coast, GWS, Richmond, Collingwood, Western Bulldogs, Brisbane Lions, Port Adelaide, North Melbourne

Premiers: West Coast

Wooden spoon: Gold Coast

Brownlow Medal: Marcus Bontempelli

Coleman Medal: Tom Lynch (Rich)

Rising Star: Max King (StK)

Bold prediction: Welcome back the 2014 version of Ken Hinkley as Port Adelaide thrives.

 

Glenn McFarlane

Top eight: Richmond Collingwood, West Coast, GWS, Western Bulldogs, Brisbane Lions, Geelong, Hawthorn

Premiers: Richmond

Wooden spoon: Gold Coast

Brownlow Medal: Marcus Bontempelli

Coleman Medal: Tom Lynch (Rich)

Rising Star: Matt Rowell (GC)

Bold prediction: Ross ‘The Boss’ Lyon’s mobile phone starts ringing about staging a bold coaching comeback in 2021 … or perhaps even sooner.

 

Jon Anderson

Top eight: Richmond, Collingwood, West Coast, Western Bulldogs, GWS, Geelong, Brisbane Lions, Hawthorn

Premiers: Richmond

Wooden spoon: Gold Coast

Brownlow Medal: Patrick Cripps

Coleman Medal: Tom Lynch (Rich)

Rising Star: Liam Stocker (Car)

Bold prediction: The Western Bulldogs will become the competition’s glamour team with a high‑scoring and fast‑moving brand.

 

Scott Gullan

Top eight: GWS, Western Bulldogs, Richmond, Collingwood, West Coast, Geelong, Hawthorn, Carlton

Premiers: GWS

Wooden spoon: Gold Coast

Brownlow Medal: Marcus Bontempelli

Coleman Medal: Tom Lynch (Rich)

Rising Star: Tom Green (GWS)

Bold prediction: Essendon’s shared coaching set-up will blow up in smoke as the Dons go neck-and-neck with the Suns for the wooden spoon.

 

Lauren Wood

Top eight: West Coast, Richmond, Collingwood, GWS, Western Bulldogs, Brisbane Lions, Geelong, Hawthorn

Premiers: Richmond

Wooden spoon: Gold Coast

Brownlow Medal: Patrick Cripps

Coleman Medal: Tom Lynch (Rich)

Rising Star: Izak Rankine (GC)

Bold prediction: Contract discussions to dominate the year right to the wire, but Jordan De Goey and Darcy Moore will stay in black and white.

 

Jay Clark

Top eight: West Coast, GWS, Richmond, Collingwood, Western Bulldogs, Brisbane Lions, Geelong, Melbourne

Premiers: West Coast

Wooden spoon: Gold Coast

Brownlow Medal: Patrick Cripps

Coleman Medal: Tom Lynch (Rich)

Rising Star: Matt Rowell (GC)

Bold prediction: Carlton hits the jackpot with Jack Martin, who delivers a career-best year after lobbing at the Blues for free.

 

Jon Ralph

Top eight: Richmond, West Coast, Geelong, Collingwood, GWS, Western Bulldogs, Hawthorn, Brisbane Lions

Premiers: Collingwood

Wooden spoon: Gold Coast

Brownlow Medal: Patrick Dangerfield

Coleman Medal: Ben Brown

Rising Star: Izak Rankine (GC)

Bold prediction: Gold Coast go from hunter to hunted in the list management space, linked to every out-of-contract star from Brad Crouch on.

 

Michael Warner

Top eight: Richmond, West Coast, Collingwood, GWS, Geelong, Hawthorn, Brisbane Lions, Western Bulldogs

Premiers: Richmond

Wooden spoon: Gold Coast

Brownlow Medal: Patrick Cripps

Coleman Medal: Tom Lynch (Rich)

Rising Star: Izak Rankine (GC)

Bold prediction: AFL renews push for 18m goalsquare to get the green light.

 

Rebecca Williams

Top eight: Richmond, Brisbane Lions, West Coast, Collingwood, GWS, Geelong, Western Bulldogs, Hawthorn

Premiers: Richmond

Wooden spoon: Gold Coast

Brownlow Medal: Patrick Cripps

Coleman Medal: Jeremy Cameron

Rising Star: Izak Rankine (GC)

Bold prediction: Honeymoon period to wear off quickly for some of the AFL’s new coaches.

 

Chris Cavanagh

Top eight: Richmond, West Coast, GWS, Western Bulldogs, Collingwood, Geelong, Brisbane Lions, Melbourne

Premiers: Richmond

Wooden spoon: Gold Coast

Brownlow Medal: Patrick Cripps

Coleman Medal: Tom Lynch (Rich)

Rising Star: Matt Rowell (GC)

Bold prediction: Hawthorn’s Jon Patton to prove the bargain buy of the 2019 trade period and kick a career-high 50 goals.

 

Gilbert Gardiner

Top eight: Richmond, GWS, West Coast, Geelong, Collingwood, Western Bulldogs, Melbourne, North Melbourne

Premiers: GWS

Wooden spoon: Gold Coast

Brownlow Medal: Stephen Coniglio

Coleman Medal: Ben Brown

Rising Star: Isaac Quaynor (Coll)

Bold prediction: No coach sackings in 2020.

 

Sam Landsberger

Top eight: West Coast, Western Bulldogs, GWS, Richmond, Brisbane Lions, Collingwood, Melbourne, Hawthorn

Premiers: West Coast

Wooden spoon: Gold Coast

Brownlow Medal: Marcus Bontempelli

Coleman Medal: Tom Lynch (Rich)

Rising Star: Izak Rankine (GC)

Bold prediction: Essendon nosedives into the bottom four … delivering new coach Ben Rutten an early compensation pick as free agent Joe Daniher successfully departs.

 

Brad Johnson

Top eight: GWS, Richmond, Brisbane Lions, Western Bulldogs, West Coast, Melbourne, Collingwood, Essendon

Premiers: GWS

Wooden spoon: Gold Coast

Brownlow Medal: Lachie Neale

Coleman Medal: Tom Lynch (Rich)

Rising Star: Hayden Young (Fre)

Bold prediction: Melbourne to rise from 17th last year to land inside the top six.

 

Cam Mooney

Top eight: GWS, Melbourne, Richmond, West Coast, Collingwood, Geelong, Brisbane Lions, Western Bulldogs

Premiers: Melbourne

Wooden spoon: Gold Coast

Brownlow Medal: Lachie Whitfield

Coleman Medal: Tom Lynch (Rich)

Rising Star: Matt Rowell (GC)

Bold prediction: 2019 for Melbourne was exactly like Geelong 2006. 2020 for Melbourne will be exactly like Geelong 2007 … mic drop!

 

Daniel Hoyne

Top eight: Richmond, West Coast, GWS, Collingwood, Western Bulldogs, Geelong, Brisbane Lions, North Melbourne

Premiers: GWS

Wooden spoon: Gold Coast

Brownlow Medal: Marcus Bontempelli

Coleman Medal: Tom Lynch (Rich)

Rising Star: Matt Rowell (GC)

Bold prediction: We will see a record number of matches decided by under 12 points this season.

 

Reece Homfray

Top eight: Richmond, West Coast, GWS, Hawthorn, Collingwood, Geelong, Brisbane Lions, Port Adelaide

Premiers: West Coast

Wooden spoon: Gold Coast

Brownlow Medal: Josh Kelly

Coleman Medal: Josh Kennedy (WC)

Rising Star: Dylan Stephens (Syd)

Bold prediction: Hawthorn to re-emerge as a contender. Can jump from outside the top eight to a top-four team. Tom Mitchell returns and Jon Patton a big boost.

 

Matt Turner

Top eight: West Coast, Collingwood, GWS, Richmond, Western Bulldogs, Geelong, Hawthorn, Brisbane Lions

Premiers: West Coast

Wooden spoon: Gold Coast

Brownlow Medal: Marcus Bontempelli

Coleman Medal: Jack Darling

Rising Star: Dylan Stephens (Syd)

Bold prediction: Essendon brings Ben Rutten in as full-time coach mid-season after a poor start to the campaign.

 

Andrew Capel

Top eight: West Coast, Richmond, Collingwood, GWS, Geelong, Brisbane Lions, Western Bulldogs, Hawthorn

Premiers: West Coast

Wooden spoon: Gold Coast

Brownlow Medal: Patrick Cripps

Coleman Medal: Jeremy Cameron

Rising Star: Izak Rankine (GC)

Bold prediction: For the first time, South Australia’s two AFL teams will miss the finals for a third straight year.

 

5 out of 19 ain't bad. Don't need alot of love.

Love the Mic drop from Moons.

Could be my fav special comments person this season.

Edited March 2, 20205 yr by Win4theAges

Just now, Win4theAges said:

5 out of 19 ain't bad. Don't need alot of love.

I think last year we all mocked Mick Malthouse for being one of the only ones to not Predict a Top 8 finish for us.

I prefer an underdog status for our 2020 campaign. We alway come to grief when the media  jumps on our bandwagon. 

Edited March 2, 20205 yr by america de cali

3 minutes ago, Win4theAges said:

5 out of 19 ain't bad. Don't need alot of love.

Love the Mic drop from Moons.

Could be my fav special comments person this season.

My bold prediction is that by the mid-season break it will be 14/ 5

Im definitely in the "No Injuries to top 12 players" camp. (is there one?)

This survey by professional writes/tipsters is very sobering compared to our discussions on DL.

If we get our best new players playing to their potential, they will probably surprise a few journos as they havent as yet really associated them with Melbourne. Langdon, May, Tomlinson, Bennell, Lever. Then if TMac Gus AVB and Viney are back to their best form, Im tipping them even in round one. All that being so we would have to crack the top 4 at least.

Unfortunately you can make a case that if many other sides are injury free as well it makes it very difficult. We bat deep but at least 5 others do as well. As opposed to say North and Carlton who rely solely on their 5/6 best players. Bulldogs is a potential big thing IMV.

44 minutes ago, Demonland said:

 

David King

Top eight: West Coast, GWS, Richmond, Collingwood, Western Bulldogs, Brisbane Lions, Port Adelaide, North Melbourne

Premiers: West Coast

Wooden spoon: Gold Coast

Brownlow Medal: Marcus Bontempelli

Coleman Medal: Tom Lynch (Rich)

Rising Star: Max King (StK)

Bold prediction: Welcome back the 2014 version of Ken Hinkley as Port Adelaide thrives.

 

 

One thing we know is that all of these Top 8 predictions on membership will be wrong as they ignore historical trend of at least 2 and usually 3 changes each year. Again, journalists and others looking at history with little thought. (a la Champion Data) 

Cam Mooney's prediction of the Dees as Premiers is at least based on past lived experience and evaluation of potential, not looking at 2019 in isolation.

David King will be closest to the pin with 2 changes, but clearly Dees will take Roos entrance

41 minutes ago, Demonland said:

I think last year we all mocked Mick Malthouse for being one of the only ones to not Predict a Top 8 finish for us.

Yep, and I would have been one of them.  That hasn't aged well.

Why are so many expecting North Melbourne to make the 8? Am I missing something?

4 minutes ago, DemonWheels said:

Why are so many expecting North Melbourne to make the 8? Am I missing something?

agree. Likewise Geelong and Hawthorn.

I’m not a football expert but I know enough that kangaroos have no chance of making the 8. 

What am I missing with norf I think they will be bottom 4, even there fans give them no chance 

1 hour ago, Deeoldfart said:

My bold prediction is that by the mid-season break it will be 14/ 5

Love it, i hope so Dof.

An interesting prediction by Sam Landsberger:   Bold prediction: Essendon nosedives into the bottom four … delivering new coach Ben Rutten an early compensation pick as free agent Joe Daniher successfully departs.

 

Question:  Is this a year for Ess to tank again?  The 'woe-is-me' injury narrative is already dampening expectations.

 

They would get two top 5 picks; a natural one and an FA comp pick for Daniher.  While 2020 is a compromised draft they can do well cashing one or both in for 2021 picks.

Edited March 2, 20205 yr by Lucifer's Hero

Would they get a top 5 pick for Daniher? If he hardly plays any games over 2-3 years, it's hard to see.

Sadly the AFL makes up the FA compo as it goes and no doubt will want to help the Cheats.

Picking North for finals is as sensible as picking Gold Coast.

17 minutes ago, mauriesy said:

Would they get a top 5 pick for Daniher? If he hardly plays any games over 2-3 years, it's hard to see.

He’s worth whatever someone is willing to pay for him. Essendon will play hardball again and perhaps Sydney will blink this time. 

"Experts" King and Robbo had us finishing 13th and 15th in the Footy 2020 mag that came with the Herald-Sun...make of that whatever (probably a good sign)

12 minutes ago, Demonland said:

He’s worth whatever someone is willing to pay for him. Essendon will play hardball again and perhaps Sydney will blink this time. 

If he doesn't play games this year he will be in a similar league to Patton...

Not worth much at all.

I don't think Sydney will be giving EFC an easy ride after their recent history.

Expert? Former spurt now just a drip under pressure. : )

Always loved Cam Mooney......great judge that boy. ?

I could see Moore going next year to Bombers for Daniher in a straight swap. Moore can play both ends as well.....

Given our 2018 and 2019, the “experts” are finding it very tough to gauge where we are.  I think we are a 7-10 team but if we are ever blessed with a “tigers type injury free run”, we could really give it a shake !! 

59 minutes ago, Demonland said:

He’s worth whatever someone is willing to pay for him. Essendon will play hardball again and perhaps Sydney will blink this time. 

He's a restricted free agent at the end of this year. I'm guessing if he hardly plays in 2020, then Essendon won't get that much compensation for him, unless the bid is ridiculously high (in which case the Swans would have to be basically stupid).

If he doesn't play much this year because of OP, I'm also doubtful that the Swans will even renew their offer.

3 hours ago, Damo said:

This survey by professional writes/tipsters is very sobering compared to our discussions on DL.

Although a professional sports journalist should have a better overview of the league, it's likely that most on here would have a far better gauge on our club than this lot (albeit with greater biases). 

All else being equal, the simple maths can paint a picture. If professional life consists of 40 hours per week, divide that by 18, and a footy journo has a little over two hours to dedicate to each team per week. 

Most tragics on here would invest more time than that on the Demons per day. Factor the additional time on the weekends, and it's the equivalent of at least a part-time job dedicated to learning about a single club.  

2 hours ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

An interesting prediction by Sam Landsberger:   Bold prediction: Essendon nosedives into the bottom four … delivering new coach Ben Rutten an early compensation pick as free agent Joe Daniher successfully departs.

 

Question:  Is this a year for Ess to tank again?  The 'woe-is-me' injury narrative is already dampening expectations.

 

They would get two top 5 picks; a natural one and an FA comp pick for Daniher.  While 2020 is a compromised draft they can do well cashing one or both in for 2021 picks.

I think it's far more likely that Adelaide get an extra first round pick after Brad Crouch joins the Cats on a five year multi-million dollar deal as a RFA.