2024 Experts Predictions

[Demonland 72,163]

OVERALL VOTES (21 voters)

To play finals

21 (of 21) - Brisbane Lions, Collingwood, GWS Giants

20 - Carlton

17 - Melbourne

16 - Port Adelaide

14 - Sydney Swans

13 - Adelaide Crows

7 - Western Bulldogs

6 - St Kilda

5 - Geelong

3 - Essendon

2 - Fremantle, Gold Coast Suns

Premiers

13 - Brisbane Lions

3 - Collingwood

2 - GWS Giants, Sydney Swans

1 - Carlton

Runner-up

9 - Collingwood

3 - Brisbane Lions, Carlton, GWS Giants

2 - Sydney Swans

1 - Melbourne

Wooden spoon

18 - West Coast Eagles

3 - North Melbourne

Brownlow Medal

5 - Nick Daicos (Collingwood), Tom Green (GWS Giants), Errol Gulden (Sydney Swans)

2 - Marcus Bontempelli (Western Bulldogs)

1 - Zak Butters (Port Adelaide), Toby Greene (GWS Giants), Christian Petracca (Melbourne), Caleb Serong (Fremantle)

Coleman Medal

6 - Charlie Curnow (Carlton)

5 - Nick Larkey (North Melbourne)

4 - Jeremy Cameron (Geelong)

2 - Aaron Naughton (Western Bulldogs)

1 - Ben King (Gold Coast Suns), Max King (St Kilda), Jamarra Ugle-Hagan (Western Bulldogs), Taylor Walker (Adelaide)

JONATHAN BROWN

Top 8 changes: Adelaide and Western Bulldogs IN, St Kilda and Sydney OUT

Premiers: Brisbane Lions. “So close last year. The additions of Will Ashcroft, Tom Doedee and Jack Payne, all not there on Grand Final day should get them to the promised land.”

Runner-up: Collingwood

Wooden spoon: West Coast Eagles

Brownlow Medal: Nick Daicos (Collingwood)

Coleman Medal: Jeremy Cameron (Geelong)

BEN COTTON

Top 8 changes: Adelaide IN, St Kilda OUT

Premiers: Collingwood

Runner-up: Brisbane Lions

Wooden spoon: West Coast Eagles

Brownlow Medal: Nick Daicos (Collingwood)

Coleman Medal: Nick Larkey (North Melbourne)

BEN DIXON

Top 8 changes: Adelaide and Essendon IN, Melbourne and St Kilda OUT

Premiers: Collingwood. “System and talent, clearly the competition leaders in these areas, young enough to be still hungry and their ability to win tight games in clutch moments is no fluke.”

Runner-up: Sydney Swans

Wooden spoon: West Coast Eagles

Brownlow Medal: Toby Greene (GWS Giants)

Coleman Medal: Charlie Curnow (Carlton)

JASON DUNSTALL

Top 8 changes: Adelaide IN, St Kilda OUT

Premiers: Brisbane Lions

Runner-up: Collingwood

Wooden spoon: West Coast Eagles

Brownlow Medal: Marcus Bontempelli (Western Bulldogs)

Coleman Medal: Charlie Curnow (Carlton)

BRAD JOHNSON

Top 8 changes: Western Bulldogs IN, St Kilda OUT

Premiers: Brisbane Lions. “They have class all over the ground and will finish top 4 to put themselves in the best position to hold up the cup in 2024.”

Runner-up: Carlton

Wooden spoon: North Melbourne

Brownlow Medal: Errol Gulden (Sydney Swans)

Coleman Medal: Aaron Naughton (Western Bulldogs)

SARAH JONES

Top 8 changes: Adelaide and Essendon IN, Port Adelaide and St Kilda OUT

Premiers: Brisbane Lions

Runner-up: Collingwood

Wooden spoon: West Coast Eagles

Brownlow Medal: Errol Gulden (Sydney Swans)

Coleman Medal: Jeremy Cameron (Geelong)

JACK JOVANOVSKI

Top 8 changes: Adelaide and Geelong IN, Port Adelaide and Sydney OUT

Premiers: Brisbane Lions

Runner-up: Collingwood

Wooden spoon: West Coast Eagles

Brownlow Medal: Tom Green (GWS Giants)

Coleman Medal: Nick Larkey (North Melbourne)

DAVID KING

Top 8 changes: Western Bulldogs IN, Melbourne OUT

Premiers: Collingwood. “I think the Pies will be better in year three under Craig McRae. Collingwood played awesome football pre-bye last year, but patchy after that point, winning games in bursts, which avails significant scope for improvement.”

Runner-up: GWS Giants

Wooden spoon: West Coast Eagles

Brownlow Medal: Nick Daicos (Collingwood)

Coleman Medal: Nick Larkey (North Melbourne)

MAX LAUGHTON

Top 8 changes: Adelaide and Geelong IN, Carlton and Sydney OUT

Premiers: Brisbane Lions

Runner-up: GWS Giants

Wooden spoon: West Coast Eagles

Brownlow Medal: Marcus Bontempelli (Western Bulldogs)

Coleman Medal: Max King (St Kilda)

KATH LOUGHNAN

Top 8 changes: Adelaide and Fremantle IN, Port Adelaide and St Kilda OUT

Premiers: GWS Giants. “I want to see history made with Toby Greene and Adam Kingsley leading the Giants to their first ever premiership.”

Runner-up: Brisbane Lions

Wooden spoon: North Melbourne

Brownlow Medal: Nick Daicos (Collingwood)

Coleman Medal: Taylor Walker (Adelaide)

ALASTAIR LYNCH

Top 8 changes: Nil

Premiers: Brisbane Lions. “They’re the only team to play in finals all of the past five years and they’ve won the most games over the last five years. The team that narrowly got beaten on Grand Final day last year will improve: Will Ashcroft will come in for the second half of the year, Tom Doedee comes in too and their better players like Hugh McCluggage and Zac Bailey are young and improving ... They’ve got to win one. There’ll be a next year, but those stats are both good and bad. You play finals the last five years and win the most games last five years and not win one? That’s no good. I think they are legitimately getting better, so they’ve got to win one.”

Runner-up: Collingwood

Wooden spoon: West Coast Eagles

Brownlow Medal: Errol Gulden (Sydney Swans)

Coleman Medal: Jeremy Cameron (Geelong Cats)

GARRY LYON

Top 8 changes: Geelong IN, St Kilda OUT

Premiers: Brisbane Lions. “Been trending towards this for 5 years. They’re ready.”

Runner-up: GWS Giants

Wooden spoon: West Coast Eagles

Brownlow Medal: Tom Green (GWS Giants)

Coleman Medal: Charlie Curnow (Carlton)

LEIGH MONTAGNA

Top 8 changes: Geelong IN, Sydney OUT

Premiers: Brisbane Lions. “This is their season, no excuses, Gabba fortress, players in their prime.”

Runner-up: Melbourne

Wooden spoon: West Coast Eagles

Brownlow Medal: Caleb Serong (Fremantle)

Coleman Medal: Charlie Curnow (Carlton)

CAMERON MOONEY

Top 8 changes: Adelaide and Geelong IN, Melbourne and St Kilda OUT

Premiers: GWS Giants. “They have all three areas covered well as a team, with game winners on every-line and last year will push them to go further.”

Runner-up: Collingwood

Wooden spoon: West Coast Eagles

Brownlow Medal: Tom Green (GWS Giants)

Coleman Medal: Nick Larkey (North Melbourne)

MATTHEW PAVLICH

Top 8 changes: Essendon and Fremantle IN, Port Adelaide and St Kilda OUT

Premiers: Carlton

Runner-up: Sydney Swans

Wooden spoon: West Coast Eagles

Brownlow Medal: Christian Petracca (Melbourne)

Coleman Medal: Jeremy Cameron (Geelong)

MARK RICCIUTO

Top 8 changes: Adelaide and Gold Coast IN, St Kilda and Sydney OUT

Premiers: Brisbane Lions. “Very close last year and would be hungrier than ever.”

Runner-up: Collingwood

Wooden spoon: North Melbourne

Brownlow Medal: Zak Butters (Port Adelaide)

Coleman Medal: Nick Larkey (North Melbourne)

JACK RIEWOLDT

Top 8 changes: Adelaide and Gold Coast IN, Port Adelaide and St Kilda OUT

Premiers: Sydney Swans

Runner-up: Collingwood

Wooden spoon: West Coast Eagles

Brownlow Medal: Errol Gulden (Sydney Swans)

Coleman Medal: Ben King (Gold Coast Suns)

DWAYNE RUSSELL

Top 8 changes: Western Bulldogs IN, St Kilda OUT

Premiers: Brisbane Lions. “Perfectly placed to go one better after meeting a better team on Grand Final day last year, and blowing a golden opportunity when the grand final was at the Gabba.”

Runner-up: Collingwood

Wooden spoon: West Coast Eagles

Brownlow Medal: Nick Daicos (Collingwood)

Coleman Medal: Charlie Curnow (Carlton)

KELLI UNDERWOOD

Top 8 changes: Adelaide and Western Bulldogs IN, Melbourne and St Kilda OUT

Premiers: Sydney Swans. “No Bud, but Brodie will use the fire in his belly to propel the Swans to their first flag in twelve years.”

Runner-up: Brisbane Lions

Wooden spoon: West Coast Eagles

Brownlow Medal: Errol Gulden (Sydney Swans)

Coleman Medal: Aaron Naughton (Western Bulldogs)

BEN WATERWORTH

Top 8 changes: Western Bulldogs IN, Sydney Swans OUT

Premiers: Brisbane Lions

Runner-up: Carlton

Wooden spoon: West Coast Eagles

Brownlow Medal: Tom Green (GWS Giants)

Coleman Medal: Charlie Curnow (Carlton)

DAVID ZITA

Top 8 changes: Adelaide and Western Bulldogs IN, St Kilda and Sydney OUT

Premiers: Brisbane Lions

Runner-up: Carlton

Wooden spoon: West Coast Eagles

Brownlow Medal: Tom Green (GWS Giants)

Coleman Medal: Jamarra Ugle-Hagan (Western Bulldogs)

[binman 42,902]

Ben Dixon:

Premiers: Collingwood. “System and talent, clearly the competition leaders in these areas, young enough to be still hungry and their ability to win tight games in clutch moments is no fluke.”

Young enough to still be hungry?

We'll i guess that could apply to any team, but relevant data points are the Pies have the oldest list in the AFL and 9 of their best 22 players are over 30:

• Cameron
• Mihocek
• Crisp
• Hoskin-Elliott
• Elliott
• Cox
• Sidebottom
• Howe 
• Pendlebury

 

Edited March 5 by binman

[Fromgotowoewodin 1,606]

With Dixon and King putting us out of the 8 you can pretty much lock us in now. 

Easy option to nominate the pies again but I think they’ll struggle to go back to back. Won a lot of close games last 2 years, could’ve lost any of their 3 finals last year. Pundits overrating them. 

That said we have a fair bit of work to do to stay in top 4 contention as other teams are coming (giants and swans worry me)

[DistrACTION Jackson 8,724]

Seeing as the 'experts' very rarely get it right I am happy with these

[Demon17 5,188]

Dermot says Lions won't win a flag with Daniher and Hipwood as their key forwards

I agree with him

[Ted Lasso 19,511]

It's perfect for the club really, no pressure or expectation externally compared to the extreme levels of the last few years. 

I've got a feeling we're going to make a few "Experts" look a bit silly in 2024

[rjay 24,917]

We will all know at the end of September...

These predictions are set up to make us all look like fools.

1 hour ago, Demonland said:

GARRY LYON

Top 8 changes: Geelong IN, St Kilda OUT

Premiers: Brisbane Lions. “Been trending towards this for 5 years. They’re ready.”

 

 

1 hour ago, Demonland said:

Premiers: Brisbane Lions. “Perfectly placed to go one better after meeting a better team on Grand Final day last year, and blowing a golden opportunity when the grand final was at the Gabba.”

So, let me say that things rarely go in a straight line as far as life and sport are concerned.

Brisbane to have a rocky ride this season...

 

[Roost it far 8,255]

Brisbane deserve to be favourites, they’ll be incredibly hard to beat

[deebunked 285]

Everyone picked Eagles for the spoon. They'll still have one of the better crowd aggregates in '24.

I just hope Collingwood drop off. Highly possible, their arrogance is vomitous.

[Its Time for Another 4,208]

I think you'd be confident in saying many of the predictions about us are based on the pre season issues and thinking we won't be able to play football anymore.

Blues game showed not only are we still an elite drilled unite but our system is even better.

Plus hopefully our injury woes will be well behind us within the next 4-6 weeks but they might cause us a shaky start in the first 6 weeks which could leave us outside the 4 for a while. Thus opening game is sooo important.

I haven't seen anyone in the press comment on the fact that we flogged Collingwood and Carlton in the finals in every statistic except unfortunately the final one of a winning score. All we need to do is fix that final part of the system and we should be serious contenders and on the basis of the Carlton game there's a lot of improvement already. 

IT's prediction. If we get through the first 6 weeks at say 4-2 we'll finish top 2 and will be hard to stop from there. I have a wedding to go to on Grand Final day. I've already told She Who Must Be Obeyed I'm not going to miss finally seeing a Dees Premiership live for that wedding. 

[spirit of norm smith 16,442]

AFL WEBSITE

Prediction from Nathan “Chook” 🐔

 

Nathan Schmook

Premier: Brisbane
Runner-up: Greater Western Sydney 
Wooden spoon: West Coast
Moving up: Fremantle 
Set to fall: Melbourne
Club under the most pressure (and why): Melbourne. The Demons haven't taken full advantage of their prime years. Ending two seasons of straight-sets exits will be a challenge after their pre-season setbacks. 
Will the Suns finally make finals?: No
Brownlow Medal: Errol Gulden 
Coleman Medal: Charlie Curnow
AFL Rising Star: Colby McKercher
Recruit of the year: Brodie Grundy
Surprise All-Australian: Jordan Clark
Who should headline the Grand Final entertainment?: Foo Fighters
Headline you'll see: Freo zeroes in on forward target with draft kitty
Headline you won't see: Club pushes the line with matchday concussion management 
Big call: Like the Brownlow Medal in 2023, youth will be the big storyline in the Coleman Medal race (around Charlie Curnow) as Max King, Jamarra Ugle-Hagan and Nick Larkey push the superstar Blue with top-five finishes. 

Schmook's ladder prediction

1. Brisbane 
2. Greater Western Sydney 
3. Collingwood
4. Sydney 
5. Carlton
6. Fremantle
7. Adelaide
8. Port Adelaide

9. St Kilda 
10. Western Bulldogs 
11. Melbourne 
12. Gold Coast 
13. Geelong 
14. Essendon 
15. Hawthorn 
16. Richmond
17. North Melbourne 
18. West Coast 

 

[Demonland 72,163]

Damian Barrett

Premier: Brisbane
Runner-up: Geelong
Wooden spoon: Hawthorn
Moving up: Geelong
Set to fall: Port Adelaide
Club under the most pressure (and why): Gold Coast, because it sacked Dew to get Dimma, and now won’t stop talking about finals
Will the Suns finally make finals?: No
Brownlow Medal: Chad Warner
Coleman Medal: Jeremy Cameron
AFL Rising Star: Ryley Sanders
Recruit of the year: Brodie Grundy
Surprise All-Australian: Ollie Henry
Who should headline the Grand Final entertainment? Def Leppard and Motley Crue
Headline you'll see: Melbourne: We Don’t Have A Drug Culture
Headline you won't see: Gold Coast: We Knew We Had Dimma Even Before 2023 Started
Big call: Suns Pick Up Buddy In Mid-Season Draft

Barrett's ladder prediction

1. Brisbane
2. Geelong
3. Sydney
4. Greater Western Sydney
5. Collingwood
6. Carlton
7. Melbourne
8. Adelaide

9. St Kilda
10. Fremantle
11. Port Adelaide
12. Western Bulldogs
13. Essendon
14. Gold Coast
15. Richmond
16. West Coast
17. North Melbourne
18. Hawthorn

Riley Beveridge

Premier: Collingwood
Runner-up: Brisbane
Wooden spoon: West Coast
Moving up: Adelaide
Set to fall: St Kilda
Club under the most pressure (and why): Gold Coast. Made the splashy coaching hire, now the Suns simply have to deliver and finally play finals football
Will the Suns finally make finals?: No
Brownlow Medal: Nick Daicos
Coleman Medal: Charlie Curnow
AFL Rising Star: Colby McKercher
Recruit of the year: Lachie Schultz
Surprise All-Australian: Josh Rachele
Who should headline the Grand Final entertainment? Dua Lipa
Headline you'll see: Nick Daicos stamps his name as the best player in the League
Headline you won't see: Pressure off Blues as Michael Voss' side has a quiet few weeks
Big call: All-Australian ruck Tim English lured home and joins the Eagles

Beveridge's ladder prediction

1. Brisbane
2. Collingwood
3. Carlton
4. Greater Western Sydney
5. Melbourne
6. Port Adelaide
7. Adelaide
8. Sydney

9. Gold Coast
10. Western Bulldogs
11. Geelong
12. St Kilda
13. Essendon
14. Richmond
15. Fremantle
16. North Melbourne
17. Hawthorn
18. West Coast

Sarah Black

Premier: Brisbane
Runner-up: Collingwood
Wooden spoon: North Melbourne
Moving up: Sydney
Set to fall: Richmond
Club under the most pressure (and why): Melbourne. An off-season in the headlines for all the wrong reasons, coupled with a talented list and an injury-decimated forward line spells concerns.
Will the Suns finally make finals?: No (the women did it last year, though!)
Brownlow Medal: Marcus Bontempelli. Please. The man needs one.
Coleman Medal: Charlie Curnow
AFL Rising Star: Ryley Sanders
Recruit of the year: Tom Doedee
Surprise All-Australian: Noah Anderson
Who should headline the Grand Final entertainment?: Taytay played to 96,000 last month, let's bump it up to 100k. Dream big.
Headline you'll see: Bombers' finals win-drought celebrates 20 years
Headline you won't see: Tiges bounce back under Yze
Big call: Cats to continue a slow descent, the old guard leading them to a couple of upset wins along the way

Black's ladder prediction

1. Brisbane
2. Collingwood
3. Sydney
4. Greater Western Sydney
5. Carlton
6. Melbourne
7. Port Adelaide
8. Adelaide

9. St Kilda
10. Geelong
11. Fremantle
12. Western Bulldogs 
13. Gold Coast
14. Essendon
15. Richmond
16. West Coast
17. Hawthorn
18. North Melbourne

Nat Edwards

Premier: Brisbane
Runner-up: Carlton
Wooden spoon: West Coast
Moving up: Adelaide
Set to fall: St Kilda
Club under the most pressure (and why): Melbourne. It's the obvious answer, but after a tumultuous season they are going to be feeling the heat if they don't get off to a good start. 
Will the Suns finally make finals?: I've been burned by the Suns on this front for the last two seasons, never again. So, no.
Brownlow Medal: Nick Daicos
Coleman Medal: Nick Larkey
AFL Rising Star: George Wardlaw
Recruit of the year: Brodie Grundy
Surprise All-Australian: Max Holmes
Who should headline the Grand Final entertainment? Taylor Swift - she's already been enchanted by Melbourne, so why not get her back to rock the 'G in style? It's the perfect Love Story.
Headline you'll see: Contract talks on hold for Dusty
Headline you won't see: Eagles fans revolt after West Coast brings back the banner
Big call: Brodie Grundy back in the All-Australian team

Edwards' ladder prediction

1. Brisbane
2. Carlton
3. Collingwood
4. Port Adelaide
5. Greater Western Sydney
6. Melbourne
7. Adelaide
8. Essendon

9. Sydney
10. Western Bulldogs
11. Geelong
12. Gold Coast
13. St Kilda
14. Fremantle
15. Richmond
16. Hawthorn
17. North Melbourne
18. West Coast

Josh Gabelich

Premier: Brisbane
Runner-up: Collingwood
Wooden spoon: West Coast
Moving up: Adelaide
Set to fall: St Kilda
Club under the most pressure (and why): Western Bulldogs following the off-season upheaval in the footy department.
Will the Suns finally make finals?: No
Brownlow Medal: Tom Green
Coleman Medal: Nick Larkey
AFL Rising Star: Ryley Sanders
Recruit of the year: Brodie Grundy
Surprise All-Australian: Hayden Young
Who should headline the Grand Final entertainment? DMAs
Headline you'll see: Eagles chase free agent Tim English
Headline you won't see: Brisbane's era under Chris Fagan is over
Big call: Bailey Smith has played his final game for the Western Bulldogs

Gabelich's ladder prediction

1. Brisbane
2. Collingwood
3. Carlton
4. Greater Western Sydney
5. Sydney
6. Port Adelaide
7. Western Bulldogs
8. Adelaide

9. Melbourne
10. Gold Coast
11. St Kilda
12. Fremantle
13. Geelong
14. Essendon 
15. Richmond
16. Hawthorn
17. North Melbourne
18. West Coast

Sarah Olle

Premier: Brisbane
Runner-up: Greater Western Sydney
Wooden spoon: West Coast
Moving up: Adelaide
Set to fall: St Kilda
Club under the most pressure (and why): Given its off-season, Melbourne will be an eternal fascination in 2024. If Carlton can't hit the highs of last year, it will be intriguing to see if the Blues revert to self-implosion or maintain the course. Fremantle must perform better – otherwise expect coach Justin Longmuir's tenure to be at the fore of discussion in the west.
Will the Suns finally make finals?: No. But by the thinnest of margins.
Brownlow Medal: A NSW flavour: Errol Gulden or Tom Green
Coleman Medal: Charlie Curnow
AFL Rising Star: If he stays fit, George Wardlaw. Expect an immediate impact from Ryley Sanders.
Recruit of the year: Lachie Schultz will fit in beautifully at the reining premiers, while Brodie Grundy will fill a big hole at the Swans.
Surprise All-Australian: Mitch Owens
Who should headline the Grand Final entertainment? Bring some more girl power to the 'G: Is Beyonce in the budget?
Headline you'll see: 400 not out: Pendles eyes Boomer's games record
Headline you won't see: Honeymoon period's over for McRae
Big call: Extra time will decide the Grand Final

Olle's ladder prediction

1. Brisbane
2. Greater Western Sydney
3. Collingwood
4. Port Adelaide
5. Carlton
6. Melbourne
7. Adelaide
8. Sydney

9. Gold Coast
10. Geelong
11. Western Bulldogs
12. St Kilda 
13. Essendon
14. Fremantle
15. Richmond
16. Hawthorn
17. North Melbourne
18. West Coast

Nathan Schmook

Premier: Brisbane
Runner-up: Greater Western Sydney 
Wooden spoon: West Coast
Moving up: Fremantle 
Set to fall: Melbourne
Club under the most pressure (and why): Melbourne. The Demons haven't taken full advantage of their prime years. Ending two seasons of straight-sets exits will be a challenge after their pre-season setbacks. 
Will the Suns finally make finals?: No
Brownlow Medal: Errol Gulden 
Coleman Medal: Charlie Curnow
AFL Rising Star: Colby McKercher
Recruit of the year: Brodie Grundy
Surprise All-Australian: Jordan Clark
Who should headline the Grand Final entertainment?: Foo Fighters
Headline you'll see: Freo zeroes in on forward target with draft kitty
Headline you won't see: Club pushes the line with matchday concussion management 
Big call: Like the Brownlow Medal in 2023, youth will be the big storyline in the Coleman Medal race (around Charlie Curnow) as Max King, Jamarra Ugle-Hagan and Nick Larkey push the superstar Blue with top-five finishes. 

Schmook's ladder prediction

1. Brisbane 
2. Greater Western Sydney 
3. Collingwood
4. Sydney 
5. Carlton
6. Fremantle
7. Adelaide
8. Port Adelaide

9. St Kilda 
10. Western Bulldogs 
11. Melbourne 
12. Gold Coast 
13. Geelong 
14. Essendon 
15. Hawthorn 
16. Richmond
17. North Melbourne 
18. West Coast 

Callum Twomey

Premier: Brisbane
Runner-up: Port Adelaide
Wooden spoon: West Coast
Moving up: Gold Coast
Set to fall: St Kilda
Club under the most pressure (and why): Brisbane – they're as ready as a challenger can be. Five years near the top and they have a super list.
Will the Suns finally make finals?: Miss on percentage
Brownlow Medal: Nick Daicos
Coleman Medal: Jeremy Cameron
AFL Rising Star: Harley Reid
Recruit of the year: Lachie Schultz
Surprise All-Australian: Nic Martin
Who should headline the Grand Final entertainment?: Katy Perry or Pink
Headline you'll see: Bring back the tagger   
Headline you won't see: Clubs in full agreeance on 2025 mid-season trade rules
Big call: Sam Darcy becomes a star of the competition in his third season

Twomey's ladder prediction

1. Brisbane
2. Port Adelaide
3. Collingwood
4. Melbourne
5. Greater Western Sydney
6. Carlton
7. Sydney
8. Western Bulldogs

9. Gold Coast
10. Essendon
11. Adelaide
12. St Kilda
13. Fremantle
14. Geelong
15. Richmond
16. North Melbourne
17. Hawthorn
18. West Coast

Michael Whiting

Premier: Brisbane
Runner-up: Greater Western Sydney
Wooden spoon: West Coast
Moving up: Adelaide
Set to fall: St Kilda
Club under the most pressure (and why): Melbourne. After losing all four finals since winning the 2021 premiership, coupled with their off-field dramas, it's a huge season for Simon Goodwin's Demons, who should still be very much in premiership contention with their list.
Will the Suns finally make finals? Yes. The coach says finals is the floor, so let’s see them back it up.
Brownlow Medal: Errol Gulden
Coleman Medal: Charlie Curnow
AFL Rising Star: George Wardlaw
Recruit of the year: Lachie Schultz
Surprise All-Australian: Keidean Coleman
Who should headline the Grand Final entertainment? Foo Fighters
Headline you'll see: Hugh McCluggage is the game's next million-dollar man
Headline you won't see: Shutdown small defender selected in the All-Australian team (they're the new wingmen).
Big call: We'll see our first non-Victorian Grand Final since West Coast and Sydney in 2006.

Whiting's ladder prediction

1. Brisbane
2. Greater Western Sydney
3. Sydney
4. Collingwood
5. Carlton 
6. Melbourne
7. Adelaide
8. Gold Coast

9. Port Adelaide
10. Fremantle
11. Western Bulldogs
12. Essendon
13. Geelong
14. St Kilda
15. Richmond
16. Hawthorn
17. North Melbourne
18. West Coast

[buck_nekkid 5,858]

All the experts can suck balls.  All leaping off.  If anything, we are better than last year.  Not all teams can say that.

[binman 42,902]

Some interesting comments in that lot.

I actually agree we are under pressure in terms of maximizing success with this list, and going out in two years in a straight sets. That is fair.

But i would have thought that the Lions are under even more pressure on that front given that group, with the huge leg up of home games at the GABBA, has yet to win a flag and have only made one grand final. Not to mention their appalling record at the MCG.

But pressure because of 'off-field dramas' palaver is such a nonsense, and the perfect example of the media creating a narrative and then shoe horning clubs into that narrative.

Like clubs are monkeys and the media is the organ grinder. 

We have been very clear we have a strong culture. The way the club has dealt with the issues Clarry has faced is just one piece of evidence to back that claim up.

Another is the number of key re-signings in the last 2-3 years, including Koz last year.

Does anyone seriously think McAdam would have nominated the dees after wanting out from that cultural competency disaster zone at the crows without checking with Koz and/or other Aboriginal community members about the culture at the dees?

Why should the media hysteria theatre create pressure for us to perform? Do we owe the media and the footy public something because of some confected 'off-field dramas'?

What a load cobblers.  

The club doesn't need extrinsic motivators (though us against the world vibe might be of some help), no doubt their intrinsic desire to win another flag is motivation - and pressure - enough. 

Of the AFL journos, i really rate Twomey and Beveridge. 

So its no surprise that Twomey has the Lions under the most pressure.

And i agree with Beveridge (and, shudder, Barrett's), that Suns (and the AFL too for that matter) given how much money they poured into the Suns) are under enormous pressure, particularly given Dimwit has all but promised finals. 

Edited March 5 by binman

[Roger Mellie 4,013]

The clowns at AFL Media have made their predictions, now it's your turn:

Premier: Melbourne
Runner-up: Brisbane
Wooden spoon: West Coast
Moving up: Hawthorn
Set to fall: Geelong, oh wait.... Collingwood
Club under the most pressure (and why): Dees, endless media attention, Gold Coast with Dimma talking finals
Will the Suns finally make finals?: No
Brownlow Medal: The Bont
Coleman Medal: Nick Larkey
AFL Rising Star: Ryley Sanders
Recruit of the year: Brodie Grundy
Surprise All-Australian: Kiddy Coleman
Who should headline the Grand Final entertainment? Foo Fighters
Headline you'll see: Melbourne's Culture - already a broken record
Headline you won't see: No more gambling advertising 🥳
Big call: Petty turns back on Adelaide to extend contract with Dee's after kicking 64 goals for the season 🤞

Top 8

1. Brisbane
2. Melbourne
3. GWS
4. Collingwood - booo
5. Carlton
6. Sydney
7. Port
8. Adelaide

[Roger Mellie 4,013]

Sorry, just saw this thread after starting another one inviting predictions. Mods can chuck it if they see fit. Cheers

[Monbon 1,840]

Please keep in mind that the Predictors are mostly blokes and women who have not played afl, some of them,  let alone footy.  They all are asked to comment on things not even Cassandra or Nostradamus ever commented on. Some of them are hysterical Melbourne haters ( yes, I meant historical but my keypad kept changing it ) so who gives a flying can of duck what their mostly uneducated and biased opinions are??????

[Queanbeyan Demon 6,843]

Thank goodness for the (sometime) sane voices on 'Land. Cos the media haven't a clue.

[Roost it far 8,255]

Melbourne 8.24.72

Brisbane 8.8.56

Norm Smith Christian Petracca

Brownlow Christian Petracca

Best Cook Christian Petracca

Best Bloke Max Gawn 

Melbourne took till the 18 minute mark of the last quarter to kick their 3rd goal and then slammed on the last 5 to run over Brisbane with time running out. It was youngster Caleb Windsor who broke the Dee’s run of 9 straight behinds before Kozzie Pickett, Charlie Spargo and Clayton Oliver  kicked the next 3 straight to put the Dee’s in front with superstar Christian Petracca bringing the house down with a 60 metre bomb with a minute remaining. 

Edited March 5 by Roost it far

[At the break of Gawn 4,460]

Damian Barrett having Geelong as Runners up is wild. Probably the most unhinged prediction I’ve seen.

Considering we’ve gone out in straight sets twice as premiership favourites, it’ll be interesting to see how we go without some of the pressure.

[monoccular 17,425]

8 hours ago, spirit of norm smith said:

Club under the most pressure (and why): Melbourne. The Demons haven't taken full advantage of their prime years. Ending two seasons of straight-sets exits will be a challenge after their pre-season setbacks. 

Nathan Shmuk - yes, disappointing not doing better in finals but please, Mr Shmuk, let me know which teams in the past have only been out of top 4 for 2 rounds over 3 consecutive seasons?. 

[Wodjathefirst 2,632]

I love how we don’t feature highly with most  pundits out there in media land. I can feel another 2021 coming on. GO DEES!

 

[spirit of norm smith 16,442]

Prediction. No prediction to get half of the predictions correct. 

[binman 42,902]

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2024/mar/05/afl-2024-predicted-ladder-part-two-collingwood-can-win-if-theyre-giant-killers?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other

[binman 42,902]

From above article by Jonathan Horne (whose analysis i often disagree with but really like)

Sixth – Melbourne

Melbourne has had six months of what-ifs. What if Caleb Marchbank had filed his fingernails. What if they’d lowered their eyes against Collingwood. What if Angus Brayshaw hadn’t been knocked out cold. What if Clayton Oliver wasn’t in disarray. What if they’d kicked straight.

They let the Oliver story get out of control. Rather than take a hose to the fire, the strategy seemed to be to stand in front of it spraying the word “culture” dozens of times. In football, the word has been pulverised, made redundant. It’s the new “learnings”.

Goodwin calls them a blue-collar team. They defend from the high ground. They patrol and gobble. They contest like angry ants. But their connection with their forwards needs tidying up. There’s too many blasters in that midfield. Get that right and keep Gawn in one piece, and this remarkably consistent side can challenge again.