Happy Christmas, footy followers.
Round 1 of the 2023 season has arrived — and, as at all times, the new pre-season takes and predictions are rampant.
Over 25 Fox Footy consultants have seemed into their respective AFL crystal balls and predicted the highest eight, premier, picket spoon, Rising Star winner, Brownlow Medallist and Coleman Medallist for 2023.
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There’s a transparent high 4 in accordance with the pundits: Geelong, Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne.
And the Demons are the premiership favourites, with over half of the consultants tipping Simon Goodwin’s aspect to win a second flag in three seasons.
“I just think it’s a bounce back year for them,” twin All-Australian Leigh Montagna informed foxfooty.com.au.
“I still think they have the best midfield in the competition and their defence is elite.
“They just need to fix up their ball movement, and I have faith considering this group has played a lot of footy together now and they added a couple of nice pieces and have a fit and healthy Tom McDonald and Max Gawn can also go forward.
“I think they’ll be the main threat that can win it.”
Carlton has been extensively tipped to leap into the highest eight this yr, whereas Fremantle and Collingwood seem essentially the most shaky to overlook the 2023 finals after that includes in September final yr.
“Collingwood are a great team and what they produced last year was awesome. But they’re one I’m keeping a close eye on and they have to start the season extremely well in what is a pretty tough start for them,” Bulldogs recreation record-holder Brad Johnson informed foxfooty.com.au.
“Their first month is make or break on the year — but it’s the same for the 14 teams fighting for the eight.”
Brownlow ideas had been effectively unfold, with Melbourne’s Clayton Oliver and Bulldogs captain Marcus Bontempelli the most well-liked picks.
“Sometimes it takes a while for you to get noticed by the umpires, which sounds funny, but Oliver has been up and around the top of the tree for a couple of years now,” four-time premiership Hawk Jordan Lewis informed foxfooty.com.au.
“I think just the position that he plays and the dynamic way that he plays, he tends to stand out. And he’s got a rude haircut, which makes you stand out a bit more.”
Lions father-son gun Will Ashcroft was the overwhelming Rising Star favorite — “he’s already won it, hasn’t he?” Alastair Lynch mentioned with fun — whereas the Coleman race is between 4: Jeremy Cameron, Tom Lynch, Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay.
Cameron was the most well-liked choose, however there was a lot of love for Curnow from former Hawks sharpshooter Ben Dixon,
“Charlie Curnow – he’s going to kick 100 goals this year. Pencil him in, he’ll get some big bags this year,” an optimistic Dixon informed foxfooty.com.au.
EXPERTS’ FULL AFL 2023 SEASON PREDICTIONS
JONATHAN BROWN
Top 8 adjustments: Carlton IN, Richmond OUT
Premiers: Melbourne
Wooden Spoon: Hawthorn
Brownlow Medal: Marcus Bontempelli (Western Bulldogs)
Coleman Medal: Harry McKay (Carlton)
Rising Star: Will Ashcroft (Brisbane Lions)
NATHAN BUCKLEY
Top 8 adjustments: No change
Premiers: Geelong Cats
Wooden Spoon: North Melbourne
Brownlow Medal: Lachie Neale (Brisbane Lions)
Coleman Medal: Tom Lynch (Richmond)
Rising Star: Will Ashcroft (Brisbane Lions)
BEN COTTON
Top 8 adjustments: Carlton IN, Fremantle OUT
Premiers: Melbourne
Wooden Spoon: Hawthorn
Brownlow Medal: Marcus Bontempelli (Western Bulldogs)
Coleman Medal: Tom Lynch (Richmond)
Rising Star: Will Ashcroft (Brisbane Lions)
NICK DAL SANTO
Top 8 adjustments: Carlton IN, Collingwood OUT
Premiers: Melbourne
Wooden Spoon: Hawthorn
Brownlow Medal: Marcus Bontempelli (Western Bulldogs)
Coleman Medal: Jeremy Cameron (Geelong Cats)
Rising Star: Will Ashcroft (Brisbane Lions)
BEN DIXON
Top 8 adjustments: Carlton IN, Richmond OUT
Premiers: Geelong Cats
Wooden Spoon: Hawthorn
Brownlow Medal: Tom Papley (Sydney Swans)
Coleman Medal: Charlie Curnow (Carlton)
Rising Star: Will Ashcroft (Brisbane Lions)
CATH DURKIN
Top 8 adjustments: Carlton IN, Fremantle OUT
Premiers: Geelong Cats
Wooden Spoon: Hawthorn
Brownlow Medal: Lachie Neale (Brisbane Lions)
Coleman Medal: Tom Lynch (Richmond)
Rising Star: Will Ashcroft (Brisbane Lions)
CATHERINE HEALEY
Top 8 adjustments: Carlton and Port Adelaide IN, Melbourne and Western Bulldogs OUT
Premiers: Geelong Cats
Wooden Spoon: Hawthorn
Brownlow Medal: Lachie Neale (Brisbane Lions)
Coleman Medal: Tom Lynch (Richmond)
Rising Star: Will Ashcroft (Brisbane Lions)
ANTHONY HUDSON
Top 8 adjustments: No change
Premiers: Brisbane Lions
Wooden Spoon: Hawthorn
Brownlow Medal: Andy Brayshaw (Fremantle)
Coleman Medal: Harry McKay (Carlton)
Rising Star: Finn Callaghan (GWS Giants)
BRAD JOHNSON
Top 8 adjustments: Carlton IN, Collingwood OUT
Premiers: Brisbane Lions
Wooden Spoon: North Melbourne
Brownlow Medal: Clayton Oliver (Melbourne)
Coleman Medal: Jeremy Cameron (Geelong Cats)
Rising Star: Will Ashcroft (Brisbane Lions)
MAX LAUGHTON
Top 8 adjustments: Carlton and Port Adelaide IN, Collingwood and Western Bulldogs OUT
Premiers: Melbourne
Wooden Spoon: Hawthorn
Brownlow Medal: Marcus Bontempelli (Western Bulldogs) and Christian Petracca (Melbourne) tie
Coleman Medal: Jeremy Cameron (Geelong Cats)
Rising Star: Will Ashcroft (Brisbane Lions)
JORDAN LEWIS
Top 8 adjustments: Carlton and Essendon IN, Western Bulldogs and Collingwood OUT
Premiers: Melbourne
Wooden Spoon: North Melbourne
Brownlow Medal: Clayton Oliver (Melbourne)
Coleman Medal: Jeremy Cameron (Geelong Cats)
Rising Star: Will Ashcroft (Brisbane Lions)
KATH LOUGHNAN
Top 8 adjustments: Carlton IN, Richmond OUT
Premiers: Melbourne
Wooden Spoon: North Melbourne
Brownlow Medal: Andy Brayshaw (Fremantle)
Coleman Medal: Jeremy Cameron (Geelong Cats)
Rising Star: Will Ashcroft (Brisbane Lions)
ALASTAIR LYNCH
Top 8 adjustments: Carlton IN, Fremantle OUT
Premiers: Geelong Cats
Wooden Spoon: Hawthorn
Brownlow Medal: Clayton Oliver (Melbourne)
Coleman Medal: Tom Lynch (Richmond)
Rising Star: Will Ashcroft (Brisbane Lions)
GARRY LYON
Top 8 adjustments: Carlton IN, Fremantle OUT
Premiers: Melbourne
Wooden Spoon: North Melbourne
Brownlow Medal: Marcus Bontempelli (Western Bulldogs)
Coleman Medal: Harry McKay (Carlton)
Rising Star: Will Ashcroft (Brisbane Lions)
CAMERON MOONEY
Top 8 adjustments: St Kilda IN, Western Bulldogs OUT
Premiers: Melbourne
Wooden Spoon: North Melbourne
Brownlow Medal: Andy Brayshaw (Fremantle)
Coleman Medal: Jeremy Cameron (Geelong Cats)
Rising Star: Will Ashcroft (Brisbane Lions)
LEIGH MONTAGNA
Top 8 adjustments: Carlton IN, Collingwood OUT
Premiers: Melbourne
Wooden Spoon: Hawthorn
Brownlow Medal: Clayton Oliver (Melbourne)
Coleman Medal: Harry McKay (Carlton)
Rising Star: Finn Callaghan (GWS Giants)
ADAM PAPALIA
Top 8 adjustments: Carlton and Port Adelaide IN, Richmond and Collingwood OUT
Premiers: Melbourne
Wooden Spoon: Hawthorn
Brownlow Medal: Jack Steele (St Kilda)
Coleman Medal: Charlie Curnow (Carlton)
Rising Star: Reuben Ginbey (West Coast Eagles)
MATTHEW PAVLICH
Top 8 adjustments: Carlton IN, Collingwood OUT
Premiers: Melbourne
Wooden Spoon: North Melbourne
Brownlow Medal: Clayton Oliver (Melbourne)
Coleman Medal: Harry McKay (Carlton)
Rising Star: Will Ashcroft (Brisbane Lions)
JON RALPH
Top 8 adjustments: Carlton IN, Fremantle OUT
Premiers: Geelong Cats
Wooden Spoon: West Coast Eagles
Brownlow Medal: Josh Dunkley (Brisbane Lions)
Coleman Medal: Harry McKay (Carlton)
Rising Star: Sam Darcy (Western Bulldogs)
MARK RICCIUTO
Top 8 adjustments: Port Adelaide IN, Fremantle OUT
Premiers: Richmond
Wooden Spoon: Hawthorn
Brownlow Medal: Dustin Martin (Richmond)
Coleman Medal: Jeremy Cameron (Geelong Cats)
Rising Star: Will Ashcroft (Brisbane Lions)
MARK ROBINSON
Top 8 adjustments: No change
Premiers: Geelong Cats
Wooden Spoon: Hawthorn
Brownlow Medal: Chad Warner (Sydney Swans)
Coleman Medal: Charlie Curnow (Carlton)
Rising Star: Will Ashcroft (Brisbane Lions)
DWAYNE RUSSELL
Top 8 adjustments: No adjustments
Premiers: Brisbane Lions
Wooden Spoon: North Melbourne
Brownlow Medal: Clayton Oliver (Melbourne)
Coleman Medal: Charlie Curnow (Carlton)
Rising Star: Will Ashcroft (Brisbane Lions)
RUBY SCHLEICHER
Top 8 adjustments: Carlton IN, Richmond OUT
Premiers: Melbourne
Wooden Spoon: Essendon
Brownlow Medal: Clayton Oliver (Melbourne)
Coleman Medal: Harry McKay (Carlton)
Rising Star: Will Ashcroft (Brisbane Lions)
BEN WATERWORTH
Top 8 adjustments: Carlton IN, Fremantle OUT
Premiers: Brisbane Lions
Wooden Spoon: Hawthorn
Brownlow Medal: Clayton Oliver (Melbourne)
Coleman Medal: Tom Lynch (Richmond)
Rising Star: Will Ashcroft (Brisbane Lions)
DAVID ZITA
Top 8 adjustments: Carlton IN, Fremantle OUT
Premiers: Melbourne
Wooden Spoon: North Melbourne
Brownlow Medal: Marcus Bontempelli (Western Bulldogs)
Coleman Medal: Jeremy Cameron (Geelong Cats)
Rising Star: Will Ashcroft (Brisbane Lions)
FINAL TALLIES
To play finals
25 (votes out of 25) — Geelong Cats, Sydney Swans, Brisbane Lions
24 — Melbourne
21 — Western Bulldogs
20 — Richmond
19 — Carlton
17 — Fremantle
15 — Collingwood
4 — Port Adelaide
1 — St Kilda, Essendon
Premiers
13 (votes out of 25) — Melbourne
7 — Geelong Cats
4 — Brisbane Lions
1 — Richmond
Wooden Spoon
14 (votes out of 24) — Hawthorn
9 — North Melbourne
1 — West Coast Eagles, Essendon
Brownlow Medal
8 (votes out of 24) — Clayton Oliver (Melbourne)
5.5 — Marcus Bontempelli (Western Bulldogs)
3 — Andy Brayshaw (Fremantle), Lachie Neale (Brisbane Lions)
1 — Josh Dunkley (Brisbane Lions), Dustin Martin (Richmond), Tom Papley (Sydney Swans), Jack Steele (St Kilda), Chad Warner (Sydney Swans)
0.5 — Christian Petracca (Melbourne)
Coleman Medal
8 (votes out of 24) — Jeremy Cameron (Geelong Cats)
7 — Harry McKay (Carlton)
6 — Tom Lynch (Richmond)
4 — Charlie Curnow (Carlton)
Rising Star
21 (votes out of 24 — Will Ashcroft (Brisbane Lions)
2 — Finn Callaghan (GWS Giants)
1 — Reuben Ginbey (West Coast Eagles), Sam Darcy (Western Bulldogs)
Originally printed as AFL consultants predict 2023 flag winner, picket spoon, Brownlow and extra
Source: www.news.com.au
