Luring four-time AFL premiership-winning coach Alastair Clarkson to North Melbourne won’t be enough to lift last year’s wooden spooners into the finals, according to the 17 other captains.
The annual skippers’ survey served a swift reminder to the new Kangaroos coach about the task in front of him, with not one of the skippers picking North Melbourne to finish in the top eight.
But Clarkson’s men weren’t the only ones given a kick, with Essendon, who also have a new coach in Brad Scott, Hawthorn, the West Coast Eagles and GWS, under new mentor Adam Kingsley, all failing to draw a vote as a potential finalist.
Instead, Brisbane, reigning premiers Geelong and Melbourne were rated the best chances to not only make the finals but the grand final.
Eight of the 18 captains declared the Cats would return to the decider.
Plenty feel Geelong – led by new skipper Patrick Dangerfield – will be a genuine premiership contender in 2023
The same can’t be said for the Kangaroos – despite now having four-time premiership coach Alastair Clarkson in charge
But curiously, at least one skipper felt the Cats wouldn’t even make the finals, drawing 16 votes.
In all, 13 different clubs were considered possible chances to contest the finals, while five different clubs were picked to reach the grand final, painting the picture of a limited race to the premiership.
When it came to individual honours, Melbourne on-baller Clayton Oliver was the most popular choice as the 2023 Brownlow Medal winner, snaring five of 18 votes.
Brisbane star Lachie Neale and Fremantle’s Andrew Brayshaw were next best with three.
Gun Geelong forward Jeremy Cameron and Richmond’s Tom Lynch were the most popular picks to win the Coleman Medal as the AFL’s leading goalkicker, getting 12 of the 18 nominations.
The 2022 Coleman winner, Carlton’s Charlie Curnow, got just one vote to go back-to-back.
No.1 draft pick Will Ashcroft, taken by the Brisbane Lions as a father-son selection, was an overwhelming selection to take out this year’s Rising Star Award.
Melbourne Demons on-baller Clayton Oliver was the most popular choice as the Brownlow Medal winner
If the Lions have a commanding season, Lachie Neale is tipped to be front and centre
THE CAPTAIN’S PICKS
Which seven other clubs do you think can make this year’s top eight?
17 – Brisbane Lions
16 – Geelong Cats, Richmond
15 – Sydney Swans, Melbourne
12 – Fremantle
11 – Collingwood
9 – Carlton
6 – Western Bulldogs
5 – Port Adelaide
2 – Gold Coast SUNS
1 – St Kilda, Adelaide Crows
Which other club is most likely to reach the grand final?
8 – Geelong Cats
4 – Melbourne, Brisbane Lions
1 – Richmond, Sydney Swans
Cats star Jeremy Cameron has been widely tipped to end up snaring the Coleman Medal this season
Which player from another club do you think will win the 2023 Brownlow Medal?
5 – Clayton Oliver, Melbourne
3 – Andrew Brayshaw, Fremantle; Lachie Neale, Brisbane Lions
2 – Marcus Bontempelli, Western Bulldogs; Touk Miller, Gold Coast Suns
1 – Patrick Cripps, Carlton; Christian Petracca, Melbourne; Callum Mills, Sydney Swans
Which player from another club do you think will win the 2023 Coleman Medal?
6 – Jeremy Cameron, Geelong Cats, Tom Lynch, Richmond
1 – Nat Fyfe, Fremantle; Harry McKay, Carlton; Jack Gunston, Brisbane Lions; Tom Hawkins, Geelong Cats; Charlie Curnow, Carlton; Aaron Naughton, Western Bulldogs
Which player from another club do you think will win the 2023 AFL Rising Star?
8 – Will Ashcroft, Brisbane Lions
2 – Sam Darcy, Western Bulldogs
1 – Aaron Cadman, GWS Giants; Jai Culley, West Coast Eagles; Finn Callaghan, GWS Giants; Cameron Mackenzie, Hawthorn; Reuben Ginbey, West Coast Eagles; Harry Sheezel, North Melbourne; Judd McVee, Melbourne; Mattaes Phillipou, St Kilda
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