The Herald Sun’s expert footy team give their predictions for the 2019 AFL season

With the 2019 season underway tonight, recap the big calls our experts have made for the year ahead. Who will be right? Plus, check out their premier, wooden spoon and Brownlow Medal tips.

Mark Robinson has predicted AFL boss Gillon McLachlan will be replaced at season's end.

Is this the year of the Demon? Do we believe the hype about the Bombers? And will a couple of perennial finalists finally slip from September?

The 2019 AFL season is just a few weeks away, and as part of our Footy19 magazine our experts are putting their reputation on the line by tipping who can go the journey - and who might flounder in the months ahead.

From the premier to the wooden spoon to the likely Brownlow medallist, our expert footy team have their say on the year ahead.

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OUR TEAM’S TIPS FOR THE 2019 AFL SEASON

Among the key talking points after surveying our experts are:

• Nine of our 22 tipsters think the Dees will break their 55-year drought. But there’s also plenty of love for the Pies and the Tigers.

• No tipster thinks the Eagles can go back-to-back (but we haven’t asked anyone from WA!)

• 21 of 22 tipsters say the Dons will make the top eight. The only naysayer? Tyson Goldsack. Seven say top four, too.

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• They may be perennial finalists, but the Hawks aren’t getting a lot of love, with few experts picking them to finish in the eight this year.

• 19 of 22 say the spoon is heading to Queensland. Michael Warner says it’s going to the Saints.

• Footy19 is available from March 2 while stocks last at participating newsagents and IGA and Woolworths stores in Victoria/Riverina. Cost is $4.95 plus purchase price of that day’s Herald Sun.

Originally published as The Herald Sun’s expert footy team give their predictions for the 2019 AFL season