SuperFooty experts gaze into crystal balls and make predictions, so how have they shaped up?
REPORT CARD: Back in March our SuperFooty experts made their predictions for the year ahead, so how do they shape up now?
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WE look back on our expert's pre-season predictions and ask, where's Port Adelaide?
Before Round 1 the SuperFooty experts looked into their crystal balls and gave you their top 8, premiers, Brownlow, Coleman, wooden spoon selections and the big mid-season news predictions.
Bizarrely, only two experts had Port Adelaide in their top 8. Well done, Gerard Whateley and Rebecca Williams.
After a breakout season in 2013, the Power were overlooked in favour of West Coast, Richmond and Adelaide.
We grade our experts picks after 12 rounds and you can have your say too.
MARK ROBINSON
PREMIER: Fremantle
TOP 8:
Fremantle
Sydney
Hawthorn
North Melbourne
Geelong
Essendon
Richmond
Collingwood
BROWNLOW MEDAL: Gary Ablett (GC)
COLEMAN MEDAL: Jarryd Roughead (Haw)
WOODEN SPOON: GWS
AFTER ROUND 12: Gillon McLachlan will be AFL chief executive.
GRADE: B+ ... Robbo got a big tick for his prediction of Gil McLachlan taking over from Andrew Demetriou as the new AFL CEO, while his Brownlow, Coleman and wooden spoon predictions also look good. Premiership choice Fremantle are building slowly and are definitely a contender. Unfortunately, he over-looked Port Adelaide in favour of Essendon and Richmond. Oops.
MIKE SHEAHAN
PREMIER: Fremantle
TOP 8:
Fremantle
Sydney
Hawthorn
Essendon
Collingwood
West Coast
North Melbourne
Geelong
BROWNLOW MEDAL: Joel Selwood (Geel)
COLEMAN MEDAL: Matthew Pavlich (Frem)
WOODEN SPOON: St Kilda
AFTER ROUND 12: Paul Roos will be working his magic at Melbourne.
GRADE: C+ ... The good the bad and the ugly, Mike. The good? Paul Roos is definitely working his magic at Melbourne. The Demons are one of the good news stories of the season. The bad? No Port Adelaide in the eight, West Coast inside the eight and Joel Selwood the Brownlow Medal. The ugly? Matthew Pavlich to win the Coleman Medal ... really?
DERMOTT BRERETON
PREMIER: Sydney
TOP 8:
Sydney
Fremantle
Geelong
Collingwood
Hawthorn
North Melbourne
Richmond
Carlton
BROWNLOW MEDAL: Dane Swan (Coll)
COLEMAN MEDAL: Travis Cloke (Coll)
WOODEN SPOON: St Kilda
AFTER ROUND 12: You will see the first signs that the young Bulldogs midfield brigade will be the next powerhouse midfield of the competition.
GRADE: C- ... Derm, will need a miracle for some of his predictions to prove correct. Sydney are looking the goods as premiership contenders. St Kilda is also in the race to win the wooden spoon. However, Travis Cloke and Dane Swan have had mediocre seasons and the Western Bulldogs midfield is looking anything but a powerhouse. Again, no Port Adelaide.
SHANE CRAWFORD
PREMIER: Fremantle
TOP 8:
Fremantle
Sydney
Hawthorn
North Melbourne
Geelong
Richmond
West Coast
Adelaide
BROWNLOW MEDAL: Nat Fyfe (Frem)
COLEMAN MEDAL: Lance Franklin (Syd)
WOODEN SPOON: GWS
AFTER ROUND 12: The Dockers will be conjuring enough goals for them to become flag favourites.
GRADE: C- ... Crawf is in just as much trouble as Derm. The 1999 Brownlow Medallist had Richmond, West Coast and Adelaide in his pre-season top eight and Nat Fyfe was suspended earlier in the season and can't win the Brownlow Medal. Crawf gets one consolation, GWS are still favourites to win the wooden spoon.
GERARD WHATELEY
PREMIER: Sydney Swans
TOP 8:
Sydney
Hawthorn
Geelong
Fremantle
North Melbourne
West Coast
Collingwood
Port Adelaide
BROWNLOW MEDAL: Gary Ablett (GC)
COLEMAN MEDAL: Tom Hawkins (Geel)
WOODEN SPOON: GWS Giants
AFTER ROUND 12: The unbeaten Hawks contemplate a perfect season
GRADE: A- ... Gerard gets top marks for having Port Adelaide in his top eight, even if they only sneak in. The AFL360 host also picked Gary Ablett to win the Brownlow, GWS to take the wooden spoon and Tom Hawkins sits second in the Coleman Medal race. The only miss was predicting Hawthorn would be unbeaten.
JON RALPH
PREMIER: Fremantle
TOP 8:
Fremantle
Hawthorn
Sydney
Collingwood
Geelong
Richmond
North Melbourne
Essendon
BROWNLOW MEDAL: Tom Liberatore (WB)
WOODEN SPOON: St Kilda
COLEMAN MEDAL: Jack Riewoldt (Rich)
AFTER ROUND 12: Pundits will be wondering if Gold Coast has the best midfield in the competition.
GRADE: B ... Not a bad effort from Ralphy. Freo are building after a shaky start and Jack Riewoldt is leading the Coleman Medal. Pundits have long said Gold Coast is one of the best midfields in the comp but they are probably not the best yet. Unfortunately, Jon over-looked league leaders Port Adelaide in favour of Richmond and Essendon. Tom Liberatore would be long odds to take home Charlie.
DAVID KING
PREMIER: Sydney
TOP 8:
Sydney
Fremantle
Hawthorn
Kangaroos
Richmond
Essendon
Geelong
Collingwood
BROWNLOW MEDAL: Gary Ablett (GC)
COLEMAN MEDAL: Jarryd Roughead (Haw)
WOODEN SPOON: GWS
AFTER ROUND 12: Carlton is thinking — Did we make the right decision on Dale Thomas? How do we get Eddie Betts back? Mick, how are you travelling?
GRADE: B+ ... We reckon Kingy is spot on with his predictions about Carlton. The Blues are in a bit of strife and won't make finals. Daisy Thomas struggled earlier in the season but is looking better. Gary Ablett and Jarryd Roughead are good picks to win the Brownlow and Coleman. However, the dual premiership player was another to be fooled by Essendon and Richmond.
SCOTT GULLAN
PREMIER: Fremantle
TOP 8:
Fremantle
Essendon
Sydney
Hawthorn
Adelaide
Geelong
Richmond
North Melbourne
BROWNLOW MEDAL: Patrick Dangerfield (Adel)
COLEMAN MEDAL: Jeremy Cameron (GWS)
WOODEN SPOON: St Kilda
AFTER ROUND 12: Joe Daniher will be an unbackable favourite to win the Rising Star award.
GRADE: C- ... We're going to take it easy on Scotty. Perhaps he wasn't feeling well when he predicted Essendon would finish second, Adelaide and Richmond would make the eight, Patrick Dangerfield would win the Brownlow and Jeremy Cameron would win the Coleman. On a positive note, Joe Daniher was the Round 12 Rising Star nominee and must now be one of the favourites.
SAM EDMUND
PREMIER: Sydney
TOP 8:
Hawthorn
Sydney
Fremantle
West Coast
Collingwood
Carlton
Richmond
North Melbourne
BROWNLOW MEDAL: Scott Pendlebury (Coll)
COLEMAN MEDAL: Jarryd Roughead (Haw)
WOODEN SPOON: St Kilda
AFTER ROUND 12: Subiaco will once again be the house of pain as West Coast roars back to life under new coach Adam Simpson.
GRADE: C+ ... Patersons Stadium is anything but a house of pain for West Coast. The Eagles are 3-3 at home this season. Adam Simpson's men won't make the top four and Carlton and Richmond probably won't be making a finals appearance either. If anyone other than Gary Ablett wins the Brownlow, chances are it will be Scott Pendlebury, so there's a positive.
JAY CLARK
PREMIER: Fremantle
TOP 8:
Fremantle
Sydney
Hawthorn
Geelong
Richmond
Collingwood
North Melbourne
Essendon
BROWNLOW MEDAL: Scott Pendlebury (Coll)
COLEMAN MEDAL: Jarryd Roughead (Haw)
WOODEN SPOON: St Kilda
AFTER ROUND 12: Carlton’s trade plans will endeavour to secure either Jon Patton or Kristian Jaksch out of GWS.
GRADE: B+ ... A solid mark for JC. Freo, Pendlebury and Roughead are all safe bets while St Kilda are certainly wooden spoon contenders. Richmond probably won't make the finals but Essendon are still in with a fighting chance and we haven't heard too many trade rumours just yet.
MATT WINDLEY
PREMIER: Fremantle
TOP 8:
Hawthorn
Fremantle
Sydney
Collingwood
Richmond
Essendon
North Melbourne
Geelong.
BROWNLOW MEDAL: Nat Fyfe (Frem)
COLEMAN MEDAL: Jarryd Roughead (Haw)
WOODEN SPOON: St Kilda
AFTER ROUND 12: Compromised competition no more — GWS a pleasant surprise, Gold Coast challenging for finals.
GRADE: B- ... A decent effort from Matt. Fremantle, Hawthorn, Sydney and Collingwood are all top four contenders. However, the lack of Port Adelaide is a minus. Nat Fyfe has been rubbed out, so is no chance to win the Brownlow and GWS have been anything but a pleasant surprise. At least the Suns are vying for a maiden finals berth.
BRUCE MATTHEWS
PREMIER: Hawthorn
TOP 8:
Hawthorn
Collingwood
Fremantle
Sydney
North Melbourne
Geelong
Richmond
Essendon
BROWNLOW MEDAL: Patrick Dangerfield (Adel)
COLEMAN MEDAL: Travis Cloke (Coll)
WOODEN SPOON: GWS
AFTER ROUND 12: Pleas to reduce the interchange cap as the ugly rolling mauls continue.
GRADE B+ ... A mark simply for the fact that Bruce predicted the ugly rolling mauls that have blighted this season. The interchange cap is sure to be reviewed at season end as footy fans voice their displeasure. Otherwise, there's not much to write home about. Richmond in the eight, Dangerfield to win the Brownlow and Cloke the Coleman. Maybe next year, Bruce.
GLENN McFARLANE
PREMIER: Hawthorn
TOP 8:
Hawthorn
Fremantle
Sydney
Geelong
North Melbourne
Collingwood
Richmond
Essendon
BROWNLOW MEDAL: Patrick Dangerfield (Adel)
COLEMAN MEDAL: Travis Cloke (Coll)
WOODEN SPOON: GWS
AFTER ROUND 12: Buddy Franklin will be thinking the Melbourne “goldfish bowl’’ of attention wasn’t so bad after all.
GRADE: B ... We reckon you're spot on about Buddy, Macca. After crashing his car, rumours about his relationship with Jesinta Campbell and friction with his Swans teammates. Franklin has had an interesting time of it in the Harbour City. However, another expert who went for the Dangerfield-Cloke double that looks likely to fail.
SAM LANDSBERGER
PREMIER: Fremantle
TOP 8:
Fremantle
Sydney
Hawthorn
North Melbourne
Geelong
Richmond
Adelaide
West Coast
BROWNLOW MEDAL: Tom Liberatore (WB)
COLEMAN MEDAL: Lance Franklin (Syd)
WOODEN SPOON: St Kilda
AFTER ROUND 12: The AFL’s code-poaching experiment will be dead with Karmichael Hunt deciding to head back to the NRL.
GRADE: C- ... Another who missed on Port Adelaide, preferring Richmond, Adelaide and West Coast in his top eight. Tom Liberatore and Lance Franklin are also long odds to win the Brownlow and Coleman respectively. Karmichael Hunt played his first game for Gold Coast in Round 12 but there's no news on whether he'll remain with AFL or return to his native NRL.
JON ANDERSON
PREMIER: Fremantle
TOP 8:
Fremantle
Sydney
West Coast
Geelong
Hawthorn
Essendon
North Melbourne
Carlton
BROWNLOW MEDAL: Nat Fyfe (Frem)
COLEMAN MEDAL: Tom Hawkins (Geel)
WOODEN SPOON: St Kilda
AFTER ROUND 12: West Coast will be the bolter while Joe Daniher will emerge as the most exciting young forward from Windy Hill since Matthew Lloyd.
GRADE: C ... It's becoming a broken record now. No Port Adelaide? West Coast in the top four? Carlton? Sorry, Ando. Nat Fyfe might have been a good Brownlow pick if he hadn't have been suspended for a high bump. At least Tom Hawkins and Joe Daniher look to be good picks.
WARWICK GREEN
PREMIER: Sydney
TOP 8:
Fremantle
Sydney
Hawthorn
Collingwood
West Coast
Geelong
North Melbourne
Carlton
BROWNLOW MEDAL: Nat Fyfe (Frem)
COLEMAN MEDAL: Travis Cloke (Coll)
WOODEN SPOON: Brisbane Lions
AFTER ROUND 12: Gold Coast will be in the eight and turning heads, before fading in the second half of the season.
GRADE: B ... Warwick looks spot on with several of his picks. Sydney could become outright premiership favourites with a win this weekend. For much of the season, Brisbane Lions have been propping up the ladder and look strong wooden spoon contenders while their cross-town rivals Gold Coast in in the eight and are certainly turning heads. Carlton and West Coast let you down though.
GRANT BAKER
PREMIER: Hawthorn
TOP 8:
Hawthorn
Fremantle
Sydney
Collingwood
Geelong
North Melbourne
Essendon
Gold Coast
BROWNLOW MEDAL: Scott Pendlebury (Coll)
COLEMAN MEDAL: Jarryd Roughead (Haw)
WOODEN SPOON: St Kilda
AFTER ROUND 12: For better or worse, Hawthorn will be undefeated.
GRADE: B+ ... This could almost have been a A with Grant the only expert to have Gold Coast in his top eight. However, there's no Port Adelaide and Hawthorn definitely aren't undefeated. Pendlebury, Roughead and St Kilda look like good picks at the half-way mark.
REBECCA WILLIAMS
PREMIER: Sydney
TOP 8:
Sydney
Hawthorn
Fremantle
Geelong
Richmond
Collingwood
Port Adelaide
Essendon
BROWNLOW MEDAL: Joel Selwood (Geel)
COLEMAN MEDAL: Travis Cloke (Coll)
WOODEN SPOON: GWS
AFTER ROUND 12: There are no hangover concerns for Hawthorn this time around, with the club comfortably moving on without Buddy Franklin.
GRADE: A- ... Well done, Rebecca on picking Port Adelaide. Although we're not sure about Richmond and Essendon's chances of making the finals. Travis Cloke also looks a long shot to win the Coleman Medal. Hawthorn have definitely moved on from Lance Franklin with the likes of Jack Gunston and Luke Breust picking up the slack.
MARK HAYES
PREMIER: Hawthorn
TOP 8:
Fremantle
Hawthorn
Geelong
Richmond
Collingwood
Sydney
North Melbourne
Adelaide
BROWNLOW MEDAL: Joel Selwood (Geel)
COLEMAN MEDAL: Josh Kennedy (WC)
WOODEN SPOON: St Kilda
AFTER ROUND 12: Gold Coast will be flying, making those of us not quite brave enough to put it in the eight very nervous. A portent of (far more fruitful) years to come.
GRADE: C- ... There's not much saving Hayesy from a fail here. Richmond in the top four, Adelaide in the eight and Josh Kennedy to win the Coleman Medal. However, the Suns are indeed flying and could make their maiden finals appearance this season.
DARYL TIMMS
PREMIER: Hawthorn
TOP 8:
Hawthorn
Fremantle
Richmond
Sydney
Collingwood
Geelong
North Melbourne
Carlton
BROWNLOW MEDAL: Three-way tie Nathan Fyfe (Frem), Steve Johnson (Geel), Sam Mitchell (Haw)
COLEMAN MEDAL: Jarryd Roughead (Hawthorn)
WOODEN SPOON: Brisbane Lions
AFTER ROUND 12: Hawthorn goes into the second half undefeated, as Melbourne and Brisbane Lions are yet to win a game and are eagerly awaiting their first clash of the season in Round 19.
GRADE: D ... Timmsy, what were you thinking? Richmond aren't going to finish third and Carlton probably are going to need another miracle to squeeze into the eight. Unfortunately, your three-way Brownlow tie has also gone pear shaped with Fyfe and Stevie J suspended and Sam Mitchell injured. Hawthorn aren't undefeated and Melbourne and Brisbane have won quite a few games.
THE RESULTS:
Experts’ Top 8 (based on giving top team 8 points and eighth team 1 point):
1. Fremantle (145 votes)
=2. Sydney (131)
=2. Hawthorn (131)
4. Geelong (74)
5. Collingwood (61)
6. North Melbourne (56)
7. Richmond (48)
8. Essendon (31)
Premiers:
Fremantle (9)
Sydney (6)
Hawthorn (5)
Wooden spoon:
St Kilda (11)
GWS (7)
Brisbane (2)
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