AFL tips: Herald Sun experts pick their winners for the 2016 AFL Grand Final

WE have a winner in the Herald Sun expert tipping for 2016. But who do all our tipsters think will win the big one. Plus see why and get their Norm Smith medal selections!

Marcus Bontempelli is a popular Norm Smith medal pick. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

JON Ralph has taken out the Herald Sun expert tipping competition for 2016.

Ralphy enters Grand Final weekend on 152, one clear of fellow Herald Sun footy journo Scott Gullan.

But both men have tipped the Western Bulldogs in Saturday’s AFL decider, meaning there’s no way Scotty can overtake Ralphy.

Take a look below as our field of experts and celebrities have their say on Saturday’s big one — including their pick for the Norm Smith medal.

Jon Ralph 152	Scott Gullan 151	Kevin Bartlett 148
WESTERN BULLDOGS 5	WESTERN BULLDOGS 15	WESTERN BULLDOGS 10
They have the system to match Sydney, the emotional heartbeat, the fitness to run down an early deficit and the support of an entire state.	An irresistible force. Have the best form over the finals. Are young, hungry and have shown they won’t be overawed by the occasion.	They are on a mission full of belief and play a style of football that has had success against the Swans.
NORM SMITH MEDAL	NORM SMITH MEDAL	NORM SMITH MEDAL
Jack Macrae	Jake Stringer	Lachie Hunter

David King 148	Sam Landsberger 148	Gerard Whateley 148
SYDNEY 18	WESTERN BULLDOGS 34	WESTERN BULLDOGS 2
Sydney have been the best team all season. John Longmire deserves recognition as a super coach and two premierships will do that.	The stars - Libba, Wood, JJ, Dahl, Smith, Macrae, Tom Boyd and McLean - were all hurt, but are now ready to heal generations of Bulldog hearts.	If the Dogs can survive the opening onslaught and lock into the physical battle for territory battle they might just forge this piece of history.
NORM SMITH MEDAL	NORM SMITH MEDAL	NORM SMITH MEDAL
Luke Parker	Luke Dahlhaus	Jason Johannisen

Jon Anderson 147	Sam Edmund 147	Bill Shorten 147
SYDNEY 37	SYDNEY 10	WESTERN BULLDOGS 6
If football is decided by dominating midfields, then the Swans win the Grand Final. Plus 2014 still haunts them.	Gotta stick to my guns, even if the biggest bandwagon in Australian sport this year means it might be destiny for the Dogs.	My wife Chloe barracks for the dogs and my two Bulldogs wouldn’t talk to me if I didn’t. I’m a proud resident of the West and I like an underdog.
NORM SMITH MEDAL	NORM SMITH MEDAL	NORM SMITH MEDAL
Buddy Franklin	Luke Parker	Marcus Bontempelli

Lauren Wood 147	Grant Baker 146	Glenn McFarlane 146
WESTERN BULLDOGS 7	WESTERN BULLDOGS 1	WESTERN BULLDOGS 1
Footy romance is few and far between these days and the hunt for history is powerful. Expecting the Dogs to come out snarling.	Because it’s the right thing.	Sometimes fairytales really can come true - and the momentum of the Dogs just keeps rolling on
NORM SMITH MEDAL	NORM SMITH MEDAL	NORM SMITH MEDAL
Marcus Bontempelli	Marcus Bontempelli	Marcus Bontempelli

Tim Watson 146	Dermott Brereton 145	Paul Chapman 145
SYDNEY 25	SYDNEY 9	SYDNEY 8
	Swans gain an early lead of up to 20 points and the Dogs gradually chip it back…	No real reason, could easily go the other way.
NORM SMITH MEDAL	NORM SMITH MEDAL	NORM SMITH MEDAL
Lance Franklin	Dan Hannebery	Isaac Heeney

Michael Warner 145	Jonathan Brown 144	Jay Clark 144
WESTERN BULLDOGS 1	SYDNEY 21	SYDNEY 12
They’ll make a movie about this footy fairytale. It’s Leicester City, AFL-style. Woof, woof.	Sydney more experience in the midfield and the X factor of Buddy.	Sydney is in stunning form and their ability to intercept across half back and score on the rebound is the key worry for the Dogs.
NORM SMITH MEDAL	NORM SMITH MEDAL	NORM SMITH MEDAL
Jason Johannisen	Dan Hannebery	Dane Rampe

Ron Reed 144	Malcolm Turnbull 144	Bianca Chatfield 143
WESTERN BULLDOGS 3	SYDNEY 8	WESTERN BULLDOGS 2
Yes, its from the heart not the head but the Bulldogs have belief, momentum, talent and support in spades - as long as they don’t get jumped.	Swans are my local team; they play in my electorate. I gave them a plug at the UN and will be cheering the red and the white!	They’ve defied the odds so far, They have enormous belief in the team and each other, a great team culture, it’s contagious!
NORM SMITH MEDAL	NORM SMITH MEDAL	NORM SMITH MEDAL
Marcus Bontempelli	Lance Franklin	Jason Johannisen

Mark Robinson 142	Patrick Dangerfield 142	Daryl Timms 142
SYDNEY 22	WESTERN BULLDOGS	SYDNEY 23
Fear the Dogs might have played their big one last week. Been there done that for a group of Swans, will give them an edge.	I believe in the footy gods and just have a sneaky suspicion that the Dogs will get up.	Bulldogs have shown in their past three clashes that history means nothing, but often teams have to experience the big game before coming back to win one.
NORM SMITH MEDAL	NORM SMITH MEDAL	NORM SMITH MEDAL
Lance Franklin	Liam Picken	Josh Kennedy

Rebecca Williams 142	Shane Crawford 140	Scott Pendlebury 140
SYDNEY 8	WESTERN BULLDOGS 14	WESTERN BULLDOGS
A star studded and hardened midfield with experience on this stage. Then there’s Buddy.	Young, skilled and confidence red hot, so WHY NOT?	Do you believe in fairytales
NORM SMITH MEDAL	NORM SMITH MEDAL	NORM SMITH MEDAL
Josh Kennedy	Jordan Roughead	Liam Picken

Eliza Sewell 136	Kiss of Death 56
WESTERN BULLDOGS 10	WESTERN BULLDOGS 13
The Bulldogs’ players keep saying one more, and why not? I believe in Beveridge.	Young guns of the west!
NORM SMITH MEDAL	NORM SMITH MEDAL
Jake Stringer	Jeremy Laidler