Our experts look at the season’s biggest moments and surprises so far and who will in the Brownlow Medal and play finals
RICHMOND has continued its premiership form in the first eight rounds of 2018, but who is the second-best team in the comp? Our experts have different views on that question. Plus their top eight and Brownlow tips and the season’s best feel-good stories.
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SEASON 2018 has delivered some truly memorable moments.
Ben Ronke, Liam Ryan, the thrilling Showdown finish are just some of our favourite moments while North Melbourne, West Coast and Essendon are among the biggest surprises.
SURPRISE: UMPS MUST KEEP THEIR DISTANCE: SCOTT
ROOKIES: ROUND 9 SUPERCOACH CASH COW BIBLE
FOOT CLAN: WHO IS THE AFL’S BEST, WORST KICKS?
Plus, our experts predict their Brownlow Medal winner and top eight.
And if Richmond is the standout premiership favourite, which team is most likely to challenge.
1. BEST BROWNLOW BET
Mark Robinson: Nat Fyfe into Richmond double.
Michael Warner: Jack Macrae. Dogs just need to win a few more games.
Jon Anderson: If he stays fit, Nat Fyfe will win a second Brownlow.
Michelangelo Rucci: If you want your money back, Fremantle captain Nat Fyfe
Neil Cordy: Jack Macrae
Lauren Wood: Nat Fyfe
Scott Gullan: Patrick Cripps for a place.
Sam Edmund: Max Gawn for a place.
Gilbert Gardiner: Nat Fyfe for consistency but banking on Dusty to get hot in the second half of the season.
Chris Cavanagh: The value looks to be with Jackson Macrae, who continues to tear it up for the Western Bulldogs.
Glenn McFarlane: He’s been playing sore for much of the year so far, but still think if you can shop around and get $11 on Patrick Dangerfield, you will still get a run for your money.
Eliza Sewell: Nathan Fyfe at $3.50 will look mighty good odds in 15 weeks’ time.
Jon Ralph: If Nat Fyfe has 15 Brownlow votes already, it’s hard to see him getting beaten if he stays injury free. Put it this way - who else is going to steal Brownlow votes off him at Fremantle?
Sam Landsberger: Keep your hands in your pockets.
2. BIGGEST SURPRISE OF THE SEASON
Mark Robinson: Jack Darling.
Jon Anderson: West Coast losing just one game to date.
Michael Warner: Essendon. Ghosts of drugs saga could haunt them for years to come.
Michelangelo Rucci: Player - Ben Jacobs at North Melbourne. Team - North Melbourne.
Neil Cordy: North Melbourne
Lauren Wood: Is the bombing of the Bombers. There was every right to believe this was a team on the rise and their season is on life support.
Scott Gullan: West Coast sitting second.
Sam Edmund: West Coast.
Gilbert Gardiner: North Melbourne. Lots of water still to go under the bridge but a lot to like about the Kangaroos’ style, spirit and skills across every line.
Chris Cavanagh: The Bombers being 2-6. Not only the biggest surprise but the biggest disappointment.
Glenn McFarlane: North Melbourne. Was it any wonder some clubs were interested in seeing whether Brad Scott was going to stay with the Roos. He’s done a very good job with this young Kangaroos side to have them just outside the top eight after eight rounds. The future looks bright.
Eliza Sewell: North Melbourne. Still keep thinking are the Kangaroos for real? Their performance and results say yes.
Andrew Hamilton: I did not see Essendon’s poor start to the season coming. The inclusion of Adam Saad and Devon Smith into a side that already played with attacking flair had me considering them as finalists and potentially top four.
Jon Ralph: How aggressive the AFL has become on intervention into everything from game style to the AFL calendar to rejuvenating most things that we have considered traditional in the AFL.
Sam Landsberger: Contract extensions for John Worsfold and Alan Richardson.
3. MY BEST/WORST SUPERCOACH PICK
Mark Robinson: James Sicily best, Jack Billings worst.
Jon Anderson: Tom Stewart and Joe Daniher
Michael Warner: Best: Patrick Cripps. Knocking on Fyfe/Danger/Martin door. Worst: Jack Billings. What’s happened to this bloke?
Michelangelo Rucci: Auto-fill never fails.
Lauren Wood: Leaving Ben Ronke on the bench when he delivered THAT seven-goal performance. What. Was. I. Thinking.
Scott Gullan: Best was getting on the Tim Kelly bandwagon from the start. Worst was Brandon Ellis as high-priced defender.
Sam Edmund: Tom Doedee and Josh Kelly.
Gilbert Gardiner: Thought about handing in my resignation to claim the $50,000 overall prize after six rounds but all of a sudden the wheels have fallen off. Passengers aplenty, starting with Petracca, O’Meara compounded by the fact I offloaded Naughton and Fritsch early.
Chris Cavanagh: Best: Tim Kelly (Geelong). Worst: Jack Billings (St Kilda).
Glenn McFarlane: Making the early call of making Max Gawn not only my first ruckman but also my captain. The worst was being seduced early on Tom Rockliff before making the tough call on him.
Eliza Sewell: James Sicily. Yeah, he’s been suspended a few times, but he’s won me some games too I reckon. Marley Williams. Jack Ziebell talked him up pre-season, but sorry, it was a mistake.
Jon Ralph: Dropped James Sicily when he got suspended early and now am regretting it. Should have backed in my gut feel starting Jesse Hogan, and then had to trade him in after five rounds.
4. IF RICHMOND IS THE STANDOUT, WHO IS NO.2
Mark Robinson: Geelong
Jon Anderson: Geelong
Michael Warner: Richmond VFL.
Michelangelo Rucci: West Coast, but no one wants to say it, think it or believe it.
Neil Cordy: West Coast
Lauren Wood: Loving the work of Geelong at the moment. Unfortunately for the 17 other sides, the Cats just never seem to go away and 2018 is proving that yet again.
Scott Gullan: Geelong.
Sam Edmund: Melbourne.
Gilbert Gardiner: In a perfect world, would take Geelong’s backline and midfield with West Coast’s attack and possibly NicNat. Complicated, much? The Cats tick all the boxes and capable of shaking up September.
Chris Cavanagh: Geelong, although West Coast is also going along nicely.
Glenn McFarlane: Adelaide, but with a caveat that they can get some of their missing stars back when the whips get cracking.
Eliza Sewell: Sydney. Like West Coast a lot, but the Swans keep finding players who stand up. Ben Ronke the most recent example.
Andrew Hamilton: Sydney’s best looks most capable of challenging if they can find some consistency.
Jon Ralph: West Coast and then daylight.
Sam Landsberger: Geelong. The injury-hit Cats haven’t played a bottom-seven team yet and have three easy kills coming up.
5. MY FAVOURITE MOMENT OF THE SEASON SO FAR WAS ...
Mark Robinson: Buddy’s Round 1.
Jon Anderson: Ben Ronke’s seven goals
Michael Warner: Ben Ronke. Boys’ Own Annual stuff.
Michelangelo Rucci: Steven Motlop kicking the winning goal for Port Adelaide in Showdown
44 with 21 seconds on the clock.
Neil Cordy: Ben Ronke’s seven goals v Hawthorn.
Lauren Wood: That last two minutes of the Showdown. Robbie Gray, Steven Motlop, Anthony Hudson, Ken Hinkley. Say no more.
Scott Gullan: Ben Ronke kicking seven goals in Round 8.
Sam Edmund: Ben Ronke’s bag.
Gilbert Gardiner: Liam “Flyin’” Ryan. Everything about him except the ankle injury. The hangers, the smile, the mark celebrations (before kicking the goal). A breath of fresh air.
Chris Cavanagh: Sydney third-gamer Ben Ronke kicking seven goals on Friday night in Round 8. Serious feel-good story.
Glenn McFarlane: Jack Higgins’ post-match interviews. Talking about snags, giving us unique goal celebrations and showing the youthful exuberance we need to see more. Pure unscripted gold.
Eliza Sewell: The response by Adelaide captain Taylor Walker against Sydney in Round 5. He’d been called “dreadful” after his effort against the Magpies the week before. He was copping heat for his leadership and against the Swans he asserted his authority, kicking four and leading the Crows to victory at the SCG.
Andrew Hamilton: Easter Monday’s return as the best home-and-away game of the year.
Jon Ralph: It’s recent, but Adelaide-Port Adelaide made me jump off the couch about five times in the final two minutes. Breathtaking.
Sam Landsberger: The final siren in AFLX.
6. WHO WILL COME IN/OUT OF THE TOP EIGHT?
Mark Robinson: Hawks out, Giants in.
Jon Anderson: GWS in, Hawthorn out
Michael Warner: Giants in, Hawks out.
Michelangelo Rucci: GWS for Melbourne
Lauren Wood: Reckon the Pies could yet sneak in, while Hawthorn could be the one to fall out.
Scott Gullan: Hawthorn/Sydney out. GWS/Collingwood in.
Sam Edmund: Out Port Adelaide, In GWS.
Gilbert Gardiner: GWS to jump ahead of Port Adelaide. Set and forget the rest.
Chris Cavanagh: In: Collingwood and GWS. Out: Hawthorn and Port Adelaide.
Glenn McFarlane: No change.
Eliza Sewell: I think teams will go in and out, but by Round 23, it might actually be the same as it is now.
Jon Ralph: Still think GWS can catch fire at some stage, given the are dual preliminary finalists. Who the hell knows which club drops out for them though.
Sam Landsberger: None. It is set.
7. THE PRE-SEASON PREDICTION I’D LIKE TO REVISE
Mark Robinson: Essendon in the eight.
Jon Anderson: Essendon to make the eight
Michael Warner: Didn’t have the Eagles in the eight. Will finish top four.
Michelangelo Rucci: Melbourne in the top four. The Demons have replaced Richmond as the
most-frustrating team to hold to a prediction.
Neil Cordy: North Melbourne to finish down the bottom of the ladder.
Lauren Wood: Is Patrick Dangerfield for the Brownlow. Sorry, Danger man, but it’s going to take a big second half of the year if Charlie is going to return to Moggs Creek.
Scott Gullan: West Coast not in the eight.
Sam Edmund: Having Essendon in the eight.
Gilbert Gardiner: Essendon (third) to be the highest placed Victorian team. Give me a spell.
Chris Cavanagh: Joe Daniher and Jake Stringer to both place top five in the Coleman Medal. Daniher has been injured and the fresh start hasn’t done much for Stringer.
Glenn McFarlane: West Coast to slide hopelessly out of finals contention. The Eagles look top four bound at this stage.
Eliza Sewell: Rory Sloane for the Brownlow. Injuries have cruelled the Crows’ season.
Andrew Hamilton: North battling for the spoon.
Jon Ralph: Essendon as a contender. Don’t think the prediction was unwise on paper given the potential of their young stars or their trio of players coming in who should have helped them. But it looks a shocker now.
Sam Landsberger: Predicting Essendon fifth. Even fifth-last seems generous right now.
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