SuperFooty experts give their predictions for how the 2018 finals series will play out

EVERY season, one player puts their stamp on September. From experienced stars Patrick Dangerfield and Dustin Martin to finals new faces like Tom Mitchell and Max Gawn, our experts look at this year’s candidates.

Are the Tigers unstoppable this September? Picture: Getty Images

ARE the Tigers a premiership certainty?

If not, which team is shaping up as a September surprise packet?

Can anyone stop Tom Mitchell when it comes to the 2018 Brownlow Medal race?

These are just some of the big questions our SuperFooty experts have tackled in their special finals crystal ball.

Take a look at all their picks and let us know what you think in the comments section.

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MARK ROBINSON

Premier: Richmond

Runner-up: Melbourne

The Tigers are the best team, with arguably the best system, and have a bunch of players who are the best or close to the best in their positions. Alex Rance, Dustin Martin, Jack Riewoldt, Shane Edwards as a high half-forward, Dylan Grimes as a stopper in defence and Nick Vlastuin across half-back mean Richmond will take some beating.

Norm Smith Medal: Jack Riewoldt

Mr September: Max Gawn

Spring Surprise: Brody Mihocek

Brownlow Medal: Tom Mitchell

What I got right/wrong in 2018:

Right: Patrick Dangerfield to win Brownlow Medal (he’s a chance!)

Wrong: Essendon, Port Adelaide and Adelaide in finals

Are Dustin Martin and the Tigers a chance of coming up short in the premiership race? Picture: Michael Klein

JON RALPH

Premier: Richmond

Runner-up: Collingwood

The bottom six for Richmond is stronger, Riewoldt is in career best form, Dusty and Rance got back to 2017 standards late, and their belief has only grown since the premiership. All that combined with them potentially playing all three finals on their home deck means picking anyone else ignores what has unfolded this year.

Norm Smith Medal: Trent Cotchin

Mr September: Brodie Grundy

Spring Surprise: Josh Thomas

Brownlow Medal: Max Gawn

What I got right/wrong in 2018:

One of the few to leave Port Adelaide out of the final eight as impostors but backed Geelong to win the flag and still not sure they can given MCG record.

JAY CLARK

Premier: Collingwood

Runner-up: Richmond

I’m with Chris Scott, there will be a twist in store this September and Collingwood’s midfield class is capable of pulling off the mother-of-all Grand Final upsets.

Norm Smith Medal: Scott Pendlebury

Mr September: Jeremy Howe

Spring surprise: Bayley Fritsch

Brownlow Medal: Max Gawn

What I got right/wrong in 2018:

Predicted Collingwood’s September return but got sucked in by Port Adelaide.

How important is Jeremy Howe for Collingwood? Picture: AAP Images

JON ANDERSON

Premier: Geelong (best $12 chances in recent memory)

Runner-up: Richmond

Geelong has lost eight of its nine games by 18 points or less, so it is usually “in” games. Its back half of Jed Bews, Mark Blicavs, Lachie Henderson, Jake Kolodjashnij, Mark O’Connor, Tom Stewart, Harry Taylor and Zac Tuohy is in-form and provides options.

Norm Smith Medal: Patrick Dangerfield on the stage he was created for

Mr September: Patrick Dangerfield

Spring surprise: Brandan Parfitt

Brownlow Medal: Tom Mitchell

What I got right/wrong in 2018:

Melbourne to be a genuine contender. Adelaide to be a top four team.

MICK McGUANE

Premier: Richmond

Runner-up: Melbourne

No team controls the three areas — midfield, defence and attack — better than the Tigers. And, for me, defence wins Grand Finals, which is Richmond’s most important asset.

Norm Smith Medal: Dustin Martin

Mr September: Clayton Oliver

Spring Surprise: Neville Jetta

Brownlow Medal: Tom Mitchell

Can anyone stop Tom Mitchell in the Brownlow Medal race? Picture: Michael Klein

SCOTT GULLAN

Premier: Geelong

Runner-up: Richmond

Momentum coming into September is the trend of recent years and the Cats have quietly gathered lots of it. Richmond will cruise into the GF but there’s just a nagging thought someone will get them this year.

Norm Smith Medal: Patrick Dangerfield

Mr September: Zac Tuohy

Spring Surprise: Brandon Parfitt

Brownlow Medal: Max Gawn

What I got right/wrong in 2018:

Right: Essendon not making the finals

Wrong: Way too much love for Port Adelaide and the Western Bulldogs.

GILBERT GARDINER

Premier: Hawthorn

Runner-up: Collingwood

Richmond is the best team in the competition right now, but banking on Alastair Clarkson to have a thing or six in his back pocket ready for the September raid. If the Magpies get on a roll, watch out.

Norm Smith Medal: Luke Breust

Mr September: Shaun Burgoyne saves his best for the big stage.

Spring Surprise: Christian Petracca to take a leaf out of Ben Simmons’ book and lead his team deep into September.

Brownlow Medal: Tom Mitchell, sheer weight of numbers will be telling in an otherwise close count.

What I got right/wrong in 2018:

Tipped the wheel to finally turn for the Magpies and the Crows to drop out, but got sucked into the hype around Essendon.

Max Gawn might be the most important player in the finals. Picture: AAP Images

LAUREN WOOD

Premier: Richmond

Runner-up: West Coast

It has to be done at the MCG on the final day and there’s no one better there than the Tigers. When they dial up that pressure they’re almost unstoppable.

Norm Smith Medal: Daniel Rioli

Mr September: Dustin Martin

Spring Surprise: James Harmes

Brownlow Medal: Max Gawn

What I got right/wrong in 2018:

Said in the 2018 Footy Mag that Richmond would make the eight but not the top four. Couldn’t have been more wrong. They have been so far ahead of the rest of the competition it’s not funny. Had the Demons making the finals and couldn’t be happier for them to have been right.

MICHAEL WARNER

Premier: Richmond

Runner-up: Melbourne

Dustin Martin has timed his run like Divine Madonna. A lot would have to go wrong for the Tigers not to win it. Richmond for back-to-back premierships.

Norm Smith Medal: Dustin Martin

Mr September: Dustin Martin

Spring Surprise: Christian Petracca

Brownlow Medal: Tom Mitchell

What I got right/wrong in 2018:

Right: Tigers to crack 100,000 members.

Wrong: Bulldogs to bounce back.

DAVID KING

Premier: Richmond

Runner-up: Melbourne

A healthy, regimented unit that plays with a forward handballing flair that the opposition have had trouble curtailing. May not be as good as 2017, but do they need to be?

Norm Smith Medal: Shane Edwards

Mr September: Clayton Oliver (both mid and forward!)

Spring Surprise: Jack Graham

Brownlow Medal: Dustin Martin

What I got right/wrong in 2018:

Wrong: Bombers for premiers!

Right: Dusty for back-to-back Brownlows (wait and see)

BRENDON GODDARD

Premier: Richmond

Runner-up: Hawthorn

Can’t look further than Richmond. Hawthorn has the experienced finals campaigners mixed with vibrant youth. But Richmond’s consistency in 2018 cannot be ignored and is why you would be a brave person to bet against them.

Norm Smith Medal: Jack Riewoldt

Mr September: Jack Gunston

Spring surprise: Jack Redden

Brownlow: Tom Mitchell

What I got right/wrong in 2018:

Right: Melbourne to make finals

Wrong: GWS and Adelaide to finish top two

Will anyone be able to stop the Jack Riewoldt — Josh Caddy combination? Picture: Getty Images

MICK MALTHOUSE

Premier: West Coast

Runner-up : Richmond

The Eagles have a very well balanced team right across the board. Their first up home final against Collingwood may be their hardest before the Grand Final.

Norm Smith Medal: Elliot Yeo

Mr September: Jack Riewoldt

Spring Surprise: Tom Barrass

Brownlow Medal: Max Gawn

What I got right/wrong in 2018:

Right: Melbourne to play finals

Wrong: North Melbourne to claim wooden spoon

DERMOTT BRERETON

Premier : Richmond

Runner-up: GWS

The Tigers are the only team that has its proven game plan imprinted on all their players. Every other team needs to try and do something new and something different to beat them.

And with no key personnel missing, it would be catastrophic to lose from here.

Norm Smith Medal: Jack Riewoldt

Mr September: Brodie Grundy

Spring Surprise: Willie Rioli

Brownlow Medal: Tom Mitchell

What I got right/wrong in 2018:

Right: Melbourne to return to finals

Wrong: Bulldogs to win the flag

Are the GWS Giants capable of a September run? Picture: Getty Images

MATTHEW LLOYD

Premier: Richmond

Runner-up: West Coast

Richmond could not have asked for a better build up to this finals series. The Tigers have a healthy list, look hungry and have too many weapons for the rest.

Norm Smith Medal: Alex Rance

Mr September: Dustin Martin

Spring Surprise: Angus Brayshaw

Brownlow Medal: Tom Mitchell

What I got right/wrong in 2018:

Right: Swans to miss top four

Wrong: Adelaide to win flag

SAM LANDSBERGER

Premier: Collingwood

Runner-up: Richmond

Shades of the past two premiers about these Magpies. Like the 2016 Dogs there’s trips to Perth either side of a bye which will help star players return, and like the 2017 Tigers there’s a reborn coach who has rocketed from 13th to 3rd.

Norm Smith Medal: Adam Treloar

Mr September: Clayton Oliver

Spring Surprise: Jarryd Roughead traded to a club coached by one of Clarko’s disciples.

Brownlow Medal: Tom Mitchell

What I got right/wrong in 2018:

Right: Carlton would claim its fifth wooden spoon this century.

Wrong: Port Adelaide to win the flag. Conned by Ken Hinkley’s recruits.

ELIZA SEWELL

Premier: Richmond

Runner-up: Melbourne

Forget Round 23 and a scraping win over the nothing-to-lose Bulldogs in the deadest of dead rubbers, the Tigers will step it up come September. Too well drilled, too determined and too bloody good to let this golden chance slip.

Norm Smith Medal: Jack Riewoldt

Mr September: Christian Petracca

Spring Surprise: Jack Higgins

Brownlow Medal: Tom Mitchell

What I got right/wrong in 2018:

Right: Five of eight finalists, including Melbourne and Sydney

Wrong: Crows to win the flag. We’re going into camp to unpack that one.

SAM EDMUND

Premier: Richmond

Runner-up: Melbourne

It’s just hard to go against the Tigers and difficult to mount an argument against a team who’s won 21 straight at the ground it’s likely to play all its finals at. Virtually every player available and despite supposedly going at half rat power, have won nine of the past 10.

Norm Smith Medal: Shane Edwards

Mr September: Angus Brayshaw

Spring surprise: The Worpedo (James Worpel)

Brownlow Medal: Tom Mitchell

What I got right/wrong in 2018:

Like their now-infamous pre-season camp, having Adelaide second on the ladder was a fail.

Not sure I got it right, but I’m going to claim it — having GWS on top of the ladder. The Giants were one of only four teams to hold the spot — for three weeks — and if it wasn’t for another spate of injuries who knows? They might have stayed there.

Will Christian Petracca prove a spring surprise? Picture: AAP Images

CHRIS CAVANAGH

Premier: Richmond

Runner-up: Collingwood

The Tigers have already won 21 games on the trot at the MCG and are as close to full-strength as you can get. Finals are won on the strength of your bottom six and your defence and Richmond is the best in the class in both.

Norm Smith Medal: Shane Edwards

Mr September: Dustin Martin

Spring Surprise: Jaidyn Stephenson

Brownlow Medal: Dustin Martin

What I got right/wrong in 2018:

Right: Picked Melbourne to finally make finals.

Wrong: Didn’t have West Coast in my top eight and they finished second.

GLENN McFARLANE

Premier: Richmond

Runner-up: Collingwood

Don’t think the gap between Richmond and the rest is as great as it was a few months back. But the Tigers’ body of work means they deserve to be clear favourites.

Norm Smith Medal: Alex Rance

Mr September : Brodie Grundy

Spring Surprise: Jack Higgins’ snags

Brownlow Medal: Tom Mitchell

What I got right/wrong in 2018:

Right: Melbourne to finally break their finals drought.

Wrong: West Coast to tumble out of the eight.

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