The Advertiser and Sunday Mail’s team of AFL experts reveal their 2019 finals predictions and revisit their preseason picks
A Melbourne premiership? It’s seems silly now but that was the popular preseason pick. We give our experts a chance to revisit their predictions and tell us who they think will win the flag, Brownlow, Crows and Power club champion awards and more.
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Expectations were high before the start of the 2019 season that Adelaide would bounce back from its poor 2018 and that Port Adelaide would rise up and challenge with its fresh-faced list. And let’s not even mention the fact that the most popular pick for the flag in March was Melbourne.
As we once again go into September without the Crows or Power (or the Demons), we revisit our experts’ preseason predictions and give them a chance to right their wrongs by giving us their tips for the flag, the Brownlow, Crows and Power club champion awards, headline of the finals, season highlight and more.
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REECE HOMFRAY
WHO IS YOUR TIP FOR 2019 PREMIERSHIP AND WHY?
MARCH: Melbourne.
NOW: Richmond. Experienced, hungry and timing their run.
WHO IS YOUR TIP FOR 2019 BROWNLOW MEDAL AND WHY?
MARCH: Dustin Martin.
NOW: Lachie Neale
HIGHLIGHT OF 2019 SO FAR?
Brisbane’s coming of age.
WHAT WILL BE THE BIGGEST HEADLINE OF THE 2019 FINALS SERIES?
Cinderella Dogs can do it again.
WHAT 2019 PREDICTION WOULD YOU LIKE TO REVISIT?
Melbourne for the flag.
WHO HAD THE MORE DISAPPOINTING SEASON, ADELAIDE OR PORT ADELAIDE?
Adelaide
WHO WINS THE CLUB CHAMPION AWARDS AT ADELAIDE, PORT ADELAIDE?
Daniel Talia; Travis Boak.
WHERE WILL EDDIE BETTS AND PADDY RYDER PLAY IN 2020?
Eddie — Carlton; Paddy — St Kilda.
MARK BICKLEY
WHO IS YOUR TIP FOR 2019 PREMIERSHIP AND WHY?
MARCH: Adelaide. I had the Crows and Melbourne in the Grand Final. Fair to say I was a little off.
NOW: Richmond. Even if they lose this week, they will play at the MCG for the next 3 weeks if they were to continue winning.
WHO IS YOUR TIP FOR 2019 BROWNLOW MEDAL AND WHY?
MARCH: Max Gawn, I thought Melbourne would be contending.
NOW: Lachie Neale, prolific ball winner in a top side with no real stand out players to take votes off him.
HIGHLIGHT OF 2019 SO FAR?
Charlie Cameron’s form. All Australian, 50-plus goals and finals still to come.
WHAT WILL BE THE BIGGEST HEADLINE OF THE 2019 FINALS SERIES?
Dusty wins second Norm Smith
WHAT 2019 PREDICTION WOULD YOU LIKE TO REVISIT?
Anything that had the Adelaide Football Club in it.
WHO HAD THE MORE DISAPPOINTING SEASON, ADELAIDE OR PORT?
Adelaide by far. Brad Crouch and Brodie Smith played one game between them last year, and even with those two having had good years they won two less games.
WHO WINS THE CLUB CHAMPION AWARDS AT ADELAIDE AND ADELAIDE?
Brad Crouch. Travis Boak
WHERE WILL EDDIE BETTS AND PADDY RYDER PLAY IN 2020?
The homecomings. Eddie Betts at Carlton. Paddy Ryder to Essendon.
KANE CORNES
WHO IS YOUR TIP FOR 2019 PREMIERSHIP AND WHY?
MARCH: Adelaide
NOW: Richmond
WHO IS YOUR TIP FOR 2019 BROWNLOW MEDAL AND WHY?
MARCH: Nat Fyfe
NOW: Adam Treloar, Was the leading possession winner in the game and should catch the eye of the umpires due to his speed and run and carry.
HIGHLIGHT OF 2019 SO FAR?
We have more upsets in 2019 than in any previous year, which makes for such an exciting and unpredictable season. It was a nightmare for tipsters. Besides Gold Coast and Melbourne every team was a realistic chance of winning on any given weekend which I loved.
WHAT WILL BE THE BIGGEST HEADLINE OF THE 2019 FINALS SERIES?
Dustin Martin reaches rare air by winning second Norm Smith Medal
WHAT 2019 PREDICTION WOULD YOU LIKE TO REVISIT?
I had a lot of optimism that Adelaide would bounce back into premiership calculations after a disappointing 2018 season. The side was ravaged by injury last year and my belief that a fit squad would push deep into September. I’m surprised by what a train wreck the season turned out to be.
WHO HAD THE MORE DISAPPOINTING SEASON, ADELAIDE OR PORT?
Clearly Adelaide. At the start of the year Port Adelaide understood with the age demographic and turnover of the list it was going to be tough to make the finals. Whilst their season was disappointingly inconsistent they finished in line with expectation. Conversely Adelaide were confident they were in the running for a tilt at the premiership and they significantly underachieved which is the catalyst for major change.
WHO WINS THE CLUB CHAMPION AWARDS AT ADELAIDE, PORT ADELAIDE?
Travis Boak, Matt Crouch
WHERE WILL EDDIE BETTS AND PADDY RYDER PLAY IN 2020?
Betts — Carlton. Ryder — St. Kilda
WARREN TREDREA
WHO IS YOUR TIP FOR 2019 PREMIERSHIP AND WHY?
MARCH: Richmond
NOW: Richmond — they are up and running and the Tigers big question has been answered — Riewoldt and Lynch can function in the same forwardline alongside each other
WHO IS YOUR TIP FOR 2019 BROWNLOW MEDAL AND WHY?
MARCH: Dustin Martin
NOW: Lachie Neale, the Lions won 16 matches for the year and Neale was in the thick of it all season underneath the umpires nose, #1 centre clearances & clearances, #2 contested possessions and ground ball gets and #3 disposals in the comp.
HIGHLIGHT OF 2019 SO FAR?
The Lions rise from the canvas to the king of the jungle.
WHAT WILL BE THE BIGGEST HEADLINE OF THE 2019 FINALS SERIES?
Tigers win towers roar to feast on birds of prey (Eagles)
WHAT 2019 PREDICTION WOULD YOU LIKE TO REVISIT?
Crows top four — enough said.
WHO HAD THE MORE DISAPPOINTING SEASON, ADELAIDE OR PORT?
Adelaide expected to rise but hit rock bottom.
WHO WINS THE CLUB CHAMPION AWARDS AT ADELAIDE, PORT?
Adelaide — Talia, Crouch in a draw. Port — Boak
WHERE WILL EDDIE BETTS AND PADDY RYDER PLAY IN 2020?
Ryder — Bombers his final tilt at premiership glory.
Betts — Gold Coast as playing mentor
DWAYNE RUSSELL
WHO IS YOUR TIP FOR 2019 PREMIERSHIP AND WHY?
MARCH: West Coast.
NOW: West Coast
WHO IS YOUR TIP FOR 2019 BROWNLOW MEDAL AND WHY?
MARCH: Patrick Dangerfield.
NOW: Patrick Dangerfield.
HIGHLIGHT OF 2019 SO FAR?
Connor Rozee.
WHAT WILL BE THE BIGGEST HEADLINE OF THE 2019 FINALS SERIES?
Geelong finishing top but getting an “away” final against fourth placed Collingwood.
WHAT 2019 PREDICTION WOULD YOU LIKE TO REVISIT?
Adelaide to finish second, and Port to finish eighth.
WHO HAD THE MORE DISAPPOINTING SEASON, ADELAIDE OR PORT? Adelaide, given their pre-season expectations were higher.
WHO WINS THE CLUB CHAMPION AWARDS AT ADELAIDE, PORT ADELAIDE? Travis Boak and a Crouch dead-heat.
WHERE WILL EDDIE BETTS AND PADDY RYDER PLAY IN 2020?
Eddie at the Gold Coast, Paddy back to Essendon
LIZ WALSH
WHO IS YOUR TIP FOR 2019 PREMIERSHIP AND WHY?
MARCH: Richmond
NOW: Brisbane. I love the fairytale narrative. And Lachie Neale.
WHO IS YOUR TIP FOR 2019 BROWNLOW MEDAL AND WHY?
MARCH: Brodie Grundy
NOW: I’m sticking with Grundy to become the first ruckman to win the Brownlow since Jim Stynes in 1991. He’s had a sensational year.
HIGHLIGHT OF 2019 SO FAR?
The AFLW grand final with its record-breaking crowd of 53,034 at Adelaide Oval. A historic moment for Australian football.
WHAT WILL BE THE BIGGEST HEADLINE OF THE 2019 FINALS SERIES?
Brisbane rising up the ladder from 15th to 1st
WHAT 2019 PREDICTION WOULD YOU LIKE TO REVISIT?
Izak Rankine for Rising Star. I tossed a coin between him and Connor Rozee, would have been better if it had landed on Rozee!
WHO HAD THE MORE DISAPPOINTING SEASON, ADELAIDE OR PORT?
Adelaide. It’s the end of an era at West Lakes and time for a rebuild, whereas Port are already well underway in that respect.
WHO WINS THE CLUB CHAMPION AWARDS AT ADELAIDE, PORT ADELAIDE?
Crows: Rory Sloane
Port: Travis Boak
WHERE WILL EDDIE BETTS AND PADDY RYDER PLAY IN 2020?
Betts: Gold Coast, playing alongside the 2020 rising star winner, Izak Rankine
Ryder: St Kilda
ANDREW CAPEL
WHO IS YOUR TIP FOR THE 2019 PREMIERSHIP AND WHY?
MARCH: Melbourne.
NOW: Richmond. The Tigers have hit form at the right time and have a finals game-breaker in Dustin Martin.
WHO IS YOUR TIP FOR 2019 BROWNLOW MEDAL AND WHY?
MARCH: Clayton Oliver.
NOW: Patrick Dangerfield. Finished the season superbly in a Geelong team that was minor premier and should get plenty of votes. Little should separate him, Fremantle's Nat Fyfe, Brisbane’s Lachie Neale, the Bulldogs’ Marcus Bontempelli, Carlton’s Patrick Cripps and Collingwood’s Brodie Grundy.
HIGHLIGHT OF 2019 SO FAR?
Power first-year wingman Xavier Duursma’s now customary bow-and-arrow goal celebration. Football needs more characters and the exciting teenager brought some colour to the game while not backing down from some unnecessary public criticism. “I’ve got the club backing me, Kenny (senior coach Ken Hinkley), the coaching staff, all the players, to be myself, so I am happy to continue showing my individual flair,’’ he told The Advertiser. Love it!
Xavier Duursma pulled out the 🹠once again - and Ken Hinkley loved it!
— FOX FOOTY (@FOXFOOTY) August 3, 2019
Where does his celebration rank among some of the classics? #AFLDonsPower pic.twitter.com/5Fee4lXVtP
WHAT WILL BE THE BIGGEST HEADLINE OF THE 2019 FINALS SERIES?
Tigers roar as Dusty does the double (premiership and Norm Smith Medal) again.
WHAT 2019 PREDICTION WOULD YOU LIKE TO REVISIT?
Melbourne to win the premiership. The Demons produced one of the most disappointing seasons in VFL-AFL history, crashing from fourth and appearing to be on the verge of something special to 17th in an excusable fall from grace.
WHO HAD THE MORE DISAPPOINTING SEASON, ADELAIDE OR PORT?
Adelaide. After finishing minor premier in 2017, I excused the Crows for just missing the finals in 2018 because of the effects of the ill-fated pre-season camp and a rash of injuries. But there can be no excuses this year. To finish 11th and win two fewer games than last season when they had a better injury run than most other teams was very poor. With an ageing list, some player discontent and an external review taking place, the Crows have a big off-season in front of them. In contrast, while Port also missed the finals, there is plenty to like about with its young list, including last year’s three first-round draft picks — Connor Rozee, Xavier Duursma and Zak Butters — who look like being fine long-term players.
WHO WINS THE CLUB CHAMPION AWARDS AT ADELAIDE, PORT ADELAIDE?
Brad Crouch, Travis Boak
WHERE WILL EDDIE BETTS AND PADDY RYDER PLAY IN 2020?
Betts at Carlton, Ryder at St. Kilda.
MATT TURNER
WHO IS YOUR TIP FOR 2019 PREMIERSHIP AND WHY?
MARCH: West Coast
NOW: Collingwood
I think getting Jaidyn Stephenson and Jordan de Goey back for the finals is a huge boost for Collingwood. I reckon the Magpies will beat Geelong this week and have a bit of redemption in the back of their minds after their narrow 2019 grand final loss. Am backing Brodie Grundy to have a big influence on the finals too. A lot of people are thinking Richmond but if they lose to Brisbane on Saturday night, the Tigers’ path becomes more difficult.
WHO IS YOUR TIP FOR 2019 BROWNLOW MEDAL AND WHY?
MARCH: Marcus Bontempelli
NOW: Marcus Bontempelli
Looks a wide-open race so I’ll stick with my early-season prediction. Lachie Neale, Nat Fyfe, Patrick Cripps and Patrick Dangerfield are other leading contenders but Bontempelli usually polls relatively well and makes his possessions count, and the Western Bulldogs play an eye-catching brand of footy.
HIGHLIGHT OF 2019 SO FAR?
Brisbane’s renaissance.
There tends to be an annual surprise rise from outside the eight into the finals, but going from 15th and five wins to second and 16 victories is a stunning jump. The Gabba has been rocking in recent weeks as the club prepares for its first major round foray since 2009. There are plenty of youngsters playing starring roles, a likeable father-figure coach at the helm and there seems to be genuine belief that they can challenge for an unlikely flag.
WHAT WILL BE THE BIGGEST HEADLINE OF THE 2019 FINALS SERIES?
Bucks finally leads Pies to glory.
Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley lost two grand finals as captain of the Magpies and last year’s thriller to West Coast as coach. He was a forwards coach when the Magpies won the 2010 premiership but that would not be anywhere near as special as snaring one in charge — just as his rival Mick Malthouse did nine years ago.
WHAT 2019 PREDICTION WOULD YOU LIKE TO REVISIT?
Gold Coast won’t finish bottom. Was adamant that, despite losing stars Tom Lynch and Steven May and calls their list was one of the worst in recent memory, the Suns had brought in enough experienced players who wanted to be there to avoid the wooden spoon. Things started well, going 3-1, but the wheels fell off and they did not win another game.
WHO HAD THE MORE DISAPPOINTING SEASON, ADELAIDE OR PORT?
Adelaide.
The Crows finished a win behind Port, had higher pre-season expectations and their campaign petered out by losing seven of their last nine games after being 8-5 and well placed for a return to finals. Port was not much better but blooding more youngsters, particularly Connor Rozee, Xavier Duursma and Zak Butters, added slightly more feel-good factor about the club’s 2019.
WHO WINS THE CLUB CHAMPION AWARDS AT ADELAIDE, PORT ADELAIDE?
Daniel Talia and Travis Boak.
Talia was a model of consistency for the Crows — rarely beaten and someone who stood up when the chips were down. Boak’s return to his best form surprised plenty of people who thought after two seasons across half-forward, his career was in decline. He had very few quiet games.
WHERE WILL EDDIE BETTS AND PADDY RYDER PLAY IN 2020?
Carlton and St Kilda.
The Blues have made the small forward position a priority and Sydney’s Tom Papley and Port’s Sam Gray also appear to be on the radar. But Papley seems difficult to get from the Swans, so Betts will come into play. Hard to see him staying at the Crows. The Power has already told Ryder he can explore other opportunities and the chance to partner emerging big man Rowan Marshall at St Kilda, which is crying out for ruck support after delisting Billy Longer and Lewis Pierce, makes more sense than a return to Essendon after a bitter exit from there five years ago.
RICHARD EARLE
WHO IS YOUR TIP FOR 2019 PREMIERSHIP AND WHY?
MARCH: Melbourne
NOW: Geelong
This has to be the Cats time with Patrick Dangerfield at his peak and the last roll of the dice with Tim Kelly before exiting west. Geelong’s structure is solid across every line starting from a defence that should hold firm in pressure finals. The Cats’ ability to congest opponents, addition of pace this season and amended game plan should end its recent finals funk.
WHO IS YOUR TIP FOR 2019 BROWNLOW MEDAL AND WHY?
MARCH: Patrick Cripps
NOW: Marcus Bontempelli
The Bont and the Bulldogs had a rousing finish the season. Bontempelli always catches the eye but a round 15, one-man demolition of Port Adelaide jump-started the Dogs’ season and showcased his individual brilliance
HIGHLIGHT OF 2019 SO FAR?
Connor Rozee — bargain pick of the super draft and could yet prove the best of the lot. Brought fans through the turnstiles in his debut season.
WHAT WILL BE THE BIGGEST HEADLINE OF THE 2019 FINALS SERIES?
Tim Kelly leaves Geelong a winner
WHAT 2019 PREDICTION WOULD YOU LIKE TO REVISIT?
I believed Melbourne would build on its impressive 2018 finals series as its deep midfield rotation thrived backed by the addition of a fit Jake Lever and Gold Coast recruit Steven May. The Demons campaign was a total disaster which didn’t reflect their list talent.
WHO HAD THE MORE DISAPPOINTING SEASON, ADELAIDE OR PORT?
Football is about selling hope to fans and Port’s youth posse provides that in spades. Port’s finish reflected general list ability and inconsistency. Adelaide had the list capable of a top eight finish but was undercut in consecutive seasons by an absence of team chemistry and buy in to a single, effective game-plan.
WHO WINS THE CLUB CHAMPION AWARDS AT ADELAIDE, PORT ADELAIDE?
Daniel Talia, Connor Rozee
WHERE WILL EDDIE BETTS AND PADDY RYDER PLAY IN 2020?
Eddie Betts can link with Shaun Burgoyne at Gold Coast with the security of two year playing/mentor deals.
Paddy Ryder to St Kilda.
Originally published as The Advertiser and Sunday Mail’s team of AFL experts reveal their 2019 finals predictions and revisit their preseason picks
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