The following is a table prediction plus futures betting tips for the 2022 AFL season. The Minor Premiership, top 4, top 8, Brownlow Medal, Coleman Medal and Rising Star markets are discussed.

We’ve taken the approach of surveying pundit table predictions to help assess each team’s chances. The table range for each team lists the best and worst pundit predictions for that club. Melbourne came out on top with an average table prediction of 1.5 and a range of 1 to 3. North Melbourne came last with an average prediction of 16.4 and a range of 13 to 18.

The variance rank indicates how widely dispersed the pundit predictions were for each team relative to the competition. Richmond had the highest variance, with pundits spread between 1st and 15th. Melbourne had the lowest variance, with pundits spread between 1st and 3rd for the Demons’ table prediction.

Richmond are expected to be the biggest improvers from last season. They averaged the 5th best table prediction compared to their 12th placed finish last year. The West Coast Eagles are tipped for the biggest decline, with the pundits giving them the 14th best ranking compared to their 9th placed finish last year.

 

AFL Betting Resources

View our full line-up of AFL betting resources. This includes a form guide, bookmaker odds comparison, historical data, betting tracker spreadsheet and much more.

Round 1 betting tips have also been published.

 

Team Predictions

The teams are ranked below based on the average pundit prediction.

1. Melbourne

• Surveyed pundit table predictions:
  • Table range: 1-3
  • Variance rank: 18
  • Tipped for minor premiers: 60%
  • Tipped for top four: 100%
  • Tipped for top eight: 100%
  • Tipped for wooden spoon: 0%
• Sportsbet futures odds:
  • Minor Premiers: 3.75
  • Make top 4: 1.62
  • Miss top 4: 2.37
  • Make top 8: 1.11
  • Miss Top 8: 7.00
  • Fewest wins: 251.00
• Last season:
  • Table position: 1st. Grand Final winners.
  • Percentage: 130.8% (rank: 3rd)
  • Points for: 1888 (rank: 5th)
  • Points against: 1443 (rank: 1st)
• Prior season table results: 9 in 2020, 17 in 2019, 5 in 2018, 9 in 12.
• Positives:
  • Won seven consecutive games on the way to winning the Premiership last season.
  • Three of the last eight reigning Premiers went on to win back to back titles.
  • Boast an excellent squad.
  • Had the best defensive record last season.
• Negatives:
  • Face a strong burden of expectation this year. They will be on every team’s radar.
  • Don’t have a good track record of consistency. Only finished in the top four twice in the last 21 years. The previous four times they finished in the top four, Melbourne finished outside the top eight the following season.

 

2. Brisbane Lions

• Surveyed pundit table predictions:
  • Table range: 1-7
  • Variance rank: 12
  • Tipped for minor premiers: 27%
  • Tipped for top four: 80%
  • Tipped for top eight: 100%
  • Tipped for wooden spoon: 0%
• Sportsbet futures odds:
  • Minor Premiers: 6.50
  • Make top 4: 1.83
  • Miss top 4: 1.91
  • Make top 8: 1.22
  • Miss Top 8: 4.00
  • Fewest wins: 151.00
• Last season:
  • Table position: 4th. Lost in the semi-finals.
  • Percentage: 133.3% (rank: 1st)
  • Points for: 2131 (rank: 1st)
  • Points against: 1599 (rank: 5th)
• Prior season table results: 2 in 2020, 2 in 2019, 15 in 2018, 18 in 1.
• Positives:
  • Had the best percentage in the league last season at 133.3%.
  • Led the league with 2,131 points scored in the regular season last year, miles ahead of the second best Western Bulldogs with 1,994.
  • Cameron Rayner is back from his ACL tear.
• Negatives:
  • Eric Hipwood won’t be back from injury until May.
  • Have a 1-5 finals record over the last three seasons.
  • Had only the 5th best defensive record last season.

 

3. Western Bulldogs

• Surveyed pundit table predictions:
  • Table range: 1-8
  • Variance rank: 16
  • Tipped for minor premiers: 10%
  • Tipped for top four: 86%
  • Tipped for top eight: 100%
  • Tipped for wooden spoon: 0%
• Sportsbet futures odds:
  • Minor Premiers: 6.00
  • Make top 4: 1.83
  • Miss top 4: 1.91
  • Make top 8: 1.22
  • Miss Top 8: 4.00
  • Fewest wins: 151.00
• Last season:
  • Table position: 5th. Lost in the Grand Final.
  • Percentage: 132.8% (rank: 2nd)
  • Points for: 1994 (rank: 2nd)
  • Points against: 1501 (rank: 4th)
• Prior season table results: 7 in 2020, 7 in 2019, 13 in 2018, 10 in 8.
• Positives:
  • Had the 2nd best offensive record and second best percentage in the league last season.
  • Marcus Bontempelli was runner up in the Brownlow Medal polling last year.
  • In each of the last three seasons they matched or bettered their table standing from the year before.
• Negatives:
  • Josh Bruce will miss at least the first half of the season due to an ACL injury.

 

4. Port Adelaide

• Surveyed pundit table predictions:
  • Table range: 2-10
  • Variance rank: 9
  • Tipped for minor premiers: 0%
  • Tipped for top four: 37%
  • Tipped for top eight: 90%
  • Tipped for wooden spoon: 0%
• Sportsbet futures odds:
  • Minor Premiers: 8.00
  • Make top 4: 2.10
  • Miss top 4: 1.72
  • Make top 8: 1.33
  • Miss Top 8: 3.30
  • Fewest wins: 101.00
• Last season:
  • Table position: 2nd. Lost in the preliminary finals.
  • Percentage: 126.3% (rank: 5th)
  • Points for: 1884 (rank: 6th)
  • Points against: 1492 (rank: 3rd)
• Prior season table results: 1 in 2020, 10 in 2019, 10 in 2018, 5 in 15.
• Positives:
  • Finished last year’s regular season on a 9-1 run.
  • Had 56,532 registered members last season, which is the best number in club history.
  • Finished in the top two and made the preliminary final in each of the last two years.
  • Ollie Wines won the Brownlow Medal last year.
• Negatives:
  • Were thrashed at home by the Western Bulldogs in the Preliminary Finals last season.
  • Peter Ladhams has departed to Sydney.
  • Assistant coach Michael Voss has departed to take up the Carlton head coaching role.

 

5. Richmond

• Surveyed pundit table predictions:
  • Table range: 1-15
  • Variance rank: 1
  • Tipped for minor premiers: 3%
  • Tipped for top four: 47%
  • Tipped for top eight: 83%
  • Tipped for wooden spoon: 0%
• Sportsbet futures odds:
  • Minor Premiers: 10.00
  • Make top 4: 3.00
  • Miss top 4: 1.36
  • Make top 8: 1.45
  • Miss Top 8: 2.70
  • Fewest wins: 81.00
• Last season:
  • Table position: 12th
  • Percentage: 97.9% (rank: 9th)
  • Points for: 1743 (rank: 11th)
  • Points against: 1780 (rank: 8th)
• Prior season table results: 3 in 2020, 3 in 2019, 1 in 2018, 3 in 5.
• Positives:
  • Have injury excuses for their poor campaign last season. Dustin Martin is back.
  • Have only finished outside the top four once in the last five years and have won the Premiership in three of the last five seasons.
  • Have recruited Robbie Tarrant from North Melbourne.
  • Missing out on the finals last year has effectively extended their off-season recovery period.
  • Boast a league-high 76% win record at the heavily-used MCG over the last five seasons.
• Negatives:
  • Finished last season in 2-1-7 form.
  • Defenders Bachar Houli and David Astbury have retired.
  • Kane Lambert could be out for six months if he opts for hip surgery.

 

6. Geelong Cats

• Surveyed pundit table predictions:
  • Table range: 2-11
  • Variance rank: 4
  • Tipped for minor premiers: 0%
  • Tipped for top four: 23%
  • Tipped for top eight: 77%
  • Tipped for wooden spoon: 0%
• Sportsbet futures odds:
  • Minor Premiers: 9.00
  • Make top 4: 2.75
  • Miss top 4: 1.53
  • Make top 8: 1.36
  • Miss Top 8: 3.00
  • Fewest wins: 101.00
• Last season:
  • Table position: 3rd. Lost in the preliminary finals.
  • Percentage: 126.7% (rank: 4th)
  • Points for: 1845 (rank: 7th)
  • Points against: 1456 (rank: 2nd)
• Prior season table results: 4 in 2020, 1 in 2019, 8 in 2018, 2 in 14.
• Positives:
  • Have been a model of consistency by making the Preliminary Finals in 11 of the last 15 seasons.
  • Jeremy Cameron and Tom Hawkins are the 2nd and 3rd favourites for the Coleman Medal.
  • Boast an 86% win rate at GMHBA Stadium over the past six seasons.
  • Only Melbourne conceded fewer points than Geelong in the regular season last year.
  • Tom Stewart is back from injury.
• Negatives:
  • Have an older squad with a number of key players who are past their prime.
  • Have gone 6-13 in Finals games since last winning the Premiership in 2011.

 

7. Sydney Swans

• Surveyed pundit table predictions:
  • Table range: 3-11
  • Variance rank: 6
  • Tipped for minor premiers: 0%
  • Tipped for top four: 10%
  • Tipped for top eight: 76%
  • Tipped for wooden spoon: 0%
• Sportsbet futures odds:
  • Minor Premiers: 13.00
  • Make top 4: 3.00
  • Miss top 4: 1.36
  • Make top 8: 1.45
  • Miss Top 8: 2.70
  • Fewest wins: 81.00
• Last season:
  • Table position: 6th. Lost in the elimination finals.
  • Percentage: 119.9% (rank: 6th)
  • Points for: 1986 (rank: 3rd)
  • Points against: 1656 (rank: 6th)
• Prior season table results: 16 in 2020, 15 in 2019, 6 in 2018, 6 in 11.
• Positives:
  • Finished 6th in the table but only missed out on 4th due to comparative percentage.
  • Had the 3rd best offensive record last season.
  • Have brought in Peter Ladhams from Port Adelaide.
• Negatives:
  • Jordan Dawson has departed to Adelaide.
  • George Hewett has departed to Carlton.

 

8. GWS Giants

• Surveyed pundit table predictions:
  • Table range: 3-13
  • Variance rank: 2
  • Tipped for minor premiers: 0%
  • Tipped for top four: 17%
  • Tipped for top eight: 50%
  • Tipped for wooden spoon: 0%
• Sportsbet futures odds:
  • Minor Premiers: 18.00
  • Make top 4: 4.50
  • Miss top 4: 1.14
  • Make top 8: 2.00
  • Miss Top 8: 1.83
  • Fewest wins: 51.00
• Last season:
  • Table position: 7th. Lost in the semi-finals.
  • Percentage: 99.7% (rank: 8th)
  • Points for: 1768 (rank: 8th)
  • Points against: 1773 (rank: 7th)
• Prior season table results: 10 in 2020, 6 in 2019, 7 in 2018, 4 in 17.
• Positives:
  • Made the finals last season despite a raft of injury disruptions and a 0-3 start.
  • Braydon Preuss is finally available after recovering from long-term injury.
• Negatives:
  • Have been hit by pre-season injuries with Brent Daniels ruled out for half of the season and Conor Stone ruled out for 6+ weeks.
  • Toby Greene is suspended for the first five rounds.
  • Despite making the finals last year, their percentage was under 100.

 

9. Carlton

• Surveyed pundit table predictions:
  • Table range: 6-14
  • Variance rank: 7
  • Tipped for minor premiers: 0%
  • Tipped for top four: 0%
  • Tipped for top eight: 55%
  • Tipped for wooden spoon: 0%
• Sportsbet futures odds:
  • Minor Premiers: 51.00
  • Make top 4: 9.00
  • Miss top 4: 1.07
  • Make top 8: 2.88
  • Miss Top 8: 1.40
  • Fewest wins: 21.00
• Last season:
  • Table position: 13th
  • Percentage: 88.5% (rank: 12th)
  • Points for: 1746 (rank: 10th)
  • Points against: 1972 (rank: 17th)
• Prior season table results: 11 in 2020, 16 in 2019, 18 in 2018, 16 in 18.
• Positives:
  • Signed Adam Cerra from Fremantle and George Hewett from Sydney.
  • Harry McKay won the Coleman Medal last season and is the favourite to win the title again this year.
  • Sam Docherty is back after recovering from cancer.
• Negatives:
  • Have failed to finish better than 13th in each of the last eight seasons.
  • Sam Walsh is out for the first month with injury.
  • Defender Liam Jones chose to retire at the end of 2021 after opting not to comply with the vaccine mandate.
  • Had the second worst defensive record last season.

 

10. Essendon

• Surveyed pundit table predictions:
  • Table range: 6-12
  • Variance rank: 11
  • Tipped for minor premiers: 0%
  • Tipped for top four: 0%
  • Tipped for top eight: 43%
  • Tipped for wooden spoon: 0%
• Sportsbet futures odds:
  • Minor Premiers: 18.00
  • Make top 4: 5.50
  • Miss top 4: 1.12
  • Make top 8: 2.25
  • Miss Top 8: 1.62
  • Fewest wins: 51.00
• Last season:
  • Table position: 8th. Lost in the elimination finals.
  • Percentage: 109.1% (rank: 7th)
  • Points for: 1953 (rank: 4th)
  • Points against: 1790 (rank: 9th)
• Prior season table results: 13 in 2020, 8 in 2019, 11 in 2018, 7 in 13.
• Positives:
  • Only three clubs scored more regular season points than Essendon last year.
  • Boast a strong midfield.
• Negatives:
  • Had only the 9th best defensive record last season.
  • Haven’t won a finals game in seventeen years.
  • Cale Hooker has retired.
  • Harrison Jones will miss the start of the season with an ankle injury.
  • Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti will miss the start of the season.

 

11. Fremantle

• Surveyed pundit table predictions:
  • Table range: 6-14
  • Variance rank: 8
  • Tipped for minor premiers: 0%
  • Tipped for top four: 0%
  • Tipped for top eight: 21%
  • Tipped for wooden spoon: 0%
• Sportsbet futures odds:
  • Minor Premiers: 26.00
  • Make top 4: 6.50
  • Miss top 4: 1.11
  • Make top 8: 2.50
  • Miss Top 8: 1.50
  • Fewest wins: 26.00
• Last season:
  • Table position: 11th
  • Percentage: 86.5% (rank: 13th)
  • Points for: 1578 (rank: 15th)
  • Points against: 1825 (rank: 12th)
• Prior season table results: 12 in 2020, 13 in 2019, 14 in 2018, 14 in 7.
• Positives:

  Captain Nat Fyfe is again fit and could feature as early as Round 1.

  • Have clear upside potential if they can avoid a repeat of the injuries from last season.
• Negatives:
  • Adam Cerra has departed for Carlton.
  • Haven’t finished better than 11th for six years.
  • Matt Taberner will miss the opening game of the AFL season with a hamstring injury.

 

12. St Kilda

• Surveyed pundit table predictions:
  • Table range: 7-16
  • Variance rank: 13
  • Tipped for minor premiers: 0%
  • Tipped for top four: 0%
  • Tipped for top eight: 3%
  • Tipped for wooden spoon: 0%
• Sportsbet futures odds:
  • Minor Premiers: 26.00
  • Make top 4: 7.00
  • Miss top 4: 1.11
  • Make top 8: 2.63
  • Miss Top 8: 1.45
  • Fewest wins: 51.00
• Last season:
  • Table position: 10th
  • Percentage: 91.5% (rank: 11th)
  • Points for: 1644 (rank: 12th)
  • Points against: 1796 (rank: 10th)
• Prior season table results: 6 in 2020, 14 in 2019, 16 in 2018, 11 in 3.
• Positives:
  • Had excuses for last season’s drop in results, with injuries to Jade Gresham, Paddy Ryder and Rowan Marshall disrupting their campaign.
• Negatives:
  • Nick Coffield is out for the season with an ACL tear.
  • Hunter Clark will miss the first six weeks with a shoulder injury.
  • Jack Billings will miss the first month with a hamstring injury.

 

13. Collingwood

• Surveyed pundit table predictions:
  • Table range: 8-17
  • Variance rank: 15
  • Tipped for minor premiers: 0%
  • Tipped for top four: 0%
  • Tipped for top eight: 4%
  • Tipped for wooden spoon: 0%
• Sportsbet futures odds:
  • Minor Premiers: 81.00
  • Make top 4: 15.00
  • Miss top 4: 1.03
  • Make top 8: 5.50
  • Miss Top 8: 1.14
  • Fewest wins: 9.00
• Last season:
  • Table position: 17th
  • Percentage: 85.6% (rank: 14th)
  • Points for: 1557 (rank: 16th)
  • Points against: 1818 (rank: 11th)
• Prior season table results: 8 in 2020, 4 in 2019, 3 in 2018, 13 in 16.
• Positives:
  • While they finished 17th, Collingwood were actually ranked 14th for percentage and they had the 11th best defensive record.
  • Have an opportunity to start a new chapter under new coach Craig McRae.
• Negatives:
  • Finished last season on a 2-7 run.
  • Had the fewest inside 50s of any team in 2021
  • Have endured a turbulent time both on and off the field in recent times.
  • Scott Pendlebury, Steele Sidebottom and Jeremy Howe are all past their prime.

 

14. West Coast Eagles

• Surveyed pundit table predictions:
  • Table range: 10-18
  • Variance rank: 5
  • Tipped for minor premiers: 0%
  • Tipped for top four: 0%
  • Tipped for top eight: 0%
  • Tipped for wooden spoon: 7%
• Sportsbet futures odds:
  • Minor Premiers: 67.00
  • Make top 4: 15.00
  • Miss top 4: 1.04
  • Make top 8: 4.00
  • Miss Top 8: 1.22
  • Fewest wins: 9.50
• Last season:
  • Table position: 9th
  • Percentage: 93.2% (rank: 10th)
  • Points for: 1752 (rank: 9th)
  • Points against: 1880 (rank: 14th)
• Prior season table results: 5 in 2020, 5 in 2019, 2 in 2018, 8 in 6.
• Positives:
  • Willie Rioli returns this season.
• Negatives:
  • Ended last season on a 2-7 run and fell out of finals contention by finishing on a four-game losing streak.
  • Start the season with numerous injuries. As many as eight players won’t be ready for Round 1.
  • Had off-field distractions with Jack Darling’s covid vaccine hesitancy forcing him to spend time away from the club.
  • Were thrashed 141-44 by Fremantle in pre-season.
  • Have had a covid outbreak on the eve of the season, with Tim Kelly ruled out for Round 1 while Liam Ryan is in doubt.

 

15. Gold Coast Suns

• Surveyed pundit table predictions:
  • Table range: 10-18
  • Variance rank: 3
  • Tipped for minor premiers: 0%
  • Tipped for top four: 0%
  • Tipped for top eight: 0%
  • Tipped for wooden spoon: 14%
• Sportsbet futures odds:
  • Minor Premiers: 251.00
  • Make top 4: 26.00
  • Miss top 4: 1.02
  • Make top 8: 8.00
  • Miss Top 8: 1.08
  • Fewest wins: 4.00
• Last season:
  • Table position: 16th
  • Percentage: 76.8% (rank: 17th)
  • Points for: 1430 (rank: 18th)
  • Points against: 1863 (rank: 13th)
• Prior season table results: 14 in 2020, 18 in 2019, 17 in 2018, 17 in 2.
• Positives:
  • No burden of expectation.
  • Co-captain Jarrod Witts is back from an ACL tear.
  • Have a lot of young talent in the whose peak is ahead oft hem.
  • The number of registered members has been consistently rising and at an increasing rate.
• Negatives:
  • Ben King is out for the season with an ACL injury.
  • Have been a model of consistency in a bad way, by finishing 17th, 17th, 18th, 14th and 16th in the last five seasons. Gold Coast have never finished higher than 12th since joining the competition in 2011.
  • Finished last season with just one win in their last six games.
  • Had the worst offensive record last year.
  • There are persistent rumours about coach Stuart Dew’s future with the club.

 

16. Adelaide Crows

• Surveyed pundit table predictions:
  • Table range: 12-18
  • Variance rank: 14
  • Tipped for minor premiers: 0%
  • Tipped for top four: 0%
  • Tipped for top eight: 0%
  • Tipped for wooden spoon: 11%
• Sportsbet futures odds:
  • Minor Premiers: 101.00
  • Make top 4: 18.00
  • Miss top 4: 1.02
  • Make top 8: 6.00
  • Miss Top 8: 1.12
  • Fewest wins: 6.00
• Last season:
  • Table position: 15th
  • Percentage: 82.0% (rank: 16th)
  • Points for: 1616 (rank: 14th)
  • Points against: 1971 (rank: 16th)
• Prior season table results: 18 in 2020, 11 in 2019, 12 in 2018, 1 in 2017.
• Positives:
  • Have a pretty young squad so their peak should be ahead of them.
  • Recruited Jordan Dawson from the Swans.
• Negatives:
  • Finished last season on a 2-7 run.
  • Were thrashed 137-49 by Brisbane in pre-season.
  • Taylor Walker is suspended for the first three weeks.

 

17. Hawthorn

• Surveyed pundit table predictions:
  • Table range: 12-18
  • Variance rank: 10
  • Tipped for minor premiers: 0%
  • Tipped for top four: 0%
  • Tipped for top eight: 0%
  • Tipped for wooden spoon: 36%
• Sportsbet futures odds:
  • Minor Premiers: 81.00
  • Make top 4: 18.00
  • Miss top 4: 1.02
  • Make top 8: 6.00
  • Miss Top 8: 1.12
  • Fewest wins: 7.00
• Last season:
  • Table position: 14th
  • Percentage: 85.2% (rank: 15th)
  • Points for: 1629 (rank: 13th)
  • Points against: 1912 (rank: 15th)
• Prior season table results: 15 in 2020, 9 in 2019, 4 in 2018, 12 in 4.
• Positives:
  • Improved as last season wore on. Started with a 2-9 run then went 5-2-4 in the second half of the season, finishing on a 3-1-0 run.
  • James Sicily and Jack Gunston are back from injury.
  • Start a new chapter under new head coach Sam Mitchell.
• Negatives:
  • Jarman Impey, Lachie Bramble and Will Day are expected to miss the start of the season due to injury.

 

18. North Melbourne

• Surveyed pundit table predictions:
  • Table range: 13-18
  • Variance rank: 17
  • Tipped for minor premiers: 0%
  • Tipped for top four: 0%
  • Tipped for top eight: 0%
  • Tipped for wooden spoon: 32%
• Sportsbet futures odds:
  • Minor Premiers: 251.00
  • Make top 4: 26.00
  • Miss top 4: 1.02
  • Make top 8: 8.00
  • Miss Top 8: 1.08
  • Fewest wins: 4.00
• Last season:
  • Table position: 18th
  • Percentage: 70.3% (rank: 18th)
  • Points for: 1458 (rank: 17th)
  • Points against: 2075 (rank: 18th)
• Prior season table results: 17 in 2020, 12 in 2019, 9 in 2018, 15 in 9.
• Positives:
  • Recruited promising number one draft pick Jason Horne-Francis in the off-season.
  • Recruited Callum Coleman-Jones from Richmond.
• Negatives:
  • Head coach David Noble had a poor first season in charge last year.
  • Finished last season on a four-game losing streak.
  • Had both the worst percentage and the worst defensive record in the league last season.
  • Have finished worse on the table than the year before in the last three seasons.
  • Were thrashed 132-44 by Melbourne in pre-season.

 

Futures Betting

Keep in mind that the Melbourne vs. Western Bulldogs fixture on Wednesday night will have a big impact on the futures odds. Markets tend to be hyper-sensitive to week 1 results.

Melbourne look incredibly well placed to defend their title but it’s hard to predict the psychological impact of defending a title rather than being the hunter. It’s also incredibly difficult to predict the upcoming injury tolls for each team. Injuries will most certainly play a role in determining the season outcome. When predicting injuries, one approach is be more pessimistic for older squads like Geelong and Richmond. Also, teams with weaker squad depth are more susceptible to from drop-offs in the event of injuries to key players. On paper Melbourne and Brisbane have the strongest squads, so they should be better placed than most to having players sidelined.

Another variable this year is covid. We can’t guarantee there won’t be further lock downs and travel disruptions, especially in light of the Omicron’s BA.2 sub-variant, which is reported to be 25 to 30 per cent more transmissible than the original Omicron variant. Any travel disruptions would likely benefit the Melbourne teams given the likelihood of WA and Queensland shutting their borders, thus forcing a Melbourne hub.

Minor Premiership

The two selections worth considering are Melbourne at 4.00 (bet365) and Brisbane at 6.50 (bet365). Of the pundits surveyed, 60% predicted Melbourne for the Minor Premiership while 27% predicted Brisbane.

Top Four

Melbourne at 1.62 (Sportsbet) and Brisbane at 1.83 (Sportsbet) are the two strongest picks. Melbourne had the best defensive record last season while Brisbane had the best percentage. Both teams boast enviable squads for whom a few injuries isn’t a disaster.

On the flip side, there’s value in backing Sydney to miss out on the top 4 at 1.36 (Sportsbet). Only 10% of the surveyed pundits predict they’ll crack the top 4.

Top Eight

Carlton are considered to be a 55% chance of making the top 8, so there’s value in backing them at 2.90 (bet365).

On the flip side, there’s value in backing St Kilda to miss out on the top 8 at 1.48 (bet365). Only 3% of the surveyed pundits predict they’ll make the finals.

Brownlow Medal

Marcus Bontempelli is the most popular pick at 7.00 (Sportsbet), followed by Christian Petracca at 8.00 (Sportsbet) and Clayton Oliver at 10.00 (Sportsbet).

Coleman Medal

Jeremy Cameron is the most popular pick at 7.00 (bet365), followed by Harry McKay at 3.75 (Sportsbet) and Aaron Naughton at 12.00 (bet365). Naughton is an enticing pick given that his teammate Josh Bruce will be out for at least half the season. This should increase Naughton’s goal scoring opportunities.

Rising Star

Nick Daicos is by far and away the pundits’ most popular pick, which explains the short 2.85 odds (bet365). Other players not without hope are Josh Ward at 10.00 (bet365) and Jason Horne-Francis at 5.00 (bet365).