Prediction 2025 Time Capsule

[dogwatch]

For all our opinionating, fulminating and deep-dive analysis we proved once again in 2024 that we are only so-so in predicting what's actually going to happen during the season.

But wait! Here's your chance to establish or restore your reputation as one of footy's finest analysts. Just copy the table and post your predictions here. Or simply reply to the OP and use this table. You can edit your entry as many times as you like before the thread gets locked and the season gets under way.

This thread will be locked on Thursday 6th March Friday 7th March just before the Sydney-Hawthorn game in the (ludicrous) Rd 0 starts the season. And it will be opened up in about 12 months to see if anybody got it right in season 2025.

AFL PREDICTIONS	YOUR PREDICTION ​
Premiers:
Runners Up:
Wooden Spoon:
Top 8 - the bookies (Sportsbet, TAB) have the top 8 as Brisbane, Hawthorn, Geelong, Carlton, Sydney, GWS, Collingwood, Fremantle. Which teams out of these won't play finals?
Which other teams will play finals?
Brownlow winner:
Coleman Medal winner:
Rising Star winner:
Biggest AFL story of the year (a point for the funniest, most creative as judged by peers, doesn't have to come true!):
WESTERN BULLDOGS PREDICTIONS	--------------------------------------------------------
How many wins in the H&A rounds?
Ladder position after H&A rounds?
How far will we go in the finals? Week 1, 2, 3, 4 (if week 4: will we be runners up or premiers?) Or no finals at all?
Charles Sutton Medal top 3 (in order):
Leading WB goalkicker:
How many goals will he kick? (including finals)
Which WB players will be named in the final AA team?
Best First Year Player: (I think the eligible players will be Busslinger, Hynes, Croft, LKennedy, Davidson, Dolan, Jaques, Brew and L Smith)
Most Improved:
Most Courageous:
Best Team Player:
Which WB players will win Rising Star nominations? (I think the eligible players are Busslinger, Hynes, Croft, LKennedy, Dolan, Jaques, and L Smith.)
Biggest win (opponent and margin):
Biggest loss (opponent and margin):
Final membership tally (in 2024 it was 62,328):
Which previously uncapped player (at any AFL club) will play the most games for the WB in 2025? (NB: M Kennedy is not eligible)
Which players will be gone by the time of final list lodgement at the end of the year? i.e. Retired, traded, delisted, etc. Covers all categories, e.g. main list, Cat A, Cat B.

 

[dogwatch]

FYI, these were odds from one gambling company for the flag. While they show Fremantle and the WB as equal, most companies have Fremantle a touch shorter than us in the odds for the flag or the finals.

1. Brisbane $7.50
2. Hawthorn $8.50
3. Carlton $9.50
4. Collingwood $10
5. Geelong $10
6. GWS $10
7. Sydney $10
8. Fremantle$13
9. Bulldogs $13
10. Port Adelaide $18
11. Melbourne $26
12. Adelaide $34
13. Gold Coast $41
14. St Kilda $51
15. Essendon $67
16. North Melbourne $126
17. West Coast $126
18. Richmond $150

And for a giggle, these were the results of a SEN poll of fans on who will make the finals (surprisingly close to the bookie rankings):

1 - Brisbane (97.5%)
2 - Carlton (83.6%)
3 - Sydney (81.5%)
4 - GWS Giants (78.9%)
5 - Geelong (72.4%)
6 - Hawthorn (72.1%)
7 - Collingwood (65.8%)
8 - Fremantle (60.3%)
9 - Port Adelaide (54.4%)
10 - Western Bulldogs (46.4%)
11 - Gold Coast (28.8%)
12 - Adelaide (17.1%)
13 - Melbourne (14.9%)
14 - St Kilda (7.5%) - one more vote than Essendon
15 - Essendon (7.5%)
16 - North Melbourne (1.6%)
17 - Richmond (1.2%)
18 - West Coast (0.9%)

 

[Foxman98]

AFL PREDICTIONS	YOUR PREDICTION
Premiers:	Western Bulldogs
Runners Up:	Collingwood
Wooden Spoon:	Richmond
Top 8 - the bookies (Sportsbet, TAB) have the top 8 as Brisbane, Hawthorn, Geelong, Carlton, Sydney, GWS, Collingwood, Fremantle. Which teams out of these won't play finals?	Carlton Geelong Hawthorn
Which other teams will play finals?	Western Bulldogs Port Adelaide Melbourne
Brownlow winner:	Marcus Bontempelli
Coleman Medal winner:	Sam Darcy
Rising Star winner:	Josh Smilie
Biggest AFL story of the year (a point for the funniest, most creative as judged by peers, doesn't have to come true!):	GWS Players suspended for harmless P diddy skit (More education required)
WESTERN BULLDOGS PREDICTIONS	--------------------------------------------------------
How many wins in the H&A rounds?	16
Ladder position after H&A rounds?	2
How far will we go in the finals? Week 1, 2, 3, 4 (if week 4: will we be runners up or premiers?) Or no finals at all?	Premiers
Charles Sutton Medal top 3 (in order):	Bont Treloar Darcy
Leading WB goalkicker:	Darcy
How many goals will he kick? (including finals)	58
Which WB players will be named in the final AA team?	Bont Darcy Lobb
Best First Year Player: (I think the eligible players will be Busslinger, Hynes, Croft, LKennedy, Davidson, Dolan, Jaques, Brew and L Smith)	Busslinger
Most Improved:	Gallagher
Most Courageous:	Kennedy
Best Team Player:	Richards
Which WB players will win Rising Star nominations? (I think the eligible players are Busslinger, Hynes, Croft, LKennedy, Dolan, Jaques, and L Smith.)	Busslinger Kennedy Dolan
Biggest win (opponent and margin):	123 points North Melbourne
Biggest loss (opponent and margin):	28 points Geelong
Final membership tally (in 2024 it was 62,328):	65784
Which previously uncapped player (at any AFL club) will play the most games for the WB in 2025? (NB: M Kennedy is not eligible)	Sam Davidson
Which players will be gone by the time of final list lodgement at the end of the year? i.e. Retired, traded, delisted, etc. Covers all categories, e.g. main list, Cat A, Cat B.	Cleary/Baker/Scott/Duryea/JJ

 

[VitalDread]

AFL PREDICTIONS	YOUR PREDICTION
Premiers:	Lions
Runners Up:	Melbourne
Wooden Spoon:	Richmond
Top 8 - the bookies (Sportsbet, TAB) have the top 8 as Brisbane, Hawthorn, Geelong, Carlton, Sydney, GWS, Collingwood, Fremantle. Which teams out of these won't play finals?	GWS
Which other teams will play finals?	Crows
Brownlow winner:	Nick Daicos
Coleman Medal winner:	Jeremy Cameron
Rising Star winner:	smillie
Biggest AFL story of the year (a point for the funniest, most creative as judged by peers, doesn't have to come true!):	Pre-Free Agent request a trade mid season
WESTERN BULLDOGS PREDICTIONS	--------------------------------------------------------
How many wins in the H&A rounds?	14
Ladder position after H&A rounds?	4th
How far will we go in the finals? Week 1, 2, 3, 4 (if week 4: will we be runners up or premiers?) Or no finals at all?	3
Charles Sutton Medal top 3 (in order):	Bont, Darcy, Richards
Leading WB goalkicker:	Darcy
How many goals will he kick? (including finals)	50
Which WB players will be named in the final AA team?	Darcy, Richards, Bont
Best First Year Player: (I think the eligible players will be Busslinger, Hynes, Croft, LKennedy, Davidson, Dolan, Jaques, Brew and L Smith)	Kennedy
Most Improved:	Richards
Most Courageous:	Liam Jones
Best Team Player:	Aaron Naughton
Which WB players will win Rising Star nominations? (I think the eligible players are Busslinger, Hynes, Croft, LKennedy, Dolan, Jaques, and L Smith.)	Kennedy
Biggest win (opponent and margin):	Richmond-75
Biggest loss (opponent and margin):	Melborne-50
Final membership tally (in 2024 it was 62,328):	67245
Which previously uncapped player (at any AFL club) will play the most games for the WB in 2025? (NB: M Kennedy is not eligible)	Buss
Which players will be gone by the time of final list lodgement at the end of the year? i.e. Retired, traded, delisted, etc. Covers all categories, e.g. main list, Cat A, Cat B.	JJ, Doc, Clearly, Baker, Scott, Poulter

 

[iambrilliant]

AFL PREDICTIONS	YOUR PREDICTION
Premiers:	Gws
Runners Up:	Brisbane
Wooden Spoon:	Richmond
Top 8 - the bookies (Sportsbet, TAB) have the top 8 as Brisbane, Hawthorn, Geelong, Carlton, Sydney, GWS, Collingwood, Fremantle. Which teams out of these won't play finals?	Hawthorn
Which other teams will play finals?	Port
Brownlow winner:	Daicos
Coleman Medal winner:	Curnow
Rising Star winner:	Jagga/caddy
Biggest AFL story of the year (a point for the funniest, most creative as judged by peers, doesn't have to come true!):	Stringer makes all Australian team
WESTERN BULLDOGS PREDICTIONS
How many wins in the H&A rounds?	12
Ladder position after H&A rounds?	10th-8th
How far will we go in the finals? Week 1, 2, 3, 4 (if week 4: will we be runners up or premiers?) Or no finals at all?	Finish between 6-10 maybe win 1 final
Charles Sutton Medal top 3 (in order):	Bont Richard’s lobb
Leading WB goalkicker:	Jamarra
How many goals will he kick? (including finals)	53
Which WB players will be named in the final AA team?	Bont Richard’s Jamarra
Best First Year Player: (I think the eligible players will be Busslinger, Hynes, Croft, LKennedy, Davidson, Dolan, Jaques, Brew and L Smith)	davidson
Most Improved:	poulter
Most Courageous:	Libba
Best Team Player:	Naughton
Which WB players will win Rising Star nominations? (I think the eligible players are Busslinger, Hynes, Croft, LKennedy, Dolan, Jaques, and L Smith.)	Busslinger Kennedy
Biggest win (opponent and margin):	88 points against Richmond
Biggest loss (opponent and margin):	46 port adl
Final membership tally (in 2024 it was 62,328):	65,123
Which previously uncapped player (at any AFL club) will play the most games for the WB in 2025? (NB: M Kennedy is not eligible)	Dom brew
Which players will be gone by the time of final list lodgement at the end of the year? i.e. Retired, traded, delisted, etc. Covers all categories, e.g. main list, Cat A, Cat B.	Cleary , JJ, Scott, Baker

 

[Dogs_r_barking]

AFL PREDICTIONS	YOUR PREDICTION ​
Premiers:	Brisbane
Runners Up:	GWS
GWSWooden Spoon:	Richmond
Top 8 - the bookies (Sportsbet, TAB) have the top 8 as Brisbane, Hawthorn, Geelong, Carlton, Sydney, GWS, Collingwood, Fremantle. Which teams out of these won't play finals?	Geelong, Fremantle
Which other teams will play finals?	Bulldogs, Adelaide
Brownlow winner:	Daicos
Coleman Medal winner:	Jeremy Cameron
Rising Star winner:	Levi Ashcroft
Biggest AFL story of the year (a point for the funniest, most creative as judged by peers, doesn't have to come true!):	Channel 7 bombs out in the ratings whenever Cornes is on, so rumours and innuendo start about his sacking or contract extension.
WESTERN BULLDOGS PREDICTIONS
How many wins in the H&A rounds?	13
Ladder position after H&A rounds?	5
How far will we go in the finals? Week 1, 2, 3, 4 (if week 4: will we be runners up or premiers?) Or no finals at all?	week 2
Charles Sutton Medal top 3 (in order):	Libba, Richards, Treloar
Leading WB goalkicker:	Darcy
How many goals will he kick? (including finals)	48
Which WB players will be named in the final AA team?	Richards
Best First Year Player: (I think the eligible players will be Busslinger, Hynes, Croft, LKennedy, Davidson, Dolan, Jaques, Brew and L Smith)	Davidson
Most Improved:	Darcy
Most Courageous:	Libba
Best Team Player:	Richards
Which WB players will win Rising Star nominations? (I think the eligible players are Busslinger, Hynes, Croft, LKennedy, Dolan, Jaques, and L Smith.)	Davidson, Dolan, Hynes
Biggest win (opponent and margin):	Richmond 101
Biggest loss (opponent and margin):	Brisbane 45
Final membership tally (in 2024 it was 62,328):	70,001
Which previously uncapped player (at any AFL club) will play the most games for the WB in 2025? (NB: M Kennedy is not eligible)	LKennedy
Which players will be gone by the time of final list lodgement at the end of the year? i.e. Retired, traded, delisted, etc. Covers all categories, e.g. main list, Cat A, Cat B.	JJ, Gardner, Marra, Duryea,

 

[Sentinel]

AFL PREDICTIONS	YOUR PREDICTION
Premiers:	Lions
Runners Up:	Melbourne
Wooden Spoon:	Richmond
Top 8 - the bookies (Sportsbet, TAB) have the top 8 as Brisbane, Hawthorn, Geelong, Carlton, Sydney, GWS, Collingwood, Fremantle. Which teams out of these won't play finals?	GWS
Which other teams will play finals?	Crows
Brownlow winner:	Nick Daicos
Coleman Medal winner:	Jeremy Cameron
Rising Star winner:	smillie
Biggest AFL story of the year (a point for the funniest, most creative as judged by peers, doesn't have to come true!):	Pre-Free Agent request a trade mid season
WESTERN BULLDOGS PREDICTIONS	--------------------------------------------------------
How many wins in the H&A rounds?	14
Ladder position after H&A rounds?	4th
How far will we go in the finals? Week 1, 2, 3, 4 (if week 4: will we be runners up or premiers?) Or no finals at all?	3
Charles Sutton Medal top 3 (in order):	Bont, Darcy, Richards
Leading WB goalkicker:	Darcy
How many goals will he kick? (including finals)	50
Which WB players will be named in the final AA team?	Darcy, Richards, Bont
Best First Year Player: (I think the eligible players will be Busslinger, Hynes, Croft, LKennedy, Davidson, Dolan, Jaques, Brew and L Smith)	Kennedy
Most Improved:	Richards
Most Courageous:	Liam Jones
Best Team Player:	Aaron Naughton
Which WB players will win Rising Star nominations? (I think the eligible players are Busslinger, Hynes, Croft, LKennedy, Dolan, Jaques, and L Smith.)	Kennedy
Biggest win (opponent and margin):	Richmond-75
Biggest loss (opponent and margin):	Melborne-50
Final membership tally (in 2024 it was 62,328):	67245
Which previously uncapped player (at any AFL club) will play the most games for the WB in 2025? (NB: M Kennedy is not eligible)	Buss
Which players will be gone by the time of final list lodgement at the end of the year? i.e. Retired, traded, delisted, etc. Covers all categories, e.g. main list, Cat A, Cat B.	JJ, Doc, Clearly, Baker, Scott, Poulter

Might want to check that finals teams prediction...

 

[dogwatch]

Which previously uncapped player (at any AFL club) will play the most games for the WB in 2025? (NB: M Kennedy is not eligible)

Coffield

Dogs_r_barking you might want to edit this one. Coffield has played senior footy before (for us and Saints) so he's not eligible.

Maybe I didn't phrase it clearly? (I could have said "Which AFL debutant will play the most games ...")

 

[WAbulldog]

AFL PREDICTIONS	YOUR PREDICTION
Premiers:	Brisbane
Runners Up:	Collingwood
Wooden Spoon:	Richmond
Top 8 - the bookies (Sportsbet, TAB) have the top 8 as Brisbane, Hawthorn, Geelong, Carlton, Sydney, GWS, Collingwood, Fremantle.Which teams out of these won't play finals?	GWS, Sydney
Which other teams will play finals?	Melbourne, Port
Brownlow winner:	Nick Daicos
Coleman Medal winner:	Jesse Hogan
Rising Star winner:	Sid Draper
Biggest AFL story of the year (a point for the funniest, most creative as judged by peers, doesn't have to come true!):	Ken Hinkley re-signs for another 10 years and Kane Cornes is rejoiced
WESTERN BULLDOGS PREDICTIONS	--------------------------------------------------------
How many wins in the H&A rounds?	15
Ladder position after H&A rounds?	11th
How far will we go in the finals? Week 1, 2, 3, 4 (if week 4: will we be runners up or premiers?) Or no finals at all?	N/A
Charles Sutton Medal top 3 (in order):	1st Richards 2nd Darcy 3rd Treloar
Leading WB goalkicker:	Sam Darcy
How many goals will he kick? (including finals)	53
Which WB players will be named in the final AA team?	Richards, Treloar
Best First Year Player: (I think the eligible players will be Busslinger, Hynes, Croft, LKennedy, Davidson, Dolan, Jaques, Brew and L Smith)	Sam Davidson
Most Improved:	Ryley Sanders
Most Courageous:	Aaron Naughton
Best Team Player:	Adam Treloar
Which WB players will win Rising Star nominations? (I think the eligible players are Busslinger, Hynes, Croft, LKennedy, Dolan, Jaques, and L Smith.)	Josh Dolan
Biggest win (opponent and margin):	Richmond 107 points
Biggest loss (opponent and margin):	Brisbane @ Gabba 53 points
Final membership tally (in 2024 it was 62,328):	65,273
Which previously uncapped player (at any AFL club) will play the most games for the WB in 2025? (NB: M Kennedy is not eligible)	Sam Davidson
Which players will be gone by the time of final list lodgement at the end of the year? i.e. Retired, traded, delisted, etc. Covers all categories, e.g. main list, Cat A, Cat B.	Taylor Duryea (retired) Tom Liberatore (retired) Jason Johannisen (retired) Oskar Baker (delisted) Luke Cleary (delisted) Lachlan McNeil (delisted) Arthur Jones (delisted)

 

[bobs head soup]

AFL PREDICTIONS	YOUR PREDICTION ​
Premiers:	Bulldogs
Runners Up:	GWS
Wooden Spoon:	Richmond
Top 8 - the bookies (Sportsbet, TAB) have the top 8 as Brisbane, Hawthorn, Geelong, Carlton, Sydney, GWS, Collingwood, Fremantle. Which teams out of these won't play finals?	Geelong, Collingwood
Which other teams will play finals?	Bulldogs, Port
Brownlow winner:	Jason Horne Francis
Coleman Medal winner:	Nick Larkey
Rising Star winner:	Daniel Curtin
Biggest AFL story of the year (a point for the funniest, most creative as judged by peers, doesn't have to come true!):	Jake Stringer has contract torn up after being exposed as the mystery defecator in Toby Greene's locker.
WESTERN BULLDOGS PREDICTIONS	--------------------------------------------------------
How many wins in the H&A rounds?	16
Ladder position after H&A rounds?	4
How far will we go in the finals? Week 1, 2, 3, 4 (if week 4: will we be runners up or premiers?) Or no finals at all?	Premiers
Charles Sutton Medal top 3 (in order):	Darcy Bont Lobb
Leading WB goalkicker:	Darcy
How many goals will he kick? (including finals)	63
Which WB players will be named in the final AA team?	Darcy Bont Lobb Weightman
Best First Year Player: (I think the eligible players will be Busslinger, Hynes, Croft, LKennedy, Davidson, Dolan, Jaques, Brew and L Smith)	Davidson
Most Improved:	Croft
Most Courageous:	Libba
Best Team Player:	M.Kennedy
Which WB players will win Rising Star nominations? (I think the eligible players are Busslinger, Hynes, Croft, LKennedy, Dolan, Jaques, and L Smith.)	L.Kennedy
Biggest win (opponent and margin):	Richmond 99
Biggest loss (opponent and margin):	Suns 33
Final membership tally (in 2024 it was 62,328):	66,666
Which previously uncapped player (at any AFL club) will play the most games for the WB in 2025? (NB: M Kennedy is not eligible)	Davidson
Which players will be gone by the time of final list lodgement at the end of the year? i.e. Retired, traded, delisted, etc. Covers all categories, e.g. main list, Cat A, Cat B.	Retired - Duryea, JJ Delisted - Cleary, Scott, Baker

 

[BulldogMuscle]

AFL PREDICTIONS	YOUR PREDICTION:
Premiers:	Western Bulldogs
Runners Up:	Carlton
Wooden Spoon:	WCE
Top 8 - the bookies (Sportsbet, TAB) have the top 8 as Brisbane, Hawthorn, Geelong, Carlton, Sydney, GWS, Collingwood, Fremantle. Which teams out of these won't play finals?	Brisbane WB Carlton Hawthorn GWS Fremantle Collingwood GCS
Which other teams will play finals?	GCS
Brownlow winner:	Bont
Coleman Medal winner:	JUH
Rising Star winner:	Croft
Biggest AFL story of the year (a point for the funniest, most creative as judged by peers, doesn't have to come true!):	Bont wins everything
WESTERN BULLDOGS PREDICTIONS	--------------------------------------------------------
How many wins in the H&A rounds?	17
Ladder position after H&A rounds?	2nd
How far will we go in the finals? Week 1, 2, 3, 4 (if week 4: will we be runners up or premiers?) Or no finals at all?	GF
Charles Sutton Medal top 3 (in order):	Bont, Treloar, Libba
Leading WB goalkicker:	JUH
How many goals will he kick? (including finals)	76
Which WB players will be named in the final AA team?	Bont, Libba, Treloar
Best First Year Player: (I think the eligible players will be Busslinger, Hynes, Croft, LKennedy, Davidson, Dolan, Jaques, Brew and L Smith)	Croft
Most Improved:	VDM
Most Courageous:	Libba
Best Team Player:	L. Jones
Which WB players will win Rising Star nominations? (I think the eligible players are Busslinger, Hynes, Croft, LKennedy, Dolan, Jaques, and L Smith.)	Buss, Croft, Dolan
Biggest win (opponent and margin):	150 points - WCE
Biggest loss (opponent and margin):	40 Points - Brisbane
Final membership tally (in 2024 it was 62,328):	58000
Which previously uncapped player (at any AFL club) will play the most games for the WB in 2025? (NB: M Kennedy is not eligible)	D. Brew
Which players will be gone by the time of final list lodgement at the end of the year? i.e. Retired, traded, delisted, etc. Covers all categories, e.g. main list, Cat A, Cat B.	Doc to become a coach.

 

[stmookeyj]

AFL PREDICTIONS	YOUR PREDICTION ​
Premiers:	Carlton
Runners Up:	Brisbane
Wooden Spoon:	North Melbourne
Top 8 - the bookies (Sportsbet, TAB) have the top 8 as Brisbane, Hawthorn, Geelong, Carlton, Sydney, GWS, Collingwood, Fremantle. Which teams out of these won't play finals?	Geelong, Collingwood, Fremantle
Which other teams will play finals?	Bulldogs, Gold Coast, St.Kilda
Brownlow winner:	Tom Green
Coleman Medal winner:	Ben King
Rising Star winner:	Levi Ashcroft
Biggest AFL story of the year (a point for the funniest, most creative as judged by peers, doesn't have to come true!):	Patrick Dangerfield quits Geelong to run for a Federal House of Representatives seat at the 2025 Election for the Liberal Party (either Corio or Corangamite), only to return in June after being beaten by the Labor candidate
WESTERN BULLDOGS PREDICTIONS	--------------------------------------------------------
How many wins in the H&A rounds?	13
Ladder position after H&A rounds?	8th
How far will we go in the finals? Week 1, 2, 3, 4 (if week 4: will we be runners up or premiers?) Or no finals at all?	Week 1
Charles Sutton Medal top 3 (in order):	Bont, Jamarra, Dale
Leading WB goalkicker:	Jamarra
How many goals will he kick? (including finals)	51
Which WB players will be named in the final AA team?	Bont, Dale
Best First Year Player: (I think the eligible players will be Busslinger, Hynes, Croft, LKennedy, Davidson, Dolan, Jaques, Brew and L Smith)	Hynes
Most Improved:	Gallagher
Most Courageous:	Liberatore
Best Team Player:	Duryea
Which WB players will win Rising Star nominations? (I think the eligible players are Busslinger, Hynes, Croft, LKennedy, Dolan, Jaques, and L Smith.)	NONE
Biggest win (opponent and margin):	Round 17 vs North Melbourne, 73 pts
Biggest loss (opponent and margin):	Gather Round vs Brisbane, 63 pts
Final membership tally (in 2024 it was 62,328):	63827
Which previously uncapped player (at any AFL club) will play the most games for the WB in 2025? (NB: M Kennedy is not eligible)	Hynes
Which players will be gone by the time of final list lodgement at the end of the year? i.e. Retired, traded, delisted, etc. Covers all categories, e.g. main list, Cat A, Cat B.	RETIRE: Duryea, Johannisen, L.Jones TRADE: Garcia, O'Donnell DELIST: Baker, Coffield, Scott, McNeil, Cleary

 

[grassman75]

AFL PREDICTIONS	YOUR PREDICTION
Premiers:	Brisbane
Runners Up:	Bulldogs
Wooden Spoon:	Richmond
Top 8 - the bookies (Sportsbet, TAB) have the top 8 as Brisbane, Hawthorn, Geelong, Carlton, Sydney, GWS, Collingwood, Fremantle. Which teams out of these won't play finals?	Sydney, Hawthorn
Which other teams will play finals?	Bulldogs, Saints
Brownlow winner:	Anyone but Cripps - I’ll go with Butters before he comes across to the Dogs
Coleman Medal winner:	Sam Darcy (huge call or so I thought)
Rising Star winner:	Josh Smillie (another one I thought wasn’t popular)
Biggest AFL story of the year (a point for the funniest, most creative as judged by peers, doesn't have to come true!):	Waiting until closer to the season for this one
WESTERN BULLDOGS PREDICTIONS	--------------------------------------------------------
How many wins in the H&A rounds?	14.5
Ladder position after H&A rounds?	4th
How far will we go in the finals? Week 1, 2, 3, 4 (if week 4: will we be runners up or premiers?) Or no finals at all?	Runners up
Charles Sutton Medal top 3 (in order):	Bont, Richard’s, M Kennedy
Leading WB goalkicker:	Darcy
How many goals will he kick? (including finals)	72
Which WB players will be named in the final AA team?	Bont, Richard’s
Best First Year Player: (I think the eligible players will be Busslinger, Hynes, Croft, LKennedy, Davidson, Dolan, Jaques, Brew and L Smith)	Davidson
Most Improved:	Croft
Most Courageous:	Richard’s
Best Team Player:	M.Kennedy
Which WB players will win Rising Star nominations? (I think the eligible players are Busslinger, Hynes, Croft, LKennedy, Dolan, Jaques, and L Smith.)	Buss, Croft
Biggest win (opponent and margin):	Richmond 89pts
Biggest loss (opponent and margin):	Hawks 28pts
Final membership tally (in 2024 it was 62,328):	Official 63,666 (actual 45668)
Which previously uncapped player (at any AFL club) will play the most games for the WB in 2025? (NB: M Kennedy is not eligible)	Davidson
Which players will be gone by the time of final list lodgement at the end of the year? i.e. Retired, traded, delisted, etc. Covers all categories, e.g. main list, Cat A, Cat B.	Dureya, Scott, Cleary, Baker, JJ, LIBBA

 

[Walsh Bay]

AFL PREDICTIONS	YOUR PREDICTION
Premiers:	Geelong
Runners Up:	Carlton
Wooden Spoon:	Richmond
Top 8 - the bookies have the top 8 as Brisbane, Hawthorn, Geelong, Carlton, Sydney, GWS, Collingwood, Fremantle. Which teams out of these won't play finals?	Sydney, Hawthorn
Which other teams will play finals?	Gold Coast, Port Adelaide
Brownlow winner:	Serong
Coleman Medal winner:	H McKay and Treacy (tie)
Rising Star winner:	Langford
Biggest AFL story of the year (a point for the funniest, most creative as judged by peers, doesn't have to come true!):	HARLEY REID, ROWELL AND BUTTERS ALL NAME CATS AS PREFERRED DESTINATION. 'Just get the deal done' urge journos.
WESTERN BULLDOGS PREDICTIONS	--------------------------------------------------------
How many wins in the H&A rounds?	8
Ladder position after H&A rounds?	15
How far will we go in the finals? Week 1, 2, 3, 4 (if week 4: will we be runners up or premiers?) Or no finals at all?
Charles Sutton Medal top 3 (in order):	Richards, English, Lobb
Leading WB goalkicker:	Darcy
How many goals will he kick? (including finals)	35
Which WB players will be named in the final AA team?	Ed Richards
Best First Year Player: (I think the eligible players will be Busslinger, Hynes, Croft, LKennedy, Davidson, Dolan, Jaques, Brew and L Smith)	Davidson
Most Improved:	Cleary
Most Courageous:	Freijah
Best Team Player:	West
Which WB players will win Rising Star nominations? (I think the eligible players are Busslinger, Hynes, Croft, LKennedy, Dolan, Jaques, and L Smith.)	Jaques
Biggest win (opponent and margin):	Essendon 24 points
Biggest loss (opponent and margin):	Carlton 84 points
Final membership tally (in 2024 it was 62,328):	62,327
Which previously uncapped player (at any AFL club) will play the most games for the WB in 2025? (NB: M Kennedy is not eligible)	Davidson
Which players will be gone by the time of final list lodgement at the end of the year? i.e. Retired, traded, delisted, etc. Covers all categories, e.g. main list, Cat A, Cat B.	L Jones, Liberatore, Williams, Scott, Johannisen, Ugle-Hagen, Duryea, Coffield, Baker

 

[Frewy]

AFL PREDICTIONS	YOUR PREDICTION
Premiers:	GWS
Runners Up:	Brisbane
Wooden Spoon:	Richmond
Top 8 - the bookies (Sportsbet, TAB) have the top 8 as Brisbane, Hawthorn, Geelong, Carlton, Sydney, GWS, Collingwood, Fremantle. Which teams out of these won't play finals?	Collingwood, Carlton
Which other teams will play finals?	Western Bulldogs, Gold Coast
Brownlow winner:	Tom Green
Coleman Medal winner:	Jesse Hogan
Rising Star winner:	Sid Draper
Biggest AFL story of the year (a point for the funniest, most creative as judged by peers, doesn't have to come true!):	Tasmania appoints two Head Coaches.
WESTERN BULLDOGS PREDICTIONS	--------------------------------------------------------
How many wins in the H&A rounds?	15
Ladder position after H&A rounds?	Fourth
How far will we go in the finals? Week 1, 2, 3, 4 (if week 4: will we be runners up or premiers?) Or no finals at all?	Week 3
Charles Sutton Medal top 3 (in order):	Bontempelli, Richards, Lobb
Leading WB goalkicker:	Darcy
How many goals will he kick? (including finals)	61
Which WB players will be named in the final AA team?	Bontempelli, Richards
Best First Year Player: (I think the eligible players will be Busslinger, Hynes, Croft, LKennedy, Davidson, Dolan, Jaques, Brew and L Smith)	Davidson
Most Improved:	Sanders
Most Courageous:	Richards
Best Team Player:	Kennedy
Which WB players will win Rising Star nominations? (I think the eligible players are Busslinger, Hynes, Croft, LKennedy, Dolan, Jaques, and L Smith.)	Hynes, Busslinger
Biggest win (opponent and margin):	Richmond (Marvel) - 89 points
Biggest loss (opponent and margin):	Gold Coast (TIO) - 47 points
Final membership tally (in 2024 it was 62,328):	65,261
Which previously uncapped player (at any AFL club) will play the most games for the WB in 2025? (NB: M Kennedy is not eligible)	Davidson
Which players will be gone by the time of final list lodgement at the end of the year? i.e. Retired, traded, delisted, etc. Covers all categories, e.g. main list, Cat A, Cat B.	-

 

[dogwatch]

OK folks you've had a peek at the pre-season form ... it's now time to finalise your predictions.

The season opens next Thursday and this thread will be locked at the first bounce.

If - like me - you haven't put your predictions in yet then it's time to put your thinking cap on.

If you have put an entry in but want to change it (due to injuries for instance ) then you are allowed to edit your post right up until that first bounce.

The thread will be sealed and buried in a vault, to be opened some time after the 2025 trade period.

 

[Doggies_13]

AFL PREDICTIONS	YOUR PREDICTION
Premiers:	Collingwood
Runners Up:	Sydney
Wooden Spoon:	Richmond
Top 8 - the bookies (Sportsbet, TAB) have the top 8 as Brisbane, Hawthorn, Geelong, Carlton, Sydney, GWS, Collingwood, Fremantle. Which teams out of these won't play finals?	GWS, Fremantle, Geelong
Which other teams will play finals?	Bulldogs, Melbourne, Adelaide
Brownlow winner:	Nick Daicos
Coleman Medal winner:	Harry Mckay
Rising Star winner:	Harvey Langford
Biggest AFL story of the year (a point for the funniest, most creative as judged by peers, doesn't have to come true!):	Bailey smith leads the AFL reform of Drug Policy - Sniffs for all
WESTERN BULLDOGS PREDICTIONS	--------------------------------------------------------
How many wins in the H&A rounds?	14
Ladder position after H&A rounds?	6th
How far will we go in the finals? Week 1, 2, 3, 4 (if week 4: will we be runners up or premiers?) Or no finals at all?	week 2
Charles Sutton Medal top 3 (in order):	Libba, Naughton, Bont
Leading WB goalkicker:	Naughton
How many goals will he kick? (including finals)	53
Which WB players will be named in the final AA team?	Bont, Naughton
Best First Year Player: (I think the eligible players will be Busslinger, Hynes, Croft, LKennedy, Davidson, Dolan, Jaques, Brew and L Smith)	Davidson
Most Improved:	Sanders
Most Courageous:	Libba
Best Team Player:	Duryea
Which WB players will win Rising Star nominations? (I think the eligible players are Busslinger, Hynes, Croft, LKennedy, Dolan, Jaques, and L Smith.)	None
Biggest win (opponent and margin):	Tigers 88
Biggest loss (opponent and margin):	44 Brisbane at the Gabba
Final membership tally (in 2024 it was 62,328):	63, 472
Which previously uncapped player (at any AFL club) will play the most games for the WB in 2025? (NB: M Kennedy is not eligible)	Davidson
Which players will be gone by the time of final list lodgement at the end of the year? i.e. Retired, traded, delisted, etc. Covers all categories, e.g. main list, Cat A, Cat B.	Duryea, JJ - retired Scott, baker, A jones

 

[dogwatch]

AFL PREDICTIONS	YOUR PREDICTION :
Premiers:	Carlton
Runners Up:	Brisbane
Wooden Spoon:	Richmond
Top 8 - the bookies (Sportsbet, TAB) have the top 8 as Brisbane, Hawthorn, Geelong, Carlton, Sydney, GWS, Collingwood, Fremantle. Which teams out of these won't play finals?	Collingwood, Fremantle
Which other teams will play finals?	Port Adelaide, Essendon
Brownlow winner:	N Daicos
Coleman Medal winner:	Curnow
Rising Star winner:	Josh Smillie
Biggest AFL story of the year (a point for the funniest, most creative as judged by peers, doesn't have to come true!):	Shock resignation of Andrew Dillon to take up chairmanship of the ACCC under the incoming Dutton government.
WESTERN BULLDOGS PREDICTIONS	--------------------------------------------------------
How many wins in the H&A rounds?	11
Ladder position after H&A rounds?	10
How far will we go in the finals? Week 1, 2, 3, 4 (if week 4: will we be runners up or premiers?) Or no finals at all?	NA
Charles Sutton Medal top 3 (in order):	Darcy Richards Dale
Leading WB goalkicker:	Darcy
How many goals will he kick? (including finals)	51
Which WB players will be named in the final AA team?	Darcy
Best First Year Player: (I think the eligible players will be Busslinger, Hynes, Croft, LKennedy, Davidson, Dolan, Jaques, Brew and L Smith)	Davidson
Most Improved:	McNeil
Most Courageous:	Naughton
Best Team Player:	Lobb
Which WB players will win Rising Star nominations? (I think the eligible players are Busslinger, Hynes, Croft, LKennedy, Dolan, Jaques, and L Smith.)	Dolan, Croft
Biggest win (opponent and margin):	West Coast 67
Biggest loss (opponent and margin):	Brisbane 53
Final membership tally (in 2024 it was 62,328):	64,516
Which previously uncapped player (at any AFL club) will play the most games for the WB in 2025? (NB: M Kennedy is not eligible)	Davidson
Which players will be gone by the time of final list lodgement at the end of the year? i.e. Retired, traded, delisted, etc. Covers all categories, e.g. main list, Cat A, Cat B.	Ugle-Hagan, Baker, Duryea, L Jones, Scott, Johannisen

 

[dogwatch]

Cyclones permitting we now have an extra day before the start of the season. I've got to admit a sweet sense of something. Is it irony? Schadenfreude? Vindication of the underclass? That the leg-up given to the northern clubs and four selected "big" Vic clubs every year has been undermined by an Act of Dog. Four of those eight are now just going to have to a single mid-season bye like the rest of us plebs.

Anyway, I digress. The point of the post is to remind you that it's time to get your predictions in before the time capsule is sealed on Friday at 7:30.

 

[dogwatch]

Some questions for some of you who have placed your time capsule selections already. It's an opportunity to make some late changes if you feel like it:

iambrilliant - You have us finishing 9th but maybe making the second week of the finals. Obviously only one of these things can be true. Also you have Brew as our best FYP but it doesn't look like he'll even be on the list unless we take him in the mid-season draft.

Frewy - you list Kennedy as winning the team player award. Is that Luke K or Matt K? And you've left the last question blank (players who will drop off the list) - just a reminder in case you want to fill that in.

Doggies_13 - You've said Jones will not be on the list. Which Jones? Arty or Liam?

 

[Bulldog rick]

AFL PREDICTIONS	YOUR PREDICTION ​
Premiers:	Bulldogs
Runners Up:	Brisbane
Wooden Spoon:	Richmond
Top 8 - the bookies (Sportsbet, TAB) have the top 8 as Brisbane, Hawthorn, Geelong, Carlton, Sydney, GWS, Collingwood, Fremantle. Which teams out of these won't play finals?	GWS
Which other teams will play finals?	Bulldogs
Brownlow winner:	Ed Richards
Coleman Medal winner:	Darcy
Rising Star winner:	Croft
Biggest AFL story of the year (a point for the funniest, most creative as judged by peers, doesn't have to come true!):	cyclone hits Melbourne on Grand Final Day and Dillon decides the game must go on.
WESTERN BULLDOGS PREDICTIONS	--------------------------------------------------------
How many wins in the H&A rounds?	17
Ladder position after H&A rounds?	4th
How far will we go in the finals? Week 1, 2, 3, 4 (if week 4: will we be runners up or premiers?) Or no finals at all?	4
Charles Sutton Medal top 3 (in order):	Ed, libba, Freijah
Leading WB goalkicker:	Darcy
How many goals will he kick? (including finals)	72
Which WB players will be named in the final AA team?	Darcy, Bont, Ed
Best First Year Player: (I think the eligible players will be Busslinger, Hynes, Croft, LKennedy, Davidson, Dolan, Jaques, Brew and L Smith)	Davidson
Most Improved:	Freijah
Most Courageous:	Libba
Best Team Player:	Rory Lobb
Which WB players will win Rising Star nominations? (I think the eligible players are Busslinger, Hynes, Croft, LKennedy, Dolan, Jaques, and L Smith.)	Croft, Dolan
Biggest win (opponent and margin):	Richmond 108 pts
Biggest loss (opponent and margin):	Carlton 34
Final membership tally (in 2024 it was 62,328):	67,769
Which previously uncapped player (at any AFL club) will play the most games for the WB in 2025? (NB: M Kennedy is not eligible)	Davidson
Which players will be gone by the time of final list lodgement at the end of the year? i.e. Retired, traded, delisted, etc. Covers all categories, e.g. main list, Cat A, Cat B.	Baker, Scott, L Jones.

 

[dogwatch]

The wait is over. Thank Dog! A new season starts tonight with Sydney and Hawthorn battling it out at the SCG.

It means the Time Capsule will be locked this evening. So today is your last chance to get your predictions in or to make some last minute edits (as some astute tipsters have done this week).



Just copy the table below or simply reply to this post and fill in the table.

AFL PREDICTIONS	YOUR PREDICTION :
Premiers:
Runners Up:
Wooden Spoon:
Top 8 - the bookies (Sportsbet, TAB) have the top 8 as Brisbane, Hawthorn, Geelong, Carlton, Sydney, GWS, Collingwood, Fremantle. Which teams out of these won't play finals?
Which other teams will play finals?
Brownlow winner:
Coleman Medal winner:
Rising Star winner:
Biggest AFL story of the year (a point for the funniest, most creative as judged by peers, doesn't have to come true!):
WESTERN BULLDOGS PREDICTIONS	--------------------------------------------------------
How many wins in the H&A rounds?
Ladder position after H&A rounds?
How far will we go in the finals? Week 1, 2, 3, 4 (if week 4: will we be runners up or premiers?) Or no finals at all?
Charles Sutton Medal top 3 (in order):
Leading WB goalkicker:
How many goals will he kick? (including finals)
Which WB players will be named in the final AA team?
Best First Year Player: (I think the eligible players will be Busslinger, Hynes, Croft, LKennedy, Davidson, Dolan, Jaques, Brew and L Smith)
Most Improved:
Most Courageous:
Best Team Player:
Which WB players will win Rising Star nominations? (I think the eligible players are Busslinger, Hynes, Croft, LKennedy, Dolan, Jaques, and L Smith.)
Biggest win (opponent and margin):
Biggest loss (opponent and margin):
Final membership tally (in 2024 it was 62,328):
Which previously uncapped player (at any AFL club) will play the most games for the WB in 2025? (NB: M Kennedy is not eligible)
Which players will be gone by the time of final list lodgement at the end of the year? i.e. Retired, traded, delisted, etc. Covers all categories, e.g. main list, Cat A, Cat B.

 

[Sentinel]

AFL PREDICTIONS	YOUR PREDICTION :
Premiers:	Collingwood
Runners Up:	GWS
Wooden Spoon:	Richmond
Top 8 - the bookies (Sportsbet, TAB) have the top 8 as Brisbane, Hawthorn, Geelong, Carlton, Sydney, GWS, Collingwood, Fremantle. Which teams out of these won't play finals?	Sydney, Hawthorn
Which other teams will play finals?	Melbourne, Gold Coast
Brownlow winner:	JHF
Coleman Medal winner:	Ben King
Rising Star winner:	Caddy
Biggest AFL story of the year (a point for the funniest, most creative as judged by peers, doesn't have to come true!):	Geelong sanctioned for salary cap 'inconsistencies'
WESTERN BULLDOGS PREDICTIONS	--------------------------------------------------------
How many wins in the H&A rounds?	11
Ladder position after H&A rounds?	12th
How far will we go in the finals? Week 1, 2, 3, 4 (if week 4: will we be runners up or premiers?) Or no finals at all?	no finals
Charles Sutton Medal top 3 (in order):	Richards Treloar Naughton
Leading WB goalkicker:	Darcy
How many goals will he kick? (including finals)	44
Which WB players will be named in the final AA team?	none
Best First Year Player: (I think the eligible players will be Busslinger, Hynes, Croft, LKennedy, Davidson, Dolan, Jaques, Brew and L Smith)	Davidson
Most Improved:	McNeil
Most Courageous:	Libba
Best Team Player:	M. Kennedy
Which WB players will win Rising Star nominations? (I think the eligible players are Busslinger, Hynes, Croft, LKennedy, Dolan, Jaques, and L Smith.)	Croft
Biggest win (opponent and margin):	Richmond, 51
Biggest loss (opponent and margin):	Fremantle, 70
Final membership tally (in 2024 it was 62,328):	63,460
Which previously uncapped player (at any AFL club) will play the most games for the WB in 2025? (NB: M Kennedy is not eligible)	Davidson
Which players will be gone by the time of final list lodgement at the end of the year? i.e. Retired, traded, delisted, etc. Covers all categories, e.g. main list, Cat A, Cat B.	Duryea, JJ, JUH, Coffield, Scott, Cleary, L Jones, Poulter

 

[Sentinel]

Surprised the see the time capsule this year doesn't include a 'Will Bevo be head coach as at 1st November 2025' type question.

 

[dogwatch]

Surprised the see the time capsule this year doesn't include a 'Will Bevo be head coach as at 1st November 2025' type question.

LOL, not going there!