COLLINGWOOD is the team to beat for the 2012 premiership, but there are good times for Essendon on the horizon.

That's the view of the 18 AFL senior coaches, who have taken part in an exclusive survey commissioned by AFL Media and the AFL Coaches Association.

Coaches say the season is too long

When asked which team (apart from their own) is the team to beat for the 2012 flag, half the coaches nominated Collingwood, which currently sits atop the ladder with an 11-2 record and having won 10 games on the trot.

Four coaches nominated West Coast as their premiership fancy, while Hawthorn was picked by three coaches to prevail on the last Saturday in September.

The Sydney Swans and Geelong were nominated by one coach each to win the flag.

Don't fiddle with the score: coaches

The coaches were also asked which team's premiership window is about to open and this is where the love for Essendon starts to appear.

Five of the 18 coaches believe the Bombers are about to contend for the flag, while four believe Adelaide to be thereabouts. Richmond (three) and West Coast (two) also received multiple votes, while Collingwood, Greater Western Sydney, Gold Coast and the Swans also received support.

Essendon supporters will also be excited that six coaches have nominated Jobe Watson as the Brownlow Medal favourite. Watson is leading many of the media awards and at $3.50, is the clear favourite with TAB Sportsbet.

Gary Ablett (four), Scott Pendlebury and Scott Thompson (two) each also received multiple votes.

Below: Who is most likely in 2012


Opening up: The coaches gaze into the future


Get your copy of this week's AFL Record to see how the coaches responded to every question in the 2012 AFL Media/AFLCA Coaches Survey

You can follow AFL Media senior writer Ashley Browne on Twitter @afl_hashbrowne