GREATER Western Sydney has a better chance of winning its maiden premiership this season than Hawthorn does of winning its fourth in a row, footy fans say.

In an extensive survey conducted for AFL.com.au and the AFL Record, an overwhelming majority of fans (87.3 per cent) said the Hawks would not win this year's flag, despite their 8-3 start to the season.

GWS is on track to play its first final this season and more than 30 per cent of the 24,900 fans who voted believed the AFL's newest club could go all the way in its fifth season.

Another 28.5 per cent of fans believed it was too early to tell, with 39.9 per cent ruling out an historic premiership this year.

The Giants' rise to contenders so soon has surprised fans, but not as much as Carlton's 6-5 start under new coach Brendon Bolton after finishing last in 2015. 

More than 33 per cent of fans said the Blues had been the most surprising club, ahead of the Giants (24.3 per cent) and Fremantle (19.6 per cent).

The Dockers have clearly been the most disappointing team (79.6 per cent), with no other club coming close to Ross Lyon's men.

Gold Coast (6.4 per cent) and Richmond (3.5 per cent) were the only other teams to attract a significant number of votes.

In a positive sign for the AFL's equalisation agenda, 87.4 per cent of fans believed their club could win the premiership in the next five years.

Of Richmond, Carlton, Essendon and Collingwood, fans believed the Blues were the closest to winning their next premiership.

There has been much debate this season about how clubs rebuild and a majority of fans (65.5 per cent) were happy for their team to fall down the ladder and experience short-term pain for long-term gain.

Hawthorn is the club fans most respect (26.1 per cent) ahead of the Sydney Swans (15.87 per cent), Western Bulldogs (12.8 per cent) and Geelong (11.5 per cent).

Collingwood is still the club fans love their team to beat (25.3 per cent), ahead of the Hawks (18.5 per cent).

Read the full survey results in the round 12 edition of the AFL Record, available at all venues.