ADELAIDE and Greater Western Sydney are locked in a two-horse race for this year's premiership according to the fans, with a massive gap to the chasing pack.
More than 70 per cent of supporters thought the flag would be won by either the Crows (41 per cent) or the Giants (30), with Geelong the best of the rest.
Last year's premiers, the Western Bulldogs, and Port Adelaide were the only other clubs to receive more than 1,000 votes in the survey for AFL.com.au and the AFL Record, which was completed by almost 39,000 supporters.
Fremantle is the team that has most surprised following its recovery to 6-5, with the Dockers impressing fans ahead of Port Adelaide, Essendon and Richmond.
The most disappointing teams have been Hawthorn and Sydney, with both recent Grand Finalists crashing out of contention in 2017.
So dramatic has the Swans' fall been, the majority of fans believe Sydney won't make the finals from their 3-7 position, missing September for the first time since 2009.
The Bulldogs are the team opposition fans most respect after last year's flag, with coach Luke Beveridge also given the nod as the best in his field.
Beveridge and Alastair Clarkson were hard to split as the best coach in the game, with only one per cent separating them, followed by a significant drop to Adelaide coach Don Pyke in third place.
Collingwood remains the club opposition fans most love to beat, ahead of Hawthorn and Geelong.
An even season has given 45 per cent of fans faith that their club can win the premiership this year, while four out of five fans believe their club can contend in the next three seasons.
A significant majority of 72 per cent did not want to see the AFL introduce further equalisation measures, believing the competition was now even enough.
The struggling Brisbane Lions have just one win for the season and have lost nine consecutive matches, but 55 per cent of supporters do not believe the Lions should be given another priority draft pick.
Fans understand the need for rebuilding clubs to go to the NAB AFL Draft, with over three quarters happy for their team to fall down the ladder and experience short-term pain for long-term gain.
When rebuilding clubs Fremantle, North Melbourne, Carlton and Gold Coast are isolated, fans believe the Dockers are the closest to winning a premiership.
The Kangaroos come in second, while the Blues and the Suns are yet to win fans over with their lists and have work to do.
More from the 2017 fan survey
• Your AFL MVP, and where Dusty will play next
Next up: Your views on the Match Review Panel and umpiring
The full survey results will be published in the round-12 edition of the AFL Record, available at all venues.
Want more?
• Mid-season reviews and your verdicts
• When and why the Magpies started hitting winners
• Our mid-season All Australians: who missed out?
