GEELONG to be the bolter from outside last year's top eight. Adelaide to slump to 12th. Another season of missed opportunities for the Magpies.

Yep, you get some calls right, and you get some wrong.

We've reviewed our reporters' pre-season crystal ball predictions with the sparkling clarity of 20:20 hindsight, and it makes for interesting - and sometimes brutal - reading.

Ryan Crowley for recruit of the year. Really, Nat Edwards?

So, who better to pen a few words about the March madness of our 'experts' than their beloved colleagues? 

Here are our reporters' pre-season predictions, followed by their colleagues' present-day critiques:

Ashley Browne

Premier: West Coast
Runner-up: Western Bulldogs
Wooden spoon: Carlton
Moving up: Greater Western Sydney
Set to fall: Hawthorn
Brownlow Medal: Todd Goldstein
Coleman Medal: Jack Riewoldt
NAB AFL Rising Star: Daniel Howe
Recruit of the year: Adam Treloar
Surprise All Australian: Cameron Guthrie
Headline you'll see: Mazel Tov! Goldstein wins Brownlow
Headline you won't see: AFL got it right: McGuire
Coach under the pump: Chris Scott
How many games will Carlton win? Three
Where will Cale Hooker play in 2017? Melbourne (after Jesse Hogan is traded to Fremantle)

Ladder
West Coast
Western Bulldogs
Hawthorn
Fremantle
Richmond
Collingwood
Geelong
Greater Western Sydney
—
Sydney Swans
Port Adelaide
North Melbourne
Adelaide
Melbourne
Gold Coast
St Kilda
Brisbane Lions
Essendon
Carlton

Yet again, I find myself marvelling at the visionary intellect of my learned friend, whose mention of the now-besieged Eddie McGuire could not have been more timely or prophetic. The selections of Treloar and Guthrie might also prove inspired. However, like most visionaries, Ash suffers certain eccentricities. Take his beloved Hawthorn for example. His prediction that the Hawks' dynasty would end this season showed admirable impartiality but – at this juncture at least – surprisingly little foresight. Perhaps it was a red herring to avoid allegations of bias (although his Rising Star candidate was Hawk Daniel Howe). But there's no escaping another 'Browney' bias – his Goldstein-for-Brownlow forecast had an ulterior motive: it was a way for him to celebrate their shared Jewish heritage. Oy! – Ben Collins

Nick Bowen

Premier: West Coast
Runner-up: Sydney Swans
Wooden spoon: Essendon
Moving up: Collingwood
Set to fall: Adelaide
Brownlow Medal: Luke Parker
Coleman Medal: Josh Kennedy (West Coast)
NAB AFL Rising Star: Jacob Weitering
Recruit of the year: Adam Treloar
Surprise All Australian: Harley Bennell
Headline you'll see: Good Friday footy gets go-ahead for 2017
Headline you won't see: Swans rapt to be back at ANZ for finals
Coach under the pump: Damien Hardwick
How many games will Carlton win? Four
Where will Cale Hooker play in 2017? Fremantle 

Ladder
West Coast
Sydney Swans
Hawthorn
North Melbourne
Fremantle
Collingwood
Richmond
Port Adelaide
—
Western Bulldogs
Geelong
Greater Western Sydney
Adelaide
Melbourne
Gold Coast
St Kilda
Brisbane Lions
Carlton
Essendon

Astute as he is in the area of player movement, even Nick Bowen couldn't predict Essendon re-signing Cale Hooker before the middle of the season, as the key defender rejected Fremantle's offer in the process. Bowen's assessment of individual awards is on track with West Coast's Josh Kennedy trailing the Coleman Medal by one, Carlton's Jacob Weitering favourite to win the NAB AFL Rising Star Award and Collingwood's Adam Treloar in any discussion regarding recruit of the year. Luke Parker will look good early in the Brownlow count but might have dropped off the pace now while Harley Bennell would be more than a surprise All Australian given he has not played a game in 2016. Bowen's faith in the Magpies was misplaced, obviously rating their work at the trade table higher than Geelong's, which he left out of the eight. He got it right with Richmond coach Damien Hardwick but the Tigers' man has weathered the storm while Bowen's obsession with Easter Eggs, North Melbourne and public holidays led to him predicting Good Friday football in 2017 as a certainty. He might be right on that point eventually but it would take much more than a resurrection for his final eight to be correct when round 23 arrives with half of his predictions already in diabolical trouble on that front. - Peter Ryan

There's plenty of support for Jacob Weitering as this year's Rising Star winner. Picture: AFL Media

Ben Collins

Premier: Hawthorn
Runners-up: West Coast
Wooden spoon: Carlton
Moving up: Greater Western Sydney and Collingwood
Set to fall: Adelaide
Brownlow Medal: Scott Pendlebury
Coleman Medal: Josh Kennedy (West Coast)
NAB AFL Rising Star: Jacob Weitering
Recruit of the year: Patrick Dangerfield
Surprise All Australian: Steve Johnson
Headline you'll see: Four-thorn
Headline you won't see: Cats coach admits Stevie J blunder
Coach under the pump: Brad Scott
How many games will Carlton win? Three
Where will Cale Hooker play in 2017? Fremantle

Ladder
Hawthorn
West Coast
Sydney Swans
Fremantle
Richmond
North Melbourne
Greater Western Sydney
Collingwood
—
Western Bulldogs
Geelong
Port Adelaide
Adelaide
Gold Coast
Melbourne
St Kilda
Brisbane Lions
Essendon
Carlton

Gee Collo, I know you played your footy for the Melton Bloods but that doesn't excuse you for the fact that you had Geelong missing the eight. Or the Western Bulldogs or Adelaide, for that matter. Kudos for tipping Greater Western Sydney to rise up the ladder, but there's no doubt you were looking at the world with a black and white bias when selecting the Magpies to play finals. Hawthorn is still a chance to win its fourth flag in a row and, you were right, Steve Johnson has made quite the impact at the Giants. But the Cats are just as happy with the development of Lincoln McCarthy and Daniel Menzel, not to mention the recruitment of Patrick Dangerfield, as they pursue this year's flag. - Ben Guthrie

Adam Curley

Premier: Western Bulldogs        
Runner-up: Hawthorn
Wooden spoon: Essendon
Moving up: Greater Western Sydney
Set to fall: Adelaide
Brownlow Medal: Robbie Gray
Coleman Medal: Jake Stringer
NAB AFL Rising Star: Callum Mills
Recruit of the year: Steve Johnson
Surprise All Australian: Jason Johannisen
Headline you'll see: 'The Package' helps end Dogs' drought
Headline you won't see: Dockers full strength for round 23
Coach under the pump: Rodney Eade
How many games will Carlton win? Four
Where will Cale Hooker play in 2017? Fremantle 

Ladder
Hawthorn
Western Bulldogs
Fremantle
West Coast
Greater Western Sydney
Geelong
Sydney Swans
Port Adelaide
—
Richmond
North Melbourne
Gold Coast
Adelaide
Collingwood
St Kilda
Melbourne
Brisbane Lions
Carlton
Essendon

Curls' allegiance to his beloved Bulldogs is clear for all to see but overall he has done well so far. His prediction of a Bulldogs' Grand Final win over Hawthorn remains an outside chance. He has six of the top eight at half-way, with only Fremantle and Port Adelaide failing him to this point. He had Greater Western Sydney moving up but that is offset by his prediction that Adelaide would slide. Stevie J could be the second-best recruit of the year behind Patrick Dangerfield. Callum Mills is a chance for the Rising Star but he needs a nomination first. Gray to win the Brownlow and Johannisen to be the surprise All Australian weren't bad calls but injury rather than form has ruined both predictions. Rodney Eade isn't under anywhere near as much pressure as Justin Leppitsch. He undersold Carlton, but he wasn't the only one, and he definitely missed with Hooker going to Fremantle. - Alex Malcolm

Ryan Davidson

Premier: West Coast
Runner-up: Fremantle  
Wooden spoon: Carlton 
Moving up: Port Adelaide 
Set to fall: Sydney Swans 
Brownlow Medal: Marcus Bontempelli
Coleman Medal: Josh Kennedy (West Coast)
NAB AFL Rising Star: Callum Mills
Recruit of the year: Jack Redden
Surprise All Australian: Jack Redden
Headline you'll see: Journo despair as supplements saga finally concludes
Headline you won't see: Tigers finally end finals hoodoo 
Coach under the pump: Damien Hardwick
How many games will Carlton win? Three
Where will Cale Hooker play in 2017? Fremantle

Ladder
Fremantle 
West Coast 
Hawthorn
Western Bulldogs 
Geelong 
North Melbourne
Greater Western Sydney
Richmond
—
Port Adelaide
Adelaide
Sydney Swans
Collingwood
Gold Coast
Melbourne
St Kilda 
Essendon
Brisbane Lions
Carlton

Let's be frank, Ryan's had one or two shockers here. He's gone a bit left-field tipping Jack Redden to be recruit of the year and let's just say that one hasn't quite paid off just yet, for him or the Eagles. Unfortunately, the safe option of predicting another all-WA quinella on top of the ladder hasn't worked out either, or jumping on the Sydney Swans to tumble out of the eight (he wasn't the only one there, though). But if we're going to give him a whack, we'd better give credit where it's due, because his long shot Marcus Bontempelli tip for the Brownlow could make him look like Nostradamus. - Travis King

Josh Kennedy is at short odds to repeat his 2015 Coleman Medal. Picture: AFL Media

Nat Edwards 

Premier: Hawthorn
Runner-up: West Coast
Wooden spoon: Essendon
Moving up: Geelong
Set to fall: Western Bulldogs
Brownlow Medal: Todd Goldstein
Coleman Medal: Lance Franklin
NAB AFL Rising Star: Christian Petracca
Recruit of the year: Ryan Crowley
Surprise All Australian: Cam Guthrie
Headline you'll see: Hogan signs mega-deal with Dees
Headline you won't see: Dangerfield worst recruit of the decade
Coach under the pump: Damien Hardwick
How many games will Carlton win? Three
Where will Cale Hooker play in 2017? Essendon

Ladder
West Coast
Sydney Swans
Hawthorn
Fremantle
North Melbourne
Geelong
Port Adelaide
Richmond
—
Western Bulldogs
GWS
Collingwood
Adelaide
St Kilda
Melbourne
Gold Coast
Brisbane Lions
Carlton
Essendon

Apparently picking recruit of the year wasn't rocket science in 2016. Nat Edwards didn't have too many howlers in her crystal ball, but Ryan Crowley over Patrick Dangerfield? Please, Nat! Credit where it's due, Nat was one of only four reporters to pick Lance Franklin for the Coleman Medal, Christian Petracca is looking a savvier tip for the NAB AFL Rising Star by the week, and the Cats agree with her assessment of Cam Guthrie as an All Australian chance. But tipping the Western Bulldogs to not only fall but also miss the eight entirely? Injuries to three-quarters of the backline were not even enough to make that dodgy prediction come true. - Nathan Schmook   

Ben Guthrie

Premier: West Coast
Runner-up: Geelong
Wooden spoon: Essendon
Moving up: Geelong
Set to fall: North Melbourne
Brownlow Medal: Scott Pendlebury
Coleman Medal: Taylor Walker
NAB AFL Rising Star: Jacob Hopper
Recruit of the year: Patrick Dangerfield
Surprise All Australian: Mitch Duncan
Headline you'll see: Concussion hit on the head
Headline you won't see: Northern academies a Giant success: McGuire
Coach under the pump: Damien Hardwick
How many games will Carlton win? Three
Where will Cale Hooker play in 2017? Fremantle

Ladder
West Coast
Sydney Swans
Geelong
Richmond
Fremantle
Hawthorn
Port Adelaide
Collingwood
—
Western Bulldogs
Greater Western Sydney
North Melbourne
Gold Coast
Adelaide
Melbourne
St Kilda
Brisbane Lions
Carlton
Essendon

Geelong's place near the top of the ladder was tipped by Guthrie, who correctly expected the Cats to rise up on the back of the recruit of the year Patrick Dangerfield. The Cats are looking good for their tilt at the flag and Dangerfield couldn't have been any better in his debut season at the club. Guthrie gets points for tipping concussion and Greater Western Sydney's academy as being hot topics, but loses some credit for having the Western Bulldogs outside his top-eight when they are top-four contenders. And although Jacob Hopper probably won't take out the NAB AFL Rising Star award at the end of the year, he has shown enough to suggest he will be a long-term player for he Giants. - Callum Twomey

The Swans welcome back Lance Franklin with open arms this season. Picture: AFL Media

Travis King

Premier: West Coast
Runner-up: Geelong
Wooden spoon: Essendon
Moving up: Geelong
Set to fall: Adelaide
Brownlow Medal: Patrick Dangerfield 
Coleman Medal: Josh Kennedy (West Coast)
NAB AFL Rising Star: Callum Mills
Recruit of the year: Patrick Dangerfield
Surprise All Australian: Robbie Tarrant
Headline you'll see: Kennedy on target to kick the ton
Headline you won't see: Pies and Swans kiss and make-up
Coach under the pump: Ross Lyon
How many games will Carlton win? Four
Where will Cale Hooker play in 2017? Fremantle

Ladder
West Coast
Hawthorn
Geelong
Fremantle
Collingwood
Western Bulldogs
North Melbourne
Port Adelaide
—
Richmond
Greater Western Sydney
Sydney Swans
Adelaide
Melbourne
Gold Coast
St Kilda
Brisbane Lions
Carlton
Essendon

Travis went the safe and soft option of jumping on the Geelong/Dangerfield bandwagon, which was somewhat disappointing, but the Robbie Tarrant call looks to be a stroke of genius. There's a definite theme running through these picks and you can just see the proud West Aussie sitting at the laptop in his Peter Sumich jumper, although the Josh Kennedy predictions aren't far off the mark. His top eight looks shonky at best, with both NSW teams in the hunt for the flag and the Pies battling, so this one definitely needs some explaining. - Adam Curley

Alex Malcolm

Premier: West Coast
Runner-up: Hawthorn
Wooden spoon: Carlton
Moving up: Collingwood
Set to fall: North Melbourne
Brownlow Medal: Nat Fyfe
Coleman Medal: Josh Kennedy (West Coast)
NAB AFL Rising Star: Josh Schache
Recruit of the year: Patrick Dangerfield
Surprise All Australian: Lachie Neale
Headline you'll see: Bucks inks new deal
Headline you won't see: Hogan re-commits to Demons
Coach under the pump: Brad Scott
How many games will Carlton win? Two
Where will Cale Hooker play in 2017? Essendon  

Ladder
West Coast
Richmond
Sydney Swans
Hawthorn
Fremantle
Port Adelaide
Western Bulldogs
Collingwood
—
Adelaide
North Melbourne
Geelong
Greater Western Sydney
Gold Coast
Melbourne
St Kilda
Essendon
Brisbane Lions
Carlton

No issues here with Alex's premiership tip – I went the same way. And now that they're back in the top four, who would bet against yet another Grand Final appearance by the Hawks? Given his imperious form last year, Nat Fyfe seemed a good bet for the Brownlow before the injuries struck and Josh Kennedy is right in the mix for the Coleman. Alex is our West Australian colleague and has his ears to the ground in Perth, so we'll wait to see whether his Jesse Hogan prediction rings true. Is he guessing or does he have mail? And he got Carlton's win tally wrong, but guess what? All of us did. - Ashley Browne

Dinny Navaratnam

Premier: West Coast
Runner-up: Hawthorn
Wooden spoon: Essendon
Moving up: Port Adelaide
Set to fall: Adelaide
Brownlow Medal: Gary Ablett
Coleman Medal: Lance Franklin
NAB AFL Rising Star: Darcy Parish
Recruit of the year: Patrick Dangerfield
Surprise All Australian: Marley Williams
Headline you'll see: Round 23 Blues and Dons clash to decide No.1 pick
Headline you won't see: O'Meara re-signs at the Suns
Coach under the pump: Chris Scott
How many games will Carlton win? Three
Where will Cale Hooker play in 2017? Fremantle

Ladder
West Coast
Hawthorn
Port Adelaide
Fremantle
Richmond
Sydney Swans
North Melbourne
Western Bulldogs
—
Collingwood
Greater Western Sydney
Geelong
Adelaide
Melbourne
St Kilda
Brisbane Lions
Gold Coast
Carlton
Essendon

Dinny is the new kid on the block in our newsroom, and you can tell when you zero in on some of his predictions. West Coast for premier seems an unwise move and while you can't rule the Hawks out of another grand final appearance it's no certainty. Adelaide hasn't fallen, and Port Adelaide is hardly moving up. Paddy is no doubt the recruit of the year, but Dinny should have had him in the Brownlow category too. Chris Scott is definitely not under the pump and the Blues have already doubled Dinny's win prediction. His hopes for further correct tips really rest on Jaeger O'Meara leaving the Suns and Lance Franklin winning the Coleman. For his first Crystal Ball attempt this is on track for a pass, but the only way is up for AFL.com.au's rising star. - Matt Thompson

Chad Wingard and the Power remain a hard team to predict. Picture: AFL Media

Peter Ryan

Premier: West Coast
Runner-up: Fremantle
Wooden spoon: Essendon
Moving up: Collingwood
Set to fall: Adelaide
Brownlow Medal: Patrick Dangerfield
Coleman Medal: Jack Riewoldt
NAB AFL Rising Star: Darcy Moore
Recruit of the year: Patrick Dangerfield
Surprise All Australian: Jack Viney
Headline you'll see: Is Geelong the real deal?
Headline you won't see: Fairytale streak continues for Bombers
Coach under the pump: Justin Leppitsch
How many games will Carlton win? Two
Where will Cale Hooker play in 2017? Fremantle 

Ladder
West Coast
Hawthorn
Geelong
Fremantle
Western Bulldogs
Sydney Swans
Collingwood
North Melbourne
—
Greater Western Sydney
Port Adelaide
Richmond
Melbourne
Gold Coast
Adelaide
St Kilda
Brisbane Lions
Carlton
Essendon

As one of AFL Media's most respected operators, you would have expected a better forecast than what senior journalist Peter Ryan envisioned. 'The Doyen' – as he's affectionately known – let his black and white leanings lead him astray by proclaiming the Magpies would rise while Darcy Moore would be named the Rising Star. The player movement expert also predicted Bomber Cale Hooker would head home to play for 2016 Grand Finalist, Fremantle. However, he did foresee the pressure on Justin Leppitsch, and Paddy Dangerfield's imposing form at the Cats. - Ryan Davidson

Nathan Schmook

Premier: West Coast
Runner-up: Hawthorn
Wooden spoon: Essendon
Moving up: Greater Western Sydney
Set to fall: Adelaide
Brownlow Medal: Dustin Martin
Coleman Medal: Josh Kennedy (West Coast)
NAB AFL Rising Star: Jacob Weitering
Recruit of the year: Patrick Dangerfield
Surprise All Australian: Devon Smith
Headline you'll see: Fourth time lucky for Tigers
Headline you won't see: Winners all round in new CBA
Coach under the pump: Ross Lyon 
How many games will Carlton win? Two
Where will Cale Hooker play in 2017? Essendon  

Ladder
West Coast
Richmond
Hawthorn
Geelong
Western Bulldogs
Fremantle
Port Adelaide
Sydney Swans
—
Greater Western Sydney
North Melbourne
Collingwood
Adelaide
St Kilda
Gold Coast
Melbourne
Brisbane Lions
Carlton
Essendon

Richmond. Richmond. Richmond. Not only have the Tigers let down their fans, but they've let down AFL.com.au's very own Nathan Schmook. The West Australian had the Tigers finishing second on the ladder, but at 5-7 they are a long way off. In fact, Schmook had even predicted the Tigers would finally win a final this season. Clearly he needs to recalibrate his crystal ball because they're going to struggle to even make finals. But he's not the only victim of the Tiger trap, so we can't judge him too harshly. At least he was on the money with Patrick Dangerfield being the recruit of the year, although that's hardly rocket science. - Nat Edwards

Matt Thompson

Premier: North Melbourne
Runner-up: Hawthorn
Wooden spoon: Essendon
Moving up: Collingwood
Set to fall: Fremantle
Brownlow Medal: Gary Ablett
Coleman Medal: Lance Franklin
NAB AFL Rising Star: Christian Petracca
Recruit of the year: Patrick Dangerfield
Surprise All Australian: Elliot Yeo
Headline you'll see: Gold Coast curse continues
Headline you won't see: Pies sack Buckley
Coach under the pump: Damien Hardwick
How many games will Carlton win? Four
Where will Cale Hooker play in 2017? Fremantle
 
Ladder
North Melbourne
Hawthorn
West Coast
Collingwood
Sydney
Geelong
Port Adelaide
Richmond
—

Fremantle
Greater Western Sydney
Western Bulldogs
Melbourne
Adelaide
Gold Coast
St Kilda
Brisbane
Carlton
Essendon

He's not only a good news hound, but Matty is also pretty sharp when looking into the crystal ball. He got a few wrong, like Collingwood moving up (what was he thinking?) and Cale Hooker heading off to Freo, but by and large it's so far so good. Not many predicted North Melbourne to win the premiership, and while they're a long way off, there's enough evidence to show it's a pretty good selection. Patrick Dangerfield as recruit of the year, Lance Franklin for the Coleman and Essendon to finish last were no surprise gets, but he must be applauded for predicting Fremantle's tumble out of the top eight. Matty has a well-known love of the Gold Coast, but Rodney Eade might not reciprocate it after his correct prediction the Suns' injury curse would continue. - Michael Whiting

Ryan Crowley has 'topped up' the Dons but they're still wooden spoon favourites. Picture: AFL Media

Callum Twomey

Premier: West Coast
Runner-up: Hawthorn
Wooden spoon: Carlton
Moving up: Collingwood
Set to fall: Adelaide
Brownlow Medal: Patrick Dangerfield
Coleman Medal: Lance Franklin
NAB AFL Rising Star: Darcy Parish
Recruit of the year: Adam Treloar
Surprise All Australian: Mark Baguley
Headline you'll see: Strike looms as players fight for more money
Headline you won't see: Paul Roos reneges on handover coaching deal with Simon Goodwin
Coach under the pump: Ken Hinkley
How many games will Carlton win? Three
Where will Cale Hooker play in 2017? Essendon

Ladder
West Coast
Hawthorn
Sydney Swans
Geelong
Fremantle
Western Bulldogs
North Melbourne
Richmond
—
Collingwood
Port Adelaide
Greater Western Sydney
Adelaide
Melbourne
Gold Coast
St Kilda
Brisbane Lions
Essendon
Carlton

Predictions are always difficult, so when an obvious one pops up, the opportunity must be taken. Which makes it especially befuddling that Cal tipped Adam Treloar as recruit of the year. How could he justify thinking Patrick Dangerfield would win the Brownlow Medal, but not be the best recruit in the competition? Other than that, there were few egregious errors. Cal had Fremantle at fifth but almost no one predicted the Dockers would fall so far. GWS at 11th wasn't a great forecast from the draft guru, and neither was Adelaide in 12th, but one can be excused for thinking early days that the Danger-less Crows would slide. - Dinny Navaratnam

Michael Whiting

Premier: Hawthorn
Runner-up: Sydney Swans
Wooden spoon: Carlton
Moving up: Port Adelaide
Set to fall: North Melbourne
Brownlow Medal: Nat Fyfe
Coleman Medal: Josh Kennedy (West Coast)
NAB AFL Rising Star: Darcy Parish
Recruit of the year: Patrick Dangerfield
Surprise All Australian: Stefan Martin
Headline you'll see: Giants make first trip to the finals
Headline you won't see: Bombers defy the odds and storm towards September
Coach under the pump: Damien Hardwick
How many games will Carlton win? Four
Where will Cale Hooker play in 2017? Hawthorn

Ladder
Hawthorn
West Coast
Sydney Swans
Port Adelaide
Richmond
Geelong
Fremantle
Greater Western Sydney
—
North Melbourne
Collingwood
Gold Coast
Adelaide
Western Bulldogs
Melbourne
St Kilda
Brisbane Lions
Essendon
Carlton

'Fish' obviously loves a favourite – the reigning premier for the flag, the reigning Brownlow and Coleman medallists to go back-to-back and some bloke called Dangerfield to be recruit of the year. The injured Nat Fyfe aside, he could ultimately be right on all fronts. Who says playing it safer than an accountant doesn't pay? Clairvoyants in the Sunshine State needn't start fearing for their jobs, however. Fish's psychic radar was well off when he tipped North Melbourne to slide outside the top eight and Port Adelaide to soar into the top four, while three of his top eight (Port, Richmond and Fremantle) look set for football-free Septembers. Stefan Martin is also out of All Australian calculations after Steven May knocked him out – and his season off track – in round four, while Cale Hooker won't be in the brown and gold next year either. Fish redeemed himself by predicting a strong year for the Swans when others were far more pessimistic, and the Giants will almost certainly make their predicted maiden finals appearance. Richmond coach Damien Hardwick is under the pump too, but not from the relative comfort of fifth spot on the ladder as Fish predicted. He, no doubt, envisaged Hardwick entering another September under the suffocating pressure of leading the Tigers to their first finals win since 2001. 'Dimma' and Fish are both ruing that false prophesy. - Nick Bowen