HAWTHORN is the bookies' favourite to win this year's Grand Final, but Alastair Clarkson's men have this week received an even more ringing endorsement.
Once again in 2013, AFL Media, in partnership with the AFL Coaches Association, has polled the 18 senior coaches about a series of footy issues, and when it comes to the winner of this year's premiership they collectively believe the flag is the Hawks to lose.
Eleven of the 18 coaches think Hawthorn will go one better in 2013 and win the flag. The Hawks have won 12 of 13 matches this year and sit a game clear on top of the ladder.
Six coaches believe the Sydney Swans will win back-to-back flags, while there is one coach who believes Fremantle will win its first premiership.
Interestingly, Geelong, which has lost just twice this year and is second on the ladder, is not rated a chance to win what would be its fourth flag in seven years.
The coaches were asked to nominate their coach of the year to date, and the remarkable effort of Fremantle's Ross Lyon to steer his team into premiership contention despite missing key players such as Matthew Pavlich and Aaron Sandilands for most of the year, saw him lead the field with seven votes.
Others to garner support included Clarkson (four), John Longmire (three), Chris Scott (three) and Ken Hinkley (one).
