The VFL has polled the 22 VFL Club Captains for their views on the impending 2021 VFL Premiership Season and they see Richmond and Box Hill as the teams to beat this season, with 10 of the 22 captains voting the teams most likely to feature on Grand Final day.
New Sydney recruit Paddy McCartin has been voted to explode in his first year on the Swans' VFL list with four captains selecting him to be the dominant player in front of goals.
Midfielders Eli Templeton, Goy Lok, Ryan Bastinac and 2019 J.J. Liston Trophy winner Tom Gribble have been voted most likely to take out the J.J. Liston for the competitions best and fairest in 2021.
A NEW ERA BEGINS 2021 will be a VFL season like no other
Before gathering in Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland ahead of the season starting on Friday April 16, the captains were asked five key questions on the season ahead.
Which seven other clubs do you think can make this year's top eight?
Which other club is most likely to reach the VFL Grand Final?
Who do you think will win the 2021 Jim Miller Medal (leading goalkicker)?
Who do you think will be the best young player in the VFL in 2021?
Who do you think will win the 2021 J.J.Liston Trophy?
The full voting is below:
Which seven other clubs do you think can make this year's top eight? (22 times seven selections).
18 – Richmond, Williamstown
15 - Footscray
14 – Port Melbourne, Werribee
13 - Geelong
12 – Box Hill
9 – Southport, Sydney
7 – Brisbane
6 – Casey Demons
5 - Carlton
3 – Aspley, Coburg
2 – Essendon, Collingwood, Sandringham
1 – Gold Coast SUNS, Northern Bullants
0 – Frankston, GWS GIANTS, North Melbourne
Which other club is most likely to reach the Grand Final?
5 – Box Hill, Richmond
4 – Werribee
3 – Footscray, Southport
1 – Geelong Cats, Sydney
Who do you think will win the 2021 Jim Miller Medal (leading goalkicker)?
4 – Paddy McCartin
2 – Jackson Ross, Matt Hammelmann
1 – Jamarra Ugle-Hagan, Billy Murphy, Declan Watson, Emerson Jeka, Fergus Greene, Joel Ottavi, Jono Freeman, Josh Jenkins, Malcolm Rosas Jnr, Nick Hayes, Nick Rodda, Peter McEvoy, Sam Lowson, Sam Weideman
Who do you think will be the best young player in the VFL in 2021?
1 – Bior Malual, Brayden Crossley, Corey Ellison, Daly Andrews, Dan Orgill, Ethan Phillips, Fin Bayne, Hewago Oea, Jack Henderson, James Peatling, Jye Chalcraft, Kaiden Schreiber, Kyle Dunkley, Lachlan Stapleton, Malachy Carutthers, Mitch Riordan, Sam Ramsay, Taj Abberley, Tom McKenzie, Tylar Young, Vincent Adduci, Will Gowers
Who do you think will win the 2021 J. J. Liston Trophy (best & fairest)?
2 – Eli Templeton, Goy Lok, Ryan Bastinac, Tom Gribble
1 – Adam Marcon, Corey Ellis, Harvey Hooper, Jacob Booth, James Munro, Kade Answerth, Lucas Webb, Marcus Lentini, Matt Hanson, Matt Payne, Mitch Hibberd, Tom O’Sullivan, Trent Mynott, Will Fordham
