PATRICK Dangerfield last week confirmed his intentions to leave Adelaide under free agency, but as AFL.com.au's pre-season predictions show, it was footy's worst-kept secret.
His move has appeared on the cards since the start of the year, evident in our 'crystal ball' piece which appeared online in March before the 2015 season got underway.
Of the 12 AFL.com.au reporters surveyed, all tipped Dangerfield to leave Adelaide. Clearly, the writing was on the wall already for the Crows before a ball was bounced.
We'd like to say we were on the money with all of our pre-season predictions, but only one reporter picked Josh Kennedy to take home the Coleman Medal, none of us had West Coast in the top eight and Jesse Hogan had no nominations as this year's NAB AFL Rising Star.
It seems many of us were stumped by Gold Coast's fall down the ladder – all bar one reporter expected the Suns to make the finals for the first time – but 10 of AFL.com.au's judges did predict Hawthorn to at least make the Grand Final.
The best tip came from Nat Edwards, whose suggestion for 'Headline you'll see' was eerily accurate: 'Revamped MRP saves Fyfe'. Of course, she duly chose Fremantle star Nat Fyfe to win the Brownlow Medal too, and he delivered on Monday night.
Below we humbly submit our pre-season crystal ball, unchanged, for you to see what we had right and what we completely missed. What's that saying about hindsight?
NICK BOWEN
Top eight
Hawthorn
Port Adelaide
Sydney Swans
North Melbourne
Geelong
Fremantle
Adelaide
Gold Coast
Premier: Hawthorn
Runner-up: Port Adelaide
Wooden spoon: St Kilda
Moving up: Greater Western Sydney
Set to fall: Essendon
Brownlow Medal: Travis Boak
Coleman Medal: Jeremy Cameron
NAB AFL Rising Star: Patrick Cripps
Coach of the year: Ken Hinkley
Recruit of the year: Nick Malceski
Surprise All Australian: Tom Lynch (Gold Coast)
Headline you'll see: Here come the Suns!
Headline you won't see: Bring back Sunday night football
Everyone will be talking about: Moggs Creek
How many goals will Buddy kick? 78
Will Patrick Dangerfield stay at Adelaide? No
ASHLEY BROWNE
Top eight
Port Adelaide
Hawthorn
Sydney Swans
Geelong
North Melbourne
Fremantle
Gold Coast
Richmond
Premier: Port Adelaide
Runner-up: Hawthorn
Wooden spoon: St Kilda
Moving up: Gold Coast
Set to fall: Essendon
Brownlow Medal: Nat Fyfe
Coleman Medal: Lance Franklin
NAB AFL Rising Star: Jed Anderson
Coach of the year: Paul Roos
Recruit of the year: Mitch Clark
Surprise All Australian: Lachie Whitfield
Headline you'll see: Magpie chief lashes out
Headline you won't see: Tigers chief lashes out
Everyone will be talking about: Hawthorn's bid for a three-peat. If the Hawks get there, where will the Alastair Clarkson statue be erected at Waverley?
How many goals will Buddy kick? 76
Will Patrick Dangerfield stay at Adelaide? No
BEN COLLINS
Top eight
Sydney Swans
Port Adelaide
Hawthorn
Geelong
Richmond
North Melbourne
Gold Coast
Collingwood
Premier: Sydney Swans
Runner-up: Port Adelaide
Wooden spoon: St Kilda
Moving up: Gold Coast
Set to fall: Fremantle
Brownlow Medal: Josh Kennedy (Syd)
Coleman Medal: Josh Kennedy (WC)
NAB AFL Rising Star: Jordan De Goey
Coach of the year: Ken Hinkley
Recruit of the year: Dayne Beams
Surprise All Australian: Dustin Fletcher
Headline you'll see: Bloods prevail in Goodes' swansong
Headline you won't see: Milestone Mick's media love-in
Everyone will be talking about: Port Adelaide's frenetic, all-conquering style. Rival fans will adopt the Power as their second-favourite team.
How many goals will Buddy kick? 82
Will Patrick Dangerfield stay at Adelaide? No
The whole football world appears to be excited about 'the Bont'. Picture: AFL Media
NAT EDWARDS
Top eight
Port Adelaide
Hawthorn
Sydney Swans
Geelong
North Melbourne
Fremantle
Adelaide
Richmond
Premier: Hawthorn
Runner-up: Port Adelaide
Wooden spoon: St Kilda
Moving up: Adelaide
Set to fall: Essendon
Brownlow Medal: Nat Fyfe
Coleman Medal: Lance Franklin
NAB AFL Rising Star: Jed Anderson
Coach of the year: Alastair Clarkson
Recruit of the year: Paddy Ryder
Surprise All Australian: Marcus Bontempelli
Headline you'll see: Revamped MRP saves Fyfe
Headline you won't see: Gabba fans roar: Live Lion has crowd attendances at all time high
Everyone will be talking about: Mick Malthouse's coaching contract
How many goals will Buddy kick? 73
Will Patrick Dangerfield stay at Adelaide? No.
BEN GUTHRIE
Top eight
Port Adelaide
Hawthorn
Sydney Swans
Geelong
North Melbourne
Gold Coast
Richmond
Fremantle
Premier: Port Adelaide
Runner-up: Hawthorn
Wooden spoon: St Kilda
Moving up: Gold Coast
Set to fall: Fremantle
Brownlow Medal: Dustin Martin
Coleman Medal: Jeremy Cameron
NAB AFL Rising Star: Patrick Cripps
Coach of the year: Rodney Eade
Recruit of the year: Patrick Ryder
Surprise All Australian: Bradley Hill
Headline you'll see: Closed case: AFL finally agrees to shut Etihad Stadium roof
Headline you won't see: AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan leads charge to reintroduce Sunday night football
Everyone will be talking about: Jesse Hogan
How many goals will Buddy kick? 68
Will Patrick Dangerfield stay at Adelaide? No
TRAVIS KING
Top eight
Hawthorn
Port Adelaide
Sydney Swans
North Melbourne
Richmond
Fremantle
Geelong
Gold Coast
Premier: Port Adelaide
Runner-up: Hawthorn
Wooden spoon: St Kilda
Moving up: Gold Coast
Set to fall: West Coast
Brownlow Medal: Nat Fyfe
Coleman Medal: Lance Franklin
NAB AFL Rising Star: Jordan De Goey
Coach of the year: Ken Hinkley
Recruit of the year: Ryan Griffen
Surprise All Australian: Ollie Wines
Headline you'll see: Boomer to play on for 21st season
Headline you won't see: We can't win flag by 2018: Giants
Everyone will be talking about: Port running opponents ragged
How many goals will Buddy kick? 87
Will Patrick Dangerfield stay at Adelaide? No
JENNIFER PHELAN
Top eight
Hawthorn
Port Adelaide
Geelong
Sydney Swans
North Melbourne
Adelaide
Fremantle
Gold Coast
Premier: Hawthorn
Runner-up: Port Adelaide
Wooden spoon: Melbourne
Moving up: Adelaide
Set to fall: Essendon
Brownlow Medal: Joel Selwood
Coleman Medal: Jarryd Roughead
NAB AFL Rising Star: Isaac Heeney
Coach of the year: Ken Hinkley
Recruit of the year: Mitch Clark
Surprise All Australian: Marcus Bontempelli
Headline you'll see: Victorian obesity rates rise: cheap footy pies to blame
Headline you won't see: Scott brothers endorse Etihad match under the stars
Everyone will be talking about: The matching forehead tattoos Dane Swan and Dustin Martin get during the bye rounds
How many goals will Buddy kick? 58
Will Patrick Dangerfield stay at Adelaide? No
If he stays fit, Mitch Clark could be a massive weapon for the Cats. Picture: AFL Media
PETER RYAN
Top eight
Port Adelaide
Sydney Swans
Hawthorn
Geelong
North Melbourne
Fremantle
Richmond
Gold Coast
Premier: Port Adelaide
Runner-up: Sydney Swans
Wooden spoon: St Kilda
Moving up: Gold Coast
Set to fall: West Coast
Brownlow Medal: Gary Ablett
Coleman Medal: Lance Franklin
NAB AFL Rising Star: Patrick McCartin
Coach of the year: Ken Hinkley
Recruit of the year: Ryan Griffen
Surprise All Australian: Nathan Jones
Headline you'll see: Giants on a roll
Headline you won't see: Fred Fanning's record beaten
Everyone will be talking about: Tom Boyd's performances for the Western Bulldogs
How many goals will Buddy kick? 68
Will Patrick Dangerfield stay at Adelaide? No
NATHAN SCHMOOK
Top eight
Port Adelaide
Hawthorn
Sydney Swans
North Melbourne
Fremantle
Geelong
Gold Coast
Adelaide
Premier: Port Adelaide
Runner-up: Hawthorn
Wooden spoon: St Kilda
Moving up: Gold Coast
Set to fall: West Coast
Brownlow Medal: Joel Selwood
Coleman Medal: Lance Franklin
NAB AFL Rising Star: Isaac Heeney
Coach of the year: Ken Hinkley
Recruit of the year: Nick Malceski
Surprise All Australian: Lachie Neale
Headline you'll see: Rivers of gold for MRP as fines double
Headline you won't see: Dockers take backseat in free agency frenzy
Everyone will be talking about: The tidal wave of talent preparing to peak at the expansion clubs
How many goals will Buddy kick? 83
Will Patrick Dangerfield stay at Adelaide? No
HARRY THRING
Top eight
Hawthorn
Geelong
Port Adelaide
Sydney Swans
Fremantle
North Melbourne
Gold Coast
Adelaide
Premier: Hawthorn
Runner-up: Port Adelaide
Wooden spoon: St Kilda
Moving up: Brisbane Lions
Set to fall: Essendon
Brownlow Medal: Robbie Gray
Coleman Medal: Jarryd Roughead
NAB AFL Rising Star: Matt Crouch
Coach of the year: Alastair Clarkson
Recruit of the year: Michael Voss
Surprise All Australian: Lachie Neale
Headline you'll see: Still no word on Danger's future
Headline you won't see: Crows offered break at training
Everyone will be talking about: Hawthorn's three-peat
How many goals will Buddy kick? 62
Will Patrick Dangerfield stay at Adelaide? No.
CALLUM TWOMEY
Top eight
Hawthorn
Port Adelaide
Sydney Swans
Gold Coast
Fremantle
Geelong
North Melbourne
Essendon
Premier: Hawthorn
Runner-up: Port Adelaide
Wooden spoon: St Kilda
Moving up: Gold Coast
Set to fall: Carlton
Brownlow Medal: Robbie Gray
Coleman Medal: Lance Franklin
NAB AFL Rising Star: Jordan De Goey
Coach of the year: Ken Hinkley
Recruit of the year: Ryan Griffen
Surprise All Australian: Devon Smith
Headline you'll see: Academy debate hots up again: star youngster Callum Mills heads to the Sydney Swans
Headline you won't see: AFLPA says it's happy to forgo free agency
Everyone will be talking about: The next broadcast deal
How many goals will Buddy kick? 81
Will Patrick Dangerfield stay at Adelaide? No.
MICHAEL WHITING
Top eight
Port Adelaide
Hawthorn
Sydney Swans
Fremantle
Gold Coast
North Melbourne
Richmond
Adelaide
Premier: Port Adelaide
Runner-up: Hawthorn
Wooden spoon: St Kilda
Moving up: Gold Coast
Set to fall: Geelong
Brownlow Medal: Nat Fyfe
Coleman Medal: Lance Franklin
NAB AFL Rising Star: Angus Brayshaw
Coach of the year: Ken Hinkley
Recruit of the year: Nick Malceski – will help the Suns move from potential to performance.
Surprise All Australian: Adam Treloar
Headline you'll see: Ablett re-signs: will finish his career as a Sun
Headline you won't see: Eddie concedes academies vital for game's growth in northern states
Everyone will be talking about: The improved MRP (we hope).
How many goals will Buddy kick? 75
Will Patrick Dangerfield stay at Adelaide? No
