The AFL has conducted its annual poll of the 18 club captains on the eve of the season and they see reigning premier Hawthorn, the Sydney Swans and Fremantle filling the top rungs of the ladder for the 2014 Toyota AFL Premiership Season.

As per recent seasons, the club captains were confidentially polled on five key questions on the season ahead and only the Hawks, Swans and Dockers earned universal approval from their rivals as being certain to contest this year’s finals series.

The captains were asked which seven other teams, apart from their own, could make the finals and which other club, apart from their own, could make the grand final. A total of 12 different clubs were considered possible chances to contest the finals by the club captains but Hawthorn (10), Sydney (five) and Fremantle (three) were the only clubs considered for a grand final berth.

Newly-appointed Collingwood captain Scott Pendlebury was the choice of four captains to win the Brownlow Medal, with three captains apiece plumping for Gold Coast’s Gary Ablett and the Adelaide Crows’ Patrick Dangerfield.

2013 John Coleman Medallist Jarryd Roughead received four votes as the choice to again lead the goalkicking this season, but West Coast’s Josh Kennedy and Collingwood’s Travis Cloke were each given five votes.

Gold Coast Suns’ youngster Jack Martin was the runaway tip to win the Rising Star Award and follow in the footsteps of last year’s winner Jaeger O’Meara.

The full voting was:

Which seven other clubs do you think can make this year's top eight? (18 times seven selections. In 2013, the captains correctly nominated Hawthorn, the Geelong Cats, Fremantle, the Sydney Swans and Collingwood, but missed Richmond, Port Adelaide and Carlton.)

Fremantle (17), Hawthorn (17), Sydney Swans (17), Geelong (16), Collingwood (12), West Coast (11), North Melbourne (9), Richmond (9), Essendon (7), Port Adelaide (7), Adelaide Crows (2), Carlton (2).

Which other club is most likely to reach the Grand Final? (Seven Captains picked eventual premier Hawthorn in 2013, while one captain also nominated Fremantle to make the Grand Final.)

Hawthorn (10), Sydney Swans (5), Fremantle (3)

Who do you think will win the 2014 Brownlow Medal? (Three captains correctly nominated Gary Ablett in 2013).

Scott Pendlebury (Collingwood, 4 votes), Gary Ablett (Gold Coast Suns, 3), Patrick Dangerfield (Adelaide Crows, 3), Nathan Fyfe (Fremantle, 2), Dustin Martin (Richmond, 1), Sam Mitchell (Hawthorn, 1), Jarryd Roughead (Hawthorn, 1), Joel Selwood (Geelong Cats, 1), Dane Swan (Collingwood, 1), Jobe Watson (Essendon, 1).

Who do you think will win the 2014 Coleman Medal? (No one correctly nominated Jarryd Roughead in 2013).

Travis Cloke (Collingwood, 5 votes), Josh Kennedy (West Coast, 5), Jarryd Roughead (Hawthorn, 4), Lance Franklin (Sydney Swans, 3), Jack Riewoldt (Richmond, 1).

Who do you think will win the 2014 NAB AFL Rising Star? (Nine captains correctly nominated Jaeger O’Meara in 2013)

Jack Martin (Gold Coast Suns, 7 votes), James Aish (Brisbane Lions, 2), Jack Billings (St Kilda, 2), Joe Daniher (Essendon, 2), Marcus Bontempelli (Western Bulldogs, 1), Harry Cunningham (Sydney Swans, 1), Brodie Grundy (Collingwood, 1), Josh Kelly (GWS Giants, 1), Luke McDonald (North Melbourne, 1).

The AFL captains are available to all accredited media today as follows.

AFL Club Captains Interview Session
11am (approx, SA time), Wednesday March 5

Adelaide Oval, Northern Hill

(Please enter via the Northern Entrance, where Adelaide Oval staff will be present from 10.45am onwards)

Please note that Richmond’s Trent Cotchin, Carlton’s Marc Murphy and the Geelong Cats’ Joel Selwood participated in the survey but are not available today. Brett Deledio, Kade Simpson and Harry Taylor will represent their clubs in their place:

Ends

Patrick Keane