THE AFL's traditional survey of the 16 AFL club captains has found Geelong to once again be the overwhelming favourite for the premiership.
14 of the 15 opposing captains nominated the Cats as the team most likely to come up against them in the Grand Final, while six of the skippers also picked Geelong's Gary Ablett to take out the Brownlow Medal.
Surprisingly, only one opposition captain picked North Melbourne to reach the finals after they played off in the preliminary last year.
Collingwood has also been widely tipped to fall away this season after reaching the penultimate week in 2007 - only six opposition captains picked the Magpies for the finals.
Geelong’s Tom Harley and one other captain picked St Kilda to be the team to come up against them on the final day in September.
Carlton recruit Chris Judd was the second favourite to win the Brownlow, receiving three votes, while Jonathan Brown edged out Brendan Fevola to be favourite for the Coleman Medal.
Not surprisingly No.1 draft pick Matthew Kreuzer is the hot tip to win the NAB Rising Star, followed by Hawk Cyril Rioli and second-year Lion Matthew Leuenberger.
Geelong’s Tom Hawkins received just one nomination despite being tipped for bigger things this year in Nathan Ablett’s absence.
The full results were as follows:
Which seven other clubs do you think can make this year's top eight? (16 times seven selections)
Geelong (15), Hawthorn (14), St Kilda (14), West Coast (12), Port Adelaide (12), Adelaide (11), Sydney (11), Fremantle (nine), Collingwood (six), Western Bulldogs (three), Brisbane Lions (two), Essendon (two), North Melbourne (one), Carlton (nil), Melbourne (nil), Richmond (nil).
Which other club is most likely to reach the Grand Final?
Geelong (14), St Kilda (two).
Who do you think will win the 2008 Brownlow Medal?
Gary Ablett, Geelong (six), Chris Judd, Carlton (three), Adam Goodes, Sydney (two), Jonathon Brown, Brisbane Lions (one), Daniel Kerr, West Coast (one), Joel Corey, Geelong (one), Nick Dal Santo, St Kilda (one), Brad Johnson, Western Bulldogs (one).
Who do you think will win the 2008 Coleman Medal?
Jonathan Brown, Brisbane Lions(six), Brendan Fevola, Carlton (five), Matthew Pavlich, Fremantle (two), Lance Franklin, Hawthorn (two), Matthew Lloyd, Essendon (one).
Who do you think will win the 2008 NAB AFL Rising Star?
Matthew Kreuzer, Carlton (five), Cyril Rioli, Hawthorn (three), Matthew Leuenberger, Brisbane Lions (two), Craig Bird, Sydney (one), Tom Hawkins, Geelong (one), Brad Ebert, West Coast (one), Jarryn Geary, St Kilda (one), Andrejis Everitt, Western Bulldogs (one), James Sellar, Adelaide (one).
