CAN the Hawks make it four-straight Grand Final appearances? The AFL's club captains think so.
Gathering at Etihad Stadium for the annual AFL captain’s day in preparation for the kick-off of the 2015 AFL Premiership Season, the captains predicated the Hawks will make the 2015 grand final.
11 club captains (up from 10 last year) predicted the Hawks will play off for a third-straight premiership, while last year’s grand finalists Sydney (four) and Port Adelaide (three) are the only other clubs in contention for this year’s premiership according to the league’s skippers.
Every club captain believes the Hawks will at least make the finals in 2015, while the Swans and Power also received 17 votes in this category.
2013 Coleman Medal winner Jarryd Roughead is expected to have another outstanding season, with seven club captains declaring he’ll take out this year’s medal.
Roughead claimed his first Coleman Medal by booting a season-high 68 goals.
Exciting youngster Jed Anderson is also a chance for the NAB Rising Star according to the captain’s, with the NT product receiving two votes.
Anderson has been in impressive form so far this pre-season, playing in all three NAB Challenges matches where he’s pressed his case for senior selection.
The captains were asked five key questions on the season ahead – see questions and results below.
Which seven other clubs do you think can make this year's top eight?
Hawthorn (17), Port Adelaide (17), Sydney Swans (17), Fremantle (16), Geelong Cats (16), North Melbourne (14), Gold Coast Suns (12), Richmond (8), Essendon (4), Adelaide Crows (3), Collingwood (1), West Coast (1)
Which other club is most likely to reach the Grand Final?
Hawthorn (11), Sydney Swans (4), Port Adelaide (3).
Who do you think will win the 2015 Brownlow Medal?
Nat Fyfe (Fremantle, four votes), Gary Ablett (Gold Coast Suns, two votes), Travis Boak (Port Adelaide, two votes), Joel Selwood (Geelong Cats, two votes), Patrick Dangerfield (Adelaide Crows, two votes), Dayne Beams (Brisbane Lions, one vote), Robbie Gray (Port Adelaide, one vote), Josh Kennedy (Sydney Swans, one vote), Dustin Martin (Richmond, one vote), Matt Priddis (West Coast, one vote), Daniel Wells (North Melbourne, one vote).
Who do you think will win the 2015 Coleman Medal?
Jarryd Roughead (Hawthorn, seven votes), Lance Franklin (Sydney Swans, three votes), Tom Hawkins (Geelong Cats, two votes), Jack Riewoldt (Richmond, two votes), Jeremy Cameron (GWS Giants, one vote), Josh Kennedy (West Coast, one vote), Kurt Tippett (Sydney Swans, one vote), T Walker (Adelaide Crows, one vote).
Who do you think will win the 2015 NAB AFL Rising Star?
Nakia Cockatoo (Geelong, four votes), Isaac Heeney (Sydney Swans, three votes), Jed Anderson (Hawthorn, two votes), Angus Brayshaw (Melbourne, one vote), Patrick Cripps (Carlton, one vote), Matt Crouch (Adelaide Crows, one vote), Jordan De Goey (Collingwood, one vote), Jarrod Garlett (Gold Coats Suns, one vote), Patrick McCartin (St Kilda, one vote), Jaden McGrath (Brisbane Lions, one vote), Matt Scharenburg (Collingwood, one vote), Kayne Turner (North Melbourne, one vote).
