David King and Mick Malthouse reveal 2019 predictions

The duo have made several big calls ahead of the upcoming season.

STAFF WRITER | February 28, 2019 - 4:22pm

Former North Melbourne champion David King and former Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse have revealed their predictions for season 2019 on the Herald Sun.

Both King and Malthouse are renowned for their unique opinions and bold calls, however they have gone separate ways predicting this year's premiership side.

After featuring in finals for the first time since 2006 yet falling at the final hurdle, King sees Melbourne taking the next step this year and ending a 54-year premiership drought.

Malthouse believes Collingwood have set themselves up for a redemption season, after falling to the Eagles in the final minutes of last years grand final. The former coach predicts the Magpies will win their second premiership of this decade after he led them to the promise land in 2010.

The pair agreed that Gold Coast is in for a long, painful year. Pending these predictions, finishing 18th would make it Gold Coast's second wooden spoon since entering the league in 2011.

King's boldest prediction is placing 2018 premiers West Coast in eighth position, while he has Adelaide and Essendon making the top four. With the departure of Dylan Shiel and some young talent, King doesn't see the Giants making an impact in 2019, unable to find room for them in his top eight.

Unlike King, Malthouse predicts the Eagles to pick up from where they left last year placing them second. Along with Richmond, Malthouse joins the hype surrounding Essendon this year predicting a final four finish for both big name clubs.

Both men have Geelong sneaking in for another September push, while also predicting North Melbourne to return to finals, a feat they haven't achieved since Adelaide knocked them out during an elimination final in 2016.

Regarding individual honours, both football identities have gone with Carlton's prized recruit Sam Walsh as this year's Rising Star winner. Walsh is the hot favourite to take out the award and become Carlton's first ever Rising Star winner.

For football's 'night of nights', King can't go past Fremantle skipper Nathan Fyfe to take home his second Brownlow Medal. Fyfe played just 15 matches in season 2018, however, on the back of a strong pre-season, looks as though he may very well return to his subliminal best.

Malthouse gave a left-field choice for the prized award, predicting Collingwood big man Brodie Grundy to be the first pure ruckman to win Brownlow honours after a strong All-Australian year in 2018.

Finally, Malthouse can't go past West Coast's Josh Kennedy to win his third Coleman in the space of six years, after an interrupted 2018 campaign where he still manged to average three goals per game.

King makes his final bold prediction, expecting Melbourne swingman Tom McDonald to kick the most goals of any player this season. McDonald managed 53 goals (including finals) last year. His switch to the forward line gave Melbourne ample opportunities around the ground. Following Jesse Hogan's move to Fremantle, expect to see the once-defender playing as the Demon's main forward in season 2019.