2024 promises to provide us with shocks, twists and turns in the AFL after a pre-season of rumours, role changes and turmoil at all but a few clubs.
Picking a premier, let alone a top eight, is proving to be harder than ever before, with up to six teams squarely in the window and at least 13 hoping to give themselves a shot.
One thing we can all agree on; West Coast will finish last.
Another far-reaching agreement; a handful of coaches could be in the hot seat.
Many expect North Melbourne spearhead Nick Larkey to improve from his previous campaign with a Coleman Medal-winning season, despite widespread bottom-four expectations for his side.
Here the Zero Hangerย team have tipped their premiers, top eight, wooden spooners, Brownlow winners, Coleman medallists, Rising Star recipients, All-Australian smokeys and more for the season ahead.
2024 AFL Predictions
Frank Seal
Premiers:ย Carlton
Runner-up:ย Collingwood
Top 8:ย Carlton, GWS, Brisbane, Western Bulldogs, Collingwood, Melbourne, St Kilda, Adelaide
Wooden Spoon:ย West Coast
Brownlow:ย Nick Daicos
Coleman:ย Jamarra Ugle-Hagan
Rising Star:ย Ryley Sanders
AA smokey: Hugh McCluggage
Major headline:ย 3+ coaches sacked by end of the year
Nick Splitter
Premiers: Collingwood
Runner-up: Carlton
Top 8: Collingwood, Brisbane, Carlton, Melbourne, Brisbane, GWS, St Kilda, Port Adelaide
Wooden Spoon: West Coast
Brownlow: Nick Daicos
Coleman: Nick Larkey
Rising Star: Harley Reid
AA smokey: Izak Rankine
Major headline: AFL to kick off season 2025 in Las Vegas
Aidan Cellini
Premiers: Brisbane
Runner-up: GWS
Top 8: Adelaide, Brisbane, Collingwood, GWS, Carlton, Sydney, Melbourne, Western Bulldogs
Wooden Spoon: West Coast
Brownlow: Marcus Bontempelli
Coleman: Nick Larkey
Rising Star: Colby McKercher
AA Smokey: Hugh McCluggage
Major Headline: Justin Longmuir sacked halfway through the season
Ed Carmine
Premiers: Carlton
Runner-up: Sydney
Top 8: Adelaide, Brisbane, Carlton, Collingwood, GWS, Melbourne, Port Adelaide and Sydney
Wooden Spoon: West Coast
Brownlow: Multiple players
Coleman: Charlie Curnow
Rising Star: George Wardlaw
AA smokey: Liam Baker
Major headline: Multiple coaches shown the door before September
Niall Seewang
Premiers: GWS
Runner-up: Brisbane
Top 8: GWS, Brisbane, Collingwood, Melbourne, Carlton, Sydney, St Kilda, Port Adelaide
Wooden Spoon: Eagles
Brownlow: Nick Daicos
Coleman: Charlie Curnow
Rising Star: Colby McKercher
AA smokey: Jordan De Goey
Major headline: Both WA coaches sacked before the end of the year
Charlie Cosgrove
Premiers:ย Collingwood
Runner-up: Brisbane
Top 8: Brisbane, Collingwood, Sydney, Carlton, Adelaide, GWS, Melbourne, Port Adelaide
Wooden Spoon: West Coast
Brownlow: Nick Daicos
Coleman: Nick Larkey
Rising Star: Harley Reid
AA smokey: Noah Anderson
Major headline: The identities of who Joel Smith texted revealed
Ethan Lee Chalk
Premiers: Collingwood
Runner-up: GWS
Top 8: Collingwood, GWS, Brisbane, Port Adelaide, Carlton, Western Bulldogs, Swans, Demons
Wooden Spoon: West Coast
Brownlow: Nick Daicos
Coleman: Nick Larkey
Rising Star: Ryley Sanders
AA smokey: Jack Crisp
Major headline: Eagles sack Adam Simpson after another Wooden Spoon
Mitch Keating
Premiers: Brisbane
Runner-up: Carlton
Top 8: Brisbane, Carlton, GWS, Melbourne, Collingwood, Sydney, Adelaide, Port Adelaide,
Wooden Spoon: West Coast
Brownlow: Marcus Bontempelli
Coleman: Charlie Curnow
Rising Star: George Wardlaw
AA smokey: Matt Rowell
Major headline: Coaching succession plan confirmed ahead of 2025
Phoenix Trinidad
Premiers: Melbourne
Runner-up: GWS
Top 8: GWS, Brisbane, Collingwood, Melbourne, Port Adelaide, Adelaide, Carlton, Gold Coast.
Wooden Spoon: West Coast
Brownlow: Tom Green
Coleman: Nick Larkey
Rising Star: Caleb Windsor
AA smokey: Jesse Hogan
Major headline: Melbourne culture problems deemed a non-issue after internal investigation
Totals
Premiers: Collingwood 3, Carlton 2, Brisbane 2, GWS 1, Melbourne 1
Wooden Spoon: West Coast 9
Brownlow: Nick Daicos 5, Marcus Bontempelli 2, Tom Green 1
Coleman: Nick Larkey 5, Charlie Curnow 3, Jamarra Ugle-Hagan 1
Rising Star: Harley Reid 2, Ryley Sanders 2, Colby McKercher 2, George Wardlaw 2, Caleb Windsor 1
