With the 2023 AFL season officially just weeks away from kicking off after a competitive, and entertaining, 2022 edition, predictions on who will be atop the table come season's end are aplenty.
While there is plenty to be said about those in-form teams in the competition, there's also plenty to make of the race for the wooden spoon.
North Melbourne claimed the unwanted prize in 2022 after a rough season, with West Coast only narrowly missing out.
As the countdown to the season continues, we've named our five likely contenders for the 2023 wooden spoon.
3. GWS
The Giants are entering a new era under incoming senior coach Adam Kingsley, heading into his first year in charge of the club after the mid-season departure of Leon Cameron last year.
GWS saw an exodus of talent in the 2022 trade period, with the likes of Tanner Bruhn, Jacob Hopper, Tim Taranto and Bobby Hill departing the club.
Incoming, the Giants received Toby Bedford and prized number one pick - Aaron Cadman - but development will take a while for a young key positional player, leaving GWS in a tricky position this season.
The Giants managed a 16th-place finish last year, beating out the Eagles and Kangaroos, but may not be so lucky this year as they try to juggle some key holes in depth after a busy trade period.
