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.
4. West Coast
The Eagles are a bit of an enigma heading into the 2023 season. After a disastrous 2022 campaign that saw the club produce their worst result on record, it would be fair to temper expectations on the side this year.
2022 produced its fair share of obstacles for the Eagles though, with crucial injuries and COVID-19 chaos leaving the team in tatters. With a much healthier list heading into 2023, it is fair to assume that those on-field issues that plagued the team last year could be easily rectified in 2023, but there are few guarantees when it comes to a rebuild.
Key inclusions of injured talent from last season will aid West Coast this year, but after an uncompetitive 2022, there are still simmering concerns surrounding the Eagles outfit.
