Nick Dal Santo expects the Western Bulldogs to be the only big ladder climber in 2020.
When asked what his top eight will be this season, the former St Kilda midfielder said he believes there won’t be any additions from 2019.
“I don’t think there’s going to be a great deal of change to the top eight this year,” Dal Santo told SEN Breakfast.
“I still rate Port Adelaide and I have the last couple of years. I feel they have done so much right, yet they can do so much wrong within the one game and chunks of the season.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if they made their way into the eight, but I’m going to say there’s no change (to the eight).
“For one of the few times in AFL history, there will be no change to the top eight.
“The top four will include Richmond, West Coast, Brisbane and the Bulldogs.
“So the Bulldogs are the ones for me that jump up into the top four and therefore it is the Giants, the Cats, the Dons and the Pies who will make up the bottom half of the eight.
“I look at the Dogs and with Josh Bruce and Alex Keath coming there, they’ve got a key forward and defender to really steady them up.”
Dal Santo adds that he isn’t suggesting the teams outside the eight won’t improve, but he can’t see who will drop out.
“I think this is the trap that we get caught in. Yes, I think the Hawks will improve, the Kangaroos will improve, the Saints, you can go through everyone pretty much, but who are they going to kick out?” he said.
“Which of those teams are going to be better over the course of 23 weeks and knock off one of the teams that was in the eight last year?
“I don’t see the Pies going back much, if at all. They have still got the same squad. The Tigers are who they are, West Coast aren’t going to lose many home games, it is tough going.”