SEN's Dwayne Russell has looked into his crystal ball to name his top eight and make his premiership pick ahead of the 2023 season.
After adding the likes of Josh Dunkley, Jack Gunston and Will Ashcroft in the off-season, Russell is picking Brisbane to win their first premiership since 2003.
Russell expects Brisbane to play off in the Grand Final against Melbourne at the MCG on September 30.
“Brisbane, I’m picking them for the flag, it’s their time and it’ll be a wasted era if they don’t win one,” Russell said on SEN Afternoons.
“I’m picking Melbourne to make the Grand Final, that’s a Brisbane v Melbourne Grand Final.
“This year for Melbourne, they’re hitting Round 1 hard, they’re fit and as I said to Gerard Whateley, they look as hungry and committed as you would be if you were in Round 10.
“Can you maintain it for 30 weeks? Well, maybe you can.”
While Brisbane and Melbourne are his top dogs, Russell thinks there’s seven other teams that can win the flag in 2023 and he listed the order in which he expects them to finish.
“Brisbane, Melbourne, Geelong, that’s my top three, I have the Bulldogs at four,” Russell said.
“Sydney are at five and Richmond are at six - have they still got the hunger?
“They (the Tigers) look like a team that can flick the switch on what I saw on Saturday against Melbourne, they’re kind of just hoping they can flick the switch on, work into their form and by Round 10 they’ll be maybe where Melbourne is right now.
“Collingwood at seven, will they improve? Maybe, but I can’t drop them out of my eight.
“Fremantle at eight. This year for me with Fremantle, I think Nat Fyfe could win the Coleman, he might have 100 shots.
“But Nat Fyfe, if you give him 100 shots, he might kick you 50 (goals), 50 (behinds) … if Nat Fyfe could kick 65 (goals), 35 (behinds), Fremantle can finish closer to the flag.
“There’s nine teams that can win the flag as I see it … Carlton are at nine, and they’re the only team outside of last year’s eight and out of my eight that I think could win the flag.”
Check out Russell’s top nine below.
1 - Brisbane (premiers)
2 - Melbourne (runner-up)
3 - Geelong
4 - Western Bulldogs
5 - Sydney
6 - Richmond
7 - Collingwood
8 - Fremantle
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9 - Carlton