SEN SA’s Mark Bickley and Jarrod Walsh have made their predictions for the 2023 AFL season.
Two-time Adelaide Crows premiership captain Bickley has Melbourne bouncing back from last year’s straight sets finals exit.
He also has Carlton improving and taking out two of the individual awards.
Bickley’s predictions
PREMIERS: Melbourne
“Melbourne to win the premiership. Mainly because they’ve got such top-end talent," Bickley said on SEN SA Breakfast.
“You think about Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver in the middle. Down back they’ve got Jake Lever and Steven May. Then you go forward, which has been their Achilles heel, but with Max Gawn and Brodie Grundy in the ruck and flipping between, I think they can create a bit more havoc with Kysaiah Pickett, Bayley Fritsch and others on the ground.
“They were 10-0 last year and people thought how far. They fell away but I think they’ll recover from that and win it.”
RUNNERS-UP: Brisbane
WOODEN SPOON: Hawthorn
BROWNLOW: Patrick Cripps (Carlton)
COLEMAN: Charlie Curnow (Carlton)
RISING STAR: Will Ashcroft (Brisbane)
BIGGEST IMPROVER: Carlton
BIGGEST SLIDER: Collingwood
SEN SA Breakfast co-host Walsh has the Brisbane Lions, after their aggressive recruiting, winning the flag with Port Adelaide potentially playing off in the Grand Final.
Walsh’s predictions
PREMIERS: Brisbane
“I feel that last year was a huge finals series for the mentality of the Lions because they won in Melbourne,” Walsh said of Brisbane.
“That’s a big thing and you don’t have to worry about that conversation anymore.
“I think they’ll challenge and they’ve got the wood over Melbourne, your premiership favourite. They know how to beat them in Melbourne.”
RUNNERS-UP: Port Adelaide
WOODEN SPOON: Hawthorn
BROWNLOW: Touk Miller (Gold Coast)
COLEMAN: Charlie Curnow (Carlton)
RISING STAR: Will Ashcroft (Brisbane)
BIGGEST IMPROVER: Port Adelaide
BIGGEST SLIDER: Collingwood