AFL Futures Tracker, 2023 Premiership Winner
Is Geelong too short in the market?
Will the Lions finally get it together?
Or will a team out west surprise us all?
Bet Nation takes a look at four teams that could take home the silverware at the end of the upcoming AFL season.
Geelong Cats
$5.50
I have bad news for every other AFL supporter constantly annoyed by Geelong’s success. It doesn’t look like the Cats will slow down anytime soon.
After defeating Sydney by 81 points in the most uninspiring grand final since 2007 – when they did the same thing against Port – the Cats have arguably strengthened their team over the off-season via savvy recruitment.
While Joel Selwood, Luke Dahlhaus, and Shaun Higgins all retired at the end of last season, the Cats found immediate replacements with the addition of Jack Bowes (Gold Coast), Tanner Bruhn (GWS) and Ollie Henry (Collingwood).
They had five players named in the All-Australian team, including Jeremy Cameron, Tom Hawkins, and Tyson Stengle, in the forward 50, and did I mention they’re on a 16-game winning streak? Because they are.
$5.50 is a short quote given the lack of back-to-back premiers in AFL history, but few have dominated a year quite like the Cats did in 2022.
Brisbane Lions
$8
Dominating, fail. Dominating, fail. Dominating, fail. There seems to be a consistent theme throughout the Chris Fagan tenure at the Lions, but we’re absolutely sure they can take the next step in 2023.
After winning just one final in three years from 2019-2021 – and going out in straight sets twice – the Lions have added serious star power over the off-season by welcoming Josh Dunkley (WB), Jack Gunston (Hawthorn) and young gun Will Ashcroft. Throw in the return of Irish running machine Conor McKenna, and you’ve got a premiership contender.
Dunkley will help take the pressure off Lachie Neale and Hugh McCluggage as he takes up a full-time role in the Lions’ midfield, while Gunston will reunite with Fagan and create another option up forward. This will allow Joe Daniher to use his athleticism further up the ground.
Dayne Zorko has relinquished the captaincy to focus on getting his body right, while you can’t help but feel that Ashcroft will get his chance and add depth to their already neck-deep midfield.
Dominating, fail. Dominating, fail. Dominating, fail. Dominating, succeed? The run of outs could be about to end for the Lions, and we’re happily taking their $8 to find out.
Richmond Tigers
$8
It’s all about the here and now at Tigerland as they look to secure their fourth premiership since 2017.
While they were booted out of finals by two points at the hands of the Lions, the Tigers went chips in over the off-season and secured the services of GWS pair Tim Taranto and Jacob Hopper. If Richmond had one deficiency over the past few years, it’s certainly been their midfield depth. Dustin Martin and Dion Prestia are bona fide but injury-prone stars and Trent Cotchin is looking to have one more crack as a half-forward. Enter Taranto and Hopper – two ready-made and proven midfielders. They will start Round 1 and fill a void that could take the Tigers back to the promised land.
Of course, recruiting sought-after players comes at a cost, and Richmond dealt with the financial pinch by waving goodbye to Jake Aarts, Sydney Stack and Riley Collier-Dawkins, among a host of retirements.
Tom Lynch returned to form with 60 goals last year, while Jack Riewoldt continues to provide a more-than-handy target up forward in the twilight of his career.
I don’t know about you, but the Tigers give me every indication they mean business in 2023, and we could be watching absolute scenes from Swan Street after this year’s grand final.
Fremantle Dockers
$15
Freo at $15? Yes, and thank you.
After finishing 11th with 10 wins in 2021, the Dockers took a significant step forward last year with 15 wins and a finals victory over the Western Bulldogs.
Justin Longmuir has taken little time to improve the Dockers since joining three years ago, and it looks like he could take them forward again in 2023 with the much-needed addition of Luke Jackson (Melbourne), Jaeger O’Meara (Hawthorn) and Josh Corbett (Gold Coast).
Luke Jackson is an upgrade on the outgoing Rory Lobb, while O’Meara is a like-for-like replacement for David Mundy without the semi-regular post-siren heroics.
Dual Brownlow Medalist, Nat Fyfe, will take a more permanent role up forward and look to improve their scoring output after Lobb topped their goal-kicking with just 34 last year. Andy Brayshaw, Sean Darcy, and Caleb Serong are dead-set guns, while a healthy Alex Pearce will strengthen their defensive 50.
Something about the Dockers excites you, and we’re more than happy to take $15 to find out.
