RICHMOND has been tipped by rival captains to reach a fourth grand final in five seasons, with Brisbane deemed most capable of dethroning the back-to-back premiers as kings of the AFL.
In the league’s annual poll of on-field leaders, the skippers picked Marcus Bontempelli to claim his first Brownlow Medal and Gold Coast gun Matt Rowell to snare the Rising Star award on his return from injury.
Captains were asked to pick which opposition club was most likely to reach the grand final, rather than who would win it.
Seven opposition skippers believe Richmond can continue their strong run of grand final appearances after reaching three of the past four deciders – winning flags in 2017, 2019 and 2020.
Five captains tipped Brisbane to be there on the last Saturday in September, while only three picked last year’s minor premiers Port Adelaide, who had their hearts broken by the Tigers in a thrilling preliminary final.
Two selected last year’s runners-up Geelong to reach a second straight decider and one tipped West Coast, who lost in the first week of the finals series in 2020.
All 17 rival captains predicted last year’s top four – Richmond, Brisbane, Geelong and Port Adelaide – would reach the finals again.
West Coast and St Kilda (15 votes each) were also popular picks.
The Western Bulldogs (nine) were the only other club to receive a finals tip from more than half of the opposing captains, while two tipped Gold Coast to play finals for the first time.
Little is expected of Adelaide, North Melbourne and Sydney, who were all unanimously tipped to miss out again.
Bulldogs captain Bontempelli was tipped to win his first Brownlow despite garnering just 10 votes last season – less than one-third of winner Lachie Neale’s tally of 31.
Dual Brownlow winner Nat Fyfe and Carlton’s Patrick Cripps received three votes each, with Brisbane ball magnet Neale registering two.
Jeremy Cameron’s arrival in the Geelong forward line has only boosted confidence in Tom Hawkins, who eight captains believe will win another Coleman Medal.
The long-time Cats spearhead claimed the goalkicking award for the first time last year.
Port Adelaide’s Charlie Dixon (four votes), Brisbane’s boom recruit Joe Daniher and former GWS star Cameron (two) were also considered.
Suns midfielder Rowell (13 votes) was a standout Rising Star choice after his stunning start to his debut season in 2020, which was cut short in his fifth game when he suffered a serious shoulder injury.
Sydney draftee Logan McDonald (three votes) was the only other player to attract multiple votes after his impressive pre-season form, while No.1 draft pick Jamarra Ugle-Hagan (one) also featured.
(C) AAP 2021
Which seven other clubs do you think can make this year’s top eight?
(18 times seven selections).
17 – Brisbane Lions, Geelong Cats, Port Adelaide, Richmond
15 – West Coast Eagles, St Kilda
9 – Western Bulldogs
8 – Collingwood
4 – GWS GIANTS
2 – Gold Coast SUNS
1 – Carlton, Essendon, Fremantle, Hawthorn, Melbourne
Which other club is most likely to reach the Grand Final?
(Four captains picked eventual premier Richmond in 2020).
7 – Richmond
5 – Brisbane Lions
3 – Port Adelaide
2 – Geelong Cats
1 – West Coast Eagles
Which player from another club do you think will win the 2021 Brownlow Medal?
(Four captains correctly nominated Lachie Neale in 2020).
6 – Marcus Bontempelli
3 – Patrick Cripps
3 – Nat Fyfe
2 – Lachie Neale
1 – Dustin Martin
1 – Ollie Wines
1 – Jaeger O’Meara
1 – Jack Macrae
Which player from another club do you think will win the 2021 Coleman Medal?
(No captain nominated eventual Coleman Medallist Tom Hawkins in 2020).
8 – Tom Hawkins
4 – Charlie Dixon
2 – Jeremy Cameron
2 – Joe Daniher
1 – Tom Papley
1 – Lance Franklin
Which player from another club do you think will win the 2021 NAB AFL Rising Star?
(One captain nominated eventual Ron Evans Medallist Caleb Serong in 2020).
13 – Matt Rowell
3 – Logan McDonald
1 – Tom Powell
1 – Jamarra Ugle-Hagan
