Experts tip Tigers to be in mix for repeat success
THE bookmakers have Sydney as their premiership favourite but a panel of footy greats has instead tipped Richmond to go back-to-back in 2018.
A survey of 10 Fox Footy experts found none were tipping the Swans to take home this year’s flag, with Richmond, Adelaide and Greater Western Sydney the most popular picks.
In total the panel selected six sides to reign supreme in September, with Western Bulldogs, Geelong and Essendon also chosen.
Former St Kilda skipper Nick Riewoldt, a new addition to the Fox Footy stable this year, said the Tigers would again be hard to beat.
“Their form towards the end of last year was clearly the best in the comp,” Riewoldt said.
“They’re a young, youthful group. The way they came together as a team last year, they had something intangible that isn’t going away so they’re in a great position to repeat.”
Last year’s runners-up Adelaide and preliminary finalists Greater Western Sydney each received two nominations with Sydney premiership coach Paul Roos saying the Giants had the edge for him in what shapes as an even race.
“They’ve played in the last two preliminary finals so they’re certainly not too far away,” Roos said of GWS.
“I’ve liked what I’ve seen in the pre-season but it’s going to be a very, very even competition so I’ve got probably six or seven teams that could win it.”
Five-time Hawthorn premiership player Dermott Brereton said he believed the Western Bulldogs could wind back the clock and claim a second flag in three years after their 2016 success, which was followed by a 10th place finish last season.
“They won it a little bit ahead of time and now they’re in the right age bracket and they’ve got experience,” he said.
Western Bulldogs great Brad Johnson said Gary Ablett’s return to Geelong put the Cats right in the frame while two-time North Melbourne premiership player David King said he was sticking with Essendon.
“I think that they’ve got some wildcard factor,” he said.