A Tiger three-peat? The Lions to break through? Who wins the wooden spoon?
While so much can happen through the trade and draft periods, ESPN's AFL experts have nevertheless turned their attention to 2021 for their way-too-early predictions.
Below are their 2021 ladder predictions, and an explanation why.
Niall Seewang
Geelong
West Coast
Richmond
Port Adelaide
Brisbane
Western Bulldogs
St Kilda
Melbourne
Collingwood
Fremantle
Carlton
Sydney
GWS
Gold Coast
Hawthorn
Essendon
Adelaide
North Melbourne
In looking ahead to next year, the area I'm most confident about is the bottom few teams. Sorry to fans of the Kangaroos, Crows, Bombers and Hawks, but that bottom four looks pretty clear-cut to me (crazy trade period scenarios withstanding).
Then the forecast becomes a bit muddy. I can see the Giants tumbling a bit further, while the big improvers should be Fremantle (although they'll just miss out on finals). Speaking of finals, the only change I can see happening is the Magpies dropping out for the Demons. I fear Collingwood's list is getting too old and their scoring power too questionable. The Dees, meanwhile, should improve at least one spot on their 2019 result (if they don't - then Simon Goodwin should be concerned).
The top of the table features so many quality teams. After Saturday's Grand Final heartache, I think Geelong can go one better with the recruitment of Jeremy Cameron, and West Coast should rebound after their disappointing 2019. Richmond will of course be right up there again, while Port Adelaide might be another year away from taking another stride forward.
The Lions couldn't take advantage of their armchair ride this year which has me doubtful they're good enough to leap up a rung or two - and that's even if Joe Daniher gets his body right at the Lions. The Saints and Bulldogs will tread water.
Jake Michaels
Geelong
West Coast
Richmond
Brisbane
Port Adelaide
Western Bulldogs
Collingwood
St Kilda
Melbourne
Carlton
GWS
Fremantle
Sydney
Hawthorn
Essendon
Adelaide
Gold Coast
North Melbourne
I believe the four best teams in football are clearly the Cats, Tigers, Lions and Eagles (yes, West Coast will definitely be back to their frightening best next year). No surprises I have them all earning the double chance in 2021.
Port Adelaide drops down to fifth after a slightly out-of-the-box year, while I have the Bulldogs, Magpies and the exciting Saints returning to finals football. This means the seemingly soon-to-be depleted Giants miss out. In fact, I have them missing the top 10 next year!
In the middle portion of the ladder we have a series of teams who I'm struggling to split. I think you could throw a blanket over everyone from about ninth to 15th. One extra win could be the difference between finishing in the bottom four or entering the final few rounds with a mathematical chance of playing finals football.
At the bottom of the ladder, I can't see the Roos winning too many games -- particularly with a new coach at the helm -- and they are my early tip for the wooden spoon. Look out for the Suns to start the season hot (again), while the Crows should improve on what was a woeful 2020 campaign.
Matt Walsh
Richmond
West Coast
Brisbane
Port Adelaide
Geelong
Western Bulldogs
Carlton
Melbourne
Collingwood
St Kilda
GWS
Fremantle
Gold Coast
Hawthorn
Essendon
Sydney
Adelaide
North Melbourne
This time last year, I said that 2020 would be the last chance for the Cats to challenge for a flag, but with some big offseason moves expected (with Jeremy Cameron and possibly Shaun Higgins making their way to Geelong), they may have extended their window. They may fall out of the top four, though, with the Eagles jumping back in.
The Giants, however, are a different story, and for me it seems their chance has slipped, and they'll need to do some work in order to keep pace with the eight. The Blues will finally return to the eight as the biggest surprise of the year, with Melbourne also returning (I like the link of Ben Brown to the Dees), while unless the Pies can fix what desperately needs fixing and nab a genuine key forward, they may continue their decline.
Further down, North Melbourne might struggle next year, especially with a focal point up forward with Ben Brown leaving, Gold Coast will jump out of the bottom four, while the Dons may also be in for a year of pain. The Crows, too, will build slowly.