Cats no longer the team to beat, say captains

Geelong‘s aura is fading, with rival captains rating St Kilda and the Western Bulldogs as more likely AFL grand finalists than the reigning premiers.

The Cats have won two of the past three flags, with a grand final loss in between.

But in the league’s annual pre-season poll, they received only three of a possible 15 votes from rival skippers as the opponents they most expect to meet if they made the grand final.

Last year’s runners up St Kilda and beaten preliminary finalists the Western Bulldogs each polled six votes, while the other member of last season’s top four, Collingwood, snared one.

The Saints and the Bulldogs played off in last weekend’s NAB Cup final, won by a Barry Hall-inspired Dogs.

One undisclosed skipper even tipped Geelong to follow Hawthorn’s path from last season and miss the finals altogether a year after claiming the premiership.

The Saints, Bulldogs and Magpies all received a maximum 15 votes as expected finalists, with the Cats level with Brisbane on 14 and Adelaide (13) and the Hawks (12) the other fancies.

That suggests the battle for eighth spot is wide open, with no other club receiving more than five votes and two of last year’s finalists, Essendon (two votes) and Carlton (one), widely expected to fall.

Three clubs – Richmond, Melbourne and Fremantle – were overlooked by every rival skipper.

Reigning Coleman Medallist Brendan Fevola’s off-season switch from Carlton to Brisbane is not expected to hurt his goal tally, rated the most likely winner of this year’s honour with five votes.

Hall’s strong pre-season form has also made an impression, sharing second place with Hawthorn’s Lance Franklin on four votes.

Geelong star Gary Ablett is tipped to go back-to-back as Brownlow Medallist, although opinions are widely split, with Ablett polling just three votes.

Eleven different players received at least one vote to take out the league’s top individual honour, including Hall.

West Coast‘s Nic Naitanui and North Melbourne’s Jack Ziebell were the clear captains’ favourites for the Rising Star award, with five votes apiece.

CAPTAINS OF ALL 16 AFL CLUBS WERE POLLED ON THURSDAY ON THEIR EXPECTATIONS FOR THE SEASON AHEAD:
Which seven other clubs do you think can make this year’s top eight?
Collingwood (15), St Kilda (15), Western Bulldogs (15), Brisbane (14), Geelong (14), Adelaide (13), Hawthorn (12), Port Adelaide (five), Essendon (two), North Melbourne (two), Sydney (two), West Coast (two), Carlton (one), Fremantle (nil), Richmond (nil), Melbourne (nil)

Which other club is most likely to reach the Grand Final?
St Kilda (six), Western Bulldogs (six), Geelong (three), Collingwood (one)

Who do you think will win the 2010 Brownlow Medal?
Gary Ablett, Geelong (three), Joel Selwood, Geelong (two), Nick Dal Santo, St Kilda (two), Chris Judd, Carlton (two), Simon Black, Brisbane (one), Adam Goodes, Sydney (one), Barry Hall, Western Bulldogs (one), Brent Harvey, North Melbourne (one), Lenny Hayes, St Kilda (one), Leigh Montagna, St Kilda (one), Dane Swan, Collingwood (one)

Who do you think will win the 2010 Coleman Medal?
Brendan Fevola, Brisbane (five), Barry Hall, Western Bulldogs (four), Lance Franklin, Hawthorn (four), Daniel Bradshaw, Sydney (one), Jonathon Brown, Brisbane (one), Nick Riewoldt, St Kilda (one)

Who do you think will win the 2010 NAB AFL Rising Star?
Nic Naitanui, West Coast (five), Jack Ziebell, North Melbourne (five), Jack Trengove, Melbourne (two), Ben Cunnington, North Melbourne (one), Dustin Martin, Richmond (one), Andrew Moore, Port Adelaide (one), Anthony Morabito, Fremantle (one)

Discover the best in new art and culture at our sister site, Lost At E Minor

Please support The Roar columnist Troy Chaplin's charity initiative: Baby Archie's Bear Giving Program. Please support generously.

© 2010 AAP