At a glance: The artist formely known as Champs 16. A two-time grand finalist with a forward line everyone envies. The midfield may not have the name power found in fellow finalists, but their success at the pointy end cannot be denied.
Coaches prediction:
3rd: 2 coaches
4th: 1 coach
5th: 4 coaches
6th: 1 coach
Projected best 22:
| Pos | Player | Proj. |
| B | Elliot Yeo WC – B | 95.8 |
| B | Jack Crisp CW – B | 87.6 |
| B | Zach Tuohy GE – B | 84.5 |
| B | Heath Shaw GWS – B | 83.2 |
| B | Shane Biggs WB – B | 79.3 |
| B | Lachie Weller GC – B,C | 76.2 |
| C | Steele Sidebottom CW – C | 106.1 |
| C | Ollie Wines PA – C | 102.8 |
| C | Josh Kennedy SY – C | 100 |
| C | Jarryd Lyons GC – C | 99.5 |
| C | Shaun Grigg RI – C | 95 |
| C | David Armitage SK – C | 85.6 |
| C | Tom Scully GWS – C | 84.4 |
| C | Sam Kerridge CA – C | 82.2 |
| R | Sam Jacobs AD – R | 97.6 |
| F | Sam Menegola GE – C,F | 101.7 |
| F | Lance Franklin SY – F | 97.2 |
| F | Isaac Heeney SY – C,F | 94.2 |
| F | Darcy Parish ES – C,F | 82.6 |
| F | Brandon Matera FR – F | 77.9 |
| F | Jack Watts PA – F | 77.4 |
| UTL | Josh Caddy RI – C,F | 78.5 |
| 1969.3 |
The MVP: Elliot Yeo. The All-Australian forward has become a defender for season 2018, and with Docherty’s absence is a leading candidate to assume the numero uno mantle. The forward line, collectively, could also lay a claim, and has the potential to have a similar impact the defensive line had at the Puttanesca Chiefs last year.
The Breakout Candidate: Darcy Parish. Twenty years of age, forty (AFL) games played, and a coveted forward status retained. The fourth prong in coach Schonfeldt’s forward arsenal heading into the season is primed for a jump in scoring, making the strongest forward line in the competition stronger again. Yikes.
The Bottom Line: Their performances in finals almost defies belief. They made last year’s grand final from fifth, whilst being only the fifth highest scoring team in the competition. Clearly these August performances have left an impression, as an astonishing four coaches think they will make the grand final for a third consecutive year, despite none of those same coaches nominating them for a top two finish.