IT would seem unlikely that 2017 could be any more extraordinary than 2016 was for footy.

The remarkable story of the Western Bulldogs. The year of Patrick Dangerfield going even better than expected for the new Cat. Throw in a frantic and stunning trade period and we had almost everything.

And yet next season will certainly provide its own surprises with the first ever AFL Women’s season kicking it all off plus some absolutely fascinating storylines to look out for.

Here are our 17 fearless predictions for footy in 2017.

Finals Week 1

THE GARY ABLETT TRADE SAGA WILL LIVE THROUGH THE YEAR

IN Gary Ablett’s final season at Geelong, the footy world was full of chatter over his potential move to Gold Coast. We may see a mirror of that in 2017.

Ablett requested a trade back to the Cats before this past trade period with reports suggesting he could accept a massive pay cut to return home — something Geelong would desperately need given their salary cap constraints.

Both the romantics and the realists will point to how the move could help both sides as the Suns look to move past a difficult phase and the Cats make an all-in push for a premiership.

HAWTHORN WILL RISK MISSING THE FINALS

ON average each season we see two changes to last year’s top eight. North Melbourne is one that most expect, given they won 12 games last year — three fewer than the Bulldogs who finished seventh.

So with multiple young teams on the rise, could we Hawthorn drop out of the finals places in 2017?

It’s not as crazy as it sounds. The Hawks won all six of their games decided by a goal or less in the home and away season — teams don’t do that every year, not even Hawthorn.

While they did win 17 games, the Hawks’ percentage was the third-worst of the top eight sides. Plus, what if Jaeger O’Meara and Tom Mitchell can’t immediately replace Sam Mitchell and Jordan Lewis?

We didn’t think Fremantle would fall out either — and they went from 17 wins one year to just four the next. Even if the Hawks drop three or four games more compared to 2016, they could be at risk.

FINALS DROUGHTS WILL BE BROKEN

THERE are Melbourne fans entering Grade 5 in 2017 who haven’t seen their club play finals, while the St Kilda kids about to start prep are the same way.

Both droughts could end next season. St Kilda won 12 games in 2016, the same number as North Melbourne, missing out only on percentage. Melbourne won 10 but had a better percentage which is generally a better indicator of team quality.

The Demons and Saints are young and hungry sides who are clearly on the rise — only history says they can’t feature in September next season.

It won’t be talent that could stop Melbourne from playing finals in 2017. Source: Getty Images

ADELAIDE WILL BE A FLAG CONTENDER

THINGS could have been much different for Adelaide if not for Round 23’s loss to West Coast.

A victory in that Thursday night home game could have given the Crows a home qualifying final — instead they were forced to travel to Sydney where they lost their semi-final to the Swans.

But Adelaide was one of the best teams statistically last year and in their second season under Don Pyke should continue to improve. Their home ground advantage is a solid one and surely next season 16 wins — their 2016 mark — will be enough for a top four spot. That would put them right in the flag race.

CHRIS FAGAN WILL BE THE BRENDON BOLTON OF 2017

BRISBANE appears to have finally bottomed out, given how remarkably young their list is, while injuries also took their toll in 2016.

But with a new coach at the helm the Lions could be the Carlton of this past season. The Blues won three more games than in their wooden spoon year of 2015 but looked much more structured than in previous seasons and had a clear game plan — defend and bring teams into close games.

Brisbane was historically bad defensively in 2016 with Justin Leppitsch admitting the team was more focused on scoring than stopping the other team from doing so. A philosophical flip from his replacement Chris Fagan could be on the cards meaning we could see the Lions be more competitive throughout the season.

TOM BOYD WILL HAVE A BREAKOUT SEASON, CLOKE WON’T SECURE A SPOT

THINK of this as a little bit of history repeating.

Back in 2011, Tom Hawkins arguably played the best game of his career in the Cats’ grand final victory over Collingwood, with a commanding three goal and 19 disposal performance. The next year he kicked 62 goals.

Expect a similar thing from grand final hero Tom Boyd next season. His near best on ground performance against the Swans signalled the No. 1 draft pick’s arrival.

And don’t expect Travis Cloke to find it easy to cement a spot in the Bulldogs’ best 22 with Boyd on fire. The return of the suspended Stewart Crameri will only add an extra layer of difficulty for the former Magpie.

Take the reigning premiers and add Travis Cloke... do you get success or a shocker? Source: News Corp Australia

NORTH MELBOURNE WILL REGRET MORE THAN ONCE LETTING BRENT HARVEY GO

AND more than once Brad Scott will be asked about it at a press conference after a loss.

The 432-game player kicked 36 goals in 2016 — the most he’d ever booted in his 21 AFL seasons. Only emerging tall forward Ben Brown (41) and Lindsay Thomas (37) kicked more goals for North Melbourne.

But it won’t just be Boomer’s goal kicking prowess that the Kangaroos will miss. How about his pinpoint precision kicks that are perhaps only rivalled by Sam Mitchell? Or his ability to find the footy when the game hangs in the balance?

Harvey might be asking these exact same questions when mentoring the club’s young brigade of midfielders next year.

FREMANTLE WILL WIN ITS FIRST FLAG

BUT it certainly won’t be the men’s team.

Instead, expect a Michelle Cowan-lead outfit to take out the top honour in the inaugural AFLW competition. With the best of Western Australia’s talent at her disposal, Cowan arguably has an advantage over her Victorian rivals, with the talent pool diluted between Carlton, Collingwood, Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs.

And so while Ross Lyon was poached from St Kilda to deliver the most heartfelt rendition of Freo Way To Go, the honour may very well go to the ladies. Girl power!

SAM MITCHELL WILL GO BACK-TO-BACK IN THE BROWNLOW

YES, we know Mitchell didn’t win the 2016 Brownlow. But, along with Trent Cotchin, he was the last player awarded a Brownlow Medal. So technically he can go back-to-back.

And who would put it past the four-time premiership player? As he conceded last month, his 2012 Brownlow year wasn’t his best. If anything, he’s unlucky not to be a multiple winner.

Making this feat more achievable will be his lack of premiership teammates at West Coast to deprive him of votes.

Sam Mitchell could be awarded two Brownlows within a span of less than 12 months. Source: Getty Images

ALIIR ALIIR WILL WIN THE FIRST OF MANY ALL-AUSTRALIAN HONOURS

ONE of the breakout players of 2016, Aliir is one of the coolest movers in the game.

He intercepts, wins his own ball and is dynamic in the air. And when he makes a mistake he backs himself at the next contest and invariably wins. And did we mention he plays in the position most in vogue at halfback?

A preliminary final injury prevented Aliir’s grand final berth, but he’ll be ready to go come Round 1 next season. Expect him to make an impact.

RICHMOND WILL LOSE A GAME IN HEARTBREAKING CIRCUMSTANCES

IT’S inevitable, isn’t it?

Last season, we only had to wait until a Round 2 clash with Collingwood before Richmond lost the unlosable — and it’s bound to happen again in 2017.

Whether it’s via a kick after the siren or giving away a silly free kick late in the game, the Tigers will find some way of disappointing their supporters.

But they always seem to eventually make up for it and, who knows, Sam Lloyd might be on hand to thrill again next season.

THE GWS GIANTS WILL WIN THE FLAG

THEIR football excited the competition in 2016 and everything seems set up for Greater Western Sydney to go one step further next season.

The addition of Brett Deledio was complemented by some handy draft picks, making for a bright future at the Giants.

They were one kick away from a grand final last September and the thought of them claiming a maiden premiership next year isn’t unfathomable. They’re an unstoppable prospect at their best.

GWS was a step away from a grand final in its first finals appearance in 2016. Source: News Corp Australia

COACHES FEEL THE HEAT

NO coaches were sacked mid-season during 2016, but that’s not to say it won’t happen next year.

A host of coaches are under pressure and are bound to feel the heat in the box. Nathan Buckley must finally improve a promising Collingwood list, Ken Hinkley must show that Port Adelaide isn’t a one-trick pony, while Brad Scott will be made to handle one of the youngest squads in the competition.

We can only hope all 18 senior coaches thrive under the increased pressure throughout the season.

GOING BACKWARDS TO GO FORWARD

CARLTON showed great signs in 2016 under first-year coach Brendon Bolton, but Blues fans know too well that sometimes you have to go backwards to go forwards.

As the club’s list build continues, the squad keeps getting younger, making it undoubtedly harder for the Blues to achieve results.

List manager Stephen Silvagni has already forecast a difficult season ahead, given the age demographic of the playing group, so don’t be surprised to see them around the bottom in 2017.

FYFE WILL END THE YEAR IN SAINTS COLOURS

MAKE no mistake — this is what St Kilda is planning for.

Nat Fyfe will be the hottest free agent prospect in town throughout 2017 and speculation surrounding his future is bound to continue, unless he pens a new contract. But how the Saints would love him in their colours by the end of the year.

The club has loads of room in its salary cap, has consistently stated they are looking to snare a big fish and, with two first-round draft picks up its sleeve, has the ability to trade for Fyfe should the Dockers match any free agency bid. Watch this space.

Nat Fyfe hasn’t faced St Kilda since 2014, but could he pull a reverse Ross Lyon and be in their colours at the end of 2017? Source: News Corp Australia

ANOTHER CHAPTER TO THE COMEBACK STORY

MANY have tipped Essendon to immediately return to finals footy in 2017, but don’t expect it to be easy.

While the Bombers will welcome back a host of quality players from 12-month suspensions, they will be forced to bed in with many footballers they have never played with. Creating chemistry, in addition to finding their feet after a year out of the game, might take its time.

The Dons undoubtedly have a quality young list. But perhaps supporters should temper expectations — at least throughout pre-season.

AFL FINALLY SWITCHES TO A TWILIGHT GRAND FINAL

LEAGUE boss Gillon McLachlan said it himself a couple of months ago — “it’s inevitable”.

The AFL made multiple changes to the structure of the end of the season in 2016, adding a bye before the first week of finals and combining that with a Thursday night elimination final. But the chatter over moving the Grand Final to a night or, more likely, twilight timeslot is only intensifying.

With Good Friday footy finally arriving in 2017, the next big move is to follow along with the other major codes and push the season decider back for television purposes. It will happen at some point — so why not now?