Nick Bowen

Premier: Greater Western Sydney

Runner-up: Sydney

Wooden spoon: Carlton

Moving up: St Kilda

Set to fall: North Melbourne

Brownlow Medal: Marcus Bontempelli (Western Bulldogs)

Coleman Medal: Tom Lynch (Gold Coast)

NAB AFL Rising Star: Jack Bowes (Gold Coast)

Recruit of the year: Sam Mitchell (West Coast)

Surprise All Australian: Jamie Macmillan (North Melbourne)

Headline you'll see: Fyfe turns his back on Vic suitors to re-sign with Dockers

Headline you won't see: Bring back third man up: Sandi

Game-changer: Quick ball movement will be a huge focus for most teams, with players instructed to play on whenever possible.

Pass the tissues: David Swallow returns from horror injury run to win Gold Coast's best and fairest award.

The new normal: Following the example Hawthorn set last year with Sam Mitchell and Jordan Lewis, clubs will be more prepared to trade star veterans when their lists need youthful makeovers.

Ladder

Greater Western Sydney

Sydney

Western Bulldogs

West Coast

Adelaide

St Kilda

Geelong

Melbourne

-----------

Hawthorn

Collingwood

Port Adelaide

Gold Coast

North Melbourne

Richmond

Fremantle

Essendon

Brisbane Lions

Carlton

>> When is your team playing? Check out the full AFL fixture

Ashley Browne

Premier: Greater Western Sydney

Runner-up: Western Bulldogs

Wooden spoon: Carlton

Moving up: Melbourne

Set to fall: Geelong

Brownlow Medal: Dan Hannebery (Sydney)

Coleman Medal: Tom Lynch (Gold Coast)

NAB AFL Rising Star: Ryan Burton (Hawthorn)

Recruit of the year: Tom Mitchell (Hawthorn)

Surprise All Australian: Dayne Beams (Brisbane Lions)

Headline you'll see: Crowd records smashed

Headline you won't see: Angry Giants fans slam AFL

Game-changer: The art of ruckwork will return with the 'third man up' now abolished. Some will tap, others will punch, while the palm might also make a comeback. It will be beautiful to watch.

Pass the tissues: Sam Mitchell gets a standing ovation from Hawthorn fans during the pre-game warm-up just before the round five game at the MCG.

The new normal: Star player is a late withdrawal from a game then misses another two weeks. Club says he has a 'grumbly' groin. Social media, 'Snowy' on the tram and the second cousin of someone you went to school insist he is serving a ban for an illicit drug and that the AFL is keeping it a secret.

Ladder

Greater Western Sydney

Western Bulldogs

Sydney

West Coast

Hawthorn

Melbourne

Adelaide

St Kilda

-----------

Geelong

Fremantle

Gold Coast

Essendon

Collingwood

North Melbourne

Richmond

Port Adelaide

Brisbane Lions

Carlton

Ryan Burton has the talent to make an impact in 2017. Picture: AFL Photos





Ben Collins

Premier: Greater Western Sydney

Runner-up: West Coast

Wooden spoon: Carlton

Moving up: Collingwood

Set to fall: North Melbourne

Brownlow Medal: Josh Kennedy (Sydney)

Coleman Medal: Josh Kennedy (West Coast)

NAB AFL Rising Star: Will Brodie (Gold Coast)

Recruit of the year: Sam Mitchell (West Coast)

Surprise All Australian: Steve Johnson (GWS)

Headline you'll see: No Shanghai surprise: Chinese support Suns and Kochie goes crook

Headline you won't see: Big-headed Bulldogs rest on laurels

Game-changer: Nathan Buckley saves his job by sharing it more with others. His new focus on delegation and player-empowerment results in more Pies enjoying personal-best seasons and a vastly improved team effort.

Pass the tissues: Jarryd Roughead becomes the All Australian captain.

The new normal: An old normal will return, with handball numbers to go through the roof again following the success of the Bulldogs' famed 'handball club'. And there will be an unofficial competition to see who can deliver the most outrageously inventive (and legal) handball.

Ladder

Greater Western Sydney

West Coast

Adelaide

Sydney

Western Bulldogs

Hawthorn

Geelong

Collingwood

-----------

Melbourne

St Kilda

North Melbourne

Port Adelaide

Richmond

Gold Coast

Essendon

Fremantle

Brisbane Lions

Carlton

Adam Curley

Premier: Western Bulldogs

Runner-up: Greater Western Sydney

Wooden spoon: Carlton

Moving up: Melbourne

Set to fall: North Melbourne

Brownlow Medal: Sam Mitchell (West Coast)

Coleman Medal: Lance Franklin (Sydney)

NAB AFL Rising Star: Jacob Hopper (GWS)

Recruit of the year: Sam Mitchell (West Coast)

Surprise All Australian: Josh Kelly (GWS)

Headline you'll see: NSW clubs dominate 2017 All Australian 22

Headline you won't see: Carlton's former Giants lead club revival

Game-changer: Coaches will find a way to have their star midfielders spend even more time forward and less time off the ground this season, meaning the likes of Marcus Bontempelli, Luke Parker, Patrick Dangerfield and Nat Fyfe will kick 30+ goals.

Pass the tissues: Bob Murphy retires with a premiership as the Bulldogs go back-to-back.

The new normal: West Coast duo Matt Priddis and Sam Mitchell combining to rack up 70+ possessions between them.

Ladder

Greater Western Sydney

Western Bulldogs

Sydney

Adelaide

West Coast

Geelong

Melbourne

Hawthorn

-----------

St Kilda

Essendon

Gold Coast

Richmond

Collingwood

Fremantle

North Melbourne

Port Adelaide

Brisbane

Carlton

Marcus Bontempelli could rest forward more often. Picture: AFL Photos





Ryan Davidson

Premier: Western Bulldogs

Runner-up: Greater Western Sydney

Wooden spoon: Carlton

Moving up: Melbourne

Set to fall: North Melbourne

Brownlow Medal: Sam Mitchell

Coleman Medal: Josh Kennedy (West Coast)

NAB AFL Rising Star: Brayden Fiorini (Gold Coast)

Recruit of the year: Travis Cloke

Surprise All Australian: Steven May

Headline you'll see: Tigers miss the eight, again

Headline you won't see: Power surge saves Hinkley

Game-changer: The AFL has vowed to crack down on the practice, but the super-quick handball (or borderline throwing) from contests the Bulldogs employed so successfully last year was prevalent amongst other teams in the JLT Community Series. Increased ball movement through the corridor will also be prevalent.

Pass the tissues: For a kid that has had terrible luck since being drafted, the football world would be hoping Saint Nathan Freeman's hamstrings would finally let him show his immense talent at senior level.

The new normal: Like it or not, GWS will play finals consistently for the foreseeable future, and be most experts' tip for the flag in that period.

Ladder

Western Bulldogs

Greater Western Sydney

Sydney Swans

Adelaide

Geelong

Hawthorn

West Coast

Essendon

-----------

St Kilda

Melbourne

Gold Coast

Collingwood

North Melbourne

Port Adelaide

Fremantle

Richmond

Carlton

Brisbane Lions

Nat Edwards

Premier: Sydney

Runner-up: Greater Western Sydney

Wooden spoon: Carlton

Moving up: Essendon

Set to fall: North Melbourne

Brownlow Medal: Patrick Dangerfield

Coleman Medal: Josh Kennedy (West Coast)

NAB AFL Rising Star: Sam Powell-Pepper (Port Adelaide)

Recruit of the year: Jaeger O'Meara

Surprise All Australian: Dylan Shiel

Headline you'll see: Port sees red as Chinese fans side with Suns

Headline you won't see: Hawks bomb on Jaeger trade

Game-changer: Drawing free kicks for a high tackle is going to be very tough in 2017 with the umpires cracking down on shrugging the shoulders and dropping the knees. Several clubs have benefited from this over in the past, and will need to find a new tactic quick smart.

Pass the tissues: After a year out of the game, Jarryd Roughead returns to lead the Hawks and has a phenomenal year, winning Hawthorn's best and fairest.

The new normal: 40-plus possession games for Patrick Dangerfield as he waltzes towards yet another Brownlow Medal.

Ladder



Greater Western Sydney

Sydney Swans

West Coast

Hawthorn

Geelong

Western Bulldogs

Adelaide

Melbourne

-----------

St Kilda

Collingwood

Richmond

Essendon

North Melbourne

Gold Coast

Fremantle

Port Adelaide

Brisbane Lions

Carlton





Port Adelaide's Sam Powell-Pepper is set to make an instant impact. Picture: AFL Photos







Lee Gaskin

Premier: Greater Western Sydney

Runner-up: West Coast

Wooden spoon: Brisbane Lions

Moving up: St Kilda

Set to fall: North Melbourne

Brownlow Medal: Patrick Dangerfield (Geelong)

Coleman Medal: Eddie Betts (Adelaide)

NAB AFL Rising Star: Sam Powell-Pepper (Port Adelaide)

Recruit of the year: Zach Tuohy (Geelong)

Surprise All Australian: Zac Williams (GWS)

Headline you'll see: Electric Eddie kicks goal of the year for third straight season

Headline you won't see: Dusty becomes regular panel member on The Footy Show

Game-changer: After the Dockers kick the first point of the game, Ross Lyon instructs them to play keepings off for the next two hours as they hang on for a gritty 1-0 victory.

Pass the tissues: Nat Fyfe has a spectacular season for the Dockers and finishes just one vote behind Dangerfield in the Brownlow Medal.

The new normal: Every side is running at least a dozen players through the midfield to copy the versatility of the Bulldogs.

Ladder

Greater Western Sydney

Sydney Swans

Geelong

West Coast

Adelaide

St Kilda

Hawthorn

Melbourne

-----------

Western Bulldogs

Richmond

Gold Coast

Port Adelaide

Collingwood

North Melbourne

Essendon

Fremantle

Carlton

Brisbane Lions

Ben Guthrie

Premier: Greater Western Sydney

Runner-up: West Coast

Wooden spoon: Carlton

Moving up: Essendon

Set to fall: North Melbourne

Brownlow Medal: Adam Treloar (Collingwood)

Coleman Medal: Josh Kennedy (West Coast)

NAB AFL Rising Star: Oliver Florent (Sydney)

Recruit of the year: Sam Mitchell (West Coast)

Surprise All Australian: Luke Dahlhaus (Western Bulldogs)

Headline you'll see: Opposition clubs cry foul at Giants' dominance

Headline you won't see: Port Adelaide president David Koch declares club is rebuilding

Game-changer: The corridor kick. Teams will look to use the '45 kick' (a pass inboard on a 45-degree angle) more than ever to open up the ground and exploit opposition zone defences. The reward of hitting the 'corridor kick' far outweighs the risk as teams focus on transition footy.

Pass the tissues: Jobe Watson is named to the All Australian team after a year out of the game, giving him a consolation prize after losing his 2012 Brownlow Medal.

The new normal: The hybrid defender will take away the need for teams to pick key backmen in position. Even though they are undersized, hybrid defenders can generally cover the ground quickly and defend space more efficiently than key defenders. Players such as Jeremy McGovern and Jeremy Howe will thrive.

Ladder

Greater Western Sydney

West Coast

Sydney

Western Bulldogs

Geelong

Adelaide

Essendon

St Kilda

-----------

Melbourne

Hawthorn

Gold Coast

Collingwood

Fremantle

Port Adelaide

Richmond

North Melbourne

Brisbane Lions

Carlton

Could Adam Treloar claim his first Brownlow Medal? Picture: AFL Photos





Travis King

Premier: West Coast

Runner-up: Greater Western Sydney

Wooden spoon: Carlton

Moving up: Melbourne

Set to fall: North Melbourne

Brownlow Medal: Nat Fyfe (Fremantle)

Coleman Medal: Josh Kennedy (West Coast)

NAB AFL Rising Star: Tim Taranto (GWS)

Recruit of the year: Sam Mitchell (West Coast)

Surprise All Australian: Bradley Hill (Fremantle)

Headline you'll see: Power out on Hinkley

Headline you won't see: Cats skipper booked again for speeding

Game-changer: High-risk, high-reward kicking into the corridor.

Pass the tissues: Emotional Jobe Watson bows out by winning Bombers best and fairest.

The new normal: The introduction of a twilight Grand Final sounds the death knell for the traditional 2.30pm bouncedown.

Ladder

Greater Western Sydney

Sydney

West Coast

Western Bulldogs

St Kilda

Melbourne

Geelong

Adelaide

-----------

Hawthorn

Collingwood

Fremantle

Gold Coast

Richmond

Essendon

Port Adelaide

North Melbourne

Brisbane Lions

Carlton

Howard Kotton

Premier: Greater Western Sydney

Runner-up: Hawthorn

Wooden spoon: Brisbane Lions

Moving up: St Kilda

Set to fall: North Melbourne

Brownlow Medal: Callan Ward (GWS)

Coleman Medal: Josh Kennedy (West Coast)

NAB AFL Rising Star: Ben Ainsworth (Gold Coast)

Recruit of the year: Sam Mitchell (West Coast)

Surprise All Australian: Marc Murphy (Calrton)

Headline you'll see: Board backs Hardwick/Buckley

Headline you won't see: Malthouse to coach his fifth AFL club

Game-changer: The new ruck rule banning the 'third man up' will lead to a better spectacle. Play won't be as congested and purists will delight in watching the two ruckmen going head to head.

Pass the tissues: Young Magpie Sam McLarty, whose battle to get to the elite level has been well documented, wins a NAB AFL Rising Star nomination on the back of several impressive performances.

The new normal: If the JLT Community Series is any indication, clubs have followed the Bulldogs' template for success with the use of handball. Statistics show there have been already many more handballs than kicks – but will it last? Unlikely.

Ladder

Greater Western Sydney

Hawthorn

West Coast

Sydney

St Kilda

Gold Coast

Geelong

Western Bulldogs

-----------

Adelaide

Melbourne

Fremantle

North Melbourne

Collingwood

Richmond

Essendon

Port Adelaide

Carlton

Brisbane Lions

Ben Ainsworth has the skill and strength to excel early. Picture: AFL Photos





Dinny Navaratnam

Premier: Greater Western Sydney

Runner-up: West Coast

Wooden spoon: Brisbane Lions

Moving up: Richmond

Set to fall: North Melbourne

Brownlow Medal: Trent Cotchin (Richmond)

Coleman Medal: Tom Lynch (Gold Coast)

NAB AFL Rising Star: Sam Powell-Pepper (Port Adelaide)

Recruit of the year: Sam Mitchell (West Coast)

Surprise All Australian: Mitch McGovern (Adelaide)

Headline you'll see: Good Friday footy a success

Headline you won't see: Clarkson: I shouldn't have traded Mitchell and Lewis

Game-changer: Teams go handball-heavy to break through opposition defences.

Pass the tissues: Jobe Watson racks up 36 disposals to help Essendon to a two-point victory on Anzac Day, wins Anzac Medal.

The new normal: Players go to extreme lengths to avoid deliberately rushing behinds.

Ladder

Greater Western Sydney

Sydney

Western Bulldogs

West Coast

Geelong

Hawthorn

Adelaide

Richmond

-----------

Melbourne

Collingwood

St Kilda

Gold Coast

Essendon

Fremantle

Port Adelaide

North Melbourne

Carlton

Brisbane Lions

Jennifer Phelan

Premier: GWS

Runner-up: Adelaide

Wooden spoon: Carlton

Moving up: Melbourne

Set to fall: North Melbourne

Brownlow Medal: Rory Sloane (Adelaide)

Coleman Medal: Jeremy Cameron (Greater Western Sydney)

NAB AFL Rising Star: Wayne Milera (Adelaide)

Recruit of the year: Jordan Lewis (Melbourne)

Surprise All Australian: Daniel Wells (Collingwood)

Headline you'll see: Martin to stay a Tiger

Headline you won't see: Power lose first 10 games, Kochie fine with it

Game-changer: 'Third man up' ban sees more clubs play two recognised ruckmen.

Pass the tissues: The Bulldogs go back-to-back and Bob Murphy wins the Norm Smith.

The new normal: More small forwards in contention for the Coleman Medal.

Ladder

Greater Western Sydney

Sydney Swans

Western Bulldogs

Adelaide

West Coast

Melbourne

Hawthorn

Geelong

-----------

Collingwood

St Kilda

Richmond

North Melbourne

Port Adelaide

Fremantle

Essendon

Gold Coast

Brisbane Lions

Carlton

Jordan Lewis should improve the Demons in his first year there. Picture: AFL Photos





Peter Ryan

Premier: Greater Western Sydney

Runner-up: Sydney

Wooden spoon: Carlton

Moving up: Melbourne

Set to fall: North Melbourne

Brownlow Medal: Adam Treloar (Collingwood)

Coleman Medal: Josh Kennedy (West Coast)

NAB AFL Rising Star: Jack Bowes (Gold Coast)

Recruit of the year: Bradley Hill (Fremantle)

Surprise All Australian: Callan Ward (GWS)

Headline you'll see: Players win landmark pay-deal

Headline you won't see: Trading ban on Greater Western Sydney

Game-changer: A club playing two ruckmen has massive advantage at stoppages.

Pass the tissues: Essendon's first win for the season.

The new normal: Clubs rest their stars as they are more focused on finishing in top eight with their best team on park than winning the double chance by finishing top four.

Ladder

Sydney

Western Bulldogs

Greater Western Sydney

Adelaide

Geelong

Melbourne

West Coast

St Kilda

-----------

Hawthorn

Collingwood

Gold Coast

Essendon

Port Adelaide

Fremantle

North Melbourne

Richmond

Brisbane Lions

Carlton

Nathan Schmook

Premier: Sydney Swans

Runner-up: Greater Western Sydney

Wooden spoon: Carlton

Moving up: Melbourne

Set to fall: North Melbourne

Brownlow Medal: Nat Fyfe (Fremantle)

Coleman Medal: Tom Lynch (Gold Coast)

NAB AFL Rising Star: Sam Powell-Pepper (Port Adelaide)

Recruit of the year: Sam Mitchell (West Coast)

Surprise All Australian: Jack Billings (St Kilda)

Headline you'll see: Saint 'Richo' signs on for the long haul

Headline you won't see: Early resolution in Dusty talks

Game-changer: Rewarding tacklers. Blowing the whistle this year instead of play on when the ball spills free could be the answer to congestion.

Pass the tissues: Dumped Dockers ride Giant wave into GF.

The new normal: Tuesday night parmas for the Tribunal jury. With only five cases in 2016 (down from 11 in 2015 and 15 in 2014), a new low could be set this year.

Ladder

Greater Western Sydney

Sydney Swans

Western Bulldogs

West Coast

Geelong

Hawthorn

Melbourne

Adelaide

-----------

St Kilda

Collingwood

Richmond

Essendon

Gold Coast

North Melbourne

Port Adelaide

Fremantle

Brisbane Lions

Carlton

Jack Billings has had a strong pre-season and is ready to fire. Picture: AFL Photos





Matt Thompson

Premier: Greater Western Sydney

Runner-up: Western Bulldogs

Wooden spoon: Carlton

Moving up: Melbourne

Set to fall: Hawthorn

Brownlow Medal: Patrick Dangerfield (Geelong)

Coleman Medal: Lance Franklin (Sydney)

NAB AFL Rising Star: Andrew McGrath (Essendon)

Recruit of the year: Tom Mitchell (Hawthorn)

Surprise All Australian: Zach Merrett (Essendon)

Headline you'll see: Players get massive pay rise

Headline you won't see: Dustin Martin splits from celebrity agent

Game-changer: Off the field, now the AFL owns Etihad Stadium, tenant clubs will reap the rewards of newfound prosperity.

Pass the tissues: Fans finally get a full look at Jaeger O'Meara's potential, bringing tears to the eyes of both Hawks and Gold Coast supporters - albeit for different reasons.

The new normal: The barrier between fans and players becomes further restricted, with more controlled media access meaning we hear less from the stars of the game.

Ladder

Greater Western Sydney

Western Bulldogs

Sydney

West Coast

Geelong

Melbourne

Collingwood

St Kilda

-----------

Hawthorn

Essendon

Gold Coast

Richmond

Adelaide

North Melbourne

Fremantle

Port Adelaide

Brisbane Lions

Carlton

Callum Twomey

Premier: Greater Western Sydney

Runner-up: West Coast

Wooden spoon: Carlton

Moving up: Essendon

Set to fall: Geelong

Brownlow Medal: Nat Fyfe (Fremantle)

Coleman Medal: Tom Lynch (Gold Coast)

NAB AFL Rising Star: Ben Ainsworth (Gold Coast)

Recruit of the year: Jaeger O'Meara

Surprise All Australian: Orazio Fantasia

Headline you'll see: Mitchell makes Hawks pay

Headline you won't see: Dusty calls press conference to update media on contract talks

Game changer: Play on, play on, play on. The 'rush' tactic is in vogue with clubs keen to break open play instead of short-passing the ball to find an opening.

Pass the tissues: Jobe Watson wins Essendon best and fairest and returns to career-best form.

The new normal: Stricter media access to players despite new CBA deal.

Ladder

Greater Western Sydney

West Coast

Western Bulldogs

Adelaide

Sydney

Hawthorn

Essendon

Geelong

-----------

Melbourne

Gold Coast

Fremantle

St Kilda

Collingwood

Richmond

Port Adelaide

North Melbourne

Brisbane Lions

Carlton

Could Jobe win another Brownlow in a fairytale return? Picture: AFL Photos





Michael Whiting

Premier: Greater Western Sydney

Runner-up: Sydney

Wooden spoon: Carlton

Moving up: Gold Coast

Set to fall: North Melbourne

Brownlow Medal: Luke Parker (Sydney)

Coleman Medal: Josh Kennedy (West Coast)

NAB AFL Rising Star: Hugh McCluggage (Brisbane Lions)

Recruit of the year: Pearce Hanley (Gold Coast)

Surprise All Australian: Dylan Shiel (GWS)

Headline you'll see: How long can Bucks hold on?

Headline you won't see: Eddie says Giants losing the Riverina is bad for game's growth

Game-changer: Who's going to be the first to not press everyone up and leave a couple of forwards stationed at home?

Pass the tissues: Nic Nat returns and helps West Coast storm into a prelim final.

The new normal: Signing draftees to multi-year extensions before they've played a game – particularly interstate clubs. The Suns have done it and watch for others to follow. Win-win for player and club.

Ladder

Greater Western Sydney

Sydney

West Coast

Western Bulldogs

Adelaide

Geelong

Hawthorn

Gold Coast

-----------

Melbourne

St Kilda

Collingwood

Fremantle

Port Adelaide

Richmond

Essendon

North Melbourne

Brisbane Lions

Carlton