IT’S hard enough to tip nine winners in a weekend of footy when you’re making predictions on a Friday.

So it’s hardly surprising tips made before the season started don’t always hit the target five months on.

Who could have seen Port Adelaide’s dramatic fall? Certainly none of the Herald Sun’s footy experts, who all picked the Power to finish high on the ladder in the pre-season crystal ball.

What about the Bulldogs’ jump from 14th to the brink of the top four — after losing their coach and captain at the end of last season?

Things were so bad Jonathan Brown tipped the Dogs to finish last. Oops.

We did get some right. No one tipped Collingwood to make the eight, the Hawks were a popular premier tip and plenty were confident of a Nat Fyfe Brownlow.

We’ve dug up the March time capsule and dusted it off — the results are below. Plus a chance for our experts to explain themselves.

2015 CRYSTAL BALL: FULL PRE-SEASON PREDICTIONS

MARK ROBINSON

Got right*: Hawthorn for premier. Geelong, Kangaroos in top eight.

Got wrong: Essendon and Gold Coast in the eight. Port second. Melbourne to win wooden spoon. Gary Ablett Brownlow.

Robbo says: Happy with the Hawks. Diabolical selections of Essendon and Gold Coast and didn’t think Brisbane would be as poor as they are, now favourite for the spoon.

* Looking like a smart pick at Round 19

DAVID KING

Got right: One of only five to pick Adelaide jumping into the eight.

Got wrong: St Kilda to win the wooden spoon. Essendon and Gold Coast in the eight. North Melbourne top four. Port to win the flag.

King says: (If you could change one thing, what would it be?): Most of it ... I couldn’t be more disappointed in Port Adelaide, Essendon and the Gold Coast

JON ANDERSON

Got right: Nat Fyfe to win the Brownlow. Geelong and Richmond in the eight.

Got wrong: Port Adelaide second. Gold Coast fourth. St Kilda wooden spoon.

Ando says: Obviously, Gold Coast for fourth is looking reasonably sick as is Port Adelaide for second. But I have faith and will be on the Suns to redeem themselves next year.

JON RALPH

Got right: Hawthorn for premier. Cats and Tigers in the eight

Got wrong: Port Adelaide second. Gold Coast fifth. Robbie Gray Brownlow.

Ralphy says: I can forgive myself for tipping Port Adelaide as contenders. But the Suns had a heap of prime movers like Ablett, the Jaeger Bomb, Rory Thompson and May Day (Sam Day and Stephen May) with pre-season injuries and I still backed them in. Schoolboy error. Happy I didn’t fall into the Lions as big improvers like some. Tigers and Cats in the top eight are still standing up.

media_camera Hands up if you thought the Bulldogs could make the top four in March. Picture: Michael Klein

MICHAEL WARNER

Got right: Hawthorn flag. Nat Fyfe Brownlow. Tigers in the eight.

Got wrong: Port Adelaide second. Brisbane eighth. St Kilda spoon.

Mick says: Brisbane proved one of the great howlers three minutes into Round 1. Midfield looked supreme on paper ... Got Port wrong like most and didn’t see West Coast coming either (like most). Brownlow — tick, Tigers — tick, premier — tick, SuperCoach flag — tick.

GERARD WHATELEY

Got right: Cats and Crows in the top eight.

Got wrong: Port Adelaide premiership. Gold Coast in the eight. St Kilda spoon.

Gerard says: It’s not ideal when your premiership tip is going to miss the finals. Fail. As for Gold Coast — that’s them, not me!

SAM EDMUND

Got right: Hawks, Swans, Freo in top four. Geelong and Richmond in the eight.

Got wrong: Port Adelaide for premier. Robbie Gray Brownlow. Gold Coast seventh.

Sam says: While some of my colleagues threw some chips into the Port pot over pre-season, clearly I’ve gone all-in! Safe to say the Power won’t win the flag and while Gray has been good, he won’t win the Brownlow. Ahem.

GLENN McFARLANE

Got right: Hawthorn flag. Geelong, Adelaide and Richmond to play finals. No Gold Coast in top eight.

Got wrong: Port Adelaide second. St Kilda to finish last.

Macca says: Still very happy with the Hawks to win the flag, but bombed out with Gazza to win the Brownlow, and Saints to win the wooden spoon. The Saints have won as many games as the injured Ablett played this year (six). Not too happy with locking in Port Adelaide to finish second.

WARWICK GREEN

Got right: Hawthorn second. Cats and Tigers in the eight. Patrick Dangerfield Brownlow. One of only three experts not to pick St Kilda for the wooden spoon.

Got wrong: Port Adelaide to finish on top. Gold Coast in the eight. GWS wooden spoon.

Warwick says: Couldn’t have anticipated Port and Gold Coast’s disappointing seasons. Would have had West Coast making the eight.

media_camera Patrick Dangerfield has had a sensational season.

JAY CLARK

Got right: Hawthorn flag. Sydney and Freo in top four. Cats and Tigers to finish top eight.

Got wrong: Port Adelaide third.Gold Coast seventh. St Kilda last.

Jay says: Glad I kept the faith in the ageing Dockers as they stitch up the minor premiership. Rossy Lyon is too good to write off and their kids are quality. Will have Suns, Power and the Dogs all in the finals mix next year despite Port let-down this season.

SCOTT GULLAN

Got right: Nat Fyfe Brownlow. Swans, Hawks and Dockers in top four. Crows and Cats in the eight.

Got wrong: Port Adelaide premiership. Gold Coast eighth. St Kilda spoon.

Scott says: Clearly Port to win the flag goes down as one of the worst predictions I have produced in these pages. I didn’t see the Power meltdown or Gold Coast’s flop coming given normally the new coach theory comes with it significant spike.

GRANT BAKER

Got right: Sydney, Hawthorn, Freo in top four. Tigers and Cats in the top eight.

Got wrong: Gold Coast sixth, Gary Ablett Brownlow, St Kilda wooden spoon.

Grant says: My greatest failing was too much faith in the Gold Coast and the healing powers of Gary. Might have forgotten about Brisbane when being too harsh on St Kilda. Port (in my eight) and Dogs (not in) seems to be a universal flaw and the rest of my final eight doesn’t look too shabby.

SHANE CRAWFORD

Got right: Hawthorn flag. Swans and Freo in top four. Richmond, Adelaide, Geelong and North in the eight.

Got wrong: Port Adelaide fourth. Gary Ablett Brownlow. St Kilda wooden spoon.

Crawf says: If I had my time over I’d change my tip for a St Kilda spoon. The good news is it won’t happen again for a very long time which is great for Saints supporters, they are making super progress with the young talent they have.

DERMOTT BRERETON

Got right: Hawthorn flag. Swans and Freo in the top four. Richmond and Geelong in the eight. Scott Pendlebury to win the Brownlow.

Got wrong: St Kilda to win the spoon. Essendon to finish eighth. Port second.

JONATHAN BROWN

Got right: Hawthorn flag. Freo to finish top four. Geelong in the eight.

Got wrong: Western Bulldogs to win the wooden spoon. Gold Coast and Brisbane to play finals.

REBECCA WILLIAMS

Got right: Hawthorn second, Cats and Tigers in the eight

Got wrong: Port Adelaide third. Gold Coast eighth. St Kilda spoon.

media_camera Sam Landsberger was on the money with his Eagles tip.

SAM LANDSBERGER

Got right: Hawthorn flag. Only expert to pick West Coast to play finals.

Got wrong: Port Adelaide fourth. St Kilda spoon.

MATT WINDLEY

Got right: Hawthorn second. Nat Fyfe Brownlow.

Got wrong: Gold Coast and Essendon in the top eight. St Kilda wooden spoon.

DARYL TIMMS

Got right: Hawthorn flag. Sydney and Fremantle in the top four. Cats and Tigers in the eight.

Got wrong: Port Adelaide second. Gold Coast seventh. St Kilda spoon. Gary Ablett Brownlow.