This year's premiership is a three-horse race according to the AFL's captains, with Hawthorn, the Sydney Swans and Fremantle the only sides tipped to contest September's Grand Final.

As is tradition on the eve of the season, all 18 of the League's skippers were confidentially polled on five topics regarding the season ahead.

When asked which sides other than their own would play off in the premiership decider the Hawks won 10 votes, the Swans five and Dockers three.
All three clubs were tipped by every captain to finish in the top eight, along with Geelong (16 votes), Collingwood (12), West Coast (11), North Melbourne (9), Richmond (9), Essendon (7), Port Adelaide (7), Adelaide (2) and Carlton (2).

Collingwood skipper Scott Pendlebury was nominated as the most likely player to take out the Brownlow Medal with four votes, narrowly favoured ahead of Gold Coast's Gary Ablett and Adelaide's Patrick Dangerfield with three votes each.

Nathan Fyfe, Dustin Martin, Sam Mitchell, Jarryd Roughead, Joel Selwood, Dane Swan and Jobe Watson were also named.

Magpie spearhead Travis Cloke and West Coast counterpart Josh Kennedy each attracted five nominations as Coleman Medal winner, while exciting young Sun Jack Martin was heavily tipped to be crowned this year's NAB AFL Rising Star (seven votes).  

New Lion James Aish (2), Saint Jack Billings (2). Bomber Joe Daniher (2), and Bulldog Marcus Bontempelli, Swan Harry Cunningham, Magpie Brodie Grundy, Giant Josh Kelly and North's Luke McDonald, each with one nomination, also won favour.

The full voting was:

Which seven other clubs do you think can make this year's top eight? (18 times seven selections. In 2013, the captains correctly nominated Hawthorn, Geelong, Fremantle, the Sydney Swans and Collingwood, but missed Richmond, Port Adelaide and Carlton.)

Fremantle (17), Hawthorn (17), Sydney Swans (17), Geelong (16), Collingwood (12), West Coast (11), North Melbourne (9), Richmond (9), Essendon (7), Port Adelaide (7), Adelaide (2), Carlton (2).

Which other club is most likely to reach the Grand Final? (Seven captains picked eventual premier Hawthorn in 2013, while one captain also nominated Fremantle to make the Grand Final.)

Hawthorn (10), Sydney Swans (5), Fremantle (3)

Who do you think will win the 2014 Brownlow Medal? (Three captains correctly nominated Gary Ablett in 2013).

Scott Pendlebury (Collingwood, 4 votes), Gary Ablett (Gold Coast, 3), Patrick Dangerfield (Adelaide, 3), Nathan Fyfe (Fremantle, 2), Dustin Martin (Richmond, 1), Sam Mitchell (Hawthorn, 1), Jarryd Roughead (Hawthorn, 1), Joel Selwood (Geelong, 1), Dane Swan (Collingwood, 1), Jobe Watson (Essendon, 1).

Who do you think will win the 2014 Coleman Medal? (No one correctly nominated Jarryd Roughead in 2013).

Travis Cloke (Collingwood, 5 votes), Josh Kennedy (West Coast, 5), Jarryd Roughead (Hawthorn, 4), Lance Franklin (Sydney Swans, 3), Jack Riewoldt (Richmond, 1).

Who do you think will win the 2014 NAB AFL Rising Star? (Nine captains correctly nominated Jaeger O’Meara in 2013)

Jack Martin (Gold Coast, 7 votes), James Aish (Brisbane Lions, 2), Jack Billings (St Kilda, 2), Joe Daniher (Essendon, 2), Marcus Bontempelli (Western Bulldogs, 1), Harry Cunningham (Sydney Swans, 1), Brodie Grundy (Collingwood, 1), Josh Kelly (GWS, 1), Luke McDonald (North Melbourne, 1).