It seems this gets said every year, but is this truly the most wide open premiership of all time? Kane Cornes believes so.
AFL greats Matthew Lloyd and Cornes have listed the clubs who they believe are still in contention in what the latter declared is as the most open flag race in the game's history.
The season has thrown up multiple premiership favourites with the bookies, with the West Coast Eagles now surging to the front after their 66-point demolition of Collingwood.
Speaking on Channel 9's Footy Classified on Monday night, Lloyd named only four teams as premiership contenders.
“West Coast, Brisbane and Port … just the advantage they’ve got with the fans and their home ground advantage,” the Essendon legend said.
“I wasn’t game enough to write off Richmond with all their players coming back and the way they’re playing.
“They're probably the only teams at this stage.”
Cornes added: “I had it down to six a couple of weeks ago but I’ve since added Richmond in. I wrote them off a couple of weeks ago."
“It’s the most wide-open premiership of all time.
“If they (Melbourne) are healthy with (Jack) Viney, (Christian) Petracca, (Clayton) Oliver and (Max) Gawn and (Sam) Weideman coming good, why can’t they win it if everyone else falls down with injuries?
“I just think it’s the most wide-open premiership we’ve ever seen and in three weeks’ time, who knows what issues are going to bob up.
Lloyd's premiership contenders
West Coast
Brisbane
Port Adelaide
Richmond
Cornes' premiership contenders
West Coast
Brisbane
Port Adelaide
Richmond
Collingwood
GWS
Western Bulldogs
Melbourne
