Trio of clubs tipped for the flag but Lions gun favourite for Norm Smith Medal: 2023 AFL Finals predictions

The 2023 AFL Finals series is here, with eight clubs all vying for premiership glory.

We are guaranteed to be crowned a new premier this year after Geelong failed to make the top eight. Will it be favourites Collingwood who win the premiership, or will Brisbane finally reach that last weekend in September and step onto the dais? Or, will Carlton ride the wave of belief all the way to the grand final?

The Zero Hanger team has put together their predictions for this finals series including premiers, runner-up, Norm Smith Medal, finals MVP and more.

Zero Hanger's 2023 AFL Finals predictions 

Mitch Keating

Premiers: Melbourne
Runner-up: Brisbane
Norm Smith Medal: Steven May
Finals MVP: Jack Viney
Player to Watch: Jason Horne-Francis
Will any of the top four go out in straight sets?: No
Most likely premiers from 5th to 8th: Carlton
Headline we will see: Extra time returns in finals thriller for the ages

Ethan Lee Chalk

Premiers: Collingwood
Runner-up: Brisbane
Norm Smith Medal: Nick Daicos
Finals MVP: Nick Daicos
Player to Watch: Errol Gulden
Will any of the top four go out in straight sets?: Yes - Port Adelaide
Most likely premiers from 5th to 8th: Sydney Swans
Headline we will see: Daicos brothers create history

Charlie Cosgrove

Premiers: Collingwood
Runner-up: Melbourne
Norm Smith Medal: Nick Daicos
Finals MVP: Josh Daicos
Player to Watch: Toby Greene
Will any of the top four go out in straight sets?: No
Most likely premiers from 5th to 8th: Carlton
Headline we will see: Fly's Pies reign supreme

Ed Carmine

Premiers: Collingwood
Runner-up: Carlton
Norm Smith Medal: Steele Sidebottom
Finals MVP: Steele Sidebottom
Player to Watch: Steele Sidebottom
Will any of the top four go out in straight sets?: Yes
Most likely premiers from 5th to 8th: Carlton
Headline we will see: Corporates dilute dream grand final pairing

Jack Jovanovski

Premiers: Brisbane
Runner-up: Melbourne
Norm Smith Medal: Lachie Neale
Finals MVP: Lachie Neale
Player to Watch: Patrick Cripps
Will any of the top four go out in straight sets?: Yes
Most likely premiers from 5th to 8th: Carlton
Headline we will see: Bontempelli edges Daicos, Butters in thriller Brownlow count

Ryan Saxelby

Premiers: Brisbane
Runner-up: Melbourne
Norm Smith Medal: Lachie Neale
Finals MVP: Christian Petracca
Player to Watch: Scott Pendlebury
Will any of the top four go out in straight sets?: Yes
Most likely premiers from 5th to 8th: Carlton
Headline we will see: Umpires decision controversially overturned, eliminating Collingwood from Grand Final dream

Phoenix Trinidad

Premiers: Melbourne
Runner-up: Brisbane
Norm Smith Medal: Jack Viney
Finals MVP: Christian Petracca
Player to Watch: Charlie Cameron
Will any of the top four go out in straight sets?: Yes
Most likely premiers from 5th to 8th: GWS
Headline we will see: Melbourne fan Phoenix Trinidad performs blood ritual in exchange for Demons premiership

Josh De Sa

Premiers: Collingwood
Runner-up: Carlton
Norm Smith Medal: Taylor Adams
Finals MVP: Jordan De Goey
Player to Watch: Patrick Cripps
Will any of the top four go out in straight sets?: Yes - Port Adelaide
Most likely premiers from 5th to 8th: Carlton
Headline we will see: Captain Cripps leads Blues to the Granny

Annie Ireland

Premiers: Melbourne
Runner-up: Collingwood
Norm Smith Medal: Jack Viney
Finals MVP: Lachie Neale
Player to Watch: Nic Newman
Will any of the top four go out in straight sets?: Yes - Port Adelaide
Most likely premiers from 5th to 8th: Carlton
Headline we will see: Nick Daicos returns for the prelim final to be named best on ground and lead Pies to grand final

Totals

Premiers: Collingwood 4, Melbourne 3, Brisbane 2
Runner-Up: Melbourne 3, Brisbane 3, Carlton 2, Collingwood
Norm Smith Medal: Lachie Neale 3, Nick Daicos 2, Steven May, Taylor Adams, Jack Viney, Steele Sidebottom
Finals MVP: Lachie Neale 2, Christian Petracca 2, Jordan De Goey, Steele Sidebottom, Josh Daicos, Nick Daicos, Jack Viney
Player to Watch: Patrick Cripps 2, Nic Newman, Jason Horne-Francis, Steele Sidebottom, Charlie Cameron, Scott Pendlebury, Toby Greene, Errol Gulden
Will any of the top four go out in straight sets?: Yes 7, No 2
Most likely premiers from 5th to 8th: Carlton 7, GWS 1, Sydney 1