We’re only hours away from the first bounce of the 2018 home-and-away season, and excitement is certainly in the air, especially in the Zero Hanger office.

With the opening siren so close, we’ve decided to go ahead and make some predictions ahead of what is shaping up to be one of the tightest seasons in recent memory.

Everyone was asked for their top eight, and each member of the team had to pick their premiers, their Brownlow and Coleman Medallists, Rising star award winner, wooden spoon recipient, and also envisage what the papers will and won’t say in 2018.

So here they are, Zero Hanger’s predictions for the 2018 season!

Steve

  1. Adelaide
  2. Sydney
  3. Richmond
  4. Geelong
  5. GWS
  6. Port Adelaide
  7. Melbourne
  8. Essendon

Premiers: Adelaide

Brownlow Medal: Dustin Martin (Richmond)

Coleman Medal: Lance Franklin (Sydney)

Rising Star: Alex Witherden (Brisbane)

Wooden spoon: North Melbourne

Headline you will see: Gaff comes home after Eagles slump to bottom four finish

Headline you won't see: "In terms of job security, I feel safe": Buckley

Johaan

  1. Adelaide
  2. Sydney
  3. GWS
  4. Richmond
  5. Melbourne
  6. Port Adelaide
  7. Geelong
  8. Essendon

Premiers: GWS

Brownlow Medal: Tom Mitchell (Hawthorn)

Coleman Medal: Toby Greene (GWS)

Rising Star: Paddy Dow (Carlton)

Wooden spoon: Gold Coast

Headline you will see: Crows stumble again on game's biggest stage

Headline you won't see: Eddie falls on his own sword as Magpies CEO

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 30: Rory Sloane (L) and Taylor Walker of the Crows looks dejected after defeat during the 2017 Toyota AFL Grand Final match between the Adelaide Crows and the Richmond Tigers at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on September 30, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Dodge/AFL Media)

Jayden

  1. Adelaide
  2. Sydney
  3. GWS
  4. Port Adelaide
  5. Melbourne
  6. Geelong
  7. Richmond
  8. Essendon

Premiers: Adelaide

Brownlow: Josh Kelly (GWS)

Coleman: John Kennedy (West Coast)

Rising Star: Nick Coffield (St.Kilda)

Wooden spoon: North Melbourne

Headline we will see: Tom Lynch rejects Gold Coast contract before bye, signs with Richmond for 2019

Headline we wont: Gaff and McGovern both re-sign with the Eagles within the first half of the season

Patrick

  1. Richmond
  2. Adelaide
  3. Sydney
  4. Melbourne
  5. Geelong
  6. Port Adelaide
  7. GWS
  8. Hawthorn

Premiers: Melbourne

Brownlow Medal: Josh Kelly (GWS)

Coleman Medal: Patrick Dangerfield (Geelong)

Rising Star: Andrew Brayshaw (Fremantle)

Wooden spoon: North Melbourne

Headline you will see: From smoking before training to leading the Dees to a dream finals run - Gawn leads the Dee's to a drought breaking flag

Headline you won't see: Jeff Kennett announces that the Hawks will be apart of the expansion of the AFL, playing in the inaugural game in India in 2019

Ben

  1. Adelaide
  2. Richmond
  3. Sydney
  4. Port Adelaide
  5. GWS
  6. Melbourne
  7. Geelong
  8. Essendon

Premiers: Adelaide

Brownlow Medal: Dustin Martin (Richmond)

Coleman Medal: Joe Daniher (Essendon)

Rising Star: Alex Witherden (Brisbane)

Wooden spoon: Gold Coast

Headline you will see: Ablett magnifies Geelong's reliance on Dangerwood

Headline you won't see: Lynch commits to Gold Coast rebuild

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 25: Joe Daniher of the Bombers celebrates a goal during the 2017 AFL round 05 ANZAC Day match between the Essendon Bombers and the Collingwood Magpies at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on April 25, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Adam Trafford/AFL Media/Getty Images)

Georgie

1. Adelaide
2. GWS
3. Richmond
4. Geelong
5. Melbourne
6. Essendon
7. Port Adelaide
8. Sydney

Premiers: Adelaide

Brownlow: Zach Merrett (Essendon)

Coleman Medal: Joe Daniher (Essendon)

Rising Star: Andrew Brayshaw (Fremantle)

Wooden spoon: North Melbourne

Headline you will see: (any AFL club)…enters the race for Tom Lynch

Headline you won’t see: Richmond go back-to-back