We've reached the midway point of the season and things in the AFL are starting to heat up. Only 14 rounds have passed and our predictions from the start of the season have gone all over the place. Our Brownlow favourites have been suspended, our premiership favourites have suffered injuries and based on weekly tipping it seems like nothing in the AFL can be predicted.
However, we enter the second half of the season confident that based on what we've seen so far, we have an idea of which teams will finish where and which players will etch their names in history.
Here are our midseason predictions:
1. Richmond
2. West Coast
3. Sydney
4. Geelong
5. Collingwood
6. Melbourne
7. Greater Western Sydney
8. Hawthorn
Premiers: Richmond
Just as it was last season, it's difficult to predict who's going to win the whole thing. The Tigers have been unstoppable this season as they currently sit first on the ladder, but the finals are a whole different ball game. Still dominant at the MCG, it's tough to see who's going to knock them off at the hallowed turf if they finish inside the top two. If the Tigers don't make it to the Grand Final, the Eagles could win it all.
Runners-Up: West Coast
If the Eagles make it to the Grand Final, they'd likely beat any team a part from the reigning premiers. If they're fortunate enough to see another team knock off the Tigers in an earlier round, the Eagles may be hoisting up their 2nd trophy since 2006.
Wooden Spooners: Carlton
It's difficult to see the once great club suffering blowouts week after week this season. But unfortunately, it's going to be much of the same in the second half of the season too. They'd be lucky to pick up one more win this season with the effort their players are currently putting it, although Sunday's performance against the Pies was promising. Another wooden spoon for the blues, but on the brightside, it's another number one draft pick.
1. Nat Fyfe (Fremantle): Unfortunately due to suspension, Nat Fyfe cannot claim his second Brownlow Medal in four years. Having his best year since 2015, Fyfe suffered a one-week suspension in round 12 which makes him ineligible to win the award.
2. Tom Mitchell (Hawthorn): Having an incredible season, Tom Mitchell will walk away with the 2018 Brownlow Medal. Picking up more disposals than any other player in the league, Mitchell has been able to get the Hawks in top eight contention and may lead them to a finals berth.
3. Patrick Cripps (Carlton): It may be hard to see Cripps picking up any votes in the many blowouts he and his team have received, but there aren't many superstars more valuable to their club than Cripps. Also, he doesn't have another star in the navy blue stealing his votes.
4. Andrew Gaff (West Coast): The best player on the team finishing inside the top two is always in a good position on brownlow night. Gaff, who gets plenty of the ball, is never out of the umpires' sight and will poll his fair share of votes in the next half of the season.
5. Shaun Higgins (North Melbourne): One of the league's most underrated talents, Higgins has again been a superstar in the league and the reason why the Kangaroos have been able to shock so many fans. It's time the league start to appreciate what this man can do for his team.
1. Ben Brown (North Melbourne): He's been leading the race all year and all though he isn't putting up numbers out of this world, his consistency in front of goals will pay off in the end.
2. Jesse Hogan (Melbourne): Another player who's been consistent all season, he will stay among the top of the leaderboard but won't have what it takes in order to catch Big Ben Brown who currently stands nine goals ahead.
3. Lance Franklin (Sydney): Always a threat in front of goal, it will be the games he's missed and possibly could miss that will not allow him to take the award home.
4. Will Hoskin-Elliott (Collingwood): Hoskin-Elliott's had a tremendous season for the Magpies thus far. The only player to kick a goal in every game he's played in, Hoskin-Elliott doesn't look to be going anywhere for the time being. Currently sitting in fifth place, Hoskin-Elliott could move himself higher on the list.
5. Tom McDonald (Melbourne): Despite sitting 12 goals off the pace, McDonald has the best goals per game average of any player this season. The Demon has only played eight games, but averages 3.5 goals per contest, and if he stays in that vein of form, he could come home with a wet sail.