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Steve Larkin

Brisbane, GWS tipped as grand finalists by captains

The Brisbane Lions are favoured to win back-to-back premierships in a survey of AFL captains. (James Ross/AAP PHOTOS)

Reigning premiers Brisbane and GWS are the overwhelming tip of AFL captains to make this year's grand final.

In the annual survey of the 18 club captains, the Lions and Giants are clear choices to reach the premiership decider.

Asked which club other than their own is most likely to play in grand final, nine skippers chose Brisbane and eight picked GWS.

Sydney (one) was the only other club to receive a vote.

Collingwood playmaker Nick Daicos is the pick of captains to win the Brownlow medal, with six voting for the star Magpie who was runner-up last season.

Nick Daicos.
Collingwood ace Nick Daicos is the tip of AFL captains to win the Brownlow medal. (Morgan Hancock/AAP PHOTOS)

Four skippers voted for Marcus Bontempelli, two chose Fremantle midfielder Caleb Serong while 2022 and 2024 winner Patrick Cripps from Carlton received the nod from one captain, as did Adelaide's Jordan Dawson, North Melbourne's Harry Sheezel, Port Adelaide pair Jason Horne-Francis and Zak Butters, and GWS' Tom Green.

Five captains believe Geelong stalwart Jeremy Cameron will collect the Coleman medal as the league's leading goalkicker with Carlton's Charlie Curnow and last year's winner Jesse Hogan of the Giants getting four votes.

The Kangaroos' Nick Larkey was selected by two captains with one vote each for Gold Coast's Ben King and Mabior Chol and the Crows' Riley Thilthorpe.

Jeremy Cameron.
Geelong's Jeremy Cameron is backed by captains to be the AFL's leading goalkicker this season. (Morgan Hancock/AAP PHOTOS)

Richmond's No.1 pick from last year's national draft, Sam Lalor, is favoured to win the Rising Star award by four captains with three picking Carlton's Jagga Smith in a survey conducted before the young Blue suffered a knee reconstruction to sideline him for the year.

Adelaide rookie Sid Draper, with two votes, was the only other player with multiple selections.

And the South Australian Showdown between Adelaide and Port Adelaide, with five votes, was the top pick when skippers were asked which clubs they were most looking forward to watching match up against each other.

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