Expectations new Gold Coast coach Damien Hardwick can lift the Suns into the finals for the first time are low among the 18 AFL captains, with less than a quarter picking them to make the eight.
The annual captains’ survey also revealed 2022 premiers Geelong aren’t expected to bounce back after missing the finals in 2023, with only two skippers picking them to return to September action.
Unsurprisingly, last year’s grand finalists Collingwood and Brisbane were heavy selections to get back to the last day in September, with GWS, who stormed to the preliminary final, picked as the other major player.
But it was the lack of support for the Suns and Cats, as well as Essendon, Fremantle and the Tigers, that stood out.
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