The best and fittest teams in the AFL meet on Saturday when Geelong take on Sydney at the MCG.
And although the red-hot Swans go into the game on a nine-game winning streak, the Cats have been heavily backed to win their 10th AFL debut.
See the premier, Norm Smith medal and first goalscorer picks from all 24 experts – and the full final verdict.
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DERMOTT BRERETON
Premieres: Geelong by 9 points – “They were the best team of the season by winning two games more than any other team. And her form hasn’t dropped.”
Norm Smith Medal: Patrick Dangerfield (Geelong)
First Goalscorer: Tyson Stengle (Geelong)
JONATHAN BROWN
Premieres: Geelong by 28 points
NATHAN BUCKLEY
Premieres: Geelong by 13 points – “If they play 10 times, Geelong wins six of them and Sydney wins four.”
Norm Smith Medal: Patrick Dangerfield (Geelong)
BEN COTTON
Premieres: Geelong by 12 points – “They’ve been the best team all year and there’s a sense of doom that Chris Scott will lead them to another flag.”
Norm Smith Medal: Mitch Duncan (Geelong)
First Goalscorer: Tom Papley (Sydney)
Nick Dal Santo
Premieres: Geelong by 10 points
Norm Smith Medal: Cameron Guthrie (Geelong)
BEN DIXON
Premieres: Sydney Swans by 14 points – “Geelong are hard to fault and deserved favourites, but the Swans are the best team in the league in my opinion when it comes to taking away your strengths as a team. If they can take away Geelong’s gun, they win – and I think they can!”
Norm Smith Medal: Isaac Heeney (Sydney)
First Goalscorer: Lance Franklin (Sydney)
JASON DUNSTALL
Premieres: Geelong by 12 points – “They’ve been the best team all year…they can’t pass up this opportunity.”
Norm Smith Medal: Cameron Guthrie (Geelong)
First Goalscorer: Jeremy Cameron (Geelong)
CATH DURKIN
Premieres: Geelong by 15 points – “Hard to get past them. Had both close and huge wins on the line which should prepare her well. The management of the bodies throughout the season also looks like they are in the box seats.”
Norm Smith Medal: Tom Stewart (Geelong)
First Goalscorer: Tyson Stengle (Geelong)
CATHERINE HEALEY
Premieres: Geelong, 12 points – “Like they did against the Lions, it will be the Cats’ small forwards who step up with Sydney’s McCartin brothers who do the job at Cameron and Hawkins.”
Norm Smith Medal: Tom Stewart (Geelong)
First Goalscorer: Tom Papley (Sydney)
MARK HOWARD
premier: Geelong by 24 points
Norm Smith Medal: Cameron Guthrie (Geelong)
ANTHONY HUDSON
Premieres: Geelong by 5 points – “Toss a coin as the Swans can worry them but if they can withstand the pressure the Cats should win. I can’t really counter them.”
Norm Smith Medal: Patrick Dangerfield (Geelong)
First Goalscorer: Hayden McLean (Sydney)
JORDAN LEWIS
Premieres: Geelong by 11 points.
Norm Smith Medal: Tom Stewart (Geelong)
BRAD JOHNSON
Premieres: Geelong by 20 points – “I think Patrick Dangerfield will set the tone and have one of the best first quarters in Grand Final history.”
Norm Smith Medal: Patrick Dangerfield (Geelong)
First Goalscorer: Jeremy Cameron (Geelong)
DREW JONES
Premieres: Geelong by 11 points – “The best team of the whole year will produce on the game’s biggest stage.”
Norm Smith Medal: Patrick Dangerfield (Geelong)
First Goalscorer: Brad Close (Geelong)
MAX LACHTON
Premieres: Geelong by 12 points – “Even if the Swans are pushing, the Cats are too good not to dominate the game at least for a while. That should be enough.”
Norm Smith Medal: Patrick Dangerfield (Geelong)
First Goalscorer: Isaac Heeney (Sydney)
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Kath Loughnan
Premieres: Sydney by 15 points – “The Swans’ elite pressure through four quarters, coupled with their dynamic forward line and underrated defensive line, will get the job done.”
Norm Smith Medal: Luke Parker (Sydney)
First goal: Tom Papley (Sydney)
ALASTAIR LYNCH
Premieres: Geelong up 23 points – “I just feel like Geelong has a greater depth of mature talent that can handle the pressure of the occasion better. Also, Geelong’s ability to generate a spare down back is something many clubs have not been able to negate.”
Norm Smith Medal: Jeremy Cameron (Geelong)
First Goalscorer: Tyson Stengle (Geelong)
LEIGH MONTAGNA
Premieres: Geelong by 11 points – “They have too much firepower.”
Norm Smith Medal: Patrick Dangerfield (Geelong)
First Goalscorer: Lance Franklin (Sydney)
CAMERON MOONEY
Premieres: Geelong by 4 points – “To be honest I wouldn’t be surprised if Sydney won because I think Sydney have been pretty much the best pressure team for the last six weeks – and IMO Grand Final day is coming, the team that can longer apply the most pressure to win the game. But Geelong have the best team and when they play at their best, they win.”
Norm Smith Medal: Tom Atkins (Geelong) – “He’s built for Finals Footy.”
First Goalscorer: Tyson Stengle (Geelong)
MATTHEW PAVLICH
Premieres: Geelong by 8 points
Norm Smith Medal: Cameron Guthrie (Geelong)
First Goalscorer: Brad Close (Geelong)
JON RALPH
Premieres: Geelong by 9 points – “Cameron and Stengle are the game-breakers, although Sydney’s pressure has turned this into old-fashioned junk.”
Norm Smith Medal: Tyson Stengle (Geelong)
First Goalscorer: Patrick Dangerfield (Geelong)
NICK RIEWOLDT
Premieres: Geelong by 3 points
Norm Smith Medal: Cameron Guthrie (Geelong)
BEN WATERWORTH
Premieres: Geelong by 12 points – “Something about this Geelong outfit is different. A level of professionalism that we probably haven’t seen from a team since the Hawks of 2015. They will be able to adapt to the conditions and pace of the game with aplomb and be classy when it counts.”
Norm Smith Medal: Tom Stewart (Geelong)
First Goalscorer: Tyson Stengle (Geelong)
DAVID ZITA
Premieres: Geelong by 15 points – “No weaknesses, firing on all guns, they have to lose. Only a Buddy Masterclass can stop them at this point.”
Norm Smith Medal: Patrick Dangerfield (Geelong)
First Goalscorer: Tyson Stengle (Geelong)
FINAL JUDGMENT
premier
22 – Geelong Cats
2 – Sydney Swans
Norm Smith Medal
8 — Patrick Dangerfield (Geelong)
5 — Cameron Guthrie (Geelong)
4 — Tom Stewart (Geelong)
1 – Tom Atkins (Geelong), Tyson Stengle (Geelong), Jeremy Cameron (Geelong), Isaac Heeney (Sydney), Mitch Duncan (Geelong), Luke Parker (Sydney)
First goalscorer
6 — Tyson Stengle (Geelong)
3 – Tom Papley (Sydney)
2 – Lance Franklin (Sydney), Brad Close (Geelong), Jeremy Cameron (Geelong)
1 – Patrick Dangerfield (Geelong), Isaac Heeney (Sydney), Hayden McLean (Sydney)
