Rejoice, Bulldogs fans. Your premiership drought is set to end
The crystal ball has good news for Bulldogs fans.
The Western Bulldogs are set to break their grand final hoodoo in a nail biter – according to The New Daily’s panel of experts.
Denis Pagan, who won two premierships as coach at North Melbourne, and 2008 grand final winner Campbell Brown headlined TND’s round table ahead of the biggest day in the footy calendar.
Of the 10 participants, six opted for a Bulldogs win – with an average winning margin of just 10.8 points.
The four who selected Sydney think they will do it much easier, with an average margin of just under 22 points.
But the majority are behind the Dogs as they bid to win their first grand final since 1954.
Lance Franklin is heavily favoured to kick the most goals, while midfield bull Josh Kennedy was the most popular pick to win the Norm Smith Medal.
See the full predictions from The New Daily’s panel below.
Two-time premiership-winning coach and The New Daily football columnist
Premiers: Western Bulldogs
Margin: 24 points
Norm Smith Medal: Jason Johannisen
Leading Goalkicker: Jake Stringer
First Goalkicker: Jake Stringer
Premiership-winning player and The New Daily football columnist
Premiers: Sydney
Margin: 22 points
Norm Smith Medal: Josh Kennedy
Leading Goalkicker: Lance Franklin
First Goalkicker: Tom Papley
Journalist, presenter, author and The New Daily football columnist
Premiers: Western Bulldogs
Margin: 18 points
Norm Smith Medal: Easton Wood
Leading Goalkicker: Jake Stringer
First Goalkicker: Gary Rohan
Editorial Director of The New Daily
Premiers: Sydney
Margin: 11 points
Norm Smith Medal: Dan Hannebery
Leading Goalkicker: Lance Franklin
First Goalkicker: Jake Stringer
Editor of The New Daily
Premiers: Western Bulldogs
Margin: 7 points
Norm Smith Medal: Josh Kennedy
Leading Goalkicker: Jake Stringer
First Goalkicker: Tom Papley
Sports Editor of The New Daily
Premiers: Western Bulldogs
Margin: 1 point
Norm Smith Medal: Lance Franklin
Leading Goalkicker: Lance Franklin
First Goalkicker: Tom Papley
PM News Editor of The New Daily
Premiers: Sydney
Margin: 27 points
Norm Smith Medal: Lance Franklin
Leading Goalkicker: Lance Franklin
First Goalkicker: Luke Dahlhaus
Reporter at The New Daily
Premiers: Western Bulldogs
Margin: 8 points
Norm Smith Medal: Marcus Bontempelli
Leading Goalkicker: Lance Franklin
First Goalkicker: Clay Smith
Reporter at The New Daily
Premiers: Western Bulldogs
Margin: 7 points
Norm Smith Medal: Tom Liberatore
Leading Goalkicker: Tory Dickson
First Goalkicker: Tom Papley
The New Daily content partner
Premiers: Sydney
Margin: 27 points
Norm Smith Medal: Josh Kennedy
Leading Goalkicker: Kurt Tippett
First Goalkicker: Gary Rohan