Brad Johnson has made an early prediction on next year’s AFL top six.
The Western Bulldogs champion believes there are four clear-cut teams at the top of the rankings with a tight chasing pack right behind them.
Reigning premiers Geelong and runners-up Sydney are two of those teams alongside Preliminary Finalists Melbourne and Brisbane.
Finding room for the next two was a little bit tricky, Johnson admits.
“You look at the teams that played finals this year and we put four in there automatically - Geelong, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney,” he said on SEN’s Sportsday.
“It’s tough to knock a couple out but ultimately it’s tough to get in and that’s why the competition the last couple of years has been awesome.
“We go as deep as 13 or 14 teams that can actually play finals footy.”
See Johnson’s early 2023 top six below:
Geelong
Brisbane
Melbourne
Sydney
Richmond
Western Bulldogs
Johnson has Carlton, Fremantle and Collingwood outside the top six but right on the brink.
One of the sides he believes will improve on last year and push into the top six is Richmond who recruited Tim Taranto and Jacob Hopper from GWS this trade period.
Add to that a fit Dustin Martin and Johnson believes the Tigers are in good shape heading into 2023.
“When I was going through this, I was thinking how can I leave Richmond out of the top six,” he added.
“Because of the recruits that they’ve got and Dusty coming back and playing footy as well.
“13 wins last year, they finished seventh and they did (lose some close ones), but Shai Bolton went to a level that we absolutely loved, Dan Rioli off half-back, (Josh) Gibcus is one of their key defenders and a really smart, young player.
“I can’t see them not making the top six.”
The Tigers finished the 2022 home and away season in seventh position before losing their Elimination Final to the Lions by two points.
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