In a poll of fourteen of the site's writers, all predicted the Cats and Hawks would play off in the big one with a slight majority picking the Cats to prevail.
Cats skipper Joel Selwood was also prominent amongst votes for the Norm Smith Medal (5) and Brownlow (3).
See the full predictions below:
NICK BOWEN
Premiers: Hawthorn
Runners-up: Geelong
Norm Smith: Shaun Burgoyne
Finals X-factor: Steven Motlop
Brownlow: Joel Selwood
Brownlow smokey: Travis Boak
Who will coach Melbourne: Mark Williams
Who will coach the Brisbane Lions: Adam Simpson
Where will Buddy be in 2014: Hawthorn
Where will Dale Thomas play in 2014: Collingwood
Biggest trade week/free agency move: Jack Watts to Carlton
All Australian captain: Gary Ablett
The headline you'll read: I always had faith in Clarko: Kennett
How many delistings/player moves will Carlton make: Eight
BEN COLLINS
Premiers: Geelong
Runners-up: Hawthorn
Norm Smith: Steven Motlop
Finals X-factor: Steven Motlop
Brownlow: Scott Pendlebury
Brownlow smokey: Travis Boak
Who will coach Melbourne: Mark Williams
Who will coach the Brisbane Lions: John Worsfold
Where will Buddy be in 2014: Greater Western Sydney
Where will Dale Thomas play in 2014: Collingwood
Biggest trade week/free agency move: Lance Franklin to GWS
All Australian captain: Joel Selwood
The headline you'll read: Buddy's new role... as Jezza's decoy
How many delistings/player moves will Carlton make: Eight
JAMES DAMPNEY
Premiers: Hawthorn
Runners-up: Geelong
Norm Smith: Brad Sewell
Finals X-factor: Joel Selwood
Brownlow: Gary Ablett
Brownlow smokey: Jarryd Roughead
Who will coach Melbourne: Mark Williams
Who will coach the Brisbane Lions: Adam Simpson
Where will Buddy be in 2014: Hawthorn
Where will Dale Thomas play in 2014: Carlton
Biggest trade week/free agency move: Mick Malthouse banks his Carlton revolution on rehabilitating his former charge Dale Thomas
All Australian captain: Gary Ablett
The headline you'll read: Kennett speechless as curse is cracked
How many delistings/player moves will Carlton make: Four delistings, three trades
MARK MACGUGAN
Premiers: Hawthorn
Runners up: Geelong
Norm Smith: Ben Stratton
Finals X-factor: Paul Chapman
Brownlow: Joel Selwood
Brownlow smokey: Travis Boak
Who will coach Melbourne: Rodney Eade
Who will coach the Brisbane Lions: Leigh Matthews
Where will Buddy be in 2014: Hawthorn
Where will Dale Thomas play in 2014: Collingwood
Biggest trade week/free agency move: Eddie Betts to leave Carlton
All Australian captain: Gary Ablett
The headline you'll read: Kennett Curse killed as Hawks crush Cats
How many delistings/player moves will Carlton make: Nine
PETER RYAN
Premiers: Geelong
Runners up: Hawthorn
Norm Smith: Steven Motlop
Finals X-factor: Michael Walters
Brownlow: Gary Ablett
Brownlow smokey: Hamish Hartlett
Who will coach Melbourne: Neil Craig
Who will coach the Brisbane Lions: Scott Burns
Where will Buddy be in 2014: Greater Western Sydney
Where will Dale Thomas play in 2014: On the wing
Biggest trade week/free agency move: Eddie Betts to Adelaide
All Australian captain: Joel Selwood
The headline you'll read: Melbourne on top after round one
How many delistings/player moves will Carlton make: 11
CALLUM TWOMEY
Premiers: Hawthorn
Runners up: Geelong
Norm Smith: Jarryd Roughead
Finals X-factor: Steven Motlop
Brownlow: Gary Ablett
Brownlow smokey: Patrick Dangerfield
Who will coach Melbourne: Neil Craig
Who will coach the Brisbane Lions: Adam Simpson
Where will Buddy be in 2014: Hawthorn
Where will Dale Thomas play in 2014: Collingwood
Biggest trade week/free agency move: Eddie Betts leaves the Blues
All Australian captain: Gary Ablett
The headline you'll read: GWS puts pick one up for trade… then keeps it
How many delistings/player moves will Carlton make: Nine
MICHAEL WHITING
Premiers: Hawthorn
Runners up: Geelong
Norm Smith: Jarryd Roughead
Finals X-factor: Steven Motlop
Brownlow: Gary Ablett. Probably needs three votes this weekend though.
Brownlow smokie: Ryan Griffen
Who will coach Melbourne: Mark Williams
Who will coach the Brisbane Lions: Rodney Eade
Where will Buddy be in 2014: GWS. If they offer the cash that’s being reported, surely that's too good to refuse.
Where will Dale Thomas play in 2014: Collingwood
Biggest trade week/free agency move: Buddy to GWS
All Australian captain: Joel Selwood, by a whisker from Ablett.
The headline you'll read: Richmond bundled from finals by ninth-placed team
How many delistings/player moves will Carlton make: Plenty. Let's go with eight.
NATHAN SCHMOOK
Premiers: Geelong
Runners up: Hawthorn
Norm Smith: Joel Selwood
Finals X-factor: Mitch Duncan
Brownlow: Gary Ablett
Brownlow smoky: Travis Boak
Who will coach Melbourne: Mark Williams
Who will coach the Brisbane Lions: Scott Burns
Where will Buddy be in 2014: Hawthorn
Where will Dale Thomas play in 2014: Collingwood
Biggest trade week/free agency move: Jack Watts leaves Melbourne
All Australian captain: Gary Ablett
The headline you'll read: Brownlow heartbreak for ineligible Fyfe
How many delistings/player moves will Carlton make: Nine
ASHLEY BROWNE
Premiers: Geelong
Runners up: Hawthorn
Norm Smith: Joel Selwood
Finals X-factor: Lance Franklin
Brownlow: Gary Ablett
Brownlow smokey: Luke Hodge
Who will coach Melbourne: Rodney Eade
Who will coach the Brisbane Lions: Adam Simpson
Where will Buddy be in 2014: Hawthorn
Where will Dale Thomas play in 2014: The MCG, Etihad, SCG, Patersons Stadium, the Adelaide Oval, the Gabba, Skoda Stadium.
Biggest trade week/free agency move: One of Leigh Montagna or Nick Dal Santo to take a bullet and leave St Kilda to help the Saints become more active in the free agency/trade period.
All Australian captain: Gary Ablett
The headline you'll read: My last GF: Demetriou tapped to lead Labor
How many delistings/player moves will Carlton make: At least eight Carlton players will be traded or delisted.
ALEX MALCOLM
Premiers: Geelong
Runners up: Hawthorn
Norm Smith: Joel Selwood
Finals X-factor: Steven Motlop
Brownlow: Gary Ablett
Who will coach Melbourne: Rodney Eade
Who will coach the Brisbane Lions: John Blakey
Where will Buddy be in 2014: Greater Western Sydney
Where will Dale Thomas play in 2014: Collingwood
Biggest tradeweek/free agency move: Lance Franklin to GWS
All Australian captain: Joel Selwood
The headline you'll read: Bomber players receive infraction notices
How many delistings/player moves will Carlton make: Eight
BEN GUTHRIE
Premiers: Geelong
Runners up: Hawthorn
Norm Smith: Joel Selwood
Finals X-factor: Gary Rohan
Brownlow: Joel Selwood
Brownlow smokey: Tom Liberatore
Who will coach Melbourne: Mark Williams
Who will coach the Brisbane Lions: Paul Roos
Where will Buddy be in 2014: Hawthorn
Where will Dale Thomas play in 2014: Collingwood
Biggest trade week/free agency move: Chris Yarran to West Coast
All Australian captain: Joel Selwood
The headline you'll read: Miley Cyrus livens up Grand Final entertainment with world-famous twerk
How many delistings/player moves will Carlton make: 11
JENNIFER PHELAN
Premiers: Geelong
Runners up: Hawthorn
Norm Smith: Harry Taylor
Finals X-factor: Paul Chapman
Brownlow: Gary Ablett
Brownlow smokey: Ryan Griffen
Who will coach Melbourne: Neil Craig
Who will coach the Brisbane Lions: Luke Power
Where will Buddy be in 2014: Greater Western Sydney
Where will Dale Thomas play in 2014: Collingwood
Biggest trade week/free agency move: Jack Watts to Adelaide
All Australian captain: Gary Ablett
The headline you'll read: TWO YEARS ON - AFL rejects Meatloaf's encore offer
How many delistings/player moves will Carlton make: 10
JACQUI REED
Premiers: Geelong
Runners up: Hawthorn
Norm Smith: Joel Selwood
Finals X-factor: Buddy Franklin
Brownlow: Gary Ablett Jnr
Who will coach Melbourne: Rodney Eade
Who will coach the Brisbane Lions: Mark Williams
Where will Buddy be in 2014: Hawthorn
Where will Dale Thomas play in 2014: Carlton
Biggest trade week/free agency move: Thomas to Carlton
All Australian captain: Gary Ablett Jnr
The headline you'll read: Sheedy returns to Bombers
How many delistings/player moves will Carlton make: So many
HARRY THRING
Premiers: Hawthorn
Runners up: Geelong
Norm Smith: Jarryd Roughead
Finals X-factor: Steven Motlop
Brownlow: Gary Ablett
Brownlow smokey: Ryan Griffen
Who will coach Melbourne: Mark Williams
Who will coach the Brisbane Lions: Paul Roos
Where will Buddy be in 2014: Greater Western Sydney
Where will Dale Thomas play in 2014: Collingwood
Biggest trade week/free agency move: Lance Franklin to GWS for the No. 1 pick which they trade to Carlton for Bryce Gibbs and Chris Yarran. Blues take Tom Boyd.
All Australian captain: Gary Ablett
The headline you'll read: Tribunal overhaul
How many delistings/player moves will Carlton make: Five
