AFL live, Melbourne vs Western Bulldogs round one: Make your 2022 predictions as we build up to the season opener

We're counting down to the first bounce of the 2022 AFL season.

Get your predictions in for the year ahead before Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs get us underway.

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By Dean Bilton

Okay, here's the official call out. We've got a little bit of time until bouncedown, so fill the time by getting in your last-minute season predictions. These are legally binding and will be tied to your good name for the rest of the season, so make 'em count.

Myself and Andrew will be adding our own soon enough, but I want to hear from you. Get them in and we'll get them in the blog.

I want:

By Dean Bilton

By Dean Bilton

Melbourne's glorious summer of celebration is over, but they are as good a chance as anyone of lifting that cup again come September this year. But who looms as the greatest challengers to the Dees in 2022?

Our own Cody Atkinson and Sean Lawson have put the data to the test to come up with some answers — and a few fresh questions:

As expected, last year's premiers are set to be the team to catch this year, but they will face a harder draw than most and the pack is close behind. Little is expected to separate the top six at this early stage, setting the stage for an epic season.

Recent seasons have seen surprise 'risers' through the competition, like Melbourne in 2021. Any team, from the predicted wooden spooner up, could make a real run at the finals.

Looming heavily on the horizon is Richmond, with its playing stocks dented but its will still intact. After a horror run with injuries in 2021, expect Damien Hardwick's three-time premiers to rise back into finals contention this year.

Read Cody and Sean's full preview here — the perfect intro to the new campaign.

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