AFL legend Lance "Buddy" Franklin has put his neck on the line and named the three teams he believes are in contention for this year's flag.
With only four matches remaining in the regular season, nine teams remain in the fight for the top eight, but Franklin only thinks three of them have a realistic chance of holding the Premiership Cup aloft in September.
The surprising Adelaide Crows have surged into flag favouritism with bookmakers, while the Lions are eyeing off a second straight title, but 38-year-old Franklin has drawn a line through them with permanent marker.
Instead, the 1066-goal great has named the Pies, Geelong and GWS as his contenders for the crown.
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“Let’s be realistic, I think there are three teams in it that can do damage,” Franklin said on The Buddy & Shane Show podcast.
“I think these three teams - Geelong, Pies and Giants. I think it’ll be a Giants v Geelong grand final or Collingwood v Giants, that’s what I’m thinking."
Franklin, who won two flags with the Hawks and fell short in three grand finals with the Swans, was one of the most eye-catching players in AFL history.
He believes Collingwood, Geelong and GWS also possess the type of "x-factor" players needed to go all the way.
“They’re just that little bit better than the other teams," he said. "They’ve got something a bit different, they’ve got x-factors. (Nick) Daicos for Collingwood, (Jeremy) Cameron for Geelong, the Giants have (Jesse) Hogan up forward and (Finn) Callaghan.
“I think obviously Collingwood at the MCG will be hard to beat.”
The Lions have a tough run home, taking on the Pies at the MCG, Sydney, Fremantle and Hawthorn to close out the regular season.
The premiers are also coming off a 66-point loss to the Suns, with Lachie Neale backing his side to bounce back from that "embarrasing" defeat.
Currently 10 points clear of the ninth-placed Bulldogs, Brisbane may not even reach September, according to the goalkicking great.
“I’m just saying, don’t be surprised if they miss,” Franklin said.
“I think the Pies will beat them at the MCG, I think the Swans will come up here (to Brisbane) and have a red-hot crack, don’t be surprised if they miss finals.”