NEVER mind that Greater Western Sydney is yet to win a game this year. AFL senior coaches still believe the Giants will have the best playing list by 2016.
As part of the 2013 AFL coaches survey, the 18 coaches were asked to gaze into their crystal ball.
Eight coaches rated the Giants as No.1, followed by fellow expansion club Gold Coast with four votes.
But it was not all about the new franchises with their swag of young and high draft picks. There was also support for Adelaide, Fremantle, North Melbourne, the Sydney Swans and West Coast.
Meanwhile, the coaches rate Gold Coast's Jaeger O'Meara as a near certainty to win this year's NAB AFL Rising Star Award.
O'Meara is averaging 23 possessions a game in a stellar debut season, which prompted 13 of the 18 coaches to tip him to win the Rising Star.
Sydney Swans midfielder Tom Mitchell received two votes, while Jack Macrae, Nick Vlastuin and Oliver Wines each attracted one vote.
It is not just the coaches handing out the rave reviews about O'Meara.
Earlier this week, Essendon great Tim Watson said on his SEN breakfast radio program: "Jaeger O'Meara could quite well go down in history as the greatest midfielder that's ever played the game," Watson said.
"He is unbelievable. You've got to keep reminding yourself that here is a kid in his first season of AFL football at 18 years of age. He has it all."
