Is this the most outlandish pre-season prediction?

Staff writersThe West Australian Is this the most outlandish prediction of the AFL pre-season? Recently retired Western Bulldogs legend Bob Murphy was renowned for his courage on the field,

and it appears he’s taking the same brave approach to his role as a footy analyst. Murphy went out on a limb when making a forecast about a most unlikely finalist for 2018 on SEN radio. “My

big call for 2018: I’m tipping the Gold Coast Suns to make the eight,” Murphy said. “There’s just something about the Gold Coast Suns that reminds me of the Dogs of 2015 (the year before the

Western Bulldogs’ flag win). _WIN BIG THIS FOOTY SEASON AT THEGAME.COM.AU WITH $150,000 IN TIPPING AND FANTASY PRIZES UP FOR GRABS, INCLUDING A MAZDA BT-50. SIGN UP TODAY!_ “That group has

been together now for a while. They’re still quite young, but they’ve played quite a bit of footy together.” Murphy said he was encouraged by the Suns’ spine, featuring the likes of Tom

Lynch in attack and Steven May and Sam Day down back. But Gold Coast have a number of other challenges to overcome. The loss of Gary Ablett to Geelong is a large one, as is the fact they

won’t play at their Metricon Stadium home until round 11 due to the Commonwealth Games. It means the Suns will have to become road warriors just to be in the finals mix, with ‘home’ games

against Fremantle at Optus Stadium and Port Adelaide in China looming as tests. Gold Coast have won just four games away from Metricon in the past three seasons. The bookies have Gold Coast

at a lengthy $15 to make the top eight. One thing in Murphy and the Suns’ favour, if they believe in omens, is this: The last time Gary Ablett left a club, his old team (Geelong in 2011) won

a premiership immediately afterward. AGREE WITH BOB? HAVE YOUR SAY ON FACEBOOK BY CLICKING THE COMMENT ICON BELOW. GET THE LATEST NEWS FROM THEWEST.COM.AU IN YOUR INBOX. Sign up for our

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