It came as no real surprise to see the Brisbane Lions not rate a mention in the annual captain’s survey, conducted at the beginning of each season.

Each of the 18 club captains were asked to anonymously answer five questions relating to the upcoming 2013 Toyota AFL Premiership Season, including:

- Which seven other clubs do you think can make this year's top eight?
- Which other club is most likely to reach the Grand Final?
- Who do you think will win the 2013 Coleman Medal?
- Who do you think will win the 2013 NAB AFL Rising Star?
- Who do you think will win the 2013 Brownlow Medal?

The Sydney Swans (17), Collingwood (16), Hawthorn (16), West Coast (16), Fremantle (15), Geelong (15), Adelaide Crows (14) and Carlton (11) emerged as the overwhelming favourites to play-off in this year’s Finals Series, with Essendon (2), North Melbourne (2) and Richmond (2) considered outside chances.

The Lions, who were represented by Jed Adcock at the captain’s event in Melbourne, didn’t receive a nomination in any of the categories.

But Adcock said the response was expected.

“I don’t mind it at all. It’s not bad for other clubs to think that,” he told lions.com.au. 

“To a certain degree, we probably didn’t show them anything last year to make them think any different.”

“Hopefully we can slide under the radar and surprise a couple of teams.”

Other results revealed Richmond’s Trent Cotchin as the popular Brownlow Medal pick, while Lance Franklin (Hawthorn) was voted the player most likely to lead the competition’s goal-kicking tally.

Meanwhile, half of the captains believe that Gold Coast’s Jaeger O’Meara will be crowned as this year’s Rising Star.

A selection of promising young Lions players are also eligible for the award – including NAB Cup premiership players Sam Docherty, Elliot Yeo and Billy Longer – but were overlooked.

The full results of the survey were as follows:

Which seven other clubs do you think can make this year's top eight?
Sydney Swans (17), Collingwood (16), Hawthorn (16), West Coast (16), Fremantle (15), Geelong (15), Adelaide Crows (14), Carlton (11), Essendon (2), North Melbourne (2), Richmond (2).

Which other club is most likely to reach the Grand Final?
Hawthorn (7), West Coast (7), Collingwood, Fremantle, Geelong, Sydney Swans.

Who do you think will win the 2013 Brownlow Medal?
Trent Cotchin (6), Gary Ablett (3), Patrick Dangerfield (3), Josh Kennedy (2), Sam Mitchell, Scott Pendlebury, Joel Selwood, Dane Swan.

Who do you think will win the 2013 Coleman Medal? 
Lance Franklin (8), Taylor Walker (4), Jack Riewoldt (3), Tom Hawkins (2), Drew Petrie.

Who do you think will win the 2013 NAB AFL Rising Star?
Jaeger O’Meara (9), Lachie Whitfield (2), Ollie Wines (2), Brad Hill, Will Hoskin-Elliott, Jono O’Rourke, Jake Stringer, Jack Viney.