Just as it was in 2016, AFL captains aren't all that worried about the Western Bulldogs.
Not that it concerns Bulldogs skipper Bob Murphy.
The annual survey of AFL club leaders asks the 18 captains to nominate the team, except their own, they believe is most likely to play off on the last Saturday in September.
Just one skipper believed the Bulldogs would return to the grand final, with 14 nominating Greater Western Sydney to play off in their first AFL decider.
That's one more than last year, when no captains saw the Bulldogs coming from the clouds to win their first flag in 62 years.
To Murphy, it's all a bit of a laugh.
"I thought it was a bit rich of (Giants captain) Callan Ward to get the premiership tattoo on his ankle in March, that's how confident he is, but hopefully one of the other teams can sneak into (the grand final)," he joked on Thursday.
"Having only just heard the information, I'll put that in the back pocket and go home and stew about it.
"Use it for inspiration."
Flipping to serious mode, Murphy said there was no doubt that the Giants would be a rival to the Bulldogs' own ambitions in 2017.
But he said it would be folly to forecast so far ahead.
"Footy is the great unknown," he said.
"We all agree GWS are a formidable side. We've seen how damaging they can be.
"They're just one of many, many threats."
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