With the curtain closed on another wildly unpredictable year, we've asked our ESPN experts to pull out their crystal balls to predict the future. What does 2023 hold in store for these sporting codes?
We take a look at some of the biggest questions. Who will win the feature competition? Who will be the winner of the major individual award? Read on and see whether you agree.
Aussie Rules
What will change from 2022?
Surely the one big change we'll see is the addition of a Tasmanian team, whether it's just in the AFL initially or both for the men's and women's competitions. The decision on a team for the Apple Isle was meant to be handed down in August, would you believe, but has been delayed due to a number of reasons, one being the conjecture surrounding a new stadium in Hobart and the associated costs.
What will remain constant?
Confusion in the MRO and tribunal process. No matter what league HQ likes to say, and no matter how many new rules and measures get 'ticked off' in the off season, footy is such a strange game in that each noteworthy incident is unique and will divide opinions. So long as the game gets stronger on intentional acts which cause damage to the head, that's a good start, but anything else is anyone's guess!
What will define the season?
The inclusion of the Gather Round may well pave the way for future fixture tweaks, particularly if a Tasmanian team gets the green light. It's unusual for the AFL to just decide to add another round of footy into the mix (instead of just using an existing round, stadium deals aside). Flexibility shows head office is keen to try new things. Keep your eyes peeled.
Who will win the premiership?
AFLW - Going back-to-back is one of footy's most difficult tasks, but don't doubt those Demons, who in a Grand Final were able to suffocate a Brisbane side that was otherwise dominant in season seven. In the front half they've got pace at ground level and marking prowess in the air, down back a stingy group that conceded just 184 points in 10 home-and-away rounds, and one of the most talented and still-young midfields that can easily go to another level.
AFL - The Cats were ultra-impressive to win 16 games in a row on their way to their 10th premiership. But surely age has to catch up with them at some point, right? The Dees, after saluting in Perth in 2021 and copping a straight sets finals exit in 2022, will bounce back to this time lift up the trophy in front of their home fans.
Who will win the major individual award?
AFLW - Is 2023 the year Jasmine Garner finally gets the recognition she deserves? We think so. What an astonishing season it was for the North Melbourne star, averaging nearly 23 touches, 5.2 inside 50s, 5.4 clearances and 400 metres gained per match. They're numbers that are certain to get attention next year.
AFL - The Brownlow Medal is a tough award to win back-to-back, but if anyone can achieve the feat, it's Carlton skipper Patrick Cripps. The Blues should win more games next season, he is their most damaging and eye-catching midfielder, and has now proven to be able to poll heavily even in losses.
Who is in the firing line?
Heading into his 10th season in charge at Port Adelaide, Ken Hinkley is still yet to lead the Power to that elusive premiership, and to be frank, five finals appearances and a few prelims shouldn't cut it for a talented team capable of more. More frustrating? The fact that after two consecutive finishes in the top two, Port slumped to 11th in 2022 in a season many thought they would go all the way. The additions of Jason Horne-Francis and Junior Rioli only puts more pressure on Hinkley, the side clearly primed to contend again in the last year of his contract. It's clear there just can't be any more excuses, and not playing finals footy in 2023 would be a massive failure.
Who will be the biggest riser and slider of the year?
AFLW - Collingwood were probably one of the most overachieving teams in season seven despite finishing with a 7-3 record, struggling against those sides above them and unconvincing against those around them. But the inclusions of gun midfield duo Brit Bonnici and Bri Davey in season eight gives more firepower to a squad that already has the right defensive foundations. A rise is on the agenda for the Pies next season, but same perhaps can't be said for rivals Richmond, who scraped into the top four with a favourable draw. They may have one of the competition's best players in Mon Conti but repeating their efforts next season seems too big an ask. Losing leading goalkicker Courtney Wakefield to retirement doesn't help, either.
AFL - An 'easier' draw after underachieving in 2022, Carlton have a list that should be able to catapult up the ladder in 2023. They've still got a flurry of stars on each line -- including the two most recent Coleman Medal winners, a Brownlow Medal midfield brute and All-Australian defenders -- and with a little bit of luck should see themselves in flag contention. As for a slider, It's easy to see the Saints slip down the table, particularly with the recent loss of Max King who has undergone a preseason shoulder reconstruction. Quiet in the offseason, improvement must come from within, but it really is hard to see where that's going to come from in Ross Lyon's first season back in charge.
What will be the headline of the year?
Player handed 10 week ban for intentional high hit - surely this is the year contact to the head is classified as the biggest no-no there is. Player welfare has to be paramount.
Rugby League
What will change from 2022?
The weekly bye. With the introduction of a 17th team, the NRL has ensured that one team will have a rest each week. Dragons fans salivating over the start of the new season will have to wait a week, with the good news being they'll be undefeated at the top of the ladder by then. It is all good and well until someone has to miss Round 10, Magic Round in Brisbane. This year it will be the Knights to stay home, missing rugby league's big party weekend.
What will remain constant?
The ongoing tweaking of the rules to combat the never-ending exploitation of any perceived weaknesses by coaches and players. It will remain a constant, as long as the authorities feel that they alone can control whether or not the game remains at its entertaining best for fans.
What will define the seasons?
How well the expansion clubs goes. With the NRL adding the Dolphins and the NRLW adding the Raiders, Sharks, Cowboys and Tigers a lot of questions will be answered. There has been a lot of conjecture about each competition and the amount of talent available to spread across extra teams. If the Dolphins really struggle, then it will pour cold water on any thoughts of adding further teams, whilst if the quality of the women's competition takes a dive, there will be questions asked about whether the expansion has been rushed.
Who will win the premiership?
Men's: The safe bet would be to predict a Penrith Panthers three-peat, but they have lost some key players as they head into 2023. The big question is which team will improve sufficiently to beat them in the finals. The addition of Brandon Smith to the Roosters could well see them challenging for the title again. If he has the kind of influential season he is capable of, and the team can remain relatively injury free, the Roosters could squeeze one more title run out of their lengthy premiership window.
Women's: It's hard to predict who will win a competition that will go from six teams to ten, with a whole raft of new talent on show. The Knights will be keen to defend their title, but I have a feeling the Broncos will bounce back to regain the ascendancy and claim another NLRW premiership.
Who will win the major individual award?
Dally M Medal Men: James Tedesco (Roosters)
Dally M Medal Women: Tarryn Aiken (Broncos)
Who is in the firing line?
There are several NRL coaches, as there always seems to be, who will start 2023 with the shadow of an axe hanging over their heads. Perhaps the coach most in peril is Newcastle's Adam O'Brien who has been in charge of several disappointing efforts from the Knights. They have thrown out a bunch of players and signed a few interesting names for 2023, so if they start with a whimper rather than a bang, O'Brien will be well and truly in the firing line.
Who will be the biggest riser and slider of the year?
The only way is up for the Wests Tigers after their wooden spoon performance in 2022. With Tim Sheens in charge and Benji Marshall preparing to take the coaching reigns, the Tigers have signed several key players for 2023. Api Koroisau and Isaiah Papali'I for starters will bring a winning attitude to the pack and if they can sort their long-running issues in the halves, they are a good chance of moving their way up the ladder towards the Top 8.
The biggest sliders could well be the Eels, only because of how high they soared last season. They have the ongoing drama over where Mitchell Moses will play in 2024, which will prove to be a massive distraction. They have also lost a couple of key players and for that reason I think it is hard to see them finishing in the Top 4 again.
What will be the headline of the year?
Dolphins suffer first winless season since '66 Roosters
Rugby
What will change from 2022?
The three-player Giteau Law limit -- There has been plenty of discussion around this topic since the Overseas Player Selection Policy - otherwise known as the Giteau Law - was first updated last February. But we got the clearest indication yet, from Wallabies coach Dave Rennie at least, that there will be an increase in the number of overseas-based players the Wallabies can all on at next year's World Cup. With Quade Cooper, Samu Kerevi and Marika Koroibete all considered certainties to feature in France, the likes of Rory Arnold, Will Skelton and Bernard Foley will require the change if they are to win selection. Rennie is expected to mount his case for an expansion of the policy to the board early next year, and it is highly likely he will be successful - even if it is just for the short term.
What will remain constant?
Concerns around Australia's hooker and fullback stocks -- While Australia's wretched run with injury in 2022 was unfortunate, it did afford Rennie and his fellow Wallabies coaches the opportunity to test the limits of their player depth. The silver lining was the exposure the likes of Nick Frost, Lalakai Foketi and Mark Nawaqanitawase all got at Test level, and all appeared more than capable of meeting. However, uncertainty at both hooker and fullback will be a constant theme for the Wallabies next year. Despite a raft of candidates for both roles, no player has really demanded their name be first on the team sheet while injury in both spots will be a big concern for Rennie and co.
RA's lack of funding into the women's 15s game. Following on from the Wallaroos on par World Cup performance in New Zealand, Rugby Australia has failed to reward their athletes with a bigger pay packet or an expanded Super W competition. Heading into season six, the tournament will remain a one-round league with teams playing each other once ahead of the final series. It's a missed opportunity for RA who could have taken the chance to expand to a full home-and-away series to build depth within the women's 15s game. Meanwhile, there will be no significant pay increase, if any, for the national players who will remain semi-professional and one of the most poorly remunerated players in World Rugby.
What will define the season?
The World Cup -- It has to, right? The sport's biggest prize in the men's game comes around once in every four years, and such is its lure that coaches are willing to forgo success in other tournaments or series to achieve the ultimate goal. That, however has its pitfalls, as Eddie Jones can attest.
Ahead of the debut WXV tournament the Wallaroos will play-off against the Black Ferns, Canada and the USA for a place in WXV1, the top tier tournament. If the Wallaroos fail to perform in Pac4 they will be relegated to WV2 the second-tier competition. A strong performance in Pac4 will see them line-up against the top five teams of the world which can only benefit their development.
Who will win the World Cup?
South Africa -- Director of Rugby Rassie Erasmus has dominated the headlines in South African rugby recently, but there was more than enough in the Springboks' November campaign to suggest they will be incredibly hard to beat in France next year. While their European record read 2-2, the nature of their defeats by Ireland and France and then their comprehensive victory over England, amid several big hurdles, will have put the rest of the rugby world on notice. The same can be said of the Wallabies, who also pushed Ireland and France, but at this stage lack the consistency to be considered genuine World Cup contenders. As for Super Rugby Pacific, can you really go past Scott Robertson and the Crusaders? They just know how to win the thing.
Who will win the major individual awards?
John Eales Medal: Samu Kerevi - Arguably the Wallabies' most important player, Kerevi is well down the recovery path after season-ending surgery on a knee injury he suffered at the Commonwealth Games. He will likely catch the back half of the Japanese League One season, before returning to Australia to start preparations for the World Cup. At his best, he is the No. 1 inside centre in the world; a player that can spearhead the Wallabies' attack in France.
Wallaroos player of the year: Arabella McKenzie - Making a move to the Premiership in the UK to play with the Harlequins, expect McKenzie to take her game to another level with more experience and exposure to some of the best players in the world up north. A standout in 2022, McKenzie will only go from strength to strength and cement herself as Australia's best fly-half.
Who is in the firing line?
Dave Rennie -- It's not so much the firing line, more the you-might-as-well-plan-to-be-somewhere-else category. While the wolves were headed towards Rennie's door near the end of the Wallabies 5-9 2022 campaign, the performances against Ireland and Wales showed that, factoring in Australia's horror injury run, Rennie deserved the opportunity to see out his original contract. The Kiwi, however, can kiss chances of an extension goodbye with Rugby Australia set to enter the coaching quagmire that has been muddied by Eddie Jones' sacking. An intriguing few months awaits early in 2023; nations cannot afford to be idle as they seek to plan for 2024 and beyond.
Who will be the biggest riser and slider of the year?
Riser: Australia -- We can be bullish, no? The big thing going in Australia's favour is that they are on the weaker side of the World Cup draw, meaning they will avoid any of the current top-four ranked nations until the semifinals. On their day, they have shown they are good enough to match it with any of those teams. The problem is backing it up the following week.
Slider: Ireland -- With apologies to those in the Emerald Isle, the fortunes of Andy Farrell's team are so closely bound to skipper Jonny Sexton that any injury to the 37-year-old No. 10 would prove terminal for Ireland in France. There's also the fact that, Japan aside, they are the only top-10 ranked nation never to have advanced beyond the quarterfinals. Currently the No. 1 ranked team in the world, Ireland are also in the Springboks' pool, and will likely face a quarterfinal against either the All Blacks or hosts France.
What will be the headline of the year?
Back to the future: Eddie rejoins Wallabies after 17-year hiatus
Wallaroos make history, defeat Black Ferns for first time
Football
What will change from 2022?
Hopefully, a lot. The FIFA Women's World Cup will head to Australia and New Zealand in 2023 and it's shaping as not just one of the biggest tournaments ever in women's sports but, with the ongoing explosion of women's football around the globe, one of the biggest tournaments period. Football Australia's ongoing work to create a men's national second division is another area to watch. It's Australian football's shining city on the hill; the rest of the ecosystem hoping that its halo effect can reach into every corner of the game - especially when it comes to a facility legacy.
However, the A-Leagues' continued post-COIVD bounceback has all of a sudden been thrown into doubt by a calamitous end to the year. First there was the furore surrounding the move to sell off its grand finals to NSW, which increasingly spiralled into a bigger ideological conflict between fans and administrators over respect, financial viability, and how much of the game's soul was for sale. Any sense of moral high ground supporters had, however, was quickly dealt a significant blow by violent Melbourne Victory fans that stormed the field in the Melbourne Derby.
If the leagues are able to win back its jilted support base is an existential problem and the competition's governance and decision-making process, which seemingly saw the grand final move catch most clubs by surprise while also giving two Sydney-based sides a vote, is also in the spotlight. How the leagues and Victory handle the fallout, both real and reputational, of the violence will also be a significant challenge.
What will remain constant?
For all the potential that exists within Australian football, it remains a largely siloed sport and this will likely continue to hamper its efforts to collectively take advantage of the above factors.
Football Australia, the independent A-Leagues, member federations, and stakeholder groups such as the player's union will all look to repair the damage of 2022's Final weeks and grow the game off the back of what's ahead, but will inevitably do so with their own prevailing interests in mind. What will define the season?
The 2022-23 and 2023-24 A-Leagues seasons will now largely be defined by how well they're able to recover from the disastrous fallout of the grand final decision and the violence at the Melbourne Derby, and if it's still possible to capitalise on the surge of interest that will be delivered by the men's and women's World Cups despite this.
Crowds, media interest, and television ratings fell off a cliff during COVID, and league administrators at the APL desperately needed to take advantage of any favourable winds to get all those things to much higher levels. Only now, the leagues' remaining fans are in revolt as well.
Who will win the championship?
A-League Men: Melbourne City
A-League Women: Melbourne City
Who will win the major individual award?
Johnny Warren Medal: Craig Goodwin
Julie Dolan Medal: Kayla Morrison
Who is in the firing line?
The entire APL board and club heads, for a start but, more broadly, the spotlight should be squarely on the game's administrators across all its domains that have been entrusted with capitalising on the momentum surrounding football. Thanks to the actions of a violent few, supporters will also likely find themselves under greater scrutiny from security and police as well.
Who will be the biggest riser and slider of the year?
Riser: There are plenty of contenders but with a Women's World Cup on the way in 2023 it ultimately can't be anything other than women's football in Australia.
Slider: Right now, you wouldn't bet against it being the A-Leagues if they can't get the fans back on side and repair the damage. There are other, potentially more likely contenders for a slide, but the leagues have the lowest floor.
What will be the headline of the year?
England lifts WWC trophy at end of the most watched and attended tournament in history
Cricket
What will change from 2022?
People will be able to stop asking whether Bazball will work in the Ashes because we'll find out in June and July. One thing is for sure, England won't die wondering against Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Scott Boland and Nathan Lyon.
What will remain constant?
Marnus Labuschagne scoring runs and the Australia women's team winning World Cups.
What will define the season?
Australia men's team's back-to-back overseas Test tours to India and England. Win both those series and this Test side under Pat Cummins will go down as one of the Australia's finest. Add in a potential World Test Championship final in early June and it could create legacies.
For the women's team it's all about whether they can retain their T20 World Cup title in South Africa during February.
Who will win the Men's ODI World Cup and Women's T20 World Cup?
Tough to call for the men. India look to be on the slide but will have home advantage and unsure what the conditions will be like and how Australia will adapt. Let's go for England.
For the women, it's still hard to look past Australia.
Who will win the major individual awards?
The Allan Border and Belinda Clark Medals are announced early in the year for the preceding 12 months: Steven Smith and Beth Mooney
Who is in the firing line?
David Warner, despite his magnificent 200 against South Africa, he will be sorely tested in India and England where he has failed to flourish in the past. It just remains to be seen whether he will be allowed to go out on his own terms, or whether a polite tap on the shoulder will be required.
Who will be the biggest riser and slider of the year?
Biggest risers: Cameron Green and Phoebe Litchfield.
Not sure we'll see significant sliders given the profiles of the two national teams, barring perhaps the aforementioned Test career of Warner. It certainly doesn't class as sliding because her record hasn't faltered, but we are likely to have a definitive answer on Meg Lanning's future.
What will be the headline of the year?
Scott Boland goes through a Test match without taking a wicket