Hawthorn Hawks will be number one in 2014: Swinburne Computer

If you go for Hawthorn Hawks, then you have another reason to be happy.

Swinburne’s Emeritus Professor of Statistics Stephen Clarke has used the Swinburne Computer to calculate the likely results of the 2014 AFL season, predicting that the Hawthorn Hawks will finish on top of the ladder, with a score of 64 points.

Running since the early 1980s, the Swinburne Computer has been a reliable source for footy tippers and media outlets including The Age, Australian Financial Review, Today Tonight and ABC Radio Adelaide.

“The footy tips have appeared in a range of newspapers and radio stations over the last 33 years.  For the first six years of predicting the AFL ladder, the weekly tips appeared in The Herald Sun against Lou Richards’ tips. The Swinburne Computer beat him every year,” Professor Clarke said.

“Over the years the Swinburne Computer tips has out-tipped most AFL experts. It is reliable, that’s for sure.”

After the Hawks, the Fremantle Dockers, Geelong Cats and Sydney Swans have been predicted to finish in second, third and fourth spots respectively, on the 2014 AFL ladder.

While Professor Clarke is a Geelong Cats supporter himself, he promises that this doesn’t factor in his predictions at all.

“The Swinburne Computer is based on unbiased, quantitative predictions that are gathered from the previous year’s AFL results,” Professor Clarke said.

“I don’t necessarily always agree with the computer, or its predictions, however over the years the computer has developed a reputation for being fairly accurate. This time last year we predicted correctly who would end up in the Top 4 at the end of 2013."

The Swinburne Computer’s predicted final premiership ladder for the 2014 AFL season is:

1. Hawthorn
2. Fremantle
3. Geelong
4. Sydney
5. North Melbourne
6. Richmond
7. Collingwood
8. Adelaide 
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