They all expect only one change from last season’s finalists to this year’s final eight.
History of the final eight system shows that there is most likely to be at least two and potentially as many as three changes from one season to the next.
Healy expects Richmond to finally make it back into premiership play-offs in September for the first time since 2001, while Roos and Sheahan both tip Carlton to make finals in the first highly anticipated season under coaching legend Mick Malthouse.
In the history of the league’s final eight play-off system, there have been at least two changes from one season to the next on six occasions since 1995.
There have also been three changes in finalist nine times and as many as four changeovers three times.
In the Fox Footy analysts’ projections North Melbourne and Fremantle were tipped to miss this year’s finals, after making it last September.
Healy and Roos expect North to miss, but differ on their prediction on just who will make the transition into finals, while Sheahan expects Fremantle to miss out this year after an impressive sixth-place finish last year under first-time coach Ross Lyon.
Roos expects Malthouse’s rejuvenated Blues to make it at North’s expense, while Healy tips the Tigers to finish low into the top eight as the Roos bow out.
North was smashed by West Coast to the tune of 96 points in Perth in their only final last September and a first time back in the play-offs since 2008 and first under coach Brad Scott, who took over the Roos in 2010.
Healy, Roos and Sheahan also ignore recent NAB Cup pre-season premiership form guidance after Brisbane took out the summer title this month.
The last five NAB Cup winners have gone on into the premiership season and made it into the final double-chance top four in September.
Brisbane is roundly tipped to rise and make a spirited bid to make finals for only the second time under former playing great Michael Voss after winning the pre-season tournament and a highly enthustastic finish to last season.
The Lions won six of their last 11 engagements last season, including their last three games for 10 wins overall before an undefeated NAB Cup summer.
The Lions, with Voss out of contract at the end of this season, have a highly encouraging start to the new campaign.
They head back into Melbourne for an Etihad Stadium showdown with potential cellar-dwellars Western Bulldogs in Round 1 on Easter Saturday.
It's then a clash with another top-eight candidate Adelaide at the Gabba a week later before highly possible April wins over Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium, North at Etihad and Melbourne back at the Gabba.