I don't get this "surprise" stuff. If, after 23 rounds Freo are good enough, then it would hardly be a surprise.
It would really only be a surprise if Freo turned up wearing cricket whites or clown shoes (eagles in stilettos and garters would not be a surprise).
Surely the notion of a surprise is based upon its suddenness, rather than the slow evolving over several glacial months.
Given that everyone will inevitably be wrong, the only thing that would genuinely be a surprise is if somebody guessed it right.
Stil and all, that Walls is a jolly fine fellow, and oh so astute.