Nick Dal Santo has posed the biggest questions that he is asking of the 18 AFL clubs leading into the 2020 season.
These are questions that we hope to have answered and will watch with interest over the course of the year.
The former All-Australian midfielder has asked the following of the Magpies, Bombers and Dockers.
THREE QUESTIONS FOR ADELAIDE, BRISBANE AND CARLTON
THREE QUESTIONS FOR GEELONG, GOLD COAST AND GWS
THREE QUESTIONS FOR HAWTHORN, MELBOURNE AND NORTH MELBOURNE
THREE QUESTIONS FOR PORT ADELAIDE, RICHMOND AND ST KILDA
THREE QUESTIONS FOR SYDNEY, WEST COAST AND WESTERN BULLDOGS
1. Do they have the mental and physical resolve to contend again (following GF and Prelim defeats)?
“I looked through their squad, geez it’s good on paper.
“I’m not sure because names on paper don’t ultimately win you a premiership. It helps a lot. I look at their list and they are right around the mark again.
“But do they have the physical and mental resolve to go back to the well again?”
2. Can they win the flag if Brodie Grundy gets injured?
“We all say he is the best ruckman in the competition, just in front of Max Gawn.
“If he is not there, can they win the flag?”
3. What does their best forward line look like and does it include Mason Cox?
“That preliminary final going back a couple of years (against Richmond) muddied the water. It complicated it because you saw what he (Cox) could do.
“But you’ve got (Brody) Mihocek, (Jordan) De Goey who missed chunks of football, you’ve got (Ben) Reid, you’ve got Mason Cox. Or do they go to this other style and go with five smaller players who can push up into the midfield?”
1. Can Dylan Shiel tidy up his disposal and become the elite midfielder that he should be?
“I’ve got him a rung down (from elite) at the moment. The only reason, I just want to see him tidy up.
“If he works on it, he is right in the conversation about being one of the most damaging midfielders with his leg speed, the amount of football that he gets, all of it.
“Kick goals, use it a little better, but can he do it?”
2. What output do the Bombers get from Joe Daniher?
“Does he want to be there?
“The danger sign for Joe will be if he has a poor performance or his body language isn’t great.”
3. Can they win a final?
“They should improve on their ladder position. They were 12-10 in the home-and-away season last year.
“Is winning one final a pass mark?”
1. What style will we see under Justin Longmuir?
“It’s been a decade of a style of football under Ross Lyon. Do we see something different?”
2. Who will replace Brad Hill and Ed Langdon on the wings?
“Can they replace those two? If so, who can replace those two?”
3. Can we see Jesse Hogan play injury-free?
“The handful of games he played last year he was impeded. His foot wasn’t right, he hobbled, he didn’t look fit and healthy.
“Can we see a fit and healthy, contributing Jesse Hogan?”
The big questions continue on Thursday with Geelong, GWS and Gold Coast.
THE THREE BIG QUESTIONS FACING ADELAIDE, BRISBANE AND CARLTON
Listen to Dal’s 3 questions below: