IT'S BEEN 173 days since Eagle skipper Dom Sheed's arrow-straight kick from the MCG boundary line broke Collingwood hearts.
On the eve of the 2019 Toyota AFL Premiership season, we asked for the burning questions confronting your team this year.
Here is a selection of your best responses.
Was 2018 an outlier, or is the premiership window closed?
- Nathanael Pittaway, Bendigo Vic
With the inclusions of Brad Crouch and Brodie Smith, our list hasn't been stronger. Are we good enough to win a flag?
- James English, Canberra ACT
Will Brad Crouch stay fit?
- Matt Pilcher, Adelaide SA
Does Brad Crouch hold the key to Adelaide reviving its fortunes this season? All pictures: AFL Photos
Can the Lions make the transition from youthful promise to finals contender?
- Jonathan Miles, Perth WA
Will Eric Hipwood flourish in an open forward line?
- Liam Totten, Waikiki WA
Will Lachie Neale fill the Dayne Beams-sized hole in the club, and my heart?
- Lewis Bullen, Menzies Creek Vic
Will the Blues finally kick over 100 points in a match?
- Matthew Berry, Perth WA
Will Sam Walsh be everything he is built up to be?
- Sam Springer, Launceston Tas
Can the youthful midfield of Dow, Petrevski-Seton, Fisher, Walsh, Cuningham and O'Brien take the next step in their development and become a finals-quality midfield?
- Connor McClymont, Perth WA
Are the green shoots an orchid or a cactus?
- Chris Croft, Bassendean WA
Was last year a fluke? Are we going to do a Bulldogs? Or is Buckley's method of inclusiveness really doing what it seems to be?
- Michael Wilkinson, Fitzroy North Vic
Can Elliot, De Goey and Moore stay healthy and play enough footy to take us to the next level?
- Aaron Oxenhan, Newtown NSW
Can Mason Cox continue his development as a key forward?
- Paul Swain, Montmorency Vic
Can we win it?
- Will Thomson, Jamberoo NSW
American Pie Mason Cox - can he spearhead Collingwood to a premiership?
Will Joe Daniher stay on the park all year and challenge for the Coleman?
- Malcolm Eden, Richland USA
Will our midfield stand up when the heat is really on? We've been beaten up around the footy in big games and in finals for 10 years.
- Glenn Osborne, Dianella WA
Will Dylan Shiel be the answer to our problems?
- Eitan Cher, Rose Bay NSW
Is it time to get rid of the old hats (Ballantyne, Lyon, Sandilands, Mundy…) and start afresh?
- James Murphy, Fremantle WA
Can the additions of Rory Lobb and Jesse Hogan make up for the loss of Lachie Neale?
- Tim Olley, Kambah ACT
Can we move the ball quickly and effectively into our forward 50 and kick winning scores? Can our forward line fire? Can Ross the Boss actually coach this way?
- Damian Stefanoff, Inglewood WA
Will the Dockers do enough to be able to convince Stephen Coniglio he should continue his football out west?
- Wade Barter, Brunswick East Vic
With the star-studded midfield of Dangerfield, Kelly and Selwood, will Geelong be able to win some clearances this year?
- Thomas Baird, Curlwaa NSW
Will the Cats hold their nerve and play Ablett in the forward line all season?
- Rob Guardiano , Tarneit Vic
Can Tim Kelly be convinced to stay a Cat?
- Pat Lewis, Rowville Vic
Tim Kelly is widely expected to head west in the off-season. Can the Cats find a way to keep him?
Will we turn up for a final, or bow out in the first quarter yet again?
- Zac McKeown, Hobart Tas
Will draft guns King, Rankine and Lukosius extend their contracts?
- Jimmy Worlando, Kuala Lumpur Malaysia
Will success come now that China has gone?
- Hadleigh Salisbury, Longreach Qld
Will we win a game?
- Glenn Duncan, Oxenford Qld
Can we keep everyone healthy in-season, and keep everyone on the list post-season?
- Greg Hume, Baulkham Hills
Can the role players outside the Giants' best 10-15 players take that next step up to not only cover the losses of Shiel, Lobb and Scully but lift the club from bridesmaid to premiers? The spotlight will be on Perryman, Hopper, Lloyd, Himmelberg and Deledio, just to name a few.
- Robert Griffin, Canberra ACT
Will the Mummy Returns be a box office success?
- James Abernethy, Launceston Tas
Can we make finals without Tom Mitchell?
- Rob O'Sullivan, Bald Hills Qld
Did we make the right decision with Scully, Wingard and Burton, or will one bite us on the bum?
- Marc Clayton, Latrobe Tas
Will Tom Scully regain his form as one of the best runners in the competition?
Will Mitchell Lewis end up actually being a regular AFL forward?
- Jeff Hill, Frankston Vic
Can Roughead kick enough goals as the key tall forward now the pressure of captaincy is gone?
- Isaac Duval, Langford WA
Will our big-name recruits in Lever and May make a big impact on our defence, and will Weideman consistently step up in the wake of Hogan leaving?
- Will Tinkler, Paddington NSW
Do the Demons have the steel and resilience to see them through the crunch moments?
- Karthik Padmanabhan, Chennai India
Is the hype going to be delivered on? High expectations require high results – not something Melbourne has been great at in the past.
- Thomas Lucas, St Kilda Vic
Can we win the premiership or will our 55-year cupless drought continue?
- Blake Watts, Chirnside Park Vic
When are North Melbourne going to invest in juniors rather than recycling players from other clubs?
- Steve Rea, Willunga SA
Will Luke Davies-Uniacke be the player we need him to be?
- Matt Geyle, Coorparoo
Will Mason Wood be able to fill the hole left by Jarrad Waite?
- Jack Penton, Vaucluse
Can we prove to be a finals contender and a destination club that can pull top players like Josh Kelly?
- Lachlan Kiely, Bentleigh Vic
Can the youth step up? Wingard and Polec are gone – now it's the young 'uns time to shine.
- Pancy Koaulafayce, Ballarat Vic
Where is our next star going to come from once Robbie Gray is done?
- James Belton, Largs North SA
Robbie Gray is a bona fide star for the Power. But who's next in line?
Do Port have the footskills to successfully move to a more attacking style of play?
- Ben Moulton, Aldinga Beach SA
Will the changes to the coaching staff, playing list, the decision to trade Chad Wingard and to have co-captains be the start of our new dynasty and the making of Ken Hinkley, or will it be his ultimate downfall?
- Adam Thompson, Semphore Park SA
What is the forward structure going to be like with the addition of Tom Lynch? Will he allow Jack Riewoldt to play further up the ground?
- Jessica Pannam, Hawthorn East Vic
Will the twin towers strategy work for Richmond like it has for West Coast?
- Tom Wilson, Brunswick East Vic
Can Tom Lynch drive the Tigers back to the summit this season?
Will 6-6-6 change Richmond's pressure game?
- James Brook, Nagambie Vic
Can we time our run and hit the finals rampaging like we did in 2017?
- Scott Fred, Mentone Vic
Have we made room for the next cup in the cabinet?
- Scott Hayes, Kinross WA
Will the midfield stand up and be counted instead of getting dominated every match?
- Adam Ford, Richmond SA
Can McCartin and Roberton overcome pre-season setbacks to play the majority of games?
- Ryan O'Connor, Kingsville Vic
Will Dan Hannebery get back to top form? Will Alan Richardson keep his job?
- Adam O'Farrell, Munno Para West
Where will the improvement come from?
- Brad Pike, Berwick Vic
Can Mills, Heeney, Jones and co. lift to cover ageing and gone midfield stars?
- Robert Gerrand, Lane Cove NSW
Can Sam Reid get back to his best and take the pressure off Buddy?
- Chris Forster, Townsville Qld
Does Longmire have a plan B when the Swans are getting overrun?
- Daniel Fearnley, Belconnen ACT
How can we remain consistently competitive during a rebuild season with an exciting young list and ageing stars?
- James Anthony, Marlo Vic
Have we accumulated enough young talent to fill future gaps left by ageing stars like Josh Kennedy, Shannon Hurn and Nic Nat?
- Lachlan Hall, Innaloo WA
Do we pursue Tim Kelly or throw our chips on and try for Coniglio?
- Shannon O'Brien, West Perth WA
After defying expectation last year, can West Coast handle expectation this year?
- Jaxson Bateman, Padbury
Will Sheppard, Gaff and Naitanui get their premiership medal?
- Felipe Da Silva, Bassendean WA
The Eagles won a flag without Nic Naitanui last season. What can they do when he's back?
Are they going to be competitive and play the brand of football they did in 2015/16 – and can they play second halves?
- Carson Shegog, Lilydale Vic
Who will step up and kick the goals needed to make the finals?
- Louis Moen, Cranbrook, Kent UK
What hairstyle will JJ have this year?
- Rick Disnick, Pommel, Horse County USA
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