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.

Adelaide Crows

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

Brisbane Lions

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

Carlton

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

Collingwood

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?

Essendon

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

Fremantle

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

Geelong Cats

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

Gold Coast Suns

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

GWS Giants

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

Hawthorn

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

Melbourne

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

North Melbourne

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

Port Adelaide

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

Richmond

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

St Kilda

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

Sydney Swans

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

West Coast Eagles

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?

Western Bulldogs

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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