The home and away season may be a few months away still, but storylines are starting to take form around the chances of all 18 teams. Here are 10 predictions for 2016 and to remind you all, some of them are bold predictions meaning they are quite unconventional.
Power to launch back into finals contention
After a breakout 2014 season, many were expecting Port Adelaide to go deep in 2015. That never eventuated and now Ken Hinkley's side are back at square one, or so it seems.
A poor 2015 season meant Port needed to recruit in the off-season and they've done just that, recruiting forward Charlie Dixon from the Gold Coast and 2012 No. 4 draft pick and former Melbourne player, Jimmy Toumpas. They've also resigned their skipper Travis Boak and forward Robbie Gray with Ollie Wines expected to follow suit, securing their best players.
2016 AUSTRALIAN OPEN TENNIS ODDS
It remains a mystery as to why Port failed so badly last year, considering the decent list they had. This time around the list has had some power injected into it and it should see Port Adelaide return to the top 8 or even top four.
Either the Giants or the Suns will play finals
I'm picking this year to be the year we see an expansion side play finals footy for the first time in its history.
It was meant to be the Sun's year in 2015, but the Giants surprised us all and went close while the Suns went in the opposite direction.
The Giants had a successful year, winning 11 games and only missing out of finals due to injuries. Yes, they've lost Adam Treloar but they've gained 3-time premiership player with the Cats, Steve Johnson who will provide invaluable experience.
Suns will get close, but it'll be the Giants who crack the eight.
First coach to be sacked?
This one is coming out of left-field, but it has reason. Considering the boom recruits Geelong grabbed in the off-season, the pressure is now firmly on Chris Scott who has nowhere to hide.
Its been four years since Geelong last made it to the showpiece event and that's not good enough for a side like the Cats.
If Geelong aren't out of the blocks quickly or fail to make finals, expect Scott to be given his marching orders.
If not Chris, it could be his brother Brad, who is under pressure to deliver a grand-final appearance for North Melbourne. Following three consecutive preliminary final losses, North are almost there, but you sense that 2016 is their best and perhaps last shot at making it to the first Saturday in October.
They've got the experience and can trouble a lot of sides, so its not completely out of the question. If they fail though, its back to rebuilding and they might as well do that with a clean slate.
Bolton the right man, but he'll need time
Its difficult to see Carlton winning more than four games and climbing off the bottom the ladder to avoid back-to-back wooden spoons.
Bolton is the right man to be at the helm, but he's a young coach and can't change Carlton's fortunes with a click of the fingers. He'll need a few years at best to mould this team back into a finals side and 2016 won't bring much joy to Princess Park.
They've recruited 15 players in the off-season, but they are short on experience despite their talent.
Another wooden spoon for the Blues unfortunately.
Women's League to keep taking shape
The AFL is certain to announce the introduction of an elite national women's competition for the 2017 season and beyond. It's likely to feature six teams, with two of those coming from interstate clubs.
AFL clubs have already begun campaigning to win a license, with Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs considered the leading Victorian bidders.
More news is sure to follow throughout the season.
Harvey to surpass Tuck
North Melbourne veteran Brent Harvey needs to play just 18 games to overtake Michael Tuck as the AFL/VFL games record holder.
Harvey has committed himself to the club for 2016 and will likely play the milestone game against St Kilda in round 19 at Etihad Stadium, should he remain fit.
The 37-year old has shown no signs of fatigue in recent seasons and is a good bet to reach Tuck's record.
Sub is gone, will benefit ruckmen
With the sub rule finally abolished, the games big men will get more opportunities as clubs become more comfortable playing two ruckman.
With four players on the interchange bench, clubs will have greater flexibility to experiment with the make up of their team.
Under the previous system, it was usually the second ruckman who would get the red vest.
Gaz to reclaim Charlie
Nat Fyfe without a doubt was the best player in 2015 taking many of the individual awards on offer.
However, he did it without Ablett breathing down his neck, and that'll change this year with Gazza back from injury and a definite starter for round 1.
Ablett is still the premier midfielder in the competition and with the Suns winning more games in 2016, he'll win his third brownlow come end of the year.
Dogs to drop out, sadly
As impressive as the Dogs were last season, they'll be the team to likely make way for another finals side.
2015 was a memorable campaign and had many supporters cheering them on as their second team, but backing that up again this year is an enormous task and Port found out last year.
It was the veterans that held the side together last year and it remains to be seen whether they can do that again. With more pressure on the youngest and teams studying their game plan a lot harder, it'll be tough for Beveridge's men.
The fixture isn't as kind as it was to them last year which is something else to also consider.
Geelong and Hawthorn Grand Final
With Geelong recruiting well in the off-season and Hawthorn looking unstoppable, it looks like these two will rule supreme in 2016.
The Cats are the one side who look like they can stop the Hawks from winning four flags in a row and it will be a bittersweet moment for Geelong fans if they can knock off their archrivals on the final day just like the Hawks did in 2008.
Round 1 is sure to be a scintillating contest and it could set the tone for the year ahead.
Everyone wants to see it, so I'm predicting it. The best two sides for the past decade battling it out for the ultimate glory!
The women’s league for 2017 is speculated to have four times as many teams as any other state is inconceivable! Is the AFL serious about fairness or is it about pork barrelling their dominant state which already has 10 teams for the men’s competition. What a joke.