Footy is built on hope. Fans have to BELIEVE.
Premierships are getting tougher to win, simply due to the basic mathematics, but we must be able to dream.
With one winner from 18 clubs, about to become one from 19 in the Tassie era, it's a brutal race. The draft and competitive balance is here to give every fan a chance at glory, right?
The reality is, some clubs are a looooong way off. Who is closest? Who is seemingly light years away from the AFL's ultimate prize?
I've tackled the difficult task of ranking clubs in order of who is closest to a premiership right now and who remains in a different galaxy ... from 18th (the longest distance from glory) to first.
Here we go:
11NORTH MELBOURNE
The Kangaroos are under-achieving. On paper, with the help of top end picks and talent, they should be higher on the ladder (particularly given their ridiculously generous fixture).
Under that theory, with improvement to come amid their emerging midfield, I can see the Kangas bouncing next year - and again the year after.
If the coach Al Clarkson can get them humming, they have to be a chance of at least contending for top four in the next three years. There is no excuse given the draft hand they have had after years of poor performance.
There is hope. There has to be. Given list composition they should be higher on this list, but questions remain. It's time they got it done!
