Alright, folks.

You should all know the drill by now.

There are 18 teams playing in nine games this weekend, and because nothing in this life is either perfect or complete, we here at Zero Hanger still believe each of these aforesaid combatants still come with a raft of question marks.

So, before the second month of the regular season draws to a close on Sunday evening, we have sought to answer each club's most pressing queries ahead of Round 8 of the AFL season.

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Carlton

What is the narrative if they fail yet another litmus test?

Having maintained their ability to beat sides that finished below them last season with their win last Sunday over old enemies Essendon, Carlton is still in with a fighter’s chance of returning to the September action for the first time since 2013.

Still, despite their dominance over sides they are expected to defeat, the Blues have appropriately lived up to their moniker this season when they have played teams that completed last year further north than themselves.

Across their four previous litmus tests against Richmond, Collingwood, Port Adelaide and Brisbane, David Teague’s side lost the lost by an average of just under four goals.

With the Princes Park club set to sit another examination this Sunday afternoon when they face the 6-1 Bulldogs, what are the back pages of Monday’s papers going to read if they once again fail to obtain a passing grade?

Especially after Teague suggested they had the ability to beat any side in the competition?

As there is aproportional gulf between the Blues’ and their Round 9 dance partner’s chances of victory this weekend, it is unlikely that many boots will be laid into their ribcage should another predictable loss take place.

However, for a side that has spruiked their finals chances this season, the navy-blue students will have to exceed scholastic expectations one of these days if they wish to graduate from the class of pretenders to that comprised of contenders.

Carlton fans can take solace in the fact that even if their side’s paper is graded an F on Sunday, they will have a chance to re-sit the assessment seven days later when the Blues face off against the currently undefeated Demons.

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