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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Essendon

What will an interstate win provide them?

Despite their 2-5 record, the footballing world is currently in raptures about the newest wing of ‘Baby Bombers'.

Although this aforementioned win/loss record may be relatively inconsequential across a season in which the club has blooded a swathe of debutants, imports, and a new head coach, victories for a re-setting team are always brilliant indicators that they are travelling in the right direction.

Especially when they come away from home.

Since Round 8 last season, Essendon has not won a single game on the road against a side playing on their home deck.

Although this streak may only sit at five games, if the Dons can beat the Giants in Sydney on Saturday for the first time since 2018, then not only will they pass another minor milestone on the long road back to September, but the assurance within the four walls at Tullamarine is sure to be almost tangible.

As Dennis Pagan inimitably said, you can't just go down Puckle Street and buy a jar of confidence, so for Ben Rutten's side, it's something that must create themselves.

Still, with the Giants currently running hot, and the needle on the pressure gauge beneath Rutten's seat still sitting idle, a loss this weekend won't burst any red and black balloons.

However, an unlikely win will almost certainly add to festival.

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