The burning question facing your club in 2021

With the turn of the year, 2020 is now behind us and all eyes are now firmly focused on the 2021 AFL season. Every club will have their attention set on what's to come in the new year, but after a season that handed us more questions then any before it, there are plenty of clubs now facing a brutal examination for the coming 12 months. We take a look at the burning question facing each club ahead of the new season. Adelaide Will the Crows be on the up or is there more pain to come? Adelaide started their rebuild in 2020, they blooded a lot of youth and put their focus on the future. But when does it start turn in an upright direction, is 2021 the year they start making their way back up the ladder? Or is the worst yet to come? [caption id="attachment_42302" align="alignnone" width="696"] GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 21: Crows players leave after the loss during the round 3 AFL match between the Gold Coast Suns and the Adelaide Crows at Metricon Stadium on June 21, 2020 in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Jono Searle/AFL Photos/via Getty Images )[/caption] Brisbane Can they take the next step in September? In 2019 Brisbane lost two home finals to bow out in straight sets. In 2020 they defeated Richmond in the qualifying final at the Gabba only to lose the preliminary final in poor fashion. Are they now ready to take another step forward? They surely should be, and they need to be. [caption id="attachment_42223" align="alignnone" width="696"] MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 22: Dayne Zorko and his Lions team mates look dejected after losing the round 1 AFL match between the Hawthorn Hawks and the Brisbane Lions at Melbourne Cricket Ground on March 22, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)[/caption] Carlton Will Zac Williams thrive as a genuine midfielder? Carlton have spent big money on Zac Williams and fully intend on playing him in their midfield, but Williams has played almost all of his football off half-back. https://twitter.com/Supercoach/status/1338624441010454528 The former Giants speedster has played some of his best games in midfield but those games have been few and far between. For the money the Blues are reportedly paying him, he'll need to be a consistently influential midfielder and move the club into the top eight. Collingwood How much will they miss their departed stars? The Pies had nothing short of a fire sale at the end of the 2020 season in a bid to clear cap space, and now we wait to see if it will all pay off. How do Collingwood replace Adam Treloar's output? And how well is he going over at the Bulldogs? [caption id="attachment_70440" align="alignnone" width="696"] MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 13: Adam Treloar poses during a Western Bulldogs AFL media opportunity at Whitten Oval on November 13, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)[/caption] If Collingwood are unable to replace what he brought them for so long they will find themselves in a hole quite quickly. Essendon Is this a rebuild? Essendon are in a bit of no-mans land and have been for a very long time now. It's hard to say they're a genuine finals team as they move in favour of a proper rebuild. They're list management strategy came into focus at the end of 2020 and the departure of Adam Saad has many wondering what is going wrong at Essendon. Where is this list at? What is their expectations and where is their ceiling? [caption id="attachment_61993" align="alignnone" width="696"] ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 12: Ben Rutten, Senior Assistant Coach and Team Defence of the Bombers during the 2020 AFL Round 17 match between the Port Adelaide Power and the Essendon Bombers at Adelaide Oval on September 12, 2020 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Matt Turner/AFL Photos via Getty Images)[/caption] Fremantle Can they make the leap into the top eight? Fremantle looked down and out after three rounds in 2020, but they rallied back and became one of the league's most promising young teams. Can Nat Fyfe's men make another leap in 2021 and challenge for a spot in September? Are they ready now or do they need more time to develop? It would be an unreal effort if they were to make it. [caption id="attachment_21052" align="alignnone" width="696"] MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 16: Nat Fyfe of the Dockers and Patrick Cripps of the Blues compete for the ball during the round 13 AFL match between the Carlton Blues and the Fremantle Dockers at Etihad Stadium on June 16, 2018 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)[/caption] Geelong Is Jeremy Cameron the answer? Jeremy Cameron was the biggest signing of the 2020 trade and free agency period. In 2019, Cameron won the Coleman Medal and was the game's most dangerous forward, but hub life seemingly didn't sit well with the 27-year-old, who struggled for form for the majority of the 2020 season. https://twitter.com/GeelongCats/status/1326813437322670080 He has now come to Geelong on serious money and the change of lifestyle may aid him to play his best footy, but if he fails to find his best football, he could spell a doomed deal. There will be plenty resting on his shoulders in 2021. Gold Coast Just how good will Matt Rowell be? Rowell gave footy fans only a slither of what he has in his locker in 2020 and it grabbed everyone's attention. It would be incredible to see what the 2019 number one draft pick can produce in a 22-game season (should he get through unscathed). He could be anything. [caption id="attachment_42533" align="alignnone" width="696"] GEELONG, AUSTRALIA - JULY 04: Matthew Rowell of the Suns is seen with his arm in a sling during the three quarter time huddle during the round 5 AFL match between the Geelong Cats and the Gold Coast Suns at GMHBA Stadium on July 04, 2020 in Geelong, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)[/caption] Greater Western Sydney Do they have enough star power to play finals They have again lost some serious talent in the off-season and while the losses of the past haven't hindered the team too much, finals might just be too much to ask in 2021. [caption id="attachment_35145" align="alignnone" width="696"] MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 26: Stephen Coniglio (left) and Lachie Whitfield of the Giants look dejected after a loss during the 2018 AFL round 23 match between the Melbourne Demons and the GWS Giants at The Melbourne Cricket Ground on August 26, 2018 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Adam Trafford/AFL Media/Getty Images)[/caption] Jeremy Cameron and Zac Williams are among a few others to depart GWS and now it's over to the likes of Lachie Whitfield, Josh Kelly and Stephen Coniglio to carry this team forward. Surely those names are too good for this side to miss the top-eight again? Hawthorn How long can Clarko deny a rebuild? For years Hawthorn have made a successful habit of recycling players and making them better, however, they've not been in a position like the one they face now for at least the last decade. [caption id="attachment_12855" align="alignnone" width="696"] GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 09: Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson talks to players during the round three AFL match between the Gold Coast Suns and the Hawthorn Hawks at Metricon Stadium on April 9, 2017 in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)[/caption] Despite a poor 2020 they have again invested in recycled players, surely at some point Clarko bites the bullet and starts to look deeper into the draft. Melbourne Will the Demons find some consistency? Melbourne's best and worst are so far apart it's hard to tell just where in the league they sit. They are harder to read then any other team in the competition and they need to sort out exactly who they are should they want to return to their best form. Identity is key. [caption id="attachment_47136" align="alignnone" width="696"] GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA - JULY 26: Max Gawn of the Demons looks dejected after losing the round 8 AFL match between the Melbourne Demons and the Brisbane Lions at Metricon Stadium on July 26, 2020 in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)[/caption] North Melbourne Just how bad will it get? They look the ready made wooden spooners. A new coach and a list overhaul has the Kangaroos looking like a brand new football club. [caption id="attachment_71677" align="alignnone" width="696"] MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 23: New Kangaroos coach David Noble poses during a North Melbourne Kangaroos AFL media opportunity at Arden Street Ground on November 23, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)[/caption] They're not without a hope of improvement but after their 2020 form it's hard to see any drastic rise in 2021. Damage limitation may be the way. Port Adelaide Can the Power go one better? Port were excellent in 2020 and were very, very close to making the Grand Final. However, their finals inexperience may have been what ultimately cost them against Richmond in the preliminary final. [caption id="attachment_70871" align="alignnone" width="696"] GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 14: Mitch Georgiades of the Power is congratulated by team mates after kicking a goal during the round 12 AFL match between the Geelong Cats and the Port Adelaide Power at Metricon Stadium on August 14, 2020 in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Matt Roberts/Getty Images)[/caption] Will they be better for that experience and can they replicate their form of 2020? If so they will be a genuine contender. Richmond Will the off-field drama impact on-field performances? The Tigers have been the benchmark for the past four years, winning three flags and setting the standard for the league. https://twitter.com/7AFL/status/1348424222607962115 Unfortunately, off-field behaviour of late hasn't reflected that of the competition's best side, with players and coaches getting caught up in controversies that have brought an un-welcomed spotlight on the club. At what point does the off-field attention catch up and take a toll on the on-field form? St Kilda Is their list built to go another step forward? Stephen Silvagni said a long time ago: "It's easy to build a list to play finals, it's hard to build a list to win a premiership". The Saints went hard in the trade period at the end of 2019 season and they were very impressive in 2020 winning a final. [caption id="attachment_71123" align="alignnone" width="696"] MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 27: James Frawley of the Saints speaks to the media during a St. Kilda media opportunity at RSEA Park on November 27, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)[/caption] But is this list built to take another step up? They remain a youthful side but they do still have some holes they haven't yet filled. Just how far can they go? Sydney Can they get Buddy on the park? Lance Franklin didn't play a game in 2020 due to soft-tissue issues and the Swans missed him dearly. With his lucrative long-term deal coming to an end, the Swans will be hoping to see him on the park in 2021 in a bid to help teach the plethora of young players coming through the door. [caption id="attachment_23667" align="alignnone" width="696"] SYDNEY, NEW SOUTH WALES - SEPTEMBER 08: Lance Franklin of the Swans looks on during the AFL Second Elimination Final match between the Sydney Swans and the GWS Giants at Sydney Cricket Ground on September 8, 2018 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/AFL Media/Getty Images)[/caption] Buddy playing is good for footy and hopefully he can reach that illustrious 1,000-goal milestone. West Coast Is their window still open? The Eagles dominated teams when they played at home, but hub life wasn't their friend when interstate and it cost them a top four spot. [caption id="attachment_61971" align="alignnone" width="696"] GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 17: Josh J. Kennedy of the Eagles is seen on the bench after he sustained an injury during the round 18 AFL match between the North Melbourne Kangaroos and the West Coast Eagles at Metricon Stadium on September 17, 2020 in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)[/caption] They then went on to lose a home final with many of their stars out injured. Their list is ageing and their window might not be as open as it once was. Is this their last chance? Western Bulldogs Are they a genuine contender? In 2020 many thought the Dogs were a genuine contender, but they were a very even 8th. Their best is unreal but their worst can be beat by anyone. They add Adam Treloar through the door and keep Josh Dunkley. Add in the versatile Jamarra Ugle-Hagan and they may have the tools to challenge again. [caption id="attachment_71514" align="alignnone" width="696"] MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 10: Jamarra Ugle-Hagan, draft selection #1 for the Bulldogs poses for a photo during the NAB AFL Draft media opportunity at Marvel Stadium on December 10, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)[/caption]

The burning question facing your club in 2021

What query will your club need to answer this season?

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