Footy is finally (almost) back. With the new season just around the corner, we're assessing each club's hopes for 2019, starting with Adelaide-Fremantle, then Geelong-North Melbourne and finishing up with Port Adelaide-Western Bulldogs.
Here, we preview the Power through to the Bulldogs.
Port Adelaide
What's changed since 2018?
Chad Wingard and Jared Polec were the two significant off-season losses for the Power, but it's been softened by the performance of their 2018 draft picks. Connor Rozee, Zak Butters and Xavier Duursma all impressed through pre-season and are poised to play against the Demons in Round 1. Paddy Ryder will also get some support in the ruck this season with Scott Lycett crossing from West Coast, while Ryan Burton is more than handy compensation for Wingard.
JLT results
Port Adelaide 89 lost to Adelaide 106
Port Adelaide 123 defeated North Melbourne 102
First month
It's not the easiest start to the season for Ken Hinkley's side and you feel most Power fans would take a 2-2 split in the opening two games. They should comfortably beat Carlton at home but will likely start as outsiders in the other three.
Round 1: Melbourne, MCG, Saturday March 23
Round 2: Carlton, Adelaide Oval, Saturday March 30
Round 3: Brisbane, Gabba, Saturday April 6
Round 4: Richmond, Adelaide Oval, Saturday April 13
Prediction: The Power to lose to the Dees, Lions and Tigers and be 1-3 after the first month.
ESPN traffic light rating (green = rising, red = falling, amber = treading water)
Amber. Port Adelaide finished 10th last season -- missing finals by just one game -- and I expect a similar year from them in 2019. A tricky draw to start could shatter confidence early and make a finals berth tough, but on the other side, a 3-1 start or better could be a springboard for a return to the bottom end of the top eight.
Richmond
What's changed since 2018?
The addition of Tom Lynch at Richmond has been one of the most discussed topics this off-season. The former Gold Coast key forward will partner Jack Riewoldt in 2019 and could make the already formidable Tigers side even stronger. Outside of Lynch, the Tigers have lost a little depth with Reece Conca, Sam Lloyd, Anthony Miles and Corey Ellis all finding new homes over the summer.
JLT results
Richmond 113 beat Melbourne 101
Richmond 95 beat Hawthorn 87
First month
The Tigers will start favourite in just about every game they play in 2019 but the Pies in Round 2 could be one they don't. Carlton proved to be a tricky Round 1 opponent last year and it could be the same again in 2019 with the Blues enjoying a positive pre-season. GWS and Port Adelaide on the road will also be difficult propositions.
Round 1: Carlton, MCG, Thursday March 21
Round 2: Collingwood, MCG, Thursday March 28
Round 3: GWS, Spotless Stadium, Saturday April 6
Round 4: Port Adelaide, Adelaide Oval, Saturday April 13
Prediction: The Tigers to win three of their first four, but the loss will come against the Giants.
ESPN traffic light rating (green = rising, red = falling, amber = treading water)
Green. It's scary to think that the team that comfortably won the minor premiership could rise but their failure in finals means they have room to improve. 2019 is a redemption year for the Tigers and anything short of a premiership will be a wasted season. Expect them to play in the Grand Final.
St Kilda
What's changed since 2018?
Dan Hannebery joins the Saints in 2019 and will hope to rediscover some of the form that saw him earn three All-Australian jumpers while playing at the Swans. The other notable addition is Max King who was selected with pick No. 4 and looks to be a long-term key position player. Perhaps the biggest change at St Kilda from last year is the lowering of expectation after a very ordinary 2019 campaign which yielded just four wins.
JLT results
St Kilda 102 beat North Melbourne 77
St Kilda 93 beat Western Bulldogs 79
First month
The Saints have one of the easier first months of football. Their three home games against the struggling Suns, the yet-to-fire Bombers and the unpredictable Hawks could see a win or two, as could the trip to Perth to face the Dockers.
Round 1: Gold Coast, Marvel Stadium, Sunday March 24
Round 2: Essendon, Marvel Stadium, Saturday March 30
Round 3: Fremantle, Optus Stadium, Sunday April 7
Round 4: Hawthorn, Marvel Stadium, Sunday April 14
Prediction: The Saints should win two of their opening four games and be level going into Round 5.
ESPN traffic light rating (green = rising, red = falling, amber = treading water)
Green. After such a horrendous 2018, there's really only one way for the Saints to go this year. Finals still seem a fair way off but Alan Richardson's side has a soft draw and a point to prove. They should be winning at least five or six games this season.
Sydney
What's changed since 2018?
Hannebery and inconsistent forward Gary Rohan left the Swans in the off-season while in comes former Cat Dan Menzel to strengthen the forward line. Sydney will also welcome back Callum Mills who missed the majority of last year with a broken foot and Sam Reid who played just one game in 2018.
JLT results
Sydney 59 lost to GWS 81
Sydney 123 beat Gold Coast 81
First month
We'll learn a lot about the Swans in the first month of the season. The Crows and Demons will both be challenging for the top four and if Sydney wants to do the same, these are games they need to win early, particularly given they are at home. They play the Bulldogs and Blues away but really shouldn't be troubled in either clash.
Round 1: Western Bulldogs, Marvel Stadium, Saturday March 23
Round 2: Adelaide, SCG, Friday March 29
Round 3: Carlton, Marvel Stadium, Saturday April 6
Round 4: Melbourne, SCG, Thursday April 11
Prediction: The Swans to start 3-1, beating the Western Bulldogs, Carlton and one of Adelaide/Melbourne.
ESPN traffic light rating (green = rising, red = falling, amber = treading water)
Red. The Swans finished sixth last season but haven't really gotten much stronger this off-season, while plenty of teams around them look improved outfits. With a tougher draw, I wouldn't be surprised to see Sydney go backwards and miss out on finals this year.
West Coast
What's changed since 2018?
As expected, there weren't too many off-season personnel changes at West Coast. The reigning premiers let Scott Lycett go but replaced him with Tom Hickey who will play an important role in star ruckman Nic Naitanui's absence. Naitanui is expected to return around mid-season while Andrew Gaff, who still has two weeks of his eight week suspension left to serve, will be a very handy inclusion in Round 3.
JLT results
West Coast 99 beat Geelong 65
West Coast 109 beat Fremantle 58
First month
The Lions at the Gabba in Round 1 could be a tricky one for the Eagles but you'd still expect them to get the job done and get their premiership defense off to a perfect start. The Pies, who they beat in last year's Grand Final, will be their biggest early test with comfortable wins likely to come at home against the Giants and Dockers.
Round 1: Brisbane, Gabba, Saturday March 23
Round 2: GWS, Optus Stadium, Saturday March 30
Round 3: Collingwood, MCG, Saturday April 6
Round 4: Fremantle, Optus Stadium, Saturday April 13
Prediction: The Eagles will start 2019 a perfect 4-0.
ESPN traffic light rating (green = rising, red = falling, amber = treading water)
Amber. Unfortunately when you win the flag the previous ladder it's pretty hard to rise the next year. However, expect the Eagles to be right up the pointy end of the ladder once again and feature heavily in September. Like Richmond and Collingwood at this stage, anything short of a premiership would be disappointing for the club.
Western Bulldogs
What's changed since 2018?
There was no major off-season signing by the Bulldogs but they were active during the draft, snapping up a number of promising young talents including Bailey Scott and Rhylee West, the son of former club champion Scott. Taylor Duryea did cross from Hawthorn and will strengthen the backline but a hole has been left with Jordan Roughead moving to the Pies.
JLT results
Western Bulldogs 72 lost to Gold Coast 77
Western Bulldogs 79 lost to St Kilda 93
First month
The Bulldogs face a tough start to 2019 with three of their first four games being against top six opponents from last year. It makes their Round 3 clash against Gold Coast a must-win. However, one positive is that the don't leave Melbourne in the first month.
Round 1: Sydney, Marvel Stadium, Saturday March 23
Round 2: Hawthorn, MCG, Sunday March 31
Round 3: Gold Coast, Marvel Stadium, Sunday April 7
Round 4: Collingwood, MCG, Friday April 12
Prediction: The Bulldogs will only manage one win from their opening four games.
ESPN traffic light rating (green = rising, red = falling, amber = treading water)
Amber. When you look at the teams that finished ahead of the Dogs last year it's hard to imagine any of them dropping below them in 2019. I don't expect to see much improvement, if any, but equally it's hard to see them sliding down the ladder.