They're the premiers, but can the Bulldogs get off to a flyer against Collingwood?

The scary thing about the Western Bulldogs is that, on paper, they are categorically a better team than last year. But how prepared are they mentally for season 2017?

Why the Bulldogs can win the grand final

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In their early days under Luke Beveridge, the Bulldogs were labelled "sexy" for their attractive football. While it has certainly been exciting to see how they throw the footy around when they're at their best, "sexy" doesn't do them justice.

Key for the Cats is an even spread of effort

Anyone who has owned a pet of the feline variety will know they can be very picky about what they eat and when they come and go. Just about everything is on their terms, which is not unlike the Geelong Cats of 2016.

Wayne Carey: If it's personal, don't say it

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Since the Mumford-Franklin sledging incident, it's clear personal attacks can amount to bullying - and the players need to draw a line in the sand.

Finally – the big men of the AFL are flying

Finally, football is witnessing a resurgence in the power of the big forwards. While the game's spearheads have endured a real lull in recent years, this could be their finals series.

The Brownlow's broken. But there's an easy fix

When are we going to give the umpires less say and make footy's highest honour fair and even?

Carey: right call, Roos, but not ruthless enough

The club is always bigger than the individual, regardless of how good you've been. We saw that on Wednesday at North Melbourne.

The brain game: why the Hawks are still the team to beat in 2016

Alastair Clarkson sits comfortably alongside Leigh Matthews as one of the great coaches of the modern era. Another win on grand final day this year and he might just be the greatest.

Poke the bear and risk a mauling

Intimidation is a lost art in the AFL, and with good reason. In the days of yesteryear you could target a player physically, but football has been cleaned up and, thankfully, that dirtiness is gone.