Every fan's question leading into the new season is 'What should I expect of my club in 2025?'
For some, it will be, and rightfully so, staking their claim as genuine contenders for the premiership.
For others, it will likely be to avoid the wooden spoon.
Irrespective of yesteryear's highs and lows, with the new year comes a new outlook that all 18 clubs can push for the ultimate glory, and 2025 is no different.
Thus, we examine where each side sits in terms of their respective 'premiership window' on various levels: wide open, opening, closing, and locked shut.
Brisbane
Wide open
Fresh off a hard-earned premiership that took six years of heartbreaking losses and close finishes, the Lions were once again crowned kings of the jungle.
But unfortunately for their rivals, we don't tip them going anywhere fast.
Brisbane's list is stacked full of talent on all lines, and aside from Dayne Zorko at age 36 (when the season starts), the majority of players are entering their prime, in it or seemingly extending it, like Ryan Lester (32) and Lachie Neale (31).
Despite being one of the oldest clubs in the competition, Chris Fagan and his men have created an environment that pulls star players to Queensland, like Josh Dunkley and Neale.
They've also managed to retain some of the emerging stars of the competition, locking away Hugh McCluggage and Cam Rayner to long-term deals, which is a true testament to where the club is at.
Not to mention the talent pathways that have seen three first-round selections taken by the contending Lions in recent years; the Ashcroft brothers and Sam Marshall.
The only unknown is the hunger Brisbane has to reach the pinnacle of Australian rules football once again, which has proven difficult for the two previous premiers.
But as long as Fagan still has the drive, and now has a couple more years of security, and the players remain together, there's no doubt that the Lions can replicate what their forefathers achieved in the early 2000s.
