While days at the beach, ice creams and AFLW football are currently ruling the roost, the 2022 AFL season is fast approaching.
And with the first set of pre-season practice matches set to take place in a month's time, the sole goal of the many names currently sweating it out at clubland has just entered their horizon.
Although only eight teams will eventually play finals before a single side claims the cup in September, there are a plethora of headlines that are set to be raised across the course of the marathon campaign.
As the recommencement of the season's roller coaster is yet to begin after coming to halt in Perth last year, it may seem both presumptuous and foolhardy to try and write our leads so far in advance.
However, it hasn't stopped us from giving it our best shot.
So, before the Sherrin hits the middle of the Melbourne Cricket Ground to set the latest AFL schedule in motion, we gazed into our crystal ball to provide you with the 10 headlines you are sure to read before the season's final siren.
9. Chaos at Carrara as re-signings delayedย
While their latest off-season wheels and deals drew scoffs of derision from all angles, if you scratch the surface of the Suns' time at the trade table, you will see some method in their madness.
Although the decisions that led to Will Brodie and Hugh Greenwood departing the Paradise Strip raised eyebrows, the cap space created from their respective shifts to the Dockers and Kangaroos could not have come at a better time.
Irrespective of the fact that you'd be hard-pressed to find anyone backing Stuart Dew's Carrara kids to play finals this year, 2022 is a 'make or break' season for the Suns as four former top 10 draftees are all set to come out of contract.
SEE ALSO: Every club's best 22 for '22: Gold Coast Suns
Gold Coast's moves to boost their bottom line have, obviously, been made to secure the signatures of Jack Lukosius, Izak Rankine, Elijah Hollands and Ben King, but with consistent noise surrounding the quartet's futures, said chatter will remain until each name is kept on the coast.
Given the pair hail from either South Australia and Victoria, a well-baited hook will be needed to retain all four. However, with almost every club in the competition sure to dangle their own lines, don't be surprised to see contract their talks with the Suns put on hold.
