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.
7. Voss brings bite back to Bluesย
Having stuck 613 tackles and won 1648 contested possessions during his days as a Bear and a Lion, there is no denying that Michael Voss had no qualms when it came to getting his hands dirty.
Ahead of his first season as a head coach since 2013, Voss has inherited a Blues' side that finished in the bottom four for both of these metrics throughout 2021.
With a seasonal mark of 2888 contested possessions, only Collingwood, North Melbourne and Richmond ranked lower than the Princes Park club.
And with 1175 tackles across their 22-outings last year, it was just the Roos, Dockers and Eagles that the Blues could beat in this regard.
SEE ALSO: Every club's best 22 for '22: Carlton Blues
Having opened the door for ex-Swan George Hewett during the off-season, Voss has already signalled an intention to rectify these ills.
If the South Australian's recent means of 3.4 tackles and seven contested possessions per week can rub off on some of his new teammates, then a date in the eight come September could well be on the cards.
As a skipper in the Sunshine State, Voss demanded the utmost from his hardened troops. And with a burgeoning, but still unheralded, group now under his guise, expect to see the same commands dealt out to members of Carlton's midfield unit.
