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.
5. Dockers remain shackled to September anchor
Despite an off-season that saw them hit each and every decision out of the park, a finals return is likely to be just outside of Fremantle's reach this year.
While a place in the eight was theirs for the taking when the 2021 home-and-away season entered its final week, a crushing defeat at the hand of the Saints saw the Dockers' September drought extended.
SEE ALSO: Every club's best 22 for '22: Fremantle Dockers
Although the additions of Jordan Clark, Will Brodie, Jye Amiss and Neil Erasmus will be welcomed by Freo fanatics, the club's upcoming schedule will see them face 10 recent finalists across their 22-games.
The Western Australian side may have laid down a marker to win their first flag by 2025, but unless an ability to rectify their road form is found, a premiership, let alone a finals berth, won't be docking between the Mole lighthouses this year.
However, with a young nucleus built from local talent, as well as some sound attempts to begin altering their key forward stocks, perhaps 2021 will be the final time that members of the Purple Haze are booking September holidays for some time.
