One down, 22 to go.

The first eight games of the 2021 AFL season didn't just provide us with our initial set of winners and losers, it raised another series of questions.

With each of the league's 18ย clubsย set to do battle again this weekend, we attempted to answer the major issues facing their playingย listsย andย coachesย alike.

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Fremantleย 

Can their makeshift forward line fire enough shots?

The Dockers entered their opening round clash with the Demons minus a quartt of offensive outlets in Bailey Banfield, Michael Frederick, Rory Lobb and Michael Walters.

In 2020, this aforementioned group combined for 36 of Fremantle's 127 goals, a percentage of 28.35.

With Hogan no longer calling Perth home and the remaining four names sidelined with injury, a beleaguered Fremantle side was only able to post eight majors in their 22-point loss at the MCG.

For anyone that sat through the entirety of Saturday afternoon's retina singeing contest, it was clear that Justin Longmuir was directing a cast of understudies each time the Sherrin was thrust forward.

Like the Magpies on the same venue the night beforehand, Fremantle were only able to create 18 scoring shots, with only six goal scorers and just a singular name to post multiple โ€“ Matt Taberner with three.

Sure, their makeshift forward six could argue that their supply was rancid from further afield, as the Dockers found teammates with much less than half of their disposals during their 57 inside 50s. However, with shots on goal like this from Adam Cerra, it would be fair to suggest that the sour disposal by foot was not an isolated geographical issue.

Tipped by many to rise this season, irrespective of who Longmuir puts on the park, the Dockers' forward line will need to exceed their average of 16.4 from their last five matches if they are to level their 2021 ledger.

With former top 10 draft pick Liam Henry in doubt for Sunday's clash against the Giants, the task only becomes tougher as Longmuir scrambles for another back-up thespian.

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