With the โ€˜hit and giggle' matches and the arduous pre-season training regimes now behind each team, fans, coaches, and players alike have set their sights on the real deal โ€“ Round 1.

For some clubs, the pre-season period could not have panned out better, whilst the unlucky remainder will be counting the cost of their campaigns.

Although there were a myriad of positives to be taken from the summer months, all teams will be striving to improve on their practice match form and learn from the lessons dealt out across them.

With the first bounce of the Sherrin just over a week away, we raise the big question that face each of the AFL's 18 clubs.

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Collingwood

Is it the same old story for their forward line?

Despite only falling short of reigning premiers Richmond by one straight kick, it was evident from Friday night's contest that Collingwood is suffering from the same problem as previous seasons โ€“ where do their goals come from?

The Magpies did finish the match with a score of 11. 8. (74) compiled by six different goalkickers, but the question remains โ€“ are their options inside 50 too thin?

With a combined six goals scored by Mason Cox and Darcy Cameron, a tick can be given to Collingwood's tall targets, and with two-time leading goal scorer Brody Mihocek still to return from injury, this output should logically improve.

Despite this, it is likely that Nathan Buckley's scoreboard induced headache arises when he casts his eye across his smaller forward's outputs. The Magpies do have multiple avenues to goal provided by their mosquito fleet, however, their inability to produce consistent numbers continues to be a worry.

On Friday night, just two goals came from players that could realistically be classed as small forwards - Jamie Elliott and Josh Daicos. However, with the latter expected to spend more time up the ground this season, what card does Buckley hold up his sleeve?

With his pair of goals against the Tigers, it is obvious that Jordan De Goey offers his head coach a lethal weapon in attack, but exactly how his time will be divided is another quandary facing Buckley.

With Adam Treloar and Jaidyn Stephenson departing the club over the off-season, Collingwood lost both a handy goal scorer and a midfielder with the ability to drift forward. How their voids will be plugged is still yet to be seen, but if De Goey is expected to cover both bases, he will almost certainly be spread too thin.

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