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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Essendon

Was that a sign of things to come?

Go on, admit it. None of you expected Essendon to run Geelong that close on Saturday night.

Although four points weren't on offer on the weekend, Ben Rutten's tenure as Bomber's coach started with a band against highly fancied opposition. Dons fans would have loved to snare a win away from home, but the performances of their fleet of kids would no doubt have had them beaming on the v-line home.

Despite falling short of the Cats by seven points, Essendon appeared healthy across all three lines.

Joe Daniher will prove to be a big loss for the Bombers at stages throughout the year, but a combined five goals from Cale Hooker and Peter Wright went a long way to filling his void.

The engine room produced results, with Zach Merrett and Darcy Parish found the football at will after being well served by Sam Draper at stoppages.

New recruits Jye Caldwell, Nick Hind, Nikolas Cox and Archie Perkins also chimed in to keep the game within reach in the dying stages.

As mentioned, nothing was at stake on Saturday night, but after an off-season where all and sundry have dug the boots into the club, their strong showing is likely to have silenced doubters and put the rest of the competition on notice.

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