With the first month of the AFL season drawing to a close, narratives for all of the competition's 18 teams have begun to arise.

Whilst some are struggling and others are thriving, you can bet your bottom dollar that each of the league's list of polo shirt wearing pedagogues will still be desperate for improvement this weekend.

With this in mind, here are the key quandaries facing every AFL club ahead of Round 4.

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Gold Coast

When will they get their hands on the Havanas?

Another week goes by and so does another game that the Suns were in up to their eyeballs.

Once again, they were so close, but unlike Round 2, there would be no cigar.

Although the Crows eventually prevailed against Stuart Dew's side by 10-points and the Suns' city of churches losing streak was extended to 11, the Carrara kids were not without their chances.

By the time the final siren sounded, both clubs were deadlocked on 25 scoring shots a piece. The Suns also bested their hosts for contested possessions and inside 50s.

Still, when is it all going to click for Dew and his youthful side?

Across the Suns' last 20 contests, their record stands at 6 โ€“ 1 โ€“ 13, however, when they have tasted victory, the average margin has been 44-points. Conversely, when the four-points have not been obtained, the distance has been only 26.

When they win, they win well. When they don't, they still give themselves at least half a chance.

With co-captain and starting ruckman Jarrod Witts added to their burgeoning injury list, the Gold Coast are already behind the eight ball before the ball is bounced against Carlton on Saturday night.

With a six week stretch to follow that includes contests against the in-form Swans and five of last season's top eight - Western Bulldogs, Collingwood, St. Kilda, Brisbane and Geelong โ€“ don't expect Dew to be reaching for the cigar cutter any time soon.

The effort is there, just as it has been for the vast majority of the last 18-months, however, you can't toast exertion and you can't smoke determination.

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