As the first month of fixtures drew to a close last Sunday evening, a belief morphed into empirical truth - 2021 is already rivalling last year in terms of unpredictability.

If you don't believe me, just take a look at the current ladder.

With the second month of the marathon season set to commence tonight, another set of questions remain ahead of both the men in the hot seat and their disciples in studded boots.

Whether flying high or having to continually dig deep for no reward, here are the latest set of quandaries facing each of the AFL's 18 teams.

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Hawthorn

Can they count themselves a little bit unlucky?

With many, myself included, predicting that Hawthorn were bound for the bottom four this season, some of the football that they have produced this season has been eye-catching and exciting, despite their 1-3 record.

Still, with a fixture to start the season that included contests against both of 2020's Grand Finalists and a trip to Perth, can the Hawks count themselves unfortunate?

In terms of how fixturing works, no, definitely not, but with clashes against three sides currently in the top eight and one that finished their last season across the next month, can they feel aggrieved about catching teams at the wrong point of the season?

With Alastair Clarkson at the helm, you would have to suggest that the answer also remains a resounding no, but for Hawthorn fans that haven't scoured their fixture list thoroughly, the back end of April and the beginning of May allows your club about as much breathing room as a jam packed sauna would.

The Hawks showed that they could run a classy outfit close when they almost got the better of Geelong on Easter Monday, but with a schedule that doesn't theoretically open up until the back half of May, these same efforts will need to be replicated if an unlikely victory is to be secured.

Although I am tipping the Hawks to have to take their lumps over the next month, if the rise of individual players continues and the want to work until the final siren remains, then not all of these bumps will have to be ridden without a grin.

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