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.
Fremantle
How do they go on the road again?
Without an interstate win since September last year and without one at the Adelaide Oval since Round 9 2015, the Fremantle Dockers are almost certainly less enthusiastic than Willie Nelson about getting on the road again.
Despite this recent trend of homesickness, and underwhelming results in their clash strip, I am backing the purple haze to buck the trend.
Last week, as the Dockers were playing at home, I told you to tip them. This week, even though they are playing away from Perth, I have tipped them again. If you believe they have any business making the eight this year, then you should too.
Although Fremantle averages in excess of five goals more per game when they play in Perth this year, the club's 31 shots on goal against Hawthorn suggest that their offensive efforts are slowly creeping towards their defense's parity of performance.
A fierce start, a feisty clash and a gutsy fightback.
Here's how it happened against the Hawks ๐ฅ #foreverfreo pic.twitter.com/CMSrsp5z65— Fremantle Dockers (@freodockers) April 14, 2021
Sure, 18 of these aforesaid kicks on goal ended up in behinds, but with 12 players taking at least one shot, Justin Longmuir's arsenal seems more stacked than some may have previously given credit for.
The Crows' backline collective of Doedee, Smith, Hamill, Kelly, Butts, Brown, McPherson and Murray have conceded an average of more than 91-points per week across the season's first month, and as these points have come against three sides that failed to make the eight-last year, if Fremantle can replicate their perennial peppering of the sticks and suppress the Crows at the other, then this malignant trend is likely to be halted.
If not, then the mental fragility of Fremantle's list will once again be called into question and their season may soon be wheeled from a private room with a view to the ICU.
