As both the players and their coaches continue their strides in season 2021, distinctive groups have broken out throughout the race.
Some, like the Bulldogs and Demons, have dashed from the starter's gun, with the desire to create lightyears between themselves and the pack.
Sadly for others, they are barely attached to the peloton anymore.
Whether first, second, third or 18th along the road to the last Saturday in September, every side and their side coaching team still have question marks over their head.
Carlton
Does more scrutiny need to be applied on selection night?
As Carlton has only played finals on six occasions since the turn of the millennium, pundits have created a long list of reasons โ both real and imagined โ as to why the former powerhouse has failed to claim contemporary success.
The latest in this long line of theories is the notion that the 'Old, Dark Navy Blues' prefer elderly footballers at the selection table.
Earlier this week, The Herald Sun's Sam Landsberger outlined that since Round 13 last season, the Blues have won only three games, but have dropped no player above the age of 22.
There are a pair of reasons as to why this may be the case.
Perhaps coach David Teague is feeling the pressure to succeed at the present, rather than in the future โ a logical thought considering he is the eighth man in the hot seat since the year 2000.
โWe've got to stop competing and start winning.โ
David Teague speaks on the upcoming challenge against Brisbane on Saturday night and how they need to keep the game on their terms.
— Carlton FC (@CarltonFC) April 22, 2021
Another thought is that perhaps the Blues list management team have made the selection blunders, and that the kids brought in for Teague to mould are not up to scratch.
However, due to the club trading for seasoned talent in an effort to return to September for the first time in eight years, we will run with the former.
With 80,000 members and the promise of progression still remaining unfulfilled, there is no doubt that the job of Carlton head coach currently โ and historically โ comes with some scrutiny. However, if wins are on the board, history suggests that the club's board don't mind how they have been achieved.
Irrespective of whether it is done with his green shoots or his old timers, if David Teague's Blues can beat Brisbane this weekend, then the needling narrative surrounding selection is likely to cease.
That is until the perrenial underachievers are bested again and yet another theory is devised.
