Despite being less than a month until the start of the AFL Draft, almost all of the league's 18 clubs will believe their starting line-ups are close to complete
But irrespective of this confidence, every roster still has holes.
Due to the nature of the league, it is almost impossible for two sides to be in exactly the same place, so some of these gaps may be chasmic, whilst others may be wafer-thin.
However, if left unattended, those of any magnitude could lead a side to ruin.
While previous arrows that have been shot at sides have required a steady aim towards a relatively minuscule target, the barb that is heading towards the purple portion of Perth could be hit with a blindfold on.
Although I will again part with cash to back the Dockers to break their September drought next season, if their forward half issues continue to be a hurdle they are unable to hop, I’m likely to join the vast majority of spring carnival punters that are counting their losses.
As Fremantle once again proved impotent in the forward half with just 219 goals – the third least in the competition – question marks remain above the heads of almost every member of the formerly anchor clad club’s offensive arsenal.
Having led the line with 37 majors, Matt Taberner avoids my scorn, as does Lachie Schultz with his addition of 22. Rory Lobb also earns a tick with 20 from 13 starts, but with a conversion rate of just over 50 percent, the green ink has been dolled out tentatively.
Still, should you run a pen over the remainder of the club’s scoresheet, both tears and tittering are appropriate responses when you find that a 36-year-old-midfielder and a lumbering ruckman snuggly bookend the outputs of a duo of dynamic small forwards.
Despite injury capping Michael Walters’ 13th season in the AFL at just 16 appearances, the inked-up excitement machine’s 14.11 from forward thrusts was enough to net him his worst attacking return since 2012.
Given the soft tissue nature of his ailments paired with the fact that he blew out 30 candles on his birthday cake this year, is father time creeping up on the five-time leading goalscorer?
As an unashamed fan of the man with the dragon tattoo, I certainly hope not.
Walters’ 2020 return of 15.7 both provided the first scrawls on the wall and allowed the top 10 selection of Liam Henry to appear clairvoyant, but as the 20-year-old’s first steps at the level have been tentative since debuting in Round 13 of last year, the slack left by this pair has proven
As a product of the Dockers’ Next Generation Academy, Henry no doubt grew up idolizing Walters, however, even if the timing may be off somewhat, now is time for the Western Australian to begin putting pieces in place to usurp the one-time All-Australian.
This need for an elevation beyond nine touches and half a goal per game is even more necessary when you factor in that Nat Fyfe will be spending more time at centre bounces rather than sending wayward Sherrins at the sticks next season.
While some of this may sound alarmist in the short term, the Dockers are still a side for the future.
This point is only set for further proving given Fremantle have told us time and again that they will be taking a local key forward in the early stages of November’s draft.
But whether this be Jye Amiss, Jack Williams, or Jacob Van Rooyen, perennially tortured Freo fans will still need to stay patient as a rise should logically come from those that already call Cockburn home.
Though a broken clock’s dial is incorrect 1438 times each day, the old adage claims that it’s at least earning its wage on a pair of occasions.
And while Justin Longmuir’s side continues to fall short on the scoreboard each season, they have proven that when the handbrake is taken off – such as their eight-goal first quarter in the latest Western Derby – they can prove a threat.
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