While many fans gauge their sights to who might win the 2021 AFL Premiership as the season rolls closer, the tight battle at the top might be as enticing as the scrap to avoid the wooden spoon.
Adelaide *won* the 18th-placed trophy last season for the first time in their history following a nightmare season both on and off the field whilst in a tussle with North Melbourne for finishing second last.
The Kangaroos will enter the new season by kickstarting a newborn era under coach David Noble, who has arrived at Arden Street with plenty of optimism ahead of his new tenure.
Both the Kangaroos and Crows ended the 2020 season with three wins from 17 matches and will look to vastly improve on their disappointing campaigns.
While the two sides both stand a chance to avoid the wooden spoon, one of the 18 clubs must claim the league's most unwanted honour.
We take a look at the leading contenders for the unwanted wooden spoon award for 2021.
2. North Melbourne
The Kangaroos will be heavily backed for the wooden spoon after a tumultuous 2020 campaign that previewed a max exodus to the playing list.
15 players were cut from the club following their three-win season, with North also dealing Ben Brown (Melbourne) and Shaun Higgins (Geelong) to rival clubs while coach Rhyce Shaw stepped away from his role at the club.
The arrival of David Noble looks to have quickly turned the tide at Arden Street, with more hope and less worry being sewn through the playing group.
Despite having a young list with plenty of upside, Noble will want to make sure he doesn't return the wooden spoon to the club for the first time in nearly 50 years.
The acquisitions of Jaidyn Stephenson and Aidan Corr will add a critical balance of excitement and experience to the club, but fans can't expect the pair to turn the club around in their first season.
2021 is going to be a long journey for the Kangaroos, but they won't be the only club looking to climb out of the cellar.
