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.
4. Essendon
It's amazing to think that this time last year John Worsfold was tipping his side to contend for the flag and break their finals drought.
The club are less than a week away from hitting 6,000 days without winning a finals match and look no closer to ending that run in 2021.
If anything, the club are closer to winning the wooden spoon rather than a game in September, with several key names departing Tullamarine after a 13th-placed finish last season.
Joe Daniher (Brisbane), Adam Saad (Carlton) and Orazio Fantasia (Port Adelaide) all took to the exchange period in hope of departing the Bombers and soon had their wishes granted.
Their departures meant Essendon could look to the draft, a move that is sure to help in the long run but will potentially leave a bruise for the next year or so.
Incoming coach Ben Rutten will be hopeful his first term in charge of the club doesn't spell disaster, but turning this side around won't be an easy task.
With the Bombers set to endure another season-long spell of speculation surrounding star names entering free agency, 2021 could be another long year for Essendon fans it seems.
