With the pre-season done and dusted for another year, the opening round of the AFL is just around the corner.
But what will your team look like in the opening round?
Part one of The Line-Up Lay Down will have all the answers, as we gauge the best 22 for the first six sides in anticipation of this year's opening round.
Please keep in mind there will be some superstars missing from the initial line-ups due to injury, so don't be alarmed if you don't see some big names!
Check out the team line-ups and compare them side by side - is your team set for a successful season, or are there other teams which have the edge over your own?
Tell us what you think!
ADELAIDE
Zac Standish
Following last season's Grand Final disappointment, there were a number of questions surrounding who would comprise the Crows' best 22 following the departures of Jake Lever and Charlie Cameron.
The arrivals of Bryce Gibbs and Sam Gibson though have been greeted by fans and teammates with open arms.
With redemption on their mind, it will be a big season for Adelaide as they look to put last year behind them and push for the flag again in 2018.
Adelaide’s 2018 side will sport several changes from last year, with a number of new faces pressing for senior selection and hoping to solidify themselves in the already solid line-up following the JLT Community Series.
The main question facing the selection committee is how to replace Jake Lever, yet with the likes of Andy Otten, Kyle Cheney and Tom Doedee all putting their hands up to fill the void, it's just a matter of selecting the right man for the job.
The temptation of playing first round draft pick Darcy Fogarty will also be the minds of selectors following his JLT match against Port Adelaide.
With injuries to superstar Taylor Walker and Brodie Smith, as well as niggles to Alex Keath and Riley Knight, Fogarty could make his debut sooner than expected.
SEASON SUPERSTAR: Rory Sloane
KEEP AN EYE ON: Mitch McGovern
YOUNG GUN: Darcy Fogarty
NOTABLE ABSENTEES: Taylor Walker, Brodie Smith, Riley Knight
BRISBANE
Zac Standish
After a number of disappointing seasons, the Lions come into 2018 rejuvenated as a fresh list of young players look to rise their previously mediocre side up the ladder.
Highlighting the arrivals for Brisbane is three-time Hawthorn premiership captain Luke Hodge, who after briefly announcing his retirement at the end of last season comes to the Lions in a player/mentor capacity.
Along with Hodge, the Lions also managed to snare former Adelaide live wire Charlie Cameron, as he looked to relocate his life back up north to be closer to family.
The fitness of their more experienced players will be a persistent issue for the Lions, with the likes of Allen Christensen, Dayne Beams, Tom Bell and Mitch Robinson who have all missed large periods of footy in the past few seasons.
The development of their young players will be crucial, with Lions fans hoping to see positive signs out of Cameron Rayner, Jarrod Berry, Hugh McCluggage and Alex Witherden throughout the season.
21-year-old deputy vice-captain Harris Andrews is also poised for a big year, and will be a glimmer of hope for the Lions as they attempt to surge up the ladder.
SEASON SUPERSTAR: Dayne Zorko
KEEP AN EYE ON: Eric Hipwood
YOUNG GUN: Cameron Rayner
NOTABLE ABSENTEES: Josh Schache (trade to Western Bulldogs)
CARLTON
Nick D'Urbano
Young talent is ever-present in the Carlton line-up this season as they hope to haul themselves upward from the lower rungs of the ladder.
No. 3 draft pick Paddy Dow looks set to lock down a place in Brendon Bolton’s side come round one after playing both JLT Community Series games, in which he didn’t look out of place.
If history is anything to go by, Bolton will not hesitate in playing the young gun, with the former Bendigo Pioneer set to become a mainstay in the Blues' midfield.
Expect big things from the up-and-coming midfielder Patrick Cripps, who is now into his fifth year at the Blues and has at last completed his first full pre-season.
With the dividends finally starting to pay off, Cripps could be in for his true breakout season as he moves into the upper echelon of the current AFL elites.
From one future elite to another, Charlie Curnow - often touted as the next Anthony Koutoufides - looks to become the player all Blues fans hope he will turn out to be, despite the injuries which have hindered his career thus far.
A versatile forward who can play tall but has the ability to play on-ball and use his size to impact games, Curnow could be set for a superb season.
Jarrod Garlett, Sam Rowe and Darcy Lang are all expected to be available for round one and could find a place among the side that takes on the Tigers, but 2017 All-Australian Sam Docherty will be the most noteworthy absentee after tearing his ACL in the off-season.
UPDATE: Jarrod Pickett will miss up to three months of the season with a fractured wrist.
SEASON SUPERSTAR: Patrick Cripps
KEEP AN EYE ON: Charlie Curnow
YOUNG GUN: Paddy Dow
NOTABLE ABSENTEES: Sam Docherty, Jarrod Garlett, Darcy Lang, Sam Rowe
COLLINGWOOD
Nick D'Urbano
With everyone behind Nathan Buckley and his Magpies, Collingwood fans will be expecting a far more prosperous year as opposed to their previous seasons - and they've got the list to do it.
While Scott Pendlebury and Steele Sidebottom will again impress in the midfield, former GWS midfielder Adam Treloar - who has been an absolute gun for the Magpies over the past two seasons - will be be the shining light of the side.
Expect Treloar to take his game to another level and cement himself as one of the elite players in the competition.
The big American Mason Cox will be another player to look out for this season, after already making a favourable impression over his first two seasons at the Magpies.
Following Darcy Moore's move to defence, Cox has been given more room to roam in the forward line and has been handy throughout the pre-season, showing signs of improvement with his impressive four-goal haul against the Dogs.
The future of Collingwood looks bright following the acquisition of pick No. 6 Jaidyn Stephenson, who is expected to line up round one and could be one of Collingwood’s key individuals heading into the season.
With an influx of injuries on Collingwood's list, expect him to be a real baller for the Pies after being hailed as the most naturally talented player in the draft.
Jamie Elliott, Daniel Wells and Jordan De Goey will all miss the first round of the season but should be back in the first few rounds after injuries and club-suspension from the latter impeded their returns.
Levi Greenwood will remain on the sidelines, while veteran Tyson Goldsack will miss the season with an ACL injury.
SEASON SUPERSTAR: Adam Treloar
KEEP AN EYE ON: Mason Cox
YOUNG GUN: Jaidyn Stephenson
NOTABLE ABSENTEES: Jordan De Goey, Jamie Elliot, Tyson Goldsack, Levi Greenwood, Daniel Wells
ESSENDON
Chris Nice
Essendon appear to be primed and ready for a massive 2018 thanks to their successful off-season recruiting which saw Adam Saad, Devon Smith and Jake Stringer join the Bomber ranks.
While Stringer’s form was highly criticised in the first JLT practice match, a two-goal display in the Bombers’ come-from-behind win against Geelong may have earned him a spot come round one.
Saad appears to be a fine candidate to replace veteran defender James Kelly, while Smith hasn’t skipped a beat at his new club, with two consistent performances across the JLT Community Series.
The Essendon attack will be one to fear with tall forwards Joe Daniher, Cale Hooker and James Stewart being more than a handful for opposition defenders, while Smith and Stringer will frequently float back to contribute to the already dangerous forward line.
Add the game-changing Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti to the mix and the Bombers have got themselves a formidable offence, both in the air and on the ground.
Zach Merrett and Andrew McGrath will bear great responsibilities in the midfield following the retirement of former skipper Jobe Watson.
With All-Australian honours against his name and huge expectations coming into the new year, it's no surprise why Merrett's name has been tossed up for 2018 Brownlow contention.
And don't forget the seasoned campaigners in Brendon Goddard and new skipper Dyson Heppell - they will be the driving force for the entire season.
Martin Gleeson, Travis Colyer and Jayden Laverde will all miss round one through injury, but may have difficulty breaking back into a strong Essendon line-up.
SEASON SUPERSTAR: Devon Smith
KEEP AN EYE ON: James Stewart
YOUNG GUN: Zach Merrett
NOTABLE ABSENTEES: Joshua Begley, Travis Colyer, Martin Gleeson, Jayden Laverde
FREMANTLE
Nick D'Urbano
After a substandard 2017, Ross Lyon's Fremantle will be raring to bounce back and notch a couple of early wins onto the board.
2015 Brownlow medallist Nathan Fyfe has had an injury-interrupted past two seasons, but looks set to return to his brilliant best this season and will be key to their resurgence in 2018.
A fantastic pre-season coupled with strong showings in the JLT Community Series from Fyfe - which has already catapulted him to being a Brownlow favourite this year - has Docker fans excited.
The lumbering forward in Matt Taberner has been hit-and-miss throughout his stagnating career thus far, but after holding crunch talks with the club at the conclusion of last season, it seems to have lit a spark under the maligned forward, who was especially impressive against the Eagles last week.
Pick No. 2 Andrew Brayshaw looks ready to make an instant impression in the Docker line-up.
A solid opening couple games for Brayshaw will more than likely see him lock in a spot for round one - the expectation now being he will play majority of games this season, with the Dockers turning the attention to their youth.
Fremantle's pace will be lacking in the opening rounds, with Harley Bennell, Bradley Hill and Stephen Hill all likely to miss the season opener with injuries.
SEASON SUPERSTAR: Nathan Fyfe
KEEP AN EYE ON: Matt Taberner
YOUNG GUN: Andrew Brayshaw
NOTABLE ABSENTEES: Harley Bennell, Bradley Hill, Stephen Hill
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