ADAM BOURKE: Well, Westy, footy's back at long last.
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Credit to the AFL for working so hard to get a season together.
17 rounds, each team plays each other once and then the finals. Sounds good to me.
I know TV money dictates that we won't see a 17-round season again, but I like the fact we have an even draw for once.
LUKE WEST: And I like the fact that I will no longer be relying on Masterchef to get my competitive fix once the ball is bounced at the MCG on Thursday night.
With country football being desperately missed at the moment, at least getting the AFL re-started brings back some normality and the signs look promising for crowds being permitted later in the year, with the 2000 being let in at the Showdown in Adelaide on Saturday night the starting point.
Hopefully, we'll have decent sized crowds permitted in Victoria by the time finals roll around because I want to be there when my Bombers finally win their first final since 2004.
I reckon we can snare a spot in the bottom part of the eight.
AB: Lockdown hasn't made you any wiser when it comes to footy.
Your Bombers are in strife. Their best player Joe Daniher doesn't want to be at the club, their second-best player Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti is injured and no-one is sure who is actually coaching the team this year. They'll do well to finish in the top 12, let alone the top eight.
I have six locks for the top eight - Richmond, GWS, West Coast, Collingwood, Port Adelaide and Brisbane. Geelong probably next because of its cushy draw.
LW: As much as I'd dearly like to say the Bombers will be there at the pointy end of September - I mean October - I have Richmond, GWS and Collingwood immediately penciled in to the top four.
West Coast will be intriguing given the situation with the hub on the Gold Coast and just how long they will be away from WA for, but regardless, I think the Eagles will be thereabouts.
Looking forward to seeing if Brisbane was just a flash-in-the-pan last year and how the Lions stand up with a target on their backs this season.
My top eight is Richmond, Collingwood, GWS, West Coast, Brisbane, Essendon, Geelong and Hawthorn.
Who have you got rounding out your locks?
AB: Probably the Cats and North Melbourne. I'd like to slip the Doggies in, but I can't get their poor performance against the Pies out of my mind.
Your old Castlemaine mate Dusty Martin already has one Brownlow, two flags and two Norm Smith medals. The shorter games this year will favour his style of play. Are you tipping him for another Brownlow Medal?
LW: The changes to the game lends itself to some explosive football being this year and when you think of explosive players, Dusty immediately springs to mind be it his impact through the middle of the ground or in the front half. I'm sure Dusty will be up among the leaders on Brownlow night, but I'll back in Essendon ball magnet Zach Merrett.
AB: Merrett? Turn it up. Take your red and black glasses off.
Dusty on top for me. Value selection Ben Cunnington from the Roos.
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