10 AFL Questions to be answered over the summer

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How many underworld figures will try getting a selfie with Dane Swan?
We’re not sure what it is about Swannie that attracts our underworld types. But inevitably every three months or so, there’s more pictures of blokes like Mick Gatto and Toby Mitchell wanting their pics taken with the Collingwood midfielder. Maybe Swannie’s popularity comes down to his anti-authoritarian ways. For instance, a few months back he answered some profile questions for the AFL Record. When asked his ideal profession outside of football, he answered: “Sticking stickers on apples.” And, as for his favourite TV show, that would be the Essendon club program, The Hangar. Who will be arrested next?
This is always the big question over summer. Usually, it comes down to Perth-based players to lead the way after Ben Cousins set the standard by running away from a breatho test by jumping in the Swan River in his suit and tie. Already former Hawthorn player Dayle Garlett and former West Coast midfielder Daniel Kerr have found themselves in trouble over in Perth. And, we can’t wait for New Years at the Portsea Pub to deliver us more trouble. Brian Lake, we’re looking at you.

What will Heritier Lumumba say next?
Heritier Lumumba – the man formerly known as Harry O’Brien - dreams of becoming a professional speaker and, to be fair, he often has something interesting and well-meaning to say. But no one’s ever going to let him live down his bizarre speech at Collingwood’s Copeland Trophy night this year. In the midst of a move from the Magpies to Melbourne after a final falling out with Collingwood’s coaches, Lumumba let rip with some of the most oddball lines we’ve ever come across. “Collingwood has allowed me to define my character and also to find the true meaning of my true name ... which means the prince, the one who will have the last laugh, and (who) is gifted.” Surely, we can all call him Prince Harry from now on?



Will clubs move to disband leadership groups?
It will be interesting to see if clubs revert to a more traditional captain/vice-captain style of on-field leadership. Leadership groups have been damn cool for some time, but the recent sacking of Adelaide’s Brenton Sanderson and Brendan McCartney’s resignation from the Western Bulldogs has shown putting a group of disaffected players together in one room just sets up the pre-conditions for a revolution. With players already having more power thanks to free agency, clubs may work to stop senior figures plotting together in such a way by ending the leadership group.

Will Mick Malthouse send Stevo a Christmas card?
Throughout the season, the Friday night post-match press conference with Mick Malthouse become almost mandatory viewing as the Carlton coach and Channel 7 journalist Mark Stevens renewed hostilities. It all led to Malthouse making some sort of his apology for his post-match antics midway through the year, but we’re not sure if the pair have kissed and made up as yet.Who will be quickest around the Tan?
In AFL-starved Melbourne, the best indicator or September success during those long summer months suddenly becomes which players can produce the goods on the famous Tan running track around the Botanic Gardens. Hopefully they’ll be doing those runs while the Moonlight Cinema is on, so they can sing along to Frozen at the same time.



Will there be a more disturbing Christmas card image than this ... ever?
Not sure we have to say too much about this pic from everyone’s favourite geriatric Dr. Geoffrey Edelsten and his now fiancée Gabi Grecko. I think the image may be burnt onto my retina for life!
Who will be the next AFL player to pull a Bootsma?
Carlton defender Josh Bootsma ended up being shown the door after sending pictures of his junk to a girl who wasn’t his pregnant partner. We can only assume it’s just a matter of time before someone else takes to social media over the long summer months and repeats the dose. 

How many teams will be raiding classic Aussie anthems to pull off a Port Adelaide?
Port Adelaide took a leaf out of the Liverpool playbook and opted to play a classic song for fans in the lead-up to a match starting. Where the Reds would have ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ belted from the terraces at Anfield, the Power went with INXS’s classic ‘Never Tear Us Apart’ as they created an atmosphere like no other at Adelaide Oval. We can only assume other clubs will be raiding the Aussie classic hits collection for inspiration as they try to improve the game-day experience for fans, something the AFL is hell-bent on achieving after its troubles in 2014. Songs from Cold Chisel, Choir Boys and The Screaming Jets are sure to be popular but we’re hoping Carlton and Geelong use these.




Can Hawthorn set themselves up for a three-peat?
The Hawks defied the odds and some amazing obstacles along the way to become just the third side in the AFL era to win back-to-back flags. In many ways, this was right up there with one of the most impressive premierships of all-time, especially given the fact they lost Buddy Franklin to the Swans and coach Alastair Clarkson to illness for five weeks. Now the Hawks are setting themselves up to equal Brisbane’s effort of three straight premierships. The big debate over Christmas dinner, though, is which side has been better in the last 10 years, Hawthorn or Geelong? Let the Turkey debate begin!
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