Despite Melbourne's heatwave there is no respite for several AFL clubs with the NAB Challenge a month away.
Is Travis Cloke thinking about Collingwood's horror early draw during pre-season training? Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: News Limited
YOU can set your whole season up in the first five rounds. Just ask Ken Hinkley.
Port Adelaide got off to a flyer last season, winning its first five matches under a new coach.
Despite losing their next five, the Power had the runs on the board and didn't give up their spot in the top eight after Round 13.
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In hindsight, perhaps it shouldn't have been such a shock. Port had the benefit of a good early draw, facing Melbourne and GWS in Rounds 1 and 2, with an encounter with Gold Coast also in the opening five rounds.
Unfortunately for Hinkley, the Gods haven't been as kind this year. Port opens its season against Carlton in Melbourne and also faces North Melbourne (Etihad) and West Coast (Patersons Stadium) early.
So who has the dream start to 2014?
Hawthorn and Sydney are set to bolt out of the blocks, and SuperFooty reckons the cards have fallen the right way for North, Richmond and the Eagles.
On the other side of the coin, Collingwood plays four 2013 finalists in the first five rounds, with the only exception the Kangaroos, who most pundits expect to leap into the eight this season.
And Justin Leppitsch is set for a horror initiation to the coaching caper - he could take his team to New Zealand for an Anzac Day encounter against the Saints in Round 6 with a zero in the wins column.
Here's how we think your club's opening month and a bit will play out.
The Eagles could bounce back into top-four contention with a great start to the year. Source: News Limited
ADELAIDE
Geelong (SS), Port Adelaide (AO), Sydney (AO), St Kilda (ES), GWS (AO)
Prediction: 2-3
Starting the year at Simonds Stadium is tough and the Showdown is a toss of the coin. The Crows might be 0-3 but things get a lot easier after that with games against last year's bottom four sides in Rounds 4-7.
BRISBANE LIONS
Hawthorn (AS), Geelong (G), Gold Coast (MS), Port Adelaide (AO), Richmond (G)
Prediction: 0-5
Justin Leppitsch drew the short straw with the premier in Tasmania in week one. The Lions somehow defeated the Cats at home last year so they will go into Round 2 with some hope, but realistically the Q-Clash shapes as their best chance to notch a win before a Round 6 clash against St Kilda in Wellington.
CARLTON
Port Adelaide (ES), Richmond (MCG), Essendon (MCG), Melbourne (MCG), W Bulldogs (ES)
Prediction: 3-2
The Blues could bounce out of the blocks or sit mid-table - their fate rests with toss-of-the-coin games against Richmond and Essendon. They also lost to the Dogs last year so that isn't a gimme.
COLLINGWOOD
Fremantle (ES), Sydney (ANZ), Geelong (MCG), Richmond (MCG), North Melbourne (MCG)
Prediction: 1-4
Very tough early test for Nathan Buckley's revamped side. The Pies usually win at ANZ Stadium and have a good recent record against Geelong, but they will have to be at their best to keep the streaks alive. Collingwood hasn't lost to Richmond since 2007 so we'll give the Pies that one.
ESSENDON
North Melbourne (ES), Hawthorn (ES), Carlton (MCG), Fremantle (PS), St Kilda (ES)
Prediction: 2-3
Another hard early draw for Bomber Thompson. Essendon-Carlton games can throw up anything, the Bombers wouldn't want to lose this time or they could be searching for their first win in Round 5. Amazingly, the loser at the MCG on Anzac Day could just about be out of the finals race.
FREMANTLE
Collingwood (ES), Gold Coast (PS), Hawthorn (MCG), Essendon (PS), Sydney (SCG)
Prediction: 3-2
The 2013 runner-up doesn't get it easy but the Dockers should take care of Gold Coast and Essendon at home (barring a repeat of last year's last-minute miracle). An away win in the season-opener against Collingwood would set the foundations for another flag challenge.
Sam Mitchell is likely to run into nemesis Ryan Crowley again in Round 3. Picture: George Salpigtidis Source: News Limited
GEELONG
Adelaide (SS), Brisbane Lions (G), Collingwood (MCG), West Coast (SS), Hawthorn (MCG)
Prediction: 4-1
Unlike last year, the Cats get some early home games which will help kick-start their season. Should be flying approaching Easter Monday - is the curse really dead?
GOLD COAST
Richmond (MS), Fremantle (PS), Brisbane Lions (MS), Hawthorn (MS), Melbourne (MCG)
Prediction: 2-3
The Suns are expected to be one of this year's big improvers and should make a solid start despite early match-ups against both of last year's Grand Finalists. Gold Coast won its last clash against the Demons at the MCG by 10 goals so that trip won't hold any fears.
GWS
Sydney (GS), St Kilda (ES), Melbourne (GS), W Bulldogs (SO), Adelaide (AO)
Prediction: 1-4
The Giants will start winning some games this year, with Shane Mumford and Heath Shaw adding some premiership steel to a line-up bursting with young talent. The question is how long will it take them to warm up? We reckon maybe a couple of weeks but Melbourne could be the first side to lose twice to the AFL's newest side.
HAWTHORN
Brisbane Lions (AO), Essendon (ES), Fremantle (MCG), Gold Coast (MS), Geelong (MCG)
Prediction: 5-0
Can't see many problems early and you'd back them to win the GF rematch at home. Fans might need to book early for Easter Monday.
MELBOURNE
St Kilda (ES), West Coast (MCG), GWS (GS), Carlton (MCG), Gold Coast (MCG)
Prediction: 0-5
Hard to know what the immediate impact of Paul Roos will be - surely the Dees will at least be more competitive than in recent Round 1 games (losing to Port Adelaide by 79 points at the MCG last year, and to Brisbane by 41 at the same venue in 2012). But Roos has acknowledged a turnaround won't happen overnight.
Paul Roos says he wants to win as many games as possible in 2014. Picture: Colleen Petch. Source: News Limited
NORTH MELBOURNE
Essendon (ES), W Bulldogs (ES), Port Adelaide (ES), Sydney (SCG), Collingwood (MCG)
Prediction: 4-1
The Roos are the pre-season buzz team and that is likely to be a lot louder after three winnable games to open the season. The Roos have broken their Collingwood hoodoo but the Swans at the SCG might be a bridge too far.
PORT ADELAIDE
Carlton (ES), Adelaide (AO), North Melbourne (ES), Brisbane Lions (AO), West Coast (PS)
Prediction: 2-3
No repeat of last year's cushy start but the Lions at home should be an easy kill. Who will win the first Adelaide Oval Showdown? We're giving it to Port for no other reason really than it won both Adelaide derbys in 2013.
RICHMOND
Gold Coast (MS), Carlton (MCG), W Bulldogs (ES), Collingwood (MCG), Brisbane Lions (G)
Prediction: 4-1
The opening rounds will tell us as much about how far the Tigers have come in their heads as on the field. Last year Richmond finally broke its duck against the Suns but Round 1 is still a danger game at Metricon (where the Tigers have never played), then comes a rematch against finals conqueror Carlton. In three encounters against the Blues last year the Tigers opened up a big lead only to be mowed down each time (holding on in Round 1 thanks to Chris Yarran's wayward boot). If they can erase those mental demons, it will be standing room only on the bandwagon.
ST KILDA
Melbourne (ES), GWS (ES), West Coast (PS), Adelaide (ES), Essendon (ES)
Prediction: 2-3
It's likely to be a tough year for Saints fans but they should get some early joy with home games against the Demons and Giants. Drop one or both of those and it will be a long winter.
St Kilda has the chance to start the year on a high with games against Melbourne and the Giants. Source: News Limited
SYDNEY
GWS (GS), Collingwood (ANZ), Adelaide (AO), North Melbourne (SCG), Fremantle (SCG)
Prediction: 5-0
The Swans get another free pass in Round 1 with the annual "Battle of the Bridge" then face their Collingwood-ANZ Stadium hoodoo. Things could be different this time - Buddy loves playing the Magpies.
WEST COAST
W Bulldogs (PS), Melbourne (MCG), St Kilda (PS), Geelong (SS), Port Adelaide (PS)
Prediction: 4-1
Which Eagles will show up in 2014? Surely we can write off last year, although reports of Nic Naitanui's continuing injury struggles are sounding alarm bells. But three very winnable games to kick off the year, and another home fixture against Port in Round 5, will surely re-establish Patersons Stadium as a venue to be feared - and set the Eagles on track for a finals berth.
WESTERN BULLDOGS
West Coast (PS), North Melbourne (ES), Richmond (ES), GWS (SO), Carlton (ES)
Prediction: 1-4
A bit harsh on the Doggies who showed plenty of positive signs late in 2013. It will be tough to keep that momentum going early this year although the Dogs will like their chances of repeating last season's Round 20 win against the Blues. May and June should provide more cheer.
Richmond has the chance to exact revenge for last year's finals defeat against Carlton in Round 2 — if the Tigers don't get the jitters again. Picture: George Salpigtidis Source: News Limited
PREDICTED LADDER AFTER ROUND 5
5-0 Hawthorn
5-0 Sydney
4-1 West Coast
4-1 North Melbourne
4-1 Richmond
4-1 Geelong
3-2 Fremantle
3-2 Carlton
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2-3 Adelaide
2-3 Essendon
2-3 Port Adelaide
2-3 Gold Coast
2-3 St Kilda
1-4 Collingwood
1-4 W Bulldogs
1-4 GWS
0-5 Melbourne
0-5 Brisbane Lions
Will your club get off to a flyer?
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