Reigning premiers Brisbane can shake off recent history and contend again but will have to overcome a pair of resurgent challengers to the crown

The Hawks rolled into Adelaide last September on top of the world. Their opponents looked shot. Hawthorn had just demolished a team stacked with talent. They were a genuine premiership chance at that stage. But they copped the very best version of Port Adelaide. And they didn’t handle it well. The coach and his players were in tears. All were fuming. After four months of smiles, selfies, party tricks and assorted smart-assery, footy put them back in their place.