Nick Dacos

The issue this year is there's a day-night test at the MCG.

It could end on the Monday before the date the season is going to start, which is potentially Thursday, March 18.

So we know the season's starting two weeks later.

We know it's going to be called Hallelujah Round 1.

It's not going to be called opening round.

Everyone admits that that was a failure.

The MCG have told the AFL they cannot get the ground ready by Thursday.

The opening game will have to be somewhere else.

They might even open the season on a Wednesday.

There will be nine games.

They want blockbusters across the MCG.

Gather round could be as early as round three or it could be round four.

Easter will be round two and obviously the grand final will be held in October.

What do you think about all that?

What will happen a week before the cricket, which is the week that the footy season opened this year, there will be a state of origin game.

My very confident prediction is that that game will be held again in Western Australia.

Being disputed at the moment.

Everyone wants to play Victoria.

Boys, you know, like Xavier Olsen, Albie Phillips, Lucas Carter, Caleb McIntosh, Vinnie Kaya, Sam Gromich.

Mentally, I can just sort of compartmentalize injuries and just get on with the job and play through them.