And so it’s finally time for another round of footy.

Time to empty out all the toys on the carpet again and get moving on season 2020- a campaign shut down owing to a certain global health crisis which you probably heard about.

Ahead of the resumption there’s a myriad of questions floating around, many of which we pursued throughout the league’s hiatus. 

Today however, we thought we’d zero in upon five of the most pertinent questions on the eve of Thursday night’s blockbuster re-opening. 

Let’s get to it. 

RELATED: AFL 2020: Your Club's Chances of Winning the Premiership

HOW SERIOUS ARE COLLINGWOOD ABOUT CONTENDING?

Few teams looked as menacing in Round One as Collingwood, a club who seem intent on a fully fledged premiership assault this season. 

They made mince meat of the Bulldogs in their Docklands opener, with their 52-point triumph the biggest margin of the round. 

The Tigers of course are a different proposition entirely, but one who arrives at a perfect time to assess just how far the Pies have progressed. 

While Richmond have got the better of Collingwood in 5 of their previous 7 match-ups, the Pies did claim a massive scalp in the 2018 Preliminary Final- perhaps the singular best performance of the 8-season Nathan Buckley reign. 

Something to watch for Thursday night is how the re-modelled Collingwood forward line performs against the best defence in the business. 

In Round One, Collingwood produced a goal for every 3.23 inside 50’s which was the 4th most efficient performance of the round, with 9 different Pies' players getting among the goals. 

It was the kind of menacing attack that too often disappeared in the biggest moments for the Pies last season. 

If Collingwood can indeed topple the Tigers, fuelled by their improved forward line, then they’d have to be regarded as a serious premiership threat in 2020.

RELATED: AFL | Stats That Matter - The Changing Face of the Forward

IS ALASTAIR CLARKSON WORKING ON ANOTHER MASTERPIECE?

Alastair Clarkson’s fingerprints are all over the modern game, even if it’s been his disciples who have collected most of the available silverware in recent years.

The Hawks do however appear on the cusp of returning to contention, and if Round One was anything to go by, could be a force in 2020. 

2018 Brownlow medalist Tom Mitchell returned and was back to his best, supported brilliantly by reigning Hawk’s Best and Fairest winner, James Worpel.

With these two doing the heavy lifting at the coalface, so much of Clarkson’s grand design can flourish, particularly on the outside where the Hawks were able to dial up a massive +561 metres gained differential against the Lions. 

The likes of Jaeger O’Meara and Chad Wingard were able to express themselves brilliantly, which had a positive knock-on effect to what Hawthorn was able to do around goal.

In 2019, the Hawks ranked 11th from an attack perspective, with their 1,742 points their lowest return since its 2004, 4-win season.

In Round One however, the Hawk's posted the league’s 3rd highest score, producing no less than 8 individual goalscorers. 

Their clash against Geelong looms as one of the most exciting of the week, emphasised by its Kardinia Park location- a venue the two haven’t locked horns at since 2006. 

RELATED: How Hawthorn can win its next Premiership

A MORBIDLY INTERESTING CARLTON-MELBOURNE MATCH

In a round not short of mouth-watering match-ups, the Melbourne-Carlton Docklands clash isn’t exactly the first that jumps off the page. 

It could however be one of its most consequential.

These two clubs have dragged their fanbases through hell in recent years, often missing out on September, rarely shy about sacking coaches.

After finishing 16th and 17th respectively last season, both clubs had plenty to think about over the off-season, yet dialled up miserable first-up performances.

The prospect of a 0-2 start, though familiar to each, is of course far from ideal, while a win could do wonders for two clubs who’ve had so little to smile about.

Melbourne will start slight favourites, and can take some solace from having won their last 4 against the Blues. 

Pivotal Demon, Tom McDonald, has excelled recently against Carlton, booting 14 goals and hauling in 28 marks over his last 4 matches. It’ll be fascinating to see how Jacob Weitering, a player with a huge reputation, and who made Stats Insider’s ‘Team of the Week’ in Round One, fares against the excellent Melbourne forward.

If the former #1 pick can indeed curtail McDonald’s influence, he just might hold the key to a breakthrough Carlton win.

RELATED: AFL 2020: Three Clubs Desperate To Prove A Point

CAN ST KILDA START KICKING STRAIGHT?

Goal kicking accuracy plagued the Saints throughout 2019, playing a big role in the club missing the Finals for an 8th straight season, as well the club's decision to replace Alan Richardson with Brett Ratten in the coaching box.

While Ratten unquestionably improved St Kilda and has injected a lot of optimism into Moorabbin, awful kicking for goal came back to bite them again in Round One, blowing a match they were largely in control of, with their deplorable 7.12 ultimately dooming them.

They’ll play the Bulldogs this Sunday at the Docklands, and will be keen to borrow from the Collingwood template, which cut through the Bulldog defence like a knife through butter in its season opener. 

If the Saints can get on the outside of the Dogs, a club who generated a Round One-low 3,385 metres gained, then a St Kilda win could be in the offing. 

Yet of course where St Kilda is concerned, getting themselves in a position to score is one thing- converting once there is an entirely different matter.

RELATED: Stats and Trends: Analysing Goal Kicking in the AFL

CHECKING IN ON THE GOLD COAST KIDS

The AFL’s reigning Wooden Spooners, on a current 19-game losing streak and fresh off a 47-point Round One beatdown, have little choice but to wrap its arms around its prestigious youth. 

While they’ll enter Round Two against the West Coast Eagles as significant underdogs, many eyes will be cast upon the progress of many of their young stars who hold the key to any potential Sun’s revival. 

While last year's overall #1 pick Mathew Rowell looked like a seasoned pro in Round One, amassing 19 touches and a team high 4 tackles and 3 clearances, he’ll need a lot of help from other sources if the Suns are to make a go if it this weekend and beyond. 

Can #2 pick Noah Anderson build on his 12 disposal game and express his creativity against a legitimate premiership threat? Can Will Brodie build upon his 2019 gains? Can the Suns find a more impactful role for 2018 #2 overall pick, Jack Lukosius? How soon will the Suns push Sam Flanders’ debut? 

There is some serious talent on this Suns list, however it’ll need to reveal itself a little quicker than most if they're to avoid another miserable campaign.

Watching how its talent comes along throughout 2020 will be a fascinating aspect of a club too easily forgotten. 

RELATED: The 'Crossover' Episode: If AFL Clubs were International Soccer Teams

Did you enjoy this article? Join our free mailing list to get the best content delivered straight to your inbox, or join the conversation by leaving a comment below or on the Stats Insider Twitter or Facebook page.