Looming question: Can the Lions go back-to-back without Joe?

What is one big question looming over your team?

Whether ahead of the run home in 2025, amid off-season rumours or scoping as far ahead as next season, each club is facing a number of difficult decisions within the near future.

As the bottom nine look to seasons ahead, and the top nine continue in their quest for a spot in September, SEN Sportsday co-hosts Cam Luke and Gerard Healy discussed what they believe to be the most important decisions approaching each 18 sides.

Starting with the Eagles, the questions were presented on SEN Sportsday ahead of Round 18.

See their questions below:

West Coast

Who captains the side next year?

Healy: “I think they are going to change the captain, and I think it will be (Liam) Baker.”

Luke: “I agree with you. I don’t think people are fully appreciating the year he is having.”

Richmond

Is 2025 a success?

Healy: “They knew they were going down the bottom, they orchestrated going down the bottom, and I think they will pop much more quickly and much more easily with the players that they’ve got.”

Luke: “I think they have done it as well as any club in recent times, when it comes to the draft.

“It’s a major success.”

North Melbourne

Should they be chasing Leek Aleer from the Giants?

Healy: “North Melbourne would do well to land him.”

Luke: “You don’t need to add superstars. I think Leek Aleer would be a really nice player for North Melbourne.”

St Kilda

Should the Saints throw everything they can at Zac Bailey?

Healy: “Zac Bailey is the right guy for every club.”

Luke: “$1.3m, $1.4m, and say, ‘You are a full-time midfielder.’”

Melbourne

Should they start the rebuild, or double down on their talent?

Healy: “Rebuild, to a degree. They are going to have to look to trade.”

Essendon

Would you let Sam Draper leave to take the first-round compensation pick?

Healy: “I’m a huge fan of Draper. The answer is no.”

Luke: “They’ve already got two, because they’ve got Melbourne’s as well.”

Carlton

Should they have a conversation with Tom De Koning to get a definitive answer?

Healy: “He clearly doesn’t want to go, because he is playing like he doesn’t want to go.”

Luke: “Even if he has decided to go, it should not make one iota of difference to how Carlton plays him.”

Port Adelaide

Is Zak Butters’ signature the most important in club history?

Healy: “Yes! We are talking arguably the best player they’ve had in their history.”

Luke: “When he plays at his best, they play at their best.”

Sydney

Can Brodie Grundy do enough in the next seven weeks to be named the All-Australian ruckman?

Healy: “If he continues this form, he may well.”

Luke: “We are seeing a renaissance when it comes to the ruckman.”

Fremantle

Will they persist with two rucks into September?

Healy: “Yes!”

GWS

Will last year’s late game demons motivate or hinder them?

Healy: “It won’t be a factor come September.”

Gold Coast

Will they handle the moment?

Healy: “I think they’ll handle the moment, but they may not be good enough!”

Luke: “This Friday night is where it starts.

“This is the biggest game in their history, and a week later will be the biggest game in their history.”

Western Bulldogs

Do they need an in-form Liam Jones to compete in September?

Healy: “I think they could get there without it, but to win it, he is part of the picture.”

Hawthorn

Can Will Day’s return push them over the premiership edge?

Healy: “Not just Will Day. It will need (James) Sicily, (Will Day and maybe (Mitch) Lewis or Calsher Dear to come back.”

Geelong

Will Patrick Dangerfield’s body hold up for the entire finals campaign?

Healy: “I would think so. They are handling him well.

“Soft tissue injuries can hit anybody; it doesn’t matter how old you are.”

Adelaide

Will the three forwards work in September?

Healy: “I think they will.

“I think (Riley) Thilthorpe is such a good player, that he can have an impact. Darcy Fogarty showed a fair bit on the weekend, and Tex (Walker) just does a job.”

Luke: “I think they’ll fall a smidge short of the top teams, but I don’t think the three forwards will be the reasons.”

Brisbane

Is it going to be too difficult to go back-to-back without Joe Daniher?

Healy: “Joe was brilliant, but they can win it with what they’ve got.

“They don’t absolutely need Joe, given how well (Logan) Morris has come on.”

Collingwood

Do they need Jordan De Goey to win the flag?

Healy: “No. They are so stocked.

“De Goey is just another one of about 10 mids that are all top liners!”

Luke: “It sounds ridiculous in isolation, but I think they can win it without him.

“He is a superstar, he is a finals performer, we put a huge amount of emphasis on standing up.

“They are the only team that can win a premiership missing one of their A-Graders.”

Watch the full discussion below: