The race for this year’s AFL premiership promises to be one of the most hotly-contested battles in years.

Not only are there five or six teams who have legitimate claims on the flag, but half of the teams in the competition are currently experiencing their longest, or equal longest, premiership droughts.

Carlton's last premiership was in 1995. Credit:The Age

Motivation levels for Melbourne (55 years), Carlton (24), Adelaide (21), the Brisbane Lions (16) and Port Adelaide (15) shouldn’t be a problem as they will all be aiming to end their longest-ever droughts in 2019 while Essendon (19) will be hoping to end their equal longest drought and avoid it becoming their outright longest period without claiming the most sought-after silverware in 2020.

The Dockers (25), Suns (nine) and Giants (eight) are all still chasing their first flag and when you throw in St Kilda, who have not tasted the ultimate success since 1966, most AFL teams will be desperate to eradicate the stench of failure from their locker rooms.