NOT guilty verdicts. Positive tests. Suspensions. Countless he-said she-said stories.

With so many negative, off-field issues surrounding the code at the moment, you could be excused for not being too excited about the upcoming AFL season, which, for all those playing at home, begins on Thursday night.

So allow us to reinvigorate your footy passion and remind you why this game is the greatest on earth.

We’ve put together 26 (the number of months taken to investigate Essendon for its 2012 supplements saga) reasons why we’re thankful that the footy returns this week.

Let us know why you’re thankful the footy’s back by using #TG4Footy and @FOXFOOTYLIVE in your tweets.

media_camera AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan is one of many who are happy that Etihad Stadium has lowered its prices. Picture: Nicole Garmston

1. Cheaper venue food

We thought the day would never come, but both Etihad Stadium and the MCG announced have slashed their food and drink prices for the 2015 season. Humungous tick.

2. That feeling walking through the turnstiles

Whether it’s a Friday night, a Saturday afternoon or just before dinner on a Sunday, nothing beats the emotion of your first few steps into the arena.

3. Every game of every week of the premiership season, live in HD

The 2015 game replays are over on Fox Footy. May as well put the remote in the cupboard for the weekend, because you ain’t watching any other channel for two days.

4. The roar before the first bounce

Spine-tingling stuff. Makes you shuffle forward to the edge of your seat — every time.

media_camera Is there anyone better? Gold Coast Suns' Gary Ablett is ready for a big season. Picture: Colleen Petch

5. Gary Ablett

Cometh the moment, cometh the man. The champ is back, fit and ready for Round 1. At his best, there is none better.

6. SuperCoach

Whether in secret or not, you spent countless hours each week tinkering and refining your SuperCoach team, hoping to get one over your mates. Or even Robbo.

7. Paul Chapman’s snap

No one bananas better than the brilliant, bearded, bald bull. Whether he’s 10m or 45m out, bet your house that Chappy will slot the sausage.

8. Eddie Betts’ cheeky smile and finger twirl

Crows fans in the “Eddie Betts pocket” can’t get enough of the star small forward. One of the best goal celebrators in the league.

media_camera Eddie Betts is well-loved by Crows fans at the Adelaide Oval. Picture: Calum Robertson

9. Nakia Cockatoo

The footy world can’t wait to see what Geelong’s new cult figure can produce. If his NAB Challenge form is anything to go by, he’ll be something special.

10. Richmond’s high expectations

There’s always an anvil seemingly ready to drop on the Tigers. The 2015 season will be no different. The pressure to back up last season will be enormous. Backwards or forwards for the Tigers?

11. Jeremy Howe’s speccies

The high-flying mark is arguably the most exhilarating aspect of our game. This guy pulls one out just about every week. Just brilliant to watch.

12. Being the armchair expert

Deep down, we all think we’ve got the footy brains of a Dermott Brereton or David King. It’s always great to inform a mate or a family member of a certain aspect they might have missed in the game.

media_camera Melbourne’s Jeremy Howe is expected to replicate plenty of these marks in 2015. Picture: Michael Klein

13. Not using certain words for a while

Take your pick: ASADA, McDevitt, supplements, Charter, Alavi, doping, anti-doping, saga, Dank, investigation, pharmacological, experimental, due process, governance, Federal Court, Toorak home. Did we miss any?

14. Reading the back of the Saturday and Sunday newspapers over a coffee

A particularly enjoyable and relaxing experience if your team registers a win the day before, or there’s a big feature read on one of your favourite players.

15. Buddy

Love him or hate him, Lance Franklin is worth the price of admission alone. The best and most exciting athlete in the game for his size. Handy kick for goal from outside 50m, too.

16. AFL 360

The odd couple are back for our daily weeknight footy dose. Robbo and Gerard analyse the news as good as anyone else. Fair line-up of weekly guests too: Buckley, Roos, Goddard, Lewis, Bomber, King, Maclure, Mooney and not-so-big, bad, bustling Baz.

17. The Monday morning office brag

After biting your tongue for the whole week leading up to the game, you’ve got to love strutting into the workplace — Brereton-style — and delivering that cheeky one-liner to your cocksure colleague who was adamant his team beat your team. Joke’s on you now, buddy.

18. The Lucky Charms

You put on your lucky socks, don’t change seats and blink three times when your team hits a certain number on the scoreboard. It’s the only rational reason your team gets over the line, right?

19. Stories like Matt Spangher’s

Hawks supporter or not, you couldn’t help but smile when the modest, honest, competitive and team-orientated cult figure received his premiership medallion in 2014. Who’ll be the Spangher of 2015?

media_camera Hawthorn's Matt Spangher thoroughly deserved his 2014 premiership medallion. Picture: Alex Coppel

20. Watching Nick Riewoldt run himself into the ground

In the words of Molly, do yourself a favour: If you’re ever at a game featuring St Kilda, sit towards the back row of the top level of the ground and watch the Saints skipper run himself into the ground. Inspiring stuff.

21. Luke Hodge

Has he taken over Jonathan Brown as the most popular and respected player in the league? On or off field, the Hawks skipper is a ripper. Loyal and humble, everything Hodge does is respected.

22. Mick Malthouse press conferences

They should add a permanent game into the fixture for each round: Mick v Media. Sometimes his post-match pressers are just as entertaining as watching his Blues. Some would argue more entertaining.

23. The last quarter nerves in a tight game

Enjoy your fingernails while you have them, because at some point, they’ll be gone. But it’s the nerves that make the close wins that much sweeter.

24. Dustin Fletcher’s torp

He might be the oldest player in competition, but there’s nothing like watching the veteran Don unleash a barrel from a kick-out. Can’t wait to watch him run out for his 400th match.

25. Post-match talkback

Always great radio. Whether it’s someone pumping up their team after a great win or expressing their anger at a devastating loss, nothing beats listening to the raw, emotive callers on your drive home.

26. Singing the song at the ground … and all the way home

Love it.

— with Riley Beveridge

Originally published as Why this is the best week of the year