1. Sun’s out, guns out

As the temperatures finally begin to climb and talk turns to The Ashes and the makeup of the Channel 9 commentary team, the Bulldogs’ full squad hit the track together for the first time on Monday.

You can’t help but notice that there’s some familiar faces missing, and with that a new leadership group has emerged.

Easton Wood has assumed the captaincy full time, Marcus Bontempelli will be his co-pilot, and Jordan Roughead has rejoined the Leadership Group for the first time since 2015. But perhaps most pleasing for Bulldogs fans is the emergence of the next group of leaders, with Jason Johannisen, Lachie Hunter and Jack Redpath stepping up.

While you obviously don’t need a title to be a leader, Dale Morris will continue to be Dale Morris for example, the first shoots of the next generation is here.

2. The Arrivals Lounge

The flag of hope flaps furiously in the wind for fans of all 18 teams at this time of the year. Not a game has been lost, the new faces promise a fresh start and optimism abounds.

The Dogs are no different.

Former Port Adelaide tall Jackson Trengove arrived early in the 2017 NAB AFL Trade Period. Standing 197cm and a member of the Power’s leadership group last year, the 27-year-old can play in all areas of the ground and will be an added luxury for the match committee next year.

Hayden Crozier came next after a deal was struck with the Dockers and is expected to slot in across half back, although his athleticism means he can play at both ends, and former Lion Josh Schache packs plenty of promise as a tall forward option.

Both Schache and Trengove have both been spotted out on the track already, while Crozier has slipped into fresh new ASICs training gear for the first time on Monday.

3. Back in business

It’s not just the new faces fans will be excited to see in the red, white and blue this pre-season.

Perhaps an even more popular sight will be the boys who are just getting right after long term injuries, or players like Josh Dunkley who’ve hit the ground running after a restricted 2017.

Lin Jong, after rupturing his ACL back in Round 13 against the Demons is looking fit and strong and Jordan Roughead will be determined to get back to his best after playing just 13 games last season.

Add to that Dale Morris hitting the track as fresh and determined as a draftee, and there’s an unmistakeable air of optimism around the newly named AdVANce Performance Centre at VU Whitten Oval.

4. Numbers game

Few things excite footy heads more than movements on players’ guernsey numbers, and this year is one like no other. No less than four single digit numbers are now available, with a couple of retiring legends recently cleaning out their lockers further adding to the intrigue.

We won’t even begin to speculate who takes what just yet, but with numbers two and five up for grabs, and 13 also now vacant following the retirement of Travis Cloke, any announcement will no doubt grab the attention of the faithful.

So what to expect? Do the vacant numbers just go to the new guys, or are there some younger players ready and willing to step up? Perhaps we see some established players look for a switch. Or perhaps we don’t.

All will be revealed soon. Stand by for an announcement.