Richmond skipper Trent Cotchin says the incessant scrutiny of his captaincy has hardened him, as he takes charge of an unbeaten Tigers brigade set to embark on its best start to a season in more than 20 years.
"I think it has to [harden you], otherwise you do crumble under the pressure," Cotchin told ESPN.
"No one's ever going to be the perfect captain. There are times you let yourself down and there are times you stand up.
"But the great thing about our group is on-field you require 22 guys to lead at different stages and I think we're seeing that in the wins we've had."
The Brownlow medallist has copped a barrage of media criticism since he took the senior leadership post in 2013.
Many have questioned his low-key leadership style, which is often misconstrued as being ill-equipped for the role.
But the three-time Jack Dyer Medallist continues to drown out those cries by consistently being re-appointed by team mates as leader of the Tiger pride.
"To be honest, the media have a job to do. It's to write or talk about their opinion. At times, you're aware of it [the scrutiny]," he said.
"The reality is you're voted in by your peers and the connection we have with our group is fantastic."
The Tigers' 3-0 start is their best since 2013. And should they overcome the down-trodden Brisbane Lions at the Gabba this week, it will be the club's most impressive opening since 1995.
"I don't know what it [success] feels like," Cotchin continued.
"We're well aware we're playing some good, consistent footy and we're also well aware there are things that we can improve on. The competition's so even you need to be at your best.
"And we probably said the same thing all year last season, but never followed through with actions. That's the difference in 2017."
Preuss from hatchback to cult figure
Braydon Preuss, the AFL's newest cult figure, was living in a share house on the Gold Coast and driving a tiny hatchback car when North Melbourne's then recruiting boss Bryce Lewis came calling in 2014.
Lewis recalls visiting Preuss, who was then at the Gold Coast Suns academy, on a sweltering hot Queensland summer's day and being struck by the size, not only of the ruckman - at 206cms and 110kgs - but the miniature hatchback he owned.
"I remember that sweat was just pouring off me as I walked up to the house, but then I noticed this tiny car parked in the driveway," Lewis told ESPN.
"I thought there's no way that could be Brayden's car but I soon found out it was; I couldn't work out how he could possibly fit into it."
Preuss played rugby league growing up in Townsville but decided, at his mates' urging, to "have a go" at Australian football while studying Year 11.
He immediately took a liking to the indigenous code and was soon snapped up by the Gold Coast Suns Academy. The giant starred for Queensland at the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships in Melbourne, but was not offered a contract by Gold Coast - so Lewis and North Melbourne took a shy at the stumps and decided to recruit him.
"He was raw and a big lump of a lad but given his size and his athletic attributes, we felt he was worth a speculative rookie draft pick," Lewis said.
So the Kangas grabbed him at No.15 in the rookie draft later that year.
After a couple of seasons learning the ruck trade for Werribee in the VFL, Preuss has burst on to the AFL scene this year, impressing with his tap work - and physicality in laying bone-jarring tackles and bumps.
In the process, several good judges, including Tim Watson and Kevin Bartlett, have labelled him as one of the finds of the season and a future star of the game.
Good Friday clash hard to swallow
North Melbourne is gearing up to host the Western Bulldogs in the AFL's first ever Good Friday match this week - and that has everyone at the club super excited, except former captain Andrew Swallow.
Swallow is a devout Christian and regular churchgoer and he has always believed that the AFL should resist television and commercial pressures and not stage any games on Good Friday.
Swallow has acknowledged the conflict between his club loyalties and religious beliefs, but said he would prefer not to play on one of the Christian church's holiest days.
"If I was to take the club line I would say yes, but personally I would prefer not to," Swallow said four years ago.
"I just don't think football should be played on Good Friday. It should be left a day where there's no football at all."
Then AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou was sitting alongside Swallow at the time and reiterated his consistent stance that Good Friday should remain football free.
"You've heard my view on it. I think for the people who respect the day and, despite the fact they might be in the minority, they're very passionate about it," Demetriou said.
"And the people who advocate playing on Good Friday they are not as passionate about whether to play or not to play."
But current CEO Gillon McLachlan has a different point of view and he and the Commission decided this year to include a Good Friday match in the fixture - and nominated two of the league's smaller inner-suburban clubs to feature in it.
Wells to return on Anzac Day
Speedster Daniel Wells is primed to make his Collingwood debut on Anzac Day, as the club adopts a conservative approach to the injury-prone veteran's return.
Wells has been at his signature best at training, showing little hindrance from a debilitating calf injury that threatened to curtail his career at former club North Melbourne.
It's expected Wells will play in the VFL this week, before being unleashed on the biggest stage outside of the Grand Final on Tuesday, April 25.
Wells, lured to the Magpies with a lucrative three-year deal, suffered the injury during the preseason.
The 32-year-old's history with calf complaints has forced Magpie doctors to ease Wells back to footy.
Newnes defends 'clock icing' Montagna
St Kilda's Jack Newnes has come to the defence of team mate Leigh Montagna, whose controversial tactic of "icing the clock" at Etihad Stadium on Sunday was perceived as show-boating.
It appeared Montagna was rubbing salt into the wound of Brisbane late in the final term when a Saints victory loomed likely.
After receiving a Luke Dunstan handball in the goal square, Montagna came to a complete halt, even bouncing the ball while flat-footed just metres from the goal line.
It wasn't until Lions midfielder Tom Rockliff applied some pressure that the 33-year-old finally kicked the goal.
Newnes was on the bench when the unusual ploy perplexed fans at Etihad Stadium.
He said Montagna wasn't being disrespectful.
"He was trying to ice the clock. It's probably pretty smart if you ask me. It might have come across the wrong way," Newnes told ESPN.
Coach Alan Richardson was captured on camera clearly unhappy at Montagna's mind-boggling move which was construed by some as show-boating.
"It didn't look good and it's not what we do," Richardson said after the match.
"It's quite unique and it didn't look great but he was trying to do the right thing."