With Christmas and the New Year officially upon us, all 18 clubs are wishing for a successful 2022 season.

While some teams' premiership window is firmly sealed shut, they still have other things to wish for to make the 2022 season a little easier. Some may be asking Father Christmas for a break-out year, or simply the opportunity to re-do a missed opportunity in 2021. Here's a look at every clubs Christmas wish list.

ADELAIDE 

A breakout year from Thilthorpe 

After a sensational debut game where the 19-year-old kicked five goals from 16 disposals, Thilthorpe is destined for a big year in 2022. With the club looking for someone to officially take the mantle from Taylor Walker who potentially could be playing his last season, Thilthorpe has all the qualities of an exciting young player. While the Crows also have strong young talent in Darcy Fogarty and Shane McAdam, 2022 is looming as Thilthorpe's time to arrive on the big stage and replicate his debut performance, something the Crows will definitely be wishing for. 

CAIRNS, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 12: Riley Thilthorpe of the Crows celebrates with team mates after kicking the match winning goal during the round 13 AFL match between the St Kilda Saints and the Adelaide Crows at Cazaly's Stadium on June 12, 2021 in Cairns, Australia. (Photo by Albert Perez/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)

BRISBANE 

A Chris-Mas Miracle 

The Lions are no strangers to mid-season form, but the club has found itself unable to find the finish line in September. With Chris Fagan heading into his sixth year in charge, the team has consistently made finals after making the long climb up the ladder. In 2021 Brisbane exited the September action in straight sets, including a heartbreaking one-point loss to the Western Bulldogs. While in 2020, with a home advantage at the Gabba, the Lions won through to the preliminary final but lost in convincing fashion to Geelong. Since taking the reins in 2017, Fagan has coached his team in six finals for just one win, can he be the man to take Brisbane all the way and perform a late season miracle or is the club looking at another straight sets exit in 2022?

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 26: Coach Chris Fagan of the Lions at the 3rd quarter time break during the round 23 AFL match between the Brisbane Lions and the West Coast Eagles at The Gabba on August 26, 2018 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

CARLTON

A healthy list 

The Blues had a disappointing 2021. The club missed finals again, for the eighth year in a row, while the team had to contend with a growing injury list. Zac Williams spent time on the sidelines, whilst Michael Gibbons and Mitch McGovern also struggled with injury. Charlie Curnow was once again sidelined, though managed to play against the Saints in Round 20, his first senior game in 18 months. With Coleman Medallist Harry McKay in stellar form in 2021, the idea of Curnow by his side in a fully fit side is something all Carlton fans will be wishing for this Christmas.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MAY 12: (L-R) Charlie Curnow, Patrick Cripps and Harry McKay of the Blues thank fans during the 2018 AFL round eight match between the Carlton Blues and the Essendon Bombers at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on May 12, 2018 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Adam Trafford/AFL Media/Getty Images)

COLLINGWOOD 

No more damage control 

After a rather chaotic 2020 off-season that saw Adam Treloar head to the Bulldogs for a stellar season and Jaidyn Stephenson and Tom Phillips join him out the door, the Pies somehow doubled down in 2021. In addition to ending the year in 17th, the club's worst ever finish, the Pies also had to deal with a growing pile of off-field issues; the Do Better report, that Eddie McGuire press conference, and Jordan DeGoey's arrest in New York. There are plenty of on-field wishes the Pies will surely be writing on their Christmas lists, but perhaps this year they will be asking Santa for above all, a quiet, albeit hardworking January.

AFL Rd 21 - Collingwood v Brisbane
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 16: (EDITORS NOTE: Image has been converted to black and white.)
Disgruntled magpies fans talk with President Eddie Mcguire after their defeat during the round 21 AFL match between the Collingwood Magpies and the Brisbane Lions at Melbourne Cricket Ground on August 16, 2014 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images)

ESSENDON 

A finals win

Perhaps the simplest wish of them all, a win in September for the success hungry Bombers. Essendon squeezed into the eight this year after missing out on the finals action in a Covid disrupted 2020, but failed to get past the Bulldogs in the elimination final. The 49-point loss extended Essendon's final win drought to an incredible 17 years, a stat that would make any Essendon fan grimace. The Bombers will surely get that elusive finals win soon, but if they could have just one wish, that September success may be just around the corner.

LAUNCESTON, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 29: Aaron Francis of the Bombers leads Essendon off the field during the 2021 AFL First Elimination Final match between the Western Bulldogs and the Essendon Bombers at University of Tasmania Stadium on August 29, 2021 in Launceston, Australia. (Photo by Grant Viney/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

FREMANTLE 

Wider goal posts 

Fremantle showed steady improvement in 2021 under the instruction of Justin Longmuir, but fell short of making finals once again. Although there were highs during the season, like the derby win over the Eagles, Freo struggled to improve facets of their game, specifically, their goal kicking. Fremantle were one of two teams (Carlton the other) to earn one of the most unfortunate statistics in the game, kicking more behinds (264) than goals (219) in 2021. Going into 2022, dreaming of a potential finals run, Freo will be wishing for some more accurate shots at goal.

PERTH, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 12: Caleb Serong, Andrew Brayshaw and Sean Darcy of the Dockers walk the pitch during the 2021 AFL Round 13 match between the Fremantle Dockers and the Gold Coast Suns at Optus Stadium on June 12, 2021 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Will Russell/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

GEELONG 

A prelim do-over 

The Cats have come ever so close recently, but have failed to claim the trophy on that final day in September. 2020 saw the Cats make it to the grand final, before a heartbreaking loss to Richmond left them as runners up. In 2021, Geelong came agonisingly short once again, going down in the preliminary final to eventual premiers Melbourne. With an ageing list and coach Chris Scott in his eleventh year in charge, the Cats' premiership window seems to be closing rapidly. With the 2022 finals series still far in the future, for Christmas the Cats will be wishing for a prelim do-over, keeping that premiership cup in their grasp.

PERTH, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 10: Patrick Dangerfield of the Cats reacts after being defeated during the AFL First Preliminary Final match between the Melbourne Demons and Geelong Cats at Optus Stadium on September 10, 2021 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

GOLD COAST 

A time machine 

For their short time in the league, Gold Coast have unfortunately had their fair share of embarrassing moments. This year's biggest blunder though, happened off-the-field. No strangers to interesting list management choices, letting Hugh Greenwood slip through their fingers after a plan to delist and re-list, seemed right out of the Gold Coast playbook. After seeing stars leave the club year after year, to let Greenwood go like that must have had heads in hands. The Suns should be asking Santa for a time machine, not only can they fix their mistake and keep Greenwood in the side, but they can save a lot of non-sympathetic laughs travelling north from the Eastern seaboard.

AFL Rd 3 - Gold Coast v Adelaide
GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 21: Hugh Greenwood of the Suns kicks the ball during the round 3 AFL match between the Gold Coast Suns and the Adelaide Crows at Metricon Stadium on June 21, 2020 in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Jono Searle/AFL Photos/via Getty Images )

GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY

A harmonious captaincy 

The recent announcement of three captains for 2022 raised eyebrows around the country after just one season of Coniglio leading. No strangers to the concept of dual captains, the announcement that Coniglio, Toby Greene and Josh Kelly were all sharing the responsibility was made more surprising given Coniglio signed a monster seven-year deal to stay with the club, as a leader, in 2019. Relieving pressure from 2021 solo captain Coniglio may help him find the form that made him a star of the competition that seemed to be lacking in 2021, but the more the merrier isn't always the case. The Giants will be wanting this to go smoothly, for the sake of the club both on and off the field.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MAY 26: Stephen Coniglio of the Giants celebrates a goal during the 2019 AFL round 10 match between the Melbourne Demons and the GWS Giants at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on May 26, 2019 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos)

HAWTHORN

A seamless transition 

Alastair Clarkson has been synonymous with Hawthorn for over a decade, but a graduate from the Clarko school of coaching is now taking the reins. After what could be defined as a messy initial transition, with Clarkson originally set to coach out his contract until the end of 2022 before the Hawks announced a new plan with assistant coach and Hawthorn four-time premiership player set to take the job a year earlier than planned. With Clarkson officially out of Waverley Park and Mitchell and club bosses stressing patience in the building side, everyone involved will be hoping the transition from old to new is as seamless as possible.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 03: New Hawks assistant coach Sam Mitchell looks on during a Hawthorn Hawks AFL training session at Xavier College on December 03, 2018 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images)

MELBOURNE 

A full house in Round 1

With a year like Melbourne had, it's hard to have too much on the wish list. Minor premiers, a drought-breaking premiership win, the Dees seemingly have it all at the moment, with one notable thing missing; a home crowd. With Covid uncertainty looming over the competition, the Dees will be wishing for a full house to welcome them back home in Round 1. A Wednesday night season opener and grand final rematch, it has all the makings of a classic, it just needs 100,000 people at the MCG as the perfect backdrop.

PERTH, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 25: The Demons celebrates after the 2021 Toyota AFL Grand Final match between the Melbourne Demons and the Western Bulldogs at Optus Stadium on September 25, 2021 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

NORTH MELBOURNE 

No Good Friday nightmare 

The AFL has entrusted the Good Friday fixture to North Melbourne for another year, despite their last-place finish in 2021. The prime time game is definitely a win for the club and the supporters, who have become accustomed to Sunday fixtures, but has been met with malign from rival supporters. After a disappointing effort in 2021, where the Kangaroos lost to the Bulldogs by a whopping 128-points, the club will be wishing for a decent performance this Good Friday for the sake of team morale and the AFL's fixture department.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 02: The Kangaroos look dejected after a loss during the 2021 AFL Round 03 match between the North Melbourne Kangaroos and the Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium on April 02, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

PORT ADELAIDE 

A better September 

Port looked formidable at home for most of the season, but failed when it mattered, tumbling out of finals in a 71-point loss to the Bulldogs in the prelim. The Power looked to be in prime position to make it to the last game of the year, but couldn't contend with the Bulldogs outfit. Looking ahead to 2022, the Power look like they should be contending once more but will be wishing for a better September to back up their regular season form.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 17: Boyd Woodcock of the Power celebrates a goal with Orazio Fantasia of the Power and Travis Boak of the Power during the 2021 AFL Round 05 match between the Carlton Blues and the Port Adelaide Power at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on April 17, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

RICHMOND

A fully fit Dusty 

The Tigers failed to make finals in 2021 for the first time in five years as the club's premiership dominance seemingly neared its end. Dustin Martin, two-time club best and fairest, has been the side's best player for the best part of a decade and often acts as the team's barometer. With a Round 18 injury to his kidney that left him sidelined for the remainder of the season and 15kgs lighter, the Tigers will be wishing for a fully fit Dusty ready to help the club regain their spot at the top of the table.

AFL Rd 1 - Richmond v Carlton
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 18: Dustin Martin of the Tigers is tackled by Sam Walsh of the Blues during the 2021 AFL Round 01 match between the Richmond Tigers and the Carlton Blues at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on March 18, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

ST KILDA 

A good start 

There's no doubt that 2021 was a disappointing year for the Saints. After a finals appearance in 2020 and surging membership numbers going into 2021, big things were expected of the men from Moorabbin. Unfortunately, the Saints failed to deliver, instead performing inconsistently and failing to feature in the September action. Head coach Brett Ratten, who took the reins in 2019, now finds himself as a coach firmly in the under pressure category. The Saints face Collingwood, Fremantle, Richmond and Hawthorn in the first month of the season, fail to make a good start and the club, and Ratten, will be under the blowtorch heading into April. Ben King remains on the Christmas list, as he has for years, but what the Saints are wishing for going into 2022 is pretty simple, a good start to the season.

HOBART, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 22: Jack Steele of the Saints leads the team out during the 2021 AFL Round 23 match between the St Kilda Saints and the Fremantle Dockers at Blundstone Arena on August 22, 2021 in Hobart, Australia. (Photo by Grant Viney/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

SYDNEY 

A goal to remember

Perhaps not just a wish for Sydney, but every footy fan. Sitting on 995 goals at the end of 2021, Lance Franklin is inching closer to entering footy folklore. A Round 1 match against GWS sets the tone perfectly, but the Swans may be hoping for just a couple from the veteran to set up a Round 2 blockbuster. Coming up against the Cats at the SCG on a Friday night, the Swans will be drooling at the prospect of a sell-out crowd after a Covid disrupted 2021 season left the club with few full home games. A much beloved figure of the game in a potential prime time slot, the Swans' Christmas wish will be to see Buddy make history in the famous red and white.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 14: Lance Franklin of the Swans celebrates a goal during the round four AFL match between the Western Bulldogs and the Sydney Swans at Etihad Stadium on April 14, 2018 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

WEST COAST 

Open borders by March 

Western Australia's recent announcement that the state will reopen borders on February 5 would have been music to the ears of the AFL and the two WA based teams. With recent Covid uncertainty potentially putting a pause on these plans, the Eagles and Fremantle may be looking at another disrupted season. The BBL have already made the decision to remove all Perth Scorchers games from the state due to the hard border and quarantine requirements, while further afield A League side Perth Glory were caught up in their own Covid situation, forced into hotel quarantine for two weeks. The Eagles, who seemingly struggled in the hubs of 2020, would be hoping borders are open by the start of the season with no quarantine requirements to avoid the dreaded hub.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 06: Luke Edwards of the Eagles celebrates victory with team mates after the round 12 AFL match between the Carlton Blues and the West Coast Eagles at Sydney Cricket Ground on June 06, 2021 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)

WESTERN BULLDOGS

No grand final hangover 

Bouncing back after a 74-point grand final loss is never an easy feat, but the Bulldogs will be wishing for exactly that. With a young, talented team that seems hungry for success, the Bulldogs will be after a good start to the year to leave behind memories of Melbourne's success at Optus Stadium. After the success of 2016 and the relative failure of 2017, the Dogs will be hoping they've learnt from past mistakes and are ready to take it one step further in 2022.

PERTH, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 25: Marcus Bontempelli of the Bulldogs handpasses the ball during the 2021 Toyota AFL Grand Final match between the Melbourne Demons and the Western Bulldogs at Optus Stadium on September 25, 2021 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Will Russell/AFL Photos via Getty Images)