The best part about entering new footy season is that it's a fresh slate - every club starts from zero.
Optimism is high as fans relish in the prospect of their club making some form of improvement on last year, whether that's contending for a premiership, returning to September action, or seeing young players blossom into genuine superstars to push a rebuild forward.
Whether they've just won back-to-back premierships or are coming off a one-win campaign, each club has something to look forward to next year.
So, here's one thing your favourite club should be excited about entering the new year.
Melbourne
New identity under Steven King
Based on reports, it's apparent that Steven King's early days as Simon Goodwin's successor have been instrumental in setting up a strong 2026.
The newly appointed senior coach's desire to revamp the club's culture has been obvious, discarding disgruntled stars and quickly convincing a plethora of quality talent to leave their respective former clubs for the hallowed turf of the MCG.
In all interviews, Melbourne's players have well and truly bought into what King has been building in the few months since his hiring. Seeing what that may look like on the field is an exciting thought for Dees fans as the club retools its nucleus of talent around emerging superstar Kysaiah Pickett, with King explicitly stating greater senior opportunities will be granted to the Demons' youth in 2026 to fasten their development.
