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.
Western Bulldogs
A full season of Sam Darcy
If not for a knee injury that disrupted the middle part of his year, Darcy was on pace to kick 70 goals in 2025, highlighting just how close he is to making the AFL his world.
Even with his absence for a solid portion of the year, the Bulldogs remained the league's most potent attack, a scary thought to consider with the club entering 2026 with few injuries to their stars.
The physical gifts that Darcy possesses make him an almost impossible task for defenders, with the combination of his size, strength and surprising mobility enabling him to dominate aerially but also at the drop of the ball. Among key forwards, Darcy has the second-best win rate of offensive one-on-one contests, claiming victory in 40.4 per cent of his 3.4 per game.
If the 22-year-old can remain fully fit in 2026 and bolster his shots at goal to the levels of a Jeremy Cameron or Jack Gunston, he will cement his place as top 10 player in the AFL.
