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.
Geelong
The next generation
The usual headlines at Kardinia Park come from their ageing stars, whether that's Patrick Dangerfield's continued explosiveness in the midfield or Jeremy Cameron's stellar Coleman Medal year where he came a dozen kicks away from scoring 100 goals in a single season.
However, the new wave that's quietly coming through the ranks at the Cattery are emerging as pivotal members at such a rapid rate, it'll be impossible to ignore in 2026.
Despite the loss on Grand Final day, it was Geelong's youngest stars who excelled on the big stage while the veterans failed to produce a four-quarter effort.
22-year-old Ollie Dempsey kicked four goals as inarguably Geelong's best-on-ground, with his speed along the wings setting up countless transitional attacks, and his poise inside forward 50 enabling him to capitalise on the scoreboard regularly.
20-year-old Connor O'Sullivan had to shoulder much of the defensive load, leading the Cats in intercept possessions, while 22-year-old Lawson Humphries set up seven rebound 50s. Max Holmes was demonstrative with his ball-winning abilities after winning the club's best-and-fairest award for a second straight season.
Cats fans are already excited about Bailey Smith, Dangerfield and the like, but they'll maintain their dominance into the foreseeable future thanks to these young guns, who are still years away from their physical primes.
