Taking a glance into the 2026 AFL season, we try to predict who will take their game to new levels.
Will it be a rising star of the competition? Or a forgotten face? How about a player who was traded?
In no particular order, here are seven players who have the opportunity to take the next big step over the coming 12 months.
2Beau McCreery
Collingwood's pressure animal already has a premiership to his name, but with an ever-improving tank, more midfield minutes could be available to the South Australian. McCreery shunned rival interest to remain at the AIA Vitality Centre, and presents as a point of difference in a Magpies midfield on the precipice of significant change.
Able to win possession in contested situations, ferocious in attempts to win the ball back for his side, and frequently involved in scoring chains, the 24-year-old McCreery has all of the attributes of an excellent foil to the remarkable Nick Daicos for years to come.
