Surprise debut chances emerge, star recruits shine: Each new AFL recruit's Round 1 prospects after pre-season showing

The AFL's pre-season schedule has come to a close, with fans of all 18 clubs getting a glimpse of what might be in store this season. Recruits donned their new colours for the first time to stake their claim for early season selection, with big name movers and draftees all putting their hands up. We look at how your club's new faces performed in the Community Series and assess their chances of an Opening Round/Round 1 debut. Adelaide The Crows went hard during the off-season to improve their list, which has been starved of finals since 2017. Former GWS duo James Peatling and Isaac Cumming look all but locked to don their new colours in two weeks time. Peatling (21 disposals and six clearances) was instrumental through the midfield and offered a different look for Matthew Nicks while Cumming's (17 touches, five marks and a goal) poise with the ball in hand is exactly what the Crows need. Alex Neal-Bullen will also take his place in the senior side, playing the perfect two-way runner to assist in defence and get involved on the scoring chain. Neal-Bullen recorded 20 possessions and six marks while directly handing a goal to a new teammate. Draftee Sid Draper also impressed in his first real hitout for the club, amassing 14 touches and five clearances from 39 per cent game time. Verdict: All four play. Brisbane All the hype has been around Levi Ashcroft and for good reason. Following an impressive outing in last week's match simulation, Ashcroft did his Opening Round debut chances no harm, collecting 23 touches, two clearances and a goal on Thursday against the Crows. Key forwards Sam Day and Ty Gallop both had opportunities to grab Chris Fagan's attention as he ponders who will replace the retired Joe Daniher. The pair had quiet outings against Adelaide but the experience of Day initially gets the nod in a high-pressure season opener with Geelong. Verdict: Ashcroft and Day play Opening Round. Carlton After an impressive performance in Friday's pre-season match against the Giants, Lucas Camporeale has surged towards a potential Round 1 debut. The father-son recruit shone on the wing with 20 disposals and eight marks. Former Giant Nick Haynes played strongly against his old side, recording 21 disposals and 10 marks in defence. SSP recruit Francis Evans was quiet despite playing 73% match time, gathering just five disposals and one clearance. Verdict: Nick Haynes to play Round 1, although Camporeale will be fiercely contending for selection. Collingwood The Pies' trio of recruits have featured in plenty of conversations over the summer months, but the initial audition may have rival clubs worried about how deep the 2023 premiers can go. Dan Houston was his usual, excellent self off half-back, gathering 22 touches, seven marks, five score involvements and kicking a trademark goal from 55 metres out. Harry Perryman did all the grunt work through the middle of the ground, playing the supporting role in the Nick Daicos show. The former Giant registered 20 touches and 10 tackles while hitting the scoreboard with a nice major. Lastly, Tim Membrey, who Saints fans will be ruing his departure, worked perfectly alongside fellow talls Brody Mihocek and Dan McStay, kicking four goals and providing a third prong to Collingwood's attack. Verdict: Collingwood's recruiting will see Perryman and Membrey in Opening Round, while Houston will join them the following week after he serves his suspension. Essendon Get excited Bombers fans as the hype around Isaac Kako is real. The busy small forward is exactly what the doctor ordered for Essendon, firstly applying immense pressure before turning defence into attack. Kako finished the night with four goals - and nearly a fifth - as well as 14 touches and two goal assists against Geelong. SSP selection Tom Edwards briefly featured in the senior side's clash with Geelong after another four-goal performance in the VFL curtain-raiser. Edwards collected three disposals in 24 per cent game time. Former Lion and fellow SSP pick-up Jaxon Prior was handy in defence, peeling off his direct opponent to impact in the air, while his penetrating left-foot kicking was on display. Prior finished with 13 disposals and seven marks. Verdict: Kako a lock for Essendon's Opening Round clash while Edwards and Prior will be in the mix. Fremantle Star Dockers recruit Shai Bolton was quick to catch the eye in Sunday's affair against Melbourne, booting two goals from 13 disposals in a promising first outing in purple. The premiership Tiger is set to add another layer to Fremantle's forward half while running through midfield as a depth option. First-round draft pick Murphy Reid collected 14 disposals and laid four tackles to follow a strong summer stint and build his chances of a Round 1 debut. Verdict: Both Bolton and Reid named to face Geelong. Geelong The Cats didn't unveil any new faces in their clash against Essendon, with star recruit Bailey Smith treated cautiously given the quick turnaround to Opening Round. Youngster Connor O'Sullivan, who debuted in 2024, looks set to lock down a defensive post if Chris Scott persists with Sam De Koning in the ruck. Verdict: Smith will play in Opening Round. Gold Coast The Suns had a host of new recruits participate in the Community Series clash against Sydney on Friday, with the major signings demonstrating why they were recruited. John Noble recorded 26 disposals, seven marks and six rebound 50s off half-back, while fellow defensive recruit Daniel Rioli amassed 24 disposals. Elliott Himmelberg was doing cardio in his 31% of game time, failing to register a single stat other than two pressure acts. SSP signing Ben Jepson recorded seven disposals in 56% game time, as well as three marks and a clearance through some midfield minutes. Rookie draftee Lachie Gulbin recorded five disposals up forward but failed to hit the scoreboard. Verdict: Noble and Rioli to debut in their new colours in Opening Round, Himmelberg, Jepson and Gulbin to miss out. GWS GWS' two draftees had quiet nights after solid first hitouts against Sydney in last week's unofficial scratch match. Cody Angove had just four disposals against the Blues with no scoreboard return, while Oliver Hannaford had just seven disposals for a return of one behind. Uncapped second-year Giant James Leake was solid after playing nearly three quarters of match time, recording 18 disposals and six clearances. The 19-year-old has yet to debut at AFL level but after the exit James Peatling a position may open up for the youngster, placing him ahead of the club's new recruits. No Jake Stringer on Friday due to illness, however his Opening Round chances remain intact. Verdict: A stacked forward line will be tough for Angove and Hannaford to crack, with Stringer ahead of the pack if available. Hawthorn Hawks fans got a glimpse into their upgraded defence as the two Bs (Battle and Barrass) took their place in the side. Josh Battle looked the better of the pair against the Bulldogs, gathering 27 disposals and six marks in 91 per cent game time. As for Tom Barrass, he spent a bit more time on the sidelines but showed his immense defensive prowess against the Dogs' talls. Verdict: Both Battle and Barrass will play in Opening Round. Melbourne Mature-aged selection Aidan Johnson collected nine disposals and four marks for a return of 1.2 in front of goal, with a potential spot in attack open for Round 1. Jacob van Rooyen was unable to finish Sunday's affair against the Dockers due to a back concern, potentially creating a void for the club's season opener against GWS. First-round draftees Harvey Langford and Xavier Lindsay showed further promise and will be right in the mix for Round 1 debuts also. Trade recruit Harry Sharp recorded nine disposals and got his name on the goalkicker's list with a nice finish on the run. Verdict: Langford, Lindsay and Sharp play, with Johnson likely if van Rooyen missess Round 1. North Melbourne Caleb Daniel and Jack Darling provided a breath of fresh air at the Kangaroos as both showed why the club went after them. Daniel's experience across half-back through his 26 touches and five tackles offered a beacon of hope for the rebuilding club. Darling was busy in the front half, hitting the scoreboard four times for only one major, helping Nick Larkey and Cam Zurhaar get better matchups. Ex-Swan Jacob Konstanty featured but was quiet, gathering three touches from 66 per cent game time. Top draftee Finn O'Sullivan has all but locked a Round 1 debut after his impressive outing on Saturday. O'Sullivan picked up 18 touches and eight marks playing mainly on the wing. Veteran Luke Parker didn't feature but should be named in two weeks. Verdict: Darling, Daniel, O'Sullivan (and Parker) will be picked come Round 1. Port Adelaide Port Adelaide will be pleased with their front-half acquisitions after the trio of Js ( Joe Richards, Jack Lukosius and Joe Berry) featured for the club on Saturday. Lukosius proved his deft touch that saw him taken with Pick 2 in 2018, amassing 18 touches and nine marks while kicking two goals and directly setting up three others. Richards crossed from Collingwood and his cleanliness was on show, collecting 20 touches, mainly in the front half, and a goal whilst playing the link-man. As for the highly-touted Berry, he found plenty of the ball (14 disposals, six inside 50s and five score involvements). Rory Atkins was the steak knives part of the Lukosius deal and also gathered 14 touches on Saturday, but is likely to take his place in the SANFL to begin the year. Verdict: Jack, Joe and Joe play in Round 1. Richmond Throughout 2025, the Tigers will unveil as many new faces as they can, but three of last year's draftees graced IKON Park on Wednesday. Luke Trainor was arguably the pick of the bunch after he was thrown in defence to curb Collingwood's onslaught. Trainor recorded 12 touches and four marks from 40 per cent game time. Fellow draftees Thomas Sims and Harry Armstrong battled impressively in the front half, but due to poor entries and skills from further up the field, struggled to test the Pies' defence. Sam Lalor was absent due to concussion, but if he passes the protocols, he'll debut against Carlton. Verdict: The Tigers will unveil Trainor and Armstrong against the Blues while Lalor should join them. St Kilda Hugh Boxshall didn't harm his debut chances after an impressive two-goal performance against the Power. The Saints' Pick 45 from last year's draft was involved in much of their drive in the first half, gathering 15 touches and six marks as well as five inside 50s and five score involvements. The injury to Mitch Owens also puts Boxshall in the box seat for a Round 1 nod. Fellow draftee Tobie Travaglia also featured for the club on Saturday, playing 28 per cent game time. Travaglia gathered seven disposals and two clearances and will be in consideration early in the year for a debut. SSP pick Harry Boyd almost locked himself into the Round 1 team after taking the no.1 ruck role. The SANFL star collected 10 disposals, 18 hitouts and two clearances, and could work in tandem with Rowan Marshall. Jack Macrae showed his immense ball-accumulating talents after crossing from the Western Bulldogs. Macrae recorded a team-high 32 possessions, seven clearances, five tackles and a goal assist. Irishman Liam O'Connell also showed glimpses of his ability to match it with the opposition's best forwards and could be in the mix early in the year. Verdict: Boyd, Boxshall and Macrae to play. Sydney The Swans unveiled two new faces to the side on Friday, with two draftees experiencing approximately a half of action. Matured-aged draftee Riley Bice played his role well in defence, recording 14 disposals and four marks despite playing just over half of the game. Riak Andrew showed glimpses of his potential with seven disposals in just under a half of action, however, it will be unlikely to see him suit up in Opening Round. Verdict: Bice could be a sneaky chance with Callum Mills out through injury, but we'll rule both won't play Opening Round. West Coast The Eagles unveiled a host of new faces that will excite the club's fans. Former Richmond pair Liam Baker and Jack Graham were impressive in their first official West Coast outing. The duo racked up 35 disposals between them, 11 tackles and seven clearances, while Baker also hit the scoreboard. Ex-Blue small forward Matt Owies was active in the front half, laying seven tackles and showing his teammates the pressure he'll provide in 2025. Then two draftees, Bo Allan and Lucca Grego, were named on Saturday, albeit the latter didn't see any minutes. Allan played 73 per cent of the Kangaroos contest and struggled to get into the rhythm of the top flight, collecting six touches and two marks. Verdict: Baker, Graham, Owies and Allan play Round 1. Western Bulldogs The Bulldogs' chance on mature-age recruit Sam Davidson appears to have paid off, after he recorded 29 touches, four marks and a goal. Davidson, in the absence of Jamarra Ugle-Hagan, looks poised to debut in Round 1 against North Melbourne after an impressive summer. Experienced midfielder Matthew Kennedy provided another look for Luke Beveridge through the midfield, showcasing his toughness and defensive work. Draftee Josh Dolan also had some nice moments as a pressure forward, collecting nine touches, three tackles and a goal assist. Bulldogs fans could also get excited by the prospect of father-son Jordan Croft, who has been at the club for 12 months but has yet to debut. Croft played on all three lines on Thursday and is in the mix for a debut in 2025. Verdict: Davidson and Kennedy to play Round 1.

		P	W	L	PTS	%
1	SYD	1	1	0	4	191.3
2	GC	1	1	0	4	181.2
3	GWS	1	1	0	4	128.4
4	COLL	1	1	0	4	118.2
5	WB	1	1	0	4	104.7
6	HAW	2	1	1	4	84.4
7	CARL	2	1	1	4	70.9
8	BL	1	0	1	0	95.5
9	RICH	1	0	1	0	94.7
10	STK	1	0	1	0	84.6

Surprise debut chances emerge, star recruits shine: Each new AFL recruit’s Round 1 prospects after pre-season showing

We look at how your club’s new faces performed in the pre-season and assess their chances of an early debut.

Melbourne

JOIN THE DISCUSSION

Latest News

LIVE: Essendon vs Hawthorn – Round 1, 2026

FINAL TEAMS: Essendon vs Hawthorn – Round 1, 2026

Richmond forward cops one week ban

AFL Teams Round 1 2026: Full team line-ups

“Indoctrinated hatred”: Inside Line in the Sand, Lloyd’s infamous Sewell hit

FOLLOW US