With players returning from their end-of-season break and getting back into the swing of things for pre-season, the 2027 season slowly keeps getting closer.
Established players will want to dominate training sessions while emerging young stars will want to push their case forward for a round one start.
Each player has something to work on with the season nearing, a lot more than others, and these are the AFL players from each club with the most to prove heading into 2027.
Melbourne
Zane Duursma
Three years after North Melbourne selected Duursma with pick 4 in 2023, he is now a Demon following a trade for pick 33.
He played 13 games in his first season in the blue and white, kicking nine goals and even earned a Mark of the Year nomination, showing signs of what was to come. The start of his 2026 season also showed what he had to offer, kicking 14 goals across the first nine rounds before his form dropped significantly.
He was only able to kick one goal in his last six matches at senior level for the year, averaging only 6.6 disposals and a goal for the season. He went back to the VFL and unfortunately injured his shoulder, which required surgery, ultimately ending his season; he is not expected to return to training until late December.
Duursma leaves the Kangaroos after playing 38 games, kicking 28 goals and three seasons where he probably didn't live up to the standard expected of him when drafted. However, if anyone can turn a younger player into a star, it is Steven King and the Demons.
The 21-year-old may thrive under King alongside talls Jacob Van Rooyen, Harrison Petty and Bailey Fritsch. Youngsters Harvey Langford, Kade Chandler, Caleb Windsor, Koltyn Tholstrup and Joel Fitzgerald all improved significantly in King's attacking coaching style and were given more significant roles throughout the year, meaning there's no reason why Duursma can't flourish the same way they did.
