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.
St Kilda
Tom De Koning
De Koning's move to St Kilda from Carlton for the 2026 season was a major talking point, leaving for a monster eight-year deal reportedly worth around $1.7 million per season.
The 27-year-old played 20 games in his first season under Ross Lyon, averaging 18.2 hit-outs and 12.8 disposals while kicking 11 goals, not being able to capture his best form from previous seasons.
The former Blue couldn't consistently dominate matches in the way some thought he would, leading to a lot of heated criticism following his big-money move.
The Saints will want more consistency from their star recruit in 2027 after finishing the year with 364 hit-outs, almost 150 lower than the previous year.
He will also have even more pressure to perform with co-ruckman Rowan Marshall joining Geelong, although this may be a better outcome in the long run.
