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.
Carlton
Joel Amartey
Since Charlie Curnow left the Blues for the Sydney Swans, Harry McKay has been Carlton's only real tall forward option. Ben Ainsworth, Will Hayward and Brodie Kemp all played their parts throughout 2026, but they still lacked another tall option going forward, which Amartey will now hopefully provide.
The key forward arrived at IKON Park on the opening day of the free agency window as an unrestricted free agent, and he brings with him a presence up forward, adding a new focal point to the Blues forward line.
The ex-Swan kicked a second-career-best 28 goals in 15 games for the year. He booted three or more in five of his first 11 games, all against finals sides, which included five goals in Round 1 against eventual premiers Brisbane.
The 27-year-old has shown glimpses of immense talent, but his body has regularly let him down as he suffered a partial Achilles tendon tear this year.
He was not being picked by Dean Cox in their Preliminary Final loss, instead keeping the winning forward line from their Qualifying Final win.
Amartey joins plenty of familiar faces with former Sydney teammates Will Hayward, Ollie Florent, George Hewett and Nic Newman, and he can hopefully become a genuine forward target for them in 2027.
