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.
Essendon
Zach Reid
Although he couldn't quite replicate his phenomenal first half of the 2025 season, Reid took massive strides forward with his body, playing every game of the season for the first time in his career.
The 24-year-old was only able to manage 19 games between 2021 and 2025 due to a luckless start to his career with multiple injury setbacks, but showed his ability as a defensive player in 2026.
The 202cm defender led all comers at the Bombers for marks (139) and spoils, often as the lone tall inside defensive 50, and showed glimpses of his best traits throughout the year.
The Bombers will hopefully not be under as much defensive pressure with the addition of Lions defender Keidean Coleman as well as midfielder Jack Bowes, who can help keep the ball moving forward instead of down back, but the loss of Zach Merrett does hurt.
Reid finished sixth in the Crichton Medal and, with a full season under his belt, now under new coach Mark McVeigh, who has a focus on defence for the pre-season, Reid will want to build on his performances throughout this season and keep himself fit for a bigger 2027.
