The best part about entering a new footy season is that it's a fresh slate - every club starts from zero.
Optimism is high as fans relish in the prospect of their club making some form of improvement on last year, whether that's contending for a premiership, returning to September action, or seeing young players blossom into genuine superstars to push a rebuild forward.
However, there are also doubts. Lists have been reshaped, coaches have tweaked their systems, and with those changes comes an uncomfortable question that will refuse to subside until the 2026 season is underway.
So, what is the harsh question pressing at the front of your team's mind? Below is every club's burning question heading into 2026...
Richmond
Was the Tigers' competitiveness in 2025 a fluke?
The Tigers were one of the surprises of the 2025 season, despite winning just five games for the year.
A stunning comeback in Round 1 against the old foe Carlton served as an optimistic launchpad for a year of strong development from their crop of rookies and second-year players, and helped them achieve four further victories, including one over top eight side Gold Coast. They also came within a kick of upsetting GWS and St Kilda.
However, entering 2026, the consensus seems to be Richmond will regress rather than advance a rapid rebuild following an off-season of minimal player movement, outside of their two first-round draft picks.
That's an understandable call to make, given the Tigers' underlying numbers were largely comparable to West Coast. However, the yellow-and-black proved just last year why you shouldn't discredit their legitimacy as a team capable of recording a few upsets, and will likely build on the experience they gained from their close contests last year.
If they can hold their own for a full four quarters, rather than fading out as they did in close contests against GWS and Sydney last year for example, this feverish young side can prove they're ready to belong with the other 16 sides that finished above them in 2025.
