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...
West Coast
Is Harley Reid ready to take the next step?
There are several question marks surrounding Harley Reid entering the 2026 season, but the heaviest one quizzes whether he's able to reach the lofty "generational talent" heights he was labelled with in his final year of junior footy.
The 2023 first overall pick copped a lot of scrutiny for his on-field antics, demeanour and overall lack of notable improvement in 2025, and while there have been areas of Reid's game that have been refined, his plateau across most statistical areas suggests he still has a way to go to become a match-winning talent on a more consistent basis.
Reid averaged nearly identical disposals (+0.2), efficiency (-3.0 per cent), score involvements (-0.3) and tackles (-0.5) to his rookie season, but Eagles fans will be hoping to see more from him in 2026, especially with another Pick 1 by his side.
The Eagles trialled Reid off half-back on various occasions in 2025, attending fewer than 50 per cent of centre bounces six times, but the experiment was short-lived, with the 20-year-old dominating the clearance game when attending at least 70 per cent of centre bounces.
It highlights Reid's enormous potential, but ensuring he taps into it consistently will be the focus for 2026.
Reid's progression is comparable to that of young ice hockey superstar Connor Bedard, who faced similar expectations entering his professional career. Bedard faced a production slump in his second NHL campaign, which saw many question his ability to reach the "generational talent" heights, despite being surrounded by a subpar cast of teammates, similarly to Reid.
In his third season, Bedard has now taken the North American league by storm, fifth in the league in points per game, and Reid could certainly replicate that exciting frenzy in Perth in his respective sport.
