The best part about entering 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...
Essendon
How hard does Brad Scott go with unveiling the youngsters?
When Essendon are fully healthy, they have proven their list have the capabilities to be competitive and push toward the top half of the ladder.
However, injuries continue to haunt the club from 2025 entering the new year, which forced the Bombers to unveil a league-record 15 debutants during the 2025 season.
There will certainly be a push to maintain that trend after the Bombers walked away as one of the biggest winners of the 2025 draft too. They selected three draftees in the first round - Sullivan Robey, Jacob Farrow and Dyson Sharp - who all have the capabilities of playing in Essendon's Round 1 grudge match against Hawthorn, and do so at an impactful level.
It's unclear whether this will be a side continuing a rebuild or aiming to become a September hopeful in 2026, but how senior coach Brad Scott plays his cards with the plethora of young talent early in the year will be the tell for what Bombers fans should expect.
