The nine players to watch in Round 1

Round 1 of the 2025 season will see all 18 teams take the field for the first time, giving fans their first taste of the season's storylines. From high-profile trades to debuting stars, the first full round is set to be packed with intrigue. Here are some of the players to keep an eye on. Caleb Daniel Coming up against his old team in new colours, the premiership Bulldog will be looking to show his former coach what he's missing. In 2024, Luke Beveridge opted for a different approach to team selection, leaving Caleb Daniel watching from the sidelines more often than he would have liked. The All-Australian half-back was played out of position when selected, but with North Melbourne he's likely to return to his preferred role, and if his pre-season form is anything to go by, he could be back to his best. Daniel, a loyal servant of the club whi reached the ultimate glory in 2016, didn't leave the Bulldogs for a lucrative contract or due to bad terms with senior figures. His departure came down to a lack of opportunity and fans understand this. Expect a reasonably warm reception from players and spectators alike, but it still remains an interesting matchup to watch. [caption id="attachment_157555" align="alignnone" width="1638"] Caleb Daniel of the North Melbourne Kangaroos at training in 2024 (Image via North Melbourne FC)[/caption] Sam Lalor & fellow draftees The number one pick in any draft is always one to watch on debut. There's plenty of hype surrounding the young gun and his pre-season injury only adds another layer to the story. Lalor, along with fellow Richmond draftees Luke Trainor and Harry Armstrong, will be an intriguing watch against Carlton on Thursday night. [caption id="attachment_158612" align="alignnone" width="2144"] PERTH, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 17: Sam Lalor of the Tigers ina action during the AFL practice match between the the West Coast Eagles and Richmond Tigers at Mineral Resources Park on February 17, 2025 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Janelle St Pierre/Getty Images)[/caption] This also extends to Finn O'Sullivan, the second overall pick, who will debut for North Melbourne against the Bulldogs on Saturday night. Nick Watson Sam Wicks pulled off some magic of his own on Friday night, making 'The Wizard' disappear in Sydney's match against Hawthorn. Now, all eyes are on Watson to see how he responds after a poor performance. He brought plenty of swagger and energy to the Hawks last season and their prime-time clash against Essendon presents the perfect stage for him to get his magic back. [caption id="attachment_153268" align="alignnone" width="2560"] MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 20: Nick Watson of the Hawks celebrates a goal during the round 19 AFL match between Hawthorn Hawks and Collingwood Magpies at Melbourne Cricket Ground, on July 20, 2024, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images via AFL Photos)[/caption] Bailey Smith Bailey Smith divides fans with his off-field antics, whether it's his fashion choices or his modelling career with Cotton On, but before the ACL injury that wiped out his 2024 season, there was no denying he was one of the most exciting young players in the game. Now at Geelong, he has the perfect opportunity to find his form as part of a midfield that will benefit greatly from his inclusion. The question is whether he'll miss a step or take one further towards becoming a true star of the game and pushing Geelong into flag contention. [caption id="attachment_158622" align="alignnone" width="2560"] GEELONG, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 17: Bailey Smith of the Cats runs down the wing during the AFL practice match between Geelong Cats and Hawthorn Hawks at GMHBA Stadium on February 17, 2025 in Geelong, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)[/caption] Eric Hipwood & Logan Morris With Joe Daniher's premature retirement, Brisbane's forward structure will be under close watch. Eric Hipwood and Logan Morris will need to step up, and how they gel together could define the Lions' season. Hipwood, as the more experienced player, is likely to get the first crack at filling Daniher's role, but Morris showed plenty of promise in 2024 and could be a key piece of the puzzle. [caption id="attachment_152295" align="alignnone" width="2560"] Logan Morris of the Brisbane Lions in 2024 (Photo by Russell Freeman/AFL Photos)[/caption] Clayton Oliver & Christian Petracca Melbourne were left searching for answers when Christian Petracca suffered a gruesome injury in the King's Birthday clash against Collingwood last year, while Clayton Oliver struggled through a tumultuous off-season, never reaching his best. It was a rough year for the Demons and their fans, but with Oliver staying at the club and Petracca on track for a remarkable comeback, their season opener against the Giants on Sunday is shaping up as must-watch footy. [caption id="attachment_148438" align="alignnone" width="2560"] MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 17: Clayton Oliver of the Demons kicks during the round one AFL match between Melbourne Demons and Western Bulldogs at Melbourne Cricket Ground, on March 17, 2024, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)[/caption] Dan Houston Possibly the biggest off-season move was Houston's switch to Victoria. Several clubs chased the silky half-back's signature, but in the end, Collingwood secured him. Fast forward to 2025 and fate has handed Houston a debut against his old side thanks to an untimely suspension. He'll have the backing of the home fans but will undoubtedly feel the heat from his ex-teammates. More importantly, it will be a chance to see if Houston was worth all the fuss and if he can help the Pies recover from a poor start to their campaign against the Giants last week. [caption id="attachment_158985" align="alignnone" width="2560"] MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 26: Dan Houston of the Magpies celebrates a goal during the 2025 AFL AAMI Community Series match between the Richmond Tigers and the Collingwood Magpies at Ikon Park on February 26, 2025 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)[/caption]

		P	W	L	PTS	%
1	COLL	12	10	2	40	136.9
2	BL	13	9	3	38	112.6
3	ADEL	13	9	4	36	137.2
4	GEEL	13	9	4	36	125.3
5	GC	12	8	4	32	126.5
6	HAW	13	8	5	32	111.8
7	GWS	12	7	5	28	109.4
8	FRE	12	7	5	28	106.4

The nine players to watch in Round 1

Take a look at what we think are the key match ups for Round 1 👇

2. Sam Lalor & fellow draftees

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