AFL action officially returns this weekend, with fans keen to see some fresh faces press their case for senior spots by summer's end.
Opening Round and Round 1 are set to see debuts made across the competition, with 15 players featuring in their maiden matches across the opening two weeks of the 2024 season.
Several clubs have already been impressed by draftees or second-year assets, with some debut hopefuls beginning to stand out amongst the rest of the pack.
Here we name six of the best debut chances for the early stages of the 2025 season.
6. Sam Davidson
The mature-aged recruit will continue the trend of Fothergill-Round-Mitchell Medal winners featuring at AFL level if he does get a debut, with the 17 recipients before him all getting a glimpse after breakout VFL seasons.
Davidson was set to be an early contender for a spot in Luke Beveridge's side from his first day as a Bulldog, but with Jamarra Ugle-Hagan seen as no certainty to play in Round 1, Davidson's chances have grown dramatically.
The mobile medium-sized forward can slot into an attacking role as a target option or be pushed up onto the wing to have an impact further up the field.
"I'm sure he'll push his case up over the next few weeks as the practice games ramp up when decisions have to be made around selection," interim Dogs football boss Sam Power told SENÂ recently.
Davidson is in line to feature for the Dogs in their upcoming games against Essendon and Hawthorn this pre-season, which will stage the chance for the 23-year-old to cement his Round 1 spot.
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