With AFL clubs having returned for pre-season training, the countdown for the 2026 season is on.
Coaches begin experimenting with new game plans and younger players begin pushing for spots. Every session counts as players push for Round 1 selection.
But not all players feel the same levels of pressure, with some under far more scrutiny than others. Whether it was a failed trade move, underperformance or stalled development, these are the 10 AFL players with a point to prove in 2026.
9Noah Balta
It was a stop-start year for the Tigers utility, with lingering off-field issues restricting him to just 13 games for the year.
Deployed in a number of different roles by Adem Yze, Balta struggled for consistency, with his average AFL player rating the lowest since his 2019 season. An epic battle with Tom Hawkins in 2023 and a 23-disposal, three-goal effort against the Blues in 2024 is proof Balta has the talent to be an elite AFL player.
In 2024, the Tigers signed Balta to a seven-year contract extension, seeing him remain at the club until the end of 2032. After showing significant promise as both a key forward and key defender in his first few seasons, Richmond fans will be hoping his off-field issues are behind him, and he can finally deliver on his potential.
