What your AFL team needs to show this pre-season

AFL action returns this week as the first wave of pre-season matches - including an Indigenous All Stars clash - prepare to offer some insight into what fans can expect for the year ahead. A total of 18 games - made up of differing practice sessions and Community Series fixtures - will run from February 15 to March 2, taking us to just four days out from the home and away season's opener. To conclude another summer of expectations, training notes, selection calls and coaching strategies, the coming weeks will hope to uncover some positives for each club. Here we assess and name what fans from each faithful will be hoping to see from their AFL team this pre-season. Adelaide A clear role for Dan Curtin The Crows' prized 2023 draft selection came to the club as a highly coveted teenager given his ability to play across all three lines of the field. Curtin played seven games in his debut season and mostly found himself in the front third despite a draft campaign that netted standout form as a key defender and inside ball winner. While still being able to bank on the Western Australian's flexibility, signs that Curtin has a clear role to play in Matthew Nicks' setup this pre-season will bring much joy to Crows fans. Track watch notes have suggested Curtin is in line for more midfield action, bringing his big frame and power to Nicks' central plans while still having the ability to rotate to either end of the field. Pre-Season Opponents: Port Adelaide, Brisbane Brisbane A forward line that's clicking The loss of Joe Daniher over the off-season will continue to be a talking point for the reigning premiers, with any discussion and concern only able to be put to bed once fans see Brisbane's front third as a connected unit. Expectations on Eric Hipwood will rise, and the role Logan Morris can fill in his second season could be pivotal, while veteran Sam Day or fringe tall Brandon Ryan might be able to add some assistance. The Lions will again be able to rely on their ground level threats and midfield rotations to sharpen the spear, but the pre-season will hope to present a glimpse that life after Daniher can still deliver premiership contention in Queensland. Pre-Season Opponents: Gold Coast/Collingwood, Adelaide Carlton A healthy list ready to contend It's been the same unfortunate story of the past few pre-seasons for the Blues, who have often entered new campaigns already a man down. After losing Jack Silvagni ahead of their 2024 season, the cruel trend continued this summer with Nic Newman going down with a ruptured patella tendon. Blues fans can only hope their squad gets through their upcoming encounters unscathed and ready for a Round 1 meeting with Richmond in mid-March as they look to contend for the premiership again. An added factor in the fallout of Newman's long-term setback will be the story surrounding which Blues player can fill the void, with Jordan Boyd, Lachie Cowan and uncapped flanker Billy Wilson all ready to step up. Pre-Season Opponents: St Kilda, GWS Collingwood The next wave of Magpies knocking on the door Magpies midfielder Fin Macrae has been the poster boy of pre-season hype the last couple of years, putting up strong performances in the lead-up to the home and away season only to fall out of favour by April. Macrae will be among a contingent of Collingwood players looking to break into Craig McRae's side for their Opening Round clash against GWS, with fellow onballer Ed Allan and 2023 draftees Harry DeMattia and Tew Jiath also wanting to find some selection success. Their endeavours must include strong outings against the Suns, Lions and Tigers over the coming weeks, with midfield depth and defensive run again being an area to assess at the AIA Centre. Pre-Season Opponents: Gold Coast/Brisbane, Richmond Essendon Tsatas living up to pre-season hype There's a big step between standing out during intra-clubs and having the same form against a rival opponent, and that's the step Bombers fans will be hoping to see from former Pick 5 selection Elijah Tsatas. The young Bombers midfielder has been a talking point this summer with his midfield role anticipated to grow off the back of strong pre-season form, with Tsatas part of a long engine room pecking order under Brad Scott. When Essendon suit up against two strong midfield units in the Dogs and Cats, their fans can hope to see Tsatas continue his promising pre-season to rubber-stamp his place in Scott's side. Pre-Season Opponents: Western Bulldogs, Geelong Fremantle Bolton proof of being the missing puzzle piece. The first time Fremantle fans will get to see star recruit Shai Bolton might be as an opposing player for the Indigenous All Stars should he be deemed fit in time. The Richmond premiership player was one of the headline movers in last year's player exchange window and looks set to fill a void in Justin Longmuir's side as a forward half spark who can role through midfield. Whether it be for the All Stars or Fremantle, Bolton will hope to have an immediate impact in purple and be primed in time for a Round 1 bout against Geelong next month. Pre-Season Opponents: Indigenous All Stars, Melbourne Geelong A fit and firing Bailey Smith Another headline recruit from the 2024 trade period, Smith arrived at Kardinia Park after a year out of action due to an ACL injury. Smith could be the Cats' new main man in the middle, or at least partner reigning Carji Greeves Medal winner Max Holmes in a threatening two-man tandem, and expectations will be high. As for the pre-season, those expectations might be tapered a touch as Smith prepares for his first outing in the hoops, but Cats fans will be keen to see Smith firing on all cylinders after a near-full pre-season. Pre-Season Opponents: Hawthorn, Essendon Gold Coast Support for Ben King The Suns were one of, if not the busiest clubs over the off-season from a player movement standpoint, adding Dan Rioli, John Noble and Elliott Himelberg while bidding farewell to Jack Lukosius and Rory Atkins. The departure of Lukosius has opened a glaring hole in Damien Hardwick's front third, with mystery surrounding who will be Ben King's best support this season. Second-year forward Jed Walter might not be ready to take on the responsibility of that degree just yet, leaving Himmelberg or Jy Farrar as the third option to bring some needed experience. Young ruckman Ethan Read could slot into an attacking role alongside fellow Academy graduate Walter, while star swingman Mac Andrew might find himself forward again. Upcoming clashes against the Lions, Magpies and Swans will hopefully paint a clear picture of what we can expect from the Suns' front third. Pre-Season Opponents: Brisbane/Collingwood, Sydney GWS Forwards primed, midfielders stepping up The addition of Bombers livewire Jake Stringer could really go one of two ways for the Giants, with the polarising premiership player able to destroy defences or his own side's attacking cohesion. GWS fans will be hoping for the former as Stringer links up with Coleman Medal-winning spearhead Jesse Hogan and captain Toby Greene, while the development of former No.1 draft pick Aaron Cadman remains vital. On top of Stringer's impact, the Giants will have their fingers crossed their younger midfielders are ready to step up and support their incumbents, with a larger focus directed to the likes of Finn Callaghan, Ryan Angwin and Jacob Wehr. Pre-Season Opponents: Sydney, Carlton Hawthorn How they use their tall defenders The Hawks will be a fascinating watch over the coming weeks as fans get their first look at a new backline under coach Sam Mitchell. The double addition of Josh Battle and Tom Barrass is sure to shake up Hawthorn's system, placing question marks over how Mitchell can fit in the talented pair on top of James Sicily, Jack Scrimshaw and Josh Weddle. One of those three may be pushed further up the field, with either Weddle or Sicily having the mould to have an impact on the wing or in the forward line. Pre-Season Opponents: Geelong, Western Bulldogs Melbourne An efficient forward third The forward line has been an issue for Simon Goodwin since the club's 2021 premiership, with the Demons struggling to discover their best mix of talls and smalls. The key position crop has been the larger frustration, with Goodwin trailing a number of targets in attack over the past two seasons without finding the answer they're searching for. Jacob van Rooyen will surely spearhead Melbourne's front third, but who supports him is up in the air. Daniel Turner has shown good signs in a short time, but the impact uncapped tall Matt Jefferson can have remains a mystery. With Harry Petty slotting back into defence, a spot is open up forward and it could be one of Jefferson or mature-aged draftee Aidan Johnson to help get the forward line clicking. Pre-Season Opponents: North Melbourne, Fremantle North Melbourne Key position players standing out 2024 saw an array of Roos swung to either end of the field as Alastair Clarkson experimented with his key position options. Charlie Comben's move to defence looked to be a masterstroke, but there's somehow some chance he could be found in the forward line once again. Aidan Corr and Kallan Dawson look set for defensive roles, but, like Comben, there's less certainty surrounding Toby Pink, Wil Dawson and Griffin Logue. With Jack Darling arriving to aid Nick Larkey, it looks like competition for defensive spots will be heavily contested. Pre-Season Opponents: Melbourne, West Coast Port Adelaide A Dan Houston replacement The loss of a two-time All-Australian would be damaging to most defences, but for Port Adelaide they look to have enough names ready to take the next step as the attacking half-back asset under Ken Hinkley. Just who that will be though remains unclear... Long-kicking flanker Kane Farrell looks to be the leading option, while youngster Logan Evans and former first-round pick Josh Sinn have the upside to step into larger roles. Darcy Byrne-Jones could be swung back to defence to help, while more should be expected from senior players in Ryan Brton and Miles Bergman. Pre-Season Opponents: Adelaide, St Kilda Richmond Senior players no longer on the fringe Rightfully, a high degree of attention this pre-season will be placed on the Tigers' fresh faces, having brought into a rich list of star talent from last year's draft intake. No.1 pick Sam Lalor will be one to excite, as will Eastern Ranges product Josh Smillie, but an area Richmond fans will be keen to see develop is the attitude and effort of their more senior fringe players. Midfielder Jack Ross will hope for a bigger season in the middle after carrying a foot injury for most of 2024, while fellow onballer Thomson Dow will want to prove his worth after being a pre-season highlight last year before faltering come game day. Maurice Rioli will look to secure his spot in the forward line, while the Tigers will hope Samson Ryan is showing the needed signs as an emerging ruck option. Pre-Season Opponents: West Coast, Collingwood St Kilda A backline ready to compete The Saints are set to enter the new season undermanned down back, having lost Dougal Howard to a dislocated shoulder while draftee Alix Tauru and backman Hunter Clark man the casualty ward also. The string of setbacks follows the club's loss of Josh Battle over the off-season, meaning Ross Lyon could be left to rely on Callum Wilkie as a key position matchup. Who he partners is another concern, with Zaine Cordy and uncapped stopers Isaac Keeler and James Barrat potentially the only other options come selection. Saints fans will hope the needed answer arises in the final weeks of the pre-season as Lyon's men face flag contenders in Carlton and Port Adelaide. Pre-Season Opponents: Carlton, Port Adelaide Sydney A happy Chad Warner It'll be one of the talking points of 2025... Can the Swans keep Chad Warner from keen rival clubs? Sydney ticked every box last year when they were faced with the massive task of retaining all of Logan McDonald, Errol Gulden, James Rowbottom, Will Hayward and Ollie Florent, securing all five signatures before the off-season had arrived. The busy signing window is sure to have placed some pressure on their purse, but the club has remained confident they have the pull to keep their next big off-contract fish in Warner. Interest from his home state of WA is sure to be attractive, but if the Swans can keep Warner satisfied in NSW then they may have another big retention win in 2025. Pre-Season Opponents: GWS, Gold Coast West Coast A positive game plan under 'Mini' Expectations for 2025 are sure to differ among Eagles fans, with some hoping they can move up the ladder while others just want to see signs from their younger ranks. Overall, both groups will be hoping Andrew McQualter can show his pedigree as a senior coach who can lead a team with tactical nous. The immediate offering might not be pretty, but a wider picture is hopefully painted by the former Richmond caretaker that hints at what West Coast fans can come to expect in the years ahead. Pre-Season Opponents: Richmond, North Melbourne Western Bulldogs The players who will fill early-season holes Pressure could quickly mount on Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge if his club's injury woes continue, leading to a struggling start to the new season. The Dogs have already lost Liam Jones, Adam Treloar, Jason Johannisen and Anthony Scott to long-term setbacks, while Jamarra Ugle-Hagan's playing chances are uncertain. Add in injury concerns for Tim English, and the Dogs could arrive at Round 1 significantly undermanned. Hopefully their matchups against the Bombers and Hawks can see reinforcements come to the fore and offer some assurance things won't be too ugly too quickly. Pre-Season Opponents: Essendon, Hawthorn

		P	W	L	PTS	%
1	ADEL	23	18	5	72	139.3
2	GEEL	23	17	6	68	141.5
3	BL	23	16	6	66	114.2
4	COLL	23	16	7	64	122.4
5	GWS	23	16	7	64	115.3
6	FRE	23	16	7	64	109
7	GC	23	15	8	60	124.9
8	HAW	23	15	8	60	120.9

What your AFL team needs to show this pre-season

From pre-season standouts to fresh tactics, here’s what fans for every club want to see in February.

17. West Coast

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