Opening Round kicks off on Thursday and the pre-season has provided plenty of answers, but certain questions can't be answered until the real stuff starts.
Zero Hanger has outlined a topic likely to garner plenty of discussion at each club in the first month of the season.
12Geelong Cats
What should we expect from Tanner Bruhn in 2026?
There aren't too many pressing questions about the Cats despite a couple of injuries in the early rounds, but one point of watch will be Tanner Bruhn. Coach Chris Scott ahead of Opening Round labelled Bruhn's wretched 2025 on the sidelines an ‘egregious injustice' and he'll be like a new recruit this year. It's easy to overlook how promising Bruhn's first season at the Cattery was in 2024 as a dynamic midfielder who gave himself an excellent platform to explode last year, before his court battle kept him sidelined. With Bailey Smith to miss first up, he has a great opportunity to establish himself as an important part of one of the competition's best midfield groups - but how quickly can he get to his best form after the emotional toll of last year and more than 12 months away from the level?
