The player at all 18 AFL clubs that needs an enormous pre-season

Which player at your club needs a big pre-season?

With clubs set to return to training for 2025 next month, we've gone through all 18 teams to find that player who needs to go to a new level next campaign or deliver when the pressure is on.

Whether a position has opened up for that player or whether the your club is banking on a certain name to produce in a big way, here's our picks for all 18 teams.

Wayne Milera

It feels like Wayne Milera is always mentioned in these types of articles.

He has always promised so much, yet is his body constantly lets him down and he just cannot string games together.

The sublimely talented 27-year-old, who is stranded on 99 AFL games, has played just 39 matches across the last four seasons, including only three in 2024.

He has been denied regular game time by stress fractures, patella tendon injuries and other various ailments.

Milera played 22 games in 2023 and finished 10th in the best and fairest. That’s what the Crows needs from him in 2025 and beyond.

At his best he provides cleverness, drive and quality ball use off half-back which is something Matthew Nicks could use as the Crows push towards a much-needed finals berth.

Andrew Slevison

Eric Hipwood

A pretty obvious choice this, a lot is going to rest on Eric Hipwood’s shoulders in 2025 following Joe Daniher’s retirement.

Ever since Daniher arrived in 2021, Hipwood has played second fiddle inside 50, but now he’s got to be the main tall target.

While he’ll be supported by the likes of Logan Evans, Charlie Cameron, Kai Lohmann, Zac Bailey and potentially even Sam Day, life is going to be very different for the 27-year-old against the opposition’s number-one defender.

If he can somewhat step into Daniher’s shoes and kick 45+ goals while competing well in the air, then the Lions are every chance of going back-to-back.

If he struggles without his tall partner and Brisbane no longer have a strong focal point inside 50, then it puts a huge dent in their premiership hopes.

There’s no doubt he’s got the talent to do it and 2025 could just be the making of the tall forward.

Lachlan Geleit

Jesse Motlop

Who doesn’t need a big off-season at Carlton? The Blues have been smashed by injury issues the last three years and will be hoping the likes of Adam Cerra, Jack Silvagni, Tom De Koning, Adam Saad and Sam Walsh can have clean summers, allowing them to hit 2025 at full speed.

Another in that boat is Jesse Motlop, who many behind the scenes at Carlton believed would break out in 2024, before early-season injuries derailed his campaign.

The Blues moved on from Jack Martin, Matt Owies and David Cuningham at the end of the 2024 season, clearly showing their faith in Motlop to take the reins and kick 30+ goals next year.

That all starts with a big pre-season and a clean bill of health for the 20-year-old small forward, however.

Nic Negrepontis

Ed Allan

This isn’t a player that Collingwood necessarily need to take them to the next level, but Ed Allan could have a serious impact in a potentially premiership-contending side if he’s to go to the next level in 2025.

The 20-year-old former first-round pick has played just two career games, with both of them coming in 2024, but the signs are there that he could be a serious player.

Standing at 194cm with some seriously impressive athletic traits, Allan was always going to be able to compete and thrive from a physical standpoint, as long as his footy came along with it.

That began to happen late last season after a move into the midfield and in his first game on the inside against the Demons in Round 24, Allan picked up a coaches vote after collecting 21 disposals, six tackles, three clearances and a goal.

If he has a big off-season, he could become a real big-bodied midfield option for the Pies to use both inside and outside of the contest, a team that’s in need of some more genuine mids.

Lachlan Geleit

Elijah Tsatas

The 5th pick from the 2022 National Draft, Tsatas has struggled to find his footing in the red and black, with knocks on his kicking efficiency keeping him from breaking in at an AFL level.

In the thick of a competitive midfield list with superb kicking efficiency - Zach Merrett, Jye Caldwell and Sam Durham to name a few – the young recruit has played only seven games this year.

Having freshly penned a two-year contract extension until 2026, there’s no doubt they will give him every chance.

He excited Bombers fans after averaging 33 disposals from Round 10 onwards at state level, with multiple 40-possession games during his VFL campaign, but he is yet to make an impact at a senior level.

For the 20-year-old Oakleigh Chargers recruit, a focused and full preseason is vital to ensure his kicking efficiency is up to speed.

It feels as though if his preseason falls short, he could struggle to work his way up the midfield pecking order in 2025.

Isabella Bianchi

Neil Erasmus

The 10th pick from the 2021 National Draft, Erasmus has struggled to break into a stacked Fremantle midfield, somewhat due to overlapping skillsets with the likes of Caleb Serong and Andrew Brayshaw.

He only played the four games in 2024, all of which were either as the substitute or subbed out of the game, something that would leave Freo fans divided as to whether he is going to make it at the top level.

There’s no doubting his talents however, even if he has struggled to fully translate them to AFL level.

He was the best player on the ground in the WAFL Grand Final and will hopefully take that confidence into a summer where he needs to have a chip on his shoulder and push into the club’s best 22.

Out of contract at the end of 2025, it really does feel like a make or break year at the Dockers for Erasmus.

Nic Negrepontis

Bailey Smith

What version of Bailey Smith will we see now that he has finally made his way down the highway?

Fans haven’t witnessed the 23-year-old step on the field since an ACL tear capped off what was a rough 2023 for Smith, unable to find consistent form as Luke Beveridge continuously moved the magnets around.

Now with a completely fresh start at the Cattery, the Geelong faithful will be hoping for the Bailey Smith that we saw in his standout 2022 campaign, in which he averaged a monstrous 29.1 touches and 6.2 inside 50s per game.

Considering he is returning from an ACL and settling into a new environment, returning to that form is no easy feat, but with the sheer amount of potential Smith has, there is arguably no player in the AFL who needs a bigger pre-season.

Jack Makeham

Daniel Rioli

Gold Coast gave up a lot to get their man in the trade period, parting with picks 6 and 23 in the draft for Rioli and some later selections from Richmond.

It’s a big show of faith in the triple-premiership Tiger, but Rioli showed he’s one of the best half-backs in the competition in 2024 winning the Jack Dyer Medal for club best and fairest - albeit in an 18th-placed team.

Playing in a team that’ll now be pushing for their first finals berth, a lot of pressure will be on Rioli’s shoulders to help launch this Suns side in September and many think he can do that given one of Gold Coast’s deficiencies was their apparent lack of run, carry and ball use out of defence.

There’s no doubt he can be that man for the Suns, but he’d want to hit the ground running in new colours.

Lachlan Geleit

Leek Aleer and Jake Stringer

It feels like 2025 could be the season that the freakishly athletic Leek Aleer explodes.

The 23-year-old played eight games in 2024 and showed some of his enormous potential, particularly in a match-winning defensive display against Geelong in Round 11.

Aleer has been stuck behind Sam Taylor and Jack Buckley in the key defence pecking order, but he needs to find a way to force himself into the Giants’ backline. Otherwise his head could be turned...

A massive pre-season is crucial for Aleer who possesses the natural attributes required to be a very good AFL defender. Now he needs the fitness and strength to go with it.

You could also thrown in trade period recruit Jake Stringer.

He was constantly critiqued for the shape in which he turned up to pre-season during his time at Essendon. Perhaps he’ll be keen to make a strong impression on his new teammates.

If Stringer can kick 40-plus goals in 2025, then the Giants might become serious, serious contenders.

Andrew Slevison

Josh Ward

Hawthorn fans would have been incredibly excited about Josh Ward’s performance in the club’s Elimination Final win over Port Adelaide, where he arguably played the best game of his career.

The young midfielder found 22 disposals and laid nine tackles in the contest, clearly his best effort of 2024.

However, the question remains for Ward – how does he fit into the Hawks’ midfield puzzle? The seventh pick in the 2021 National Draft has played double digit games in all three seasons at the club, but is yet to break into their starting on-ball rotation.

He needs a big summer to put himself in the best position to break in, but the coaches also need a plan and a role for him, given the hefty draft price they paid for him. Out of contract at the end of 2025, it’s a big year for the 21-year-old.

Nic Negrepontis

Clayton Oliver

The eyes of the footy world will be on Clayton Oliver as we exit another trade period filled with speculation and rumours.

The four-time Keith ‘Bluey’ Truscott Medallist was a shell of himself in 2024, with stats across the board well below average, highlighting what has been a tumultuous 12 months for him and the Melbourne Football Club.

Amid speculation for the second straight season that the Demons were considering trading away the three time All-Australian, Oliver will be entering the most important summer of his career to date as he tries to get back to his best.

Getting Oliver through a strong pre-season would go a long way towards getting the entire club back on track.

Zac Sharpe

George Wardlaw

If North Melbourne fans could pick any player on their list to have the proverbial ‘tearing up the training track’ summer, it would probably be George Wardlaw who feels destined to be one of the breakout players of 2025.

The midfielder was taken alongside Harry Sheezel at the top of the 2022 National Draft and while Sheezel has blossomed into a superstar, Wardlaw hasn't yet had a clean run at it.

After an injury-plagued first season, Wardlaw played 18 games in 2024 and showed at stages the midfielder he will likely become at his peak.

The Kangaroos are building an impressive young midfield on paper and Wardlaw looms as the powerful clearance winner who can feed it out to the likes of Harry Sheezel and Colby McKercher. He just needs a big summer in the gym and on the track to help him make that leap.

The sky remains the limit for Wardlaw.

Nic Negrepontis

Ollie Lord

A bit of a left-field candidate, but Port Adelaide are going to need a contributing Ollie Lord in 2025 if they’re to remain a top-four side.

The 22-year-old played just six games in 2024 as he battled an early-season knee injury, but we saw what he could do in the back end of 2023 with a four-goal haul in the Qualifying Final loss to Brisbane.

With a clean run at it in 2025, a key forward role - particularly after the retirement of Charlie Dixon - is Lord’s if he can grab it.

There are also some genuine questions surrounding the long-term health of fellow key forward Todd Marshall who has had five concussions in three years.

A lot could rest on Lord’s shoulders in 2025 as a result, and the club will need him to deliver if they want to keep contending.

Lachlan Geleit

Jacob Hopper

Much has been written and said about Richmond’s decision to recruit Jacob Hopper and his midfield mate Tim Taranto from GWS two years ago.

It hasn’t quite gone to plan as the pair cost plenty of draft capital and a fair bit in salary, and since their arrival the Tigers have not contended while Damien Hardwick, who seemingly wanted them recruited, is long gone.

Taranto has already delivered given he won the 2023 best and fairest and is generally the club’s hardest working and most prolific midfielder.

But so far Hopper has struggled to find his best in yellow and black, mainly because he’s been restricted to 28 games by various injuries.

The opportunity is there for the 27-year-old to take charge of this Richmond midfield group alongside Taranto and help drive the club forward as it rebuilds.

Hopper has played some good games for the Tigers but he needs to get his body right, find consistency and rediscover the form that saw him included in the 40-man All-Australian squad in 2021.

Andrew Slevison

Mitchito Owens

The 33rd pick in the 2021 National Draft only seven games in his debut season before breaking out as one of the most exciting talents in the comp in 2023. 

The powerful athlete kicked 26 goals in his second season and impressed the league with his contested work, marking, and composure. In 2023, Owens also placed 3rd in the Rising Star Award behind the elite company of Will Ashcroft and Harry Sheezel.

The 21-year-old’s form dipped in 2024 as he kicked six fewer goals, laid 17 less tackles, averaged fewer marks and disposals, and struggled to show up in his side’s losing games, falling well behind Ashcroft and Sheezel.

Coming into his 4th season, there will be more expectation placed on Owens next year, especially after an overall down season.

With Tim Membrey and Jack Hayes out the side officially, Owens will need to have a big summer in order to play a significant role in 2025.

Noah Desta

Callum Mills

It might be the obvious pick, but captain Callum Mills needs a big off-season. Mills missed the majority of the 2024 season after suffering a freak shoulder injury during Sydney’s end of season celebrations at the end of 2023.

Whilst his rehab went perfectly, Mills found himself on the outer given how well the Swans were performing during the home and away season. The 27-year-old had a poor Qualifying final against the GWS Giants before he suffered a hamstring injury during the Swans’ bye in week two of the finals. As a result, the skipper was unable to prove his fitness for the Grand Final in which the Swans once again failed to show up on the biggest stage.

It will be a season of redemption for Mills in 2025 and the past 12 months will be all the motivation he needs to get back to his best.

Charles Goodsir

Oscar Allen

If there’s a time West Coast needs its skipper, it’s now.

Fans witnessed Allen's stellar 2023 campaign, recording a career-high 53 goals, yet saw him play only 11 games in 2024 due to cartilage damage and bone bruising in his knee.

During a turbulent period for the Eagles, who parted ways with senior coach Adam Simpson midseason, Allen’s on-field leadership is vital for his club’s stability and future endeavours.

With West Coast heading into its first full season with new coach Andrew McQualter, Allen must keep his body in check as an integral part of his clubs drive for success in the next few years.

Set to play his 100th game next season after seven years in the West, a full preseason is vital for the key forward who must find some consistency.

If he's able to do so, a raring-to-go Oscar Allen looming next to All-Australian forward Jake Waterman could perk up the Eagles faithful in 2025.

Isabella Bianchi

Nick Coffield and Jedd Busslinger

A pair of first round picks at different stages of their career, both Nick Coffield and Jedd Busslinger find themselves in need of a big off-season if they’re to break into the Bulldogs’ backline.

Coffield played just eight games in his injury-riddled first season at Whitten Oval, having carried over the same poor injury luck from his days at St Kilda.

Should the 25-year-old be able to get his body right over the off-season, Coffield could play an important role in a Dogs defence that was resurgent with Rory Lobb as the spearhead towards the end of 2024.

Yet equally viable for slot down back could be the young Jedd Busslinger, the Bulldogs’ first round pick in 2022.

The 20-year-old is yet to make his senior debut, having been unable to place himself among Luke Beveridge’s magnets despite consistently strong VFL performances.

The Bulldogs clearly believe in Busslinger, handing him a two-year contract extension in July, and there would be no better way to justify that deal than by putting together a strong off-season and priming himself for a breakout 2025.

Jack Makeham