From sons of guns to million-dollar future stars: Your club’s must-watch players in 2026

Carlton

Ben Ainsworth

The former Sun turned heads at training over summer and carried this form into his first match for his new club, booting four goals playing as a running half-forward connector – a role the Blues have struggled to fill under Michael Voss. That he was prepared to also be an option out of defence made him hard to stop. As colleague Andrew Wu wrote, Blues fans will warm quickly to the 28-year-old if he can maintain this form.

Collingwood

Oscar Steene

With best-and-fairest Darcy Cameron rested, Oscar Steene was given a chance to impress against the Giants in Bundoora on Friday. Now under the tutelage of new ruck coach Greg Stafford, Steene showed significant development, giving the Magpies the opportunity to play two rucks under the new interchange rule. Speaking after the game, Collingwood assistant Matthew Boyd said, “Steeney has shown a different side of his game in the last couple of weeks that we have really enjoyed. His centre-bounce work with the new ruck rule could be a real strength of ours because he has a great vertical leap.” We also liked what we saw of mature-age SANFL draftee Angus Anderson, who thrived in the contest, and gave Giants ruckman Kieren Briggs a suplex tackle he won’t forget.

Essendon

Darcy Parish

After a year ruined by injury, Darcy Parish was back to his best against Richmond on Friday. The silky midfielder – an All-Australian in 2021 – found plenty of the ball and booted two goals, a major boost for the Bombers in a year when many commentators believe they will not make the finals. Parish played 12 senior games in 2024, and just three last year. Here’s hoping he can have a good run at it.

Fremantle

Murphy Reid

Rising star winner Murphy Reid shone in the forward line last season but Dockers coach Justin Longmuir has added him to the players he will rotate through midfield and high half-forward roles in 2026. A fit-again Hayden Young also looked good as a high forward, while Reid again impressed against West Coast on Saturday. “We would like to get Murph a few more minutes in the midfield,” Longmuir said. “I feel like we are starting to get some flexibility through the middle of the ground and high forward. Murph has some things he has to work on, especially with the defensive side, but he’s probably our best ball user forward of centre, and he sees the game very well. Our forwards lick their lips when leading at him.”

Geelong

Jay Polkinghorne

Uncapped Cat Jay Polkinghorne booted three goals against Hawthorn, his sticky hands a highlight. He has impressed club officials over summer and made claims to be a third tall inside attacking 50 alongside Jeremy Cameron and Shannon Neale, should the Cats go that way. James Worpel was also well at home in his new Cats guernsey. Worpel is a former Hawks best-and-fairest winner and played 148 games in the brown and gold. Judging by his form on Monday, he will fit seamlessly into the Cats’ midfield.

Gold Coast

Christian Petracca

It was an intriguing week for two former Demons. After a tumultuous couple of years, Christian Petracca was seamless in his transition with a new team. He broke from the middle a couple of times and delivered long to leading forwards. He set up one goal in the first term, centring a ball rather than taking a snap. His experience and explosiveness will aid an already strong midfield, and perhaps push the Suns firmly into premiership contention.

GWS

Clayton Oliver

All eyes were on Clayton Oliver after his controversial exit from a club he was a premiership player and four-time best and fairest with. And the star midfielder didn’t disappoint in his first hitout in orange. He was immediately in the thick of the centre ball-up action, using his slick hands to extract the ball, and covered the entire ground well. Oliver’s presence has taken on even greater magnitude now that Tom Green is out for the season. In commentary for Kayo on Friday, Brownlow medallist Tom Mitchell – the former Swans, Hawks and Magpies star – praised Oliver’s “first touch” work and clearance skills. Giants assistant coach Wayne Cripps was full of praise for Oliver. “He is only going to get better and better. Since he has been at the club he has been a fantastic leader, [and] he is so competitive. He has been awesome for our young players, teaching them craft and just pushing them.”

Hawthorn

Josh Weddle

In a week when he signed a multi-million dollar contract, Josh Weddle impressed against the Cats. He spent most of his time in defence but is likely to spend more time on a wing in the season proper. Put simply, he is ready to become one of the bona fide stars of the league. Keep an eye on Nick Watson, too. Expect the creative livewire to be given more midfield time this year, adding to the Hawks’ on-ball depth.

Melbourne

Latrelle Pickett

Any Demons fan at Casey Fields would have walked away excited about the latest flyer to wear the club’s celebrated No.33 jumper. Pickett, who clearly loves playing alongside cousin Kysaiah, burst through the lines; at times even riding his luck with how many steps he squeezed in between bounces. Best of all, Pickett made great, selfless decisions in and around the forward 50. Dees assistant coach Troy Chaplin could have hosed down questions about Pickett making an early season debut, but he didn’t. “Latrelle has looked as good as that [at training]. We’ve known what he could be capable of,” Chaplin said. “He’s had to work hard for it – [he] went and played at Glenelg reserves, played a senior game of footy, [and] we’ve got really high hopes of what he can produce. When you talk to him, he wants to be Latrelle Pickett – he doesn’t want to live in Kozzie’s shadow.”

North Melbourne

Cooper Harvey

Son of one of the all-time great Shinboners, Brent, Cooper Harvey worked tirelessly as a running defender against a rampant Melbourne, and he did well for a player only recently introduced to the role. North put on an “unflattering” performance against the Dees and alarm bells should be ringing about the prospect of yet another barren season unless things turn around drastically. Defence is arguably North’s biggest worry, and they admit they are looking at different options to fill those roles. Roos assistant Michael Barlow said the team was looking for answers. “[Defensive coach] Jed Adcock is scrambling for some rebound defenders,” Barlow said. “We had two SSPs [trial players] in our back half today. Cooper Harvey and Robbie Hansen jnr have only, in the last couple of weeks, been put behind the ball as half-back options as we search from within. I won’t use the word concerned, but it is clearly an area we are looking at in terms of some players we are trialling at the moment.”

Port Adelaide

Jack Whitlock

Jack Whitlock is an impressive athlete who looks like he needs a role to sink his teeth into. He put on a spirited showing as a forward for the Power in their loss to Adelaide on Friday. Whitlock showed clean hands and threaded a lovely goal from the boundary, but just where he fits will play out in the community series. If Mitch Georgiades plays higher up the ground, that could open a spot for the Shepparton native who played four games in 2025. “Whitlock certainly stepped up after half-time, and it helps when you get a little bit better in the contest, and you get cleaner ball going into the front half,” assistant coach Luke Webster said. “I think he’s definitely stepped up in that space, which is great to see.”

Richmond

Sam Lalor and Sam Grlj

Sam Lalor has everyone excited at Punt Road, and it’s little wonder. The No.1 pick of the 2024 national draft was superb early against the Bombers. He took a huge mark up forward, and he was always dangerous when near the ball. The man dubbed “Dusty 2.0” appears set for a strong campaign. A shoutout should go to Sam Grlj as well, given his excellent run and creativity from defence.

St Kilda

Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera

This choice will hardly surprise anyone, but if the Saints go well this year, expect the brilliant Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera to be firmly in Brownlow yet again contention. His dash and creativity were on full display against the Suns, a standout moment coming when he streamed past a teammate, accepted a handball and speared a ball on to the chest of a leading forward. Tom De Koning, in the first season of a multi-year, $12 million contract, also played well, particularly in the first term. The new ruck rules should aid the athletic leaper.

Sydney

Charlie Curnow and Isaac Heeney

All eyes were on former Blue Charlie Curnow as he played his first match in new colours, against the Western Bulldogs on Thursday. The key forward pushed up high to win the ball and was a prominent target inside 50. He moved well to kick four goals, and shapes as the missing piece that will have the Swans in top-four contention. Isaac Heeney played as a deep forward in the second half and showed why he is one of the game’s superstars with his bodywork in aerial contests unstoppable. It’s little wonder he is the face of the Swans.

West Coast

Willem Duursma

West Coast have plenty to work on but No.1 pick Willem Duursma made an impact right from the start, booting the first goal from the 50m arc despite the Eagles and Dockers being confronted by a difficult cross breeze on Saturday. Duursma arrives in the AFL having watched his siblings face their own first-year challenges, but he looks like he is ready to offer the Eagles something from the jump as he was clean around the footy and unhurried in his possessions. The challenge for the Eagles may well be to continue to find him in positions where he can make an impact. Another former No.1 pick, Harley Reid, also kicked a nice goal from open play.

Western Bulldogs

Arthur Jones

Arthur Jones has shown glimpses of his talent but has not cemented a spot inside 50 for the Bulldogs. He kicked three goals against the Swans, but it was his willingness to get involved and follow up with second efforts which impressed. And keep an eye on Jordan Croft, who stepped up as the key forward. His attack on the ball is fearless, highlighting his desire to make a splash complete with a new three-year contract.

Keep up to date with the best AFL coverage in the country. Sign up for the Real Footy newsletter