AS A NEW season unfolds there are questions hanging over each and every club: will the off-season trades prove to be smart deals, can a star player improve, will a change in coach bring a better result?

Even the expectation put around a group from past performances - bad or good - can become the crucial factor as they try to lift for another campaign.

We look at what is being asked of your club as 2026 moves into top gear, and whether it can come up with the goods.

Are they in a rebuild?

The Crows have been perennial contenders since the competition’s inception, but with huge changes in the off-season, including a new coach, the retirement of the team’s spiritual leader and the loss of a three-time best and fairest, is Adelaide still a contender or is it in a rebuild? The Crows lost a huge amount of experience - Chelsea Randall (80 games), Anne Hatchard (102), Stevie-Lee Thompson (97) and a couple of young up-and-coming stars in Brooke Boileau (trade, Carlton) and Zoe Prowse (trade, Essendon). Will Adelaide continue to challenge, or will this season be an opportunity to re-set and build under new coach Ryan Davis?

Are they still the second best team?

North Melbourne sits head and shoulders above the competition having won 28 matches straight, but the race for second is closer. Melbourne, Carlton, Hawthorn and Port Adelaide are coming for Brisbane which has made the past four Grand Finals. The Blues and Hawks defeated the Lions last season and since then Brisbane has lost spearhead forward Taylor Smith, Ellie Hampson and Poppy Boltz. They recruited well with Lily-Rose Williamson and Marlo Graham coming in and impacting in round one, but will the Lions make the Grand Final for the fifth season in a row?

Can they repeat last year’s surprise finals performance?

The Blues were excellent last season, surpassing everyone’s expectations to make finals and ultimately finish fifth, jumping up from 14th position in 2024. Players such as Keeley Sherar, Dayna Finn and Erone Fitzpatrick all took huge steps forward and Carlton nailed the draft with Poppy Scholz and Sophie McKay. They went hard in the trade period, attaining Lauren Bella, Claudia Whitfort and Brooke Boileau. Can the Blues make finals again and if they do, can they go a step further?

Did they nail the draft?

A lot has been spoken about Gold Coast’s draft haul in 2025, but let’s not forget that the Magpies went really hard at last year’s draft selecting six new players. Five of the six - Imogen Trengove, Amy Smith, Mischa Barwin, Josie Bamford and Zara Neuwirth - made their debuts in round one, highlighting Collingwood’s plan to play their young stars. It will be exciting to see which of these become regulars in the side and which will be on the fringe as they find their feet at the highest level.

Can Bonnie Toogood remain injury free?

The Bombers with Bonnie Toogood are a much better side than one without her and in the last couple of seasons, the key forward has unfortunately had her fair share of injuries. Not only is she her side’s leader, she is also the focal point in their forward line, with her strong marking and accuracy in front of goal up there with the competition’s best. Let’s hope Toogood has a good run with injury this season so we get to see the Bombers reach their potential.

How will the Dockers use Eden Zanker?

Zanker arrives at Fremantle after nine seasons at Melbourne where she has played as a midfielder, high-forward and deep-forward. Zanker’s running capacity gives her flexibility to play in a variety of positions. Fremantle will need to work out what role will best suit the former-Demon in their game plan. In round one Zanker played as a key forward but didn’t get many looks finishing the match with four disposals. The 26-year-old had an injury-interrupted preseason, but when she’s back to full fitness will the Dockers play her higher up the ground?

Can Mick Stinear return the Cats to finals?

One of the biggest off-season recruits was the appointment of former Melbourne coach Mick Stinear to Geelong. The premiership winning coach will be looking to return the Cats to finals following their disappointing 2025 campaign where they finished 13th on the ladder. The Cats are stacked with talent with former No.1 draft pick Nina Morrison, last year’s runner-up in the league best and fairest Georgie Prespakis and 2024 leading goal kicker Aishling Moloney. Can Mick steer the Cats back to finals action?

Will it take long for the Suns youngsters to come of age?

In round one the Gold Coast had an abundance of debutants. Ten Suns made their debuts against the Western Bulldogs showing how stacked the club is with talent. These players have played representative football together at the Suns Academy and with Queensland at the U18 National Championships and already know how each other play. How long will it take them to settle into the big league and start to assert their dominance like they did in their junior years?

Can they build some consistency?

Last year the Giants won two games in a row for the first time since 2021. GWS has struggled with consistency, winning just five games in the last three seasons. Watching the Giants in round one against West Coast, the Giants looked to have made some improvements in the off season and they look like a much stronger side with Alyce Parker in it. With Cambridge McCormick finding excellent form, Tarni Evans providing a spark up forward and Tilly Lucas Rodd bringing their experience, the Giants are looking like a more balanced side, which hopefully equates to more wins on the board.

Can the Hawks win a final?

The Hawks finished in the top four the past two seasons, but on both occasions bombed out of finals in straight sets. Hawthorn needs to find a way to bring its home and away season form to the big stage when it matters. The recruitment of Jac Dupuy and Poppy Stockwell will provide the Hawks with more firepower up forward to help with scoring. Could this be the season they break their finals drought?

Will they be as good under a new coach?

The Dees have had some big changes in the off-season, none bigger than losing head coach Mick Stinear to Geelong. Stinear had been at the club since day dot, and a number of players and staff haven’t experienced AFLW without his presence. With Stinear gone, it’s a new program, game plan, new voices and environment. Though Stinear has gone, a lot of the Dees’ key players remain. Will Melbourne perform as well as they have in the past under untried coach Tom Wilson?

Will they go back-to-back-to-back?

Avoiding conversations about going back-to-back worked for the Roos last season. By not talking about it, the players allowed themselves to remain present and eventually their plan came true. They are applying the same theory this year, avoiding talking about a potential three-peat. If round one against the Cats is anything to go by, the Roos look like they haven’t missed a step. Will they make it three in a row?

Will their young stars go to the next level?

Is there a more exciting young group of players in the competition than the Power? Matilda Scholz, Abbey Dowrick, Indy Tauhu, Amelie Borg, Teagan Germech and Lauren Young. These young stars cross all lines - forward, mid and back. The Power would have been disappointed to miss out on finals last season, but in impressive fashion, the young group played the season out to the end winning four of their final five matches. The challenge for them will be to stay at that level all season to ensure finals are well and truly on the cards.

Will the No. 1 pick turn the Tigers’ fortunes around?

The Tigers took Western Australian key forward Olivia Wolmarans with the first pick in last year’s draft. Wolmarans is everything you want in a key forward - tall, strong, and an exceptional mark and kick. The super talented 18-year-old will join fellow key Caitlin Greiser in the Tigers’ forward line. Can these two work together as key pillars up forward to help the Tiges move up the ladder?

Do the Saints have anyone to help Tyanna Smith?

Wow, just wow. Tyanna Smith was outstanding in the Saints' round one match against Carlton. The speedy midfielder carried her team on her back in the third term against the Blues in the season opener kicking two goals from the middle to get the Saints back in the game. The question is, if Smith has an off day, who will be the next to step up?

Will Taylor Smith have the same impact at Sydney as she did Brisbane?

The Swans lured former Brisbane key forward Taylor Smith down south to add more firepower to the forward line. Smith is a proven goal kicker, snagging 22 goals in 2024 and 18 goals in 2025. In round one, Smith applied her smarts in the Swans first ever win against Adelaide kicking three goals. Will the 2024 All-Australian continue in this fashion in the Swans’ system to be one of the recruits of the year?

Will the Eagles continue to improve under Daisy?

Since appointing AFL Hall of Famer Daisy Pearce as the club’s head coach, the Eagles have finished 13th to eighth in two seasons. The question is, can this improvement continue in Pearce’s third season? The Eagles' young guns who seem to be all in on Daisy’s vision. Lucia Painter just signed a massive deal that ties her at the club until 2031, Abbygail Bushby and Lauren and Zoe Wakfer also signed long-term deals, and of course there’s superstar Ella Roberts, and young leaders Bella Lewis and Charlie Thomas. Can this group continue their current trajectory up the ladder? 

Which of their good players will turn into stars?

The Bulldogs have an even spread of talent across the ground. Their young players continue to improve with more games under their belts and their older more experienced players are more than serviceable. But who on their team is going to elevate themselves to be a genuine star of the competition? Isabelle Pritchard is well and truly on her way, the co-captain often tearing sides apart with her left boot. Ellie Blackburn is a game changer, and can provide impact in the middle and up forward. Who are the next in line at the Dogs to join these two?