The AFL competition is hard enough to make as it is, but when entering the league as a pimple-faced, recently graduated high school student, the mountain just got much bigger to climb.
Each and every year, clubs welcome a host of future stars via the draft, as the race to fill a need or target a specific player heats up.
Other youngsters may bide their time in the various reserve competitions around the nation before they are given an opportunity at the big time.
But a lot of what makes an AFL club succeed isn't what those in the twilight or prime of their careers do, but what those just starting their journey contribute.
Brisbane's 2024 premiership team saw the emergence of Will Ashcroft, Kai Lohmann, Logan Morris, Jaspa Fletcher and Darcy Wilmot, players who are still putting red P-plates on cars.
But with a new year comes a new season, and a new crop of youngsters to assess.
We take a closer look at your team's youth, considering what they've achieved but also their potential...
*We are including players who are 23 as of January 1st, 2025
Melbourne
Players:ย Kysaiah Pickett (23), Trent Rivers (23), Daniel Turner (23), Bailey Laurie (23), Jake Bowey (22), Harry Sharp (22), Taj Woewodin (22), Blake Howes (22), Jacob Van Rooyen (22), Judd McVee (21), Andy Moniz-Wakefield (21), Matthew Jefferson (21), Will Verrall (21), Oliver Sestan (21), Jed Adams (20), Kynan Brown (20), Caleb Windsor (19), Koltyn Tholstrup (19), Luker Kentfield (19), Harvey Langford (19), Xavier Lindsay (18), Ricky Mentha (18)
Melbourne's attempt to avoid the 2010s fiasco of sinking and remaining at the bottom of the competition's floor has been successful.
The Demons have begun to find ways of bringing young stars in whilst being a competitive side.
Kysaiah Pickett is a star small forward but is being watched closely by rival clubs while the likes of Trent Rivers, Judd McVee, Jacob van Rooyen and Caleb Windsor instantly make Simon Goodwin's team better.
The two recent draftings of Harvey Langford and Xavier Lindsay were good business by Melbourne, with the former eyeing an early season debut.
Matthew Jefferson is chomping at the bit for an opportunity in the forward line while Koltyn Tholstrup is looking more and more comfortable at the level.
