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

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Collingwood

Players: Charlie Dean (23), Wil Parker (22), Finlay Macrae (22), Reef McInnes (22), Nick Daicos (22), Ned Long (22), Oscar Steene (21), Harvey Harrison (21), Edward Allan (20), Jakob Ryan (20), Tew Jiath (20), Iliro Smit (19), Harry DeMattia (19), Charlie West (19), Joel Cochran (19), Will Hayes (18)

Aside from Collingwood's wunderkind Nick Daicos, there isn't much for Pies fans to get excited about in the future.

Reef McInnes and Finlay Macrae have had ample time to establish themselves as regulars in Craig McRae's side but have faltered more often than not.

Charlie Dean's persistent battles with injury and form have curtailed his AFL career to date while Ned Long played a role in the back half of 2024 due to the absence of some familiar faces.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 17: Edward Allan of the Magpies in action during the Collingwood Magpies Intra-Club match at Olympic Park Oval on February 17, 2023 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

But if there's something to glean from Collingwood's under-23 list is the appearance of Harvey Harrison and Ed Allan, who both proved to be very capable at the top level.

As for the influx of recent draftees, the Pies took a key defender, a key forward and a smart-running wingman.

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