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
Geelong
Players: Tanner Bruhn (23), Shannon Neale (22), Oliver Henry (22), Max Holmes (22), Oliver Wiltshire (22), Mitch Knevitt (22), Toby Conway (21), Lawson Humphries (21), Oliver Dempsey (21), Ted Clohesy (20), Jhye Clark (20), George Stevens (20), Joe Pike (19), Connor O'Sullivan (19), Mitchell Edwards (19), Keighton Matofai-Forbes (19), Patrick Retschko (19), Xavier Ivisic (18), Jay Polkinghorne (18), Lennox Hofmann (18), Jacob Molier (18), Cillian Burke (18)
Geelong historically haven't been known for their youth, with their uncanny ability to attract established stars to the club preventing them from having to rely on their younger cohort.
However, 2025 has a different feel for the Cats.
Despite holding a plethora of mature-aged talents, Chris Scott has given a glimpse into what the future might hold for the perenially contending club.
Shannon Neale and Oliver Henry look ripe to take over the forward line while Max Holmes and Tanner Bruhn will be given more responsibility through the midfield.
Oliver Dempsey is a Rising Star Award recipient and is bound to improve on his impressive 2024 campaign as is depth-turned-star defender Lawson Humphries.
Mitch Knevitt and Jhye Clark have put up big numbers in the VFL and continue to consistently bang on the door of selection while project talls Toby Conway and Connor O'Sullivan have been seen in the senior side.
