Less than a month away from the opening game of the 2024 AFL season, clubs are beginning to get a strong idea of how they'll line-up to start the new premiership race.
With the early stages of the season comes plenty of debuts, with top draftees, second-year talents and long-serving sidemen eager to get their first taste of AFL action.
Every club is likely to blood new names this year, with some expected and others to come from the clouds for what will be a memorable occasion in their careers.
We've looked at the first-year rookies and those still waiting for a debut at each club to identify which players have the best chance of playing their maiden AFL match in 2024.
Melbourne
Rookies: Caleb Windsor, Koltyn Tholstrup, Kynan Brown
Still waiting: Andy Moniz-Wakefield, Kyah Farris-White, Oliver Sestan, Will Verrall, Jed Adams, Blake Howes, Matthew Jefferson
Most likely to debut in 2024: Outside midfielder Caleb Windsor could benefit from Lachie Hunter's likely Opening Round absence and earn a debut in the season opener against the Swans, with the speedy wingman gaining plenty of plaudits from his new teammates so far this summer. Fellow first-round pick Koltyn Tholstrup looked comfortable at the senior WAFL level last year for Subiaco and could be another to slot into a starting role given Melbourne's forward-half injury woes. Uncapped forward Matthew Jefferson is in a similar position and could look to follow in the footsteps of Jacob van Rooyen after spending his first season in the VFL.
