With pre-season chatter comes selection watch, with AFL fans keen to see who could be locking down starting spots at their best clubs for the season ahead.
Discussions over potential debutants play their part in the intrigue, with each hoping to uncover an uncapped player who can have an impact in 2025.
A total of 76 players made their AFL debuts in 2024, and with the number of options yet to get a look at the top level ahead of the coming campaign, that figure could be beaten in 2025.
Here we list every player yet to make their AFL debut and name the players most likely to play their maiden match this year.
Geelong
Rookies:ย Cillian Burke, Joe Pike, Keighton Matofai-Forbes, Patrick Retschko, Xavier Ivisic, Lennox Hofmann, Jacob Molier, Jay Polkinghorne
Still waiting: Oliver Wiltshire, George Stevens, Mitchell Edwards
Most likely to debut in 2025:ย 2023 draftee George Stevens was one of the more ready-made prospects from his draft class but spent his rookie season in the VFL as the Cats' senior side remains tough to break into. He could get a look at senior footy in his second season as a defender-midfielder hybrid. Pick 66 selection Lennox Hofmannย might be the leading debut chance among the Cats' eight fresh faces, with the Sandringham Dragons graduate a promising medium-sized defender.
