AFL action officially returns this weekend, with fans keen to see some fresh faces press their case for senior spots by summer's end.
Opening Round and Round 1 are set to see debuts made across the competition, with 15 players featuring in their maiden matches across the opening two weeks of the 2024 season.
Several clubs have already been impressed by draftees or second-year assets, with some debut hopefuls beginning to stand out amongst the rest of the pack.
Here we name six of the best debut chances for the early stages of the 2025 season.
4. Sid Draper
Adelaide's draft star has already proven to have the ability to find the ball and leave his mark against senior opposition, having averaged 22.2 disposals, 3.7 inside 50s, 4.7 clearances, 4.5 score involvements and 6.2 tackles for South Adelaide in the SANFL last year.
Despite some injury setbacks, the local talent has continued to impress at West Lakes to position himself as a Round 1 chance.
"He's (Draper) a good chance (to play Round 1)," teammate Taylor Walker said on Triple M in January.
"He does some really, really amazing things on the field."
The Crows have games against Port Adelaide and Brisbane over the coming weeks, which will act as a window for Draper to secure his spot at selection for the club's first home and away game against the Saints.
Draper - along with Smith - is one of many midfielders who could break through for early debuts, with Brisbane's Levi Ashcroft, draft dux Sam Lalor, Roo Finn O'Sullivan and Demons duo Harvey Langford and Xavier Lindsay also worthy mentions.
