For fans of struggling sides, the AFL Draft is as close to Christmas as possible.
Fresh faces act as shiny, new toys, with goodwill and cheer also available in abundance.
While every club has hit the track for their pre-Christmas training period and each of the new boys have filled their lockers with brand new gear, sights have turned to which of this year's draft class has the ability to make an early impact in 2022.
Although plenty of players plucked will need big summers in the gym, there are a handful of precocious talents that already have expectations on their shoulders.
Here are the names that look the most likely to hit the ground running in their debut years.
Dean, a slightly more mature-aged prospect who played for Williamstown in the VFL, was taken with Pick 2 in the Rookie Draft by the Magpies and has a good chance at featuring for the black-and-white early in 2022.
A key position defender, Dean could help Collingwood right away in case one of Darcy Moore or Jordan Roughead goes down with injury or any declines in form.
Nick Daicos, Collingwood's prized father-son choice, will undoubtedly get his chance but it may not be as early as people expect, and if Dean's services are required he may well be the first cab off the rank.
