Which new players will step into your club’s lineup for Round 1 of the 2023 season?
Whether it be a recruit, a top draftee or a rookie, these are the players who could run out in new colours next weekend.
See your club below:
Izak Rankine is the standout name among the new faces who will play for Adelaide in 2023. The former Sun has turned heads across the pre-season and excelled in the Crows’ two match-simulations wins.
He’ll line up in Matthew Nicks’ forward line but has also been earmarked for midfield minutes as the Crows look to improve the dynamics of their on-ball unit.
None of this year’s draftees are certainties to feature in Round 1 against GWS, but Max Michalanney is the most likely. He’s won the respect of teammate Rory Laird and at 191cms, had the ability to play both tall and small.
The rest of Adelaide’s improvement is set to come internally in 2023.
Seb Mottram
Brisbane are set to be buoyed by several Round 1 additions after making a Preliminary Final in 2022.
Experienced duo Josh Dunkley and Jack Gunston were always going to play senior football if fit given their backgrounds, and after strong pre-seasons they look to be quality additions to Chris Fagan’s side.
Alongside Dunkley in the midfield, boom draftee Will Ashcroft appears a walk-up starter after impressing in his first AFL summer.
The No. 2 pick in the 2022 National Draft is the hot favourite for the Rising Star and looks set to make an immediate impact at the senior level.
Pre-Season Supplemental additions Conor McKenna and Darragh Joyce are also in the mix and could play early if not in Round 1.
Lachlan Geleit
Blake Acres is a lock to make his Carlton debut on Round 1 after being headhunted to play on the wing in the trade period.
The question is whether Ollie Hollands will join Acres on the other side of the ground – it would appear to be a live possibility.
Hollands looked right at home in the club’s pre-season loss to Sydney and outperformed incumbent Lochie O’Brien on the night.
The Blues could easily hand second round draft pick Lachie Cowan a debut in Round 1 as well.
Cowan impressed in the same scratch match, with his toughness and commitment in defence standing out.
With Zac Williams and Jordan Boyd injured and Sam Docherty playing through the midfield, it could open the door for Cowan.
Nic Negrepontis
Collingwood were one of the busiest teams in the off-season and it appears likely that their four off-season recruits will play in Round 1 against Geelong.
Dan McStay is a certainty to play as a tall forward alongside Brody Mihocek and Bobby Hill will be buzzing at his feet as the club’s most dangerous small forward with Jack Ginnivan out suspended.
Brownlow Medallist Tom Mitchell is another that fills a hole for Collingwood, and you’d expect the inside bull to line up at the opening bounce.
The only recruit that may not be a certainty is Billy Frampton despite the key defender playing in both practice matches so far.
The former Crow would appear a likely starter, but if Tom Hawkins misses with injury, there’s a chance the Magpies don’t opt for a second tall defender in their season-opener.
Lachlan Geleit
Alwyn Davey junior landed at Essendon with plenty of hype – alongside twin brother Jayden – but wasn’t expected to feature early in the season.
The son of fan favourite Alwyn senior, Alwyn junior was one of Essendon’s bests in their final pre-season game loss to St Kilda last Friday and now has to be in the frame to make a stunning Round 1 debut against Hawthorn.
Alwyn junior was immediately in the thick of the action, kicking the first goal of the game and was a constant presence inside forward 50 throughout the game, collecting 13 disposals and providing plenty of pressure.
Will Setterfield landed at the Bombers after departing Carlton at the end of 2022 and has also impressed in pre-season. He’s almost certain to also make his Essendon debut in the opening round, while former Demon Sam Weideman is every chance after appearing in both pre-season practice matches.
Laurence Rosen
It is officially Luke Jackson time at Fremantle as the Dockers launch their new ruck combo. Will Jackson succeed in various roles, including through the midfield and up forward? Can he pair with Sean Darcy around the ground? We will find out.
Jaeger O’Meara also slots right in on-ball and fills the hole left by David Mundy as a grunt inside midfielder who can win contested footy and feed the likes of Andrew Brayshaw and Caleb Serong.
Nic Negrepontis
Geelong’s Round 1 team sets up as the most intriguing of any club given the off-season recruiting spree.
Three key recruits came into the squad, with Jack Bowes leading the race to play Round 1. His versatility allows him to be deployed anywhere between the arcs and showed his class in a pre-season game against Hawthorn.
Tanner Bruhn and Ollie Henry would also consider themselves unlucky omissions if they were to miss Geelong’s team to face Collingwood. Bruhn has slotted in seamlessly to a dominant midfield over the pre-season while Henry has shown enough to have Cats fans salivating.
Any of that trio could play in Chris Scott’s best side without surprise.
Seb Mottram
Both of Gold Coast’s recruits from last year look set to play Round 1.
Former Saint Ben Long has slotted into the backline with aplomb. He’s set to be used off a half-back flank under Stuart Dew, but also played a tight game on Toby Greene against GWS and kept the Giants captain quiet.
He’ll a chance be joined by Tom Berry, with ex-Lion impressing as a small forward. Both played the last practice game and are set to feature against Sydney to start the season.
Bailey Humphrey also looked likely to take a spot in Dew’s best 22 to start the season, but the top draft pick missed the Suns’ last practice game.
Seb Mottram
The Giants are unlikely to have any new faces against Adelaide in Round 1.
No.1 draft pick Aaron Cadman is not yet ready to debut having failed to feature in their pre-season matches.
None of the other early draftees, including Harry Rowston, Darcy Jones, Max Gruzewski or Toby McMullin played against the Suns on Saturday so it is unlikely they will bolt into Adam Kingsley’s first GWS team.
Small forward Toby Bedford, who was recruited from Melbourne, is currently sidelined with a hamstring injury and won’t play for the first month of the season.
Andrew Slevison
Sam Mitchell could hand a number of players their Hawthorn debuts against Essendon at the MCG next Sunday.
No.7 draft pick Cameron Mackenzie could not have been more impressive against Collingwood on the weekend and is a huge chance of being included.
Mitchell was guarded when assessing Mackenzie’s chances of a Round 1 debut.
A trio of other new Hawks should be front and centre against the Bombers.
Former Fremantle ruckman Lloyd Meek made the move east to play senior footy, ex-Port Adelaide wingman Karl Amon is a certain starter and Fergus Greene, from Box Hill, steps up to fill the void left by the injured Mitch Lewis.
Henry Hustwaite (pick 37) played against the Magpies last week but could drop out of calculations after just 33% of game time.
Andrew Slevison
Melbourne are another contending side that look even better on paper in 2023 with a number of key additions.
Brodie Grundy is set to form the game’s most frightening ruck combination alongside Max Gawn, while Lachie Hunter has made a wing his own since joining from the Bulldogs.
Given the star power already on Melbourne’s list, it doesn’t appear that any draftees will play in Round 1 but Jacob Van Rooyen could earn a spot early in the season.
While Van Rooyen is no lock to play much senior football, the young forward has impressed in the pre-season and could add firepower to the Demons’ attack.
Lachlan Geleit
North Melbourne will likely have a few new faces for Round 1, with former Fremantle defender Griffin Logue chief among them.
He will slot into their backline and fill an important hole for the Roos in 2023 and beyond.
Number three draft pick Harry Sheezel is a lock to debut. He has shown his incredible talent in these pre-season games, kicking goals from limited opportunities and even showing his skills across half back.
Don't be surprised if Liam Shiels makes an appearance in Round 1 too. As a veteran who knows Alastair Clarkson's systems inside out, he could be called upon regularly to help the young Roos on the field.
North fans won’t see Darcy Tucker, who is coming back from a knee injury, or second pick George Wardlaw, who seemingly isn’t in the Round 1 selection frame.
Nic Negrepontis
Port Adelaide were another busy team in the off-season with three players joining from rival clubs.
With Karl Amon and Robbie Gray departing in free agency and retirement respectively, Jason Horne-Francis and Junior Rioli are walk up starters in the Power’s Round 1 side.
While that pair are locks, the Power’s other recruit Francis Evans may be made to wait for a club debut of his own.
Even though the former Cat is on the fringe of Ken Hinkley’s side, he’s did his hopes of winning a Round 1 place no harm after coming on late in the practice match against Fremantle where he kicked 2.1 and collected six disposals in the lats quarter.
Lachlan Geleit
There will be two definite Tiger debutants in the season opener against Carlton next Thursday night.
Former GWS midfielders Tim Taranto and Jacob Hopper, barring a late injury mishap, will be in the yellow and black in front of a huge crowd at the MCG.
Taranto’s pre-season form has been superb and Hopper has slotted into the midfield nicely. They will be welcome additions.
Rookie draft selection Tylar Young played as a key defender in both pre-season games against North Melbourne and Melbourne.
He could make his AFL debut now that veteran Robbie Tarrant (hip) has been ruled out.
Andrew Slevison
St Kilda has been smashed with injuries going into the 2023 season, which will open the door for a few new faces.
Former Bulldog Zaine Cordy and pre-season recruit Anthony Caminiti could be called upon as the club’s key forwards. You can expect at least one to feature in Round 1 given Max King’s absence.
Top draftee Mattaes Phillipou has put his hand up for a Round 1 debut following a strong summer, a great sign for the Saints given he was the youngest player in the draft pool.
Pre-season Supplemental addition Liam Stocker is also every chance after playing both practice games.
Nic Negrepontis
Is it finally Will Gould time at Sydney? Possibly not, but he should at the very least be in the mix.
Gould has fought hard for a debut since being selected in 2019, but hasn’t quite been able to break into John Longmire’s side.
208cm ruckman Lachlan McAndrew is also a chance given that Tom Hickey is unavailable with a calf injury, but Peter Ladhams is the likely option to take his spot.
While they have options, the Swans likely won’t have any new faces in Round 1.
Nic Negrepontis
The main recruit of West Coast’s off-season, Jayden Hunt is primed to make his Eagles debut in Round 1.
The former Demon looks like a seamless fit for his new squad, impressing against the Crows in practice match action, bringing the run and penetration out of the defensive 50 that West Coast has been sorely missing.
The Eagles’ top prospect Reuben Ginbey looks to be in prime position for a Round 1 debut after also impressing in pre-season, shining through the midfield and impressing many.
Campbell Chesser could be another youngster in the conversation for an early season debut, looking comfortable on the wing as he builds back up to full strength.
Chesser was in the frame for a Round 1 debut last season before injury and looks to make up for lost time.
Jack Makeham
Plenty of change for the Bulldogs over the off-season, with three new faces looking poised to make their first appearance for the club in Round 1.
Rory Lobb will be a key piece of the Bulldogs’ new-look forward line, hoping to improve on a career-best 36 goals as a Docker in 2022.
On the other side of the field, Liam Jones is a much-needed pickup for the Dogs’ backline, looking comfortable in pre-season action after not playing a game of AFL football since 2021.
Oskar Baker looks to be an unexpected inclusion for Round 1 after tearing the house down in the practice match against North Melbourne.
Picked up in the supplemental selection period, the former Demon could fill the role left by Lachie Hunter after he headed to Melbourne.
Jack Makeham