The six key AFL storylines to follow this pre-season
As first to fourth year players return for pre-season this week, JON RALPH identifies the key AFL storylines to have on your radar this summer.
As first to fourth year players return to their club headquarters for day one of pre-season training on Monday, there are a number of players out to prove themselves, reconnect with their teammates and teams looking to transform themselves entirely in 2026.
Here are the six key storylines to keep an eye on this summer:
1. JAMARRA
We are definitely on first-name basis with Jamarra Ugle-Hagan after a year where he dominated headlines all season before his trade to the Gold Coast.
Ugle-Hagan has been temporarily living with coach Damien Hardwick before a more permanent arrangement with indigenous welfare boss Jarrod Harbrow.
So the Suns will try to surround him with enough care, welfare and the appropriate scrutiny to give him his best chance to succeed, fully aware only Ugle-Hagan can drive the changes needed in his personal life.
The Suns fully believe he can play in a forward line with Ben King and one of Ethan Read or Jed Walter because he is so capable of getting up the ground and winning the ball when it hits the ground.
They think he’s more than a one-tricky pony as they spend the summer integrating him into their forward line while also trying to sign up Ben King.
As recently as his 2023 season, Ugle-Hagan averaged 1.5 goals a game and 1.2 direct score assists before averaging two goals and only half a direct score assist a game in 2024.
King will lead from the square as he always does after 71 goals this year and if Walter plays, he normally starts deep.
So can Ugle-Hagan regain that elite fitness to roam far and wide in a forward line with Christian Petracca and Bailey Humphrey so he can make an impact when he’s not the go-to target?
There is a big difference between posting Instagram gym shots and getting rock hard and uber fit.
Now it’s time for him to put in the work at 23 just when many key forwards are starting to peak.
2. ZACH MERRETT
Merrett has always made a point of being at the club’s first session of 1-4 year players given his leadership role but he could be forgiven for putting in minimum effort in the next 12 months.
Andy McGrath’s teammates posted an array of Instagram photos at his recent beach wedding, including a team shot of a huge collection of current Bombers where Merrett seemed conspicuous by his absence.
So McGrath will surely take over as captain and Merrett could be forgiven for throwing the toys out of the cot.
The biggest defining feature of the Dons’ pre-season will actually be their fitness gains as fitness boss Matt Inness and strength and conditioning chief David Regan go to work on this group after the disaster that was 2025.
But the club also needs to sort out a plan of action for Merrett.
The smartest way forward is a truce.
Brad Scott tells Merrett that if he is still not happy at the end of 2026 he will trade him.
But on the proviso Merrett nominates a handful of teams in the flag window - instead of a single arch enemy - which allows the Dons to get maximum trade return for his services.
And as long as Merrett puts in maximum effort in 2026, the club will honour the request if it comes to that.
It allows Merrett an exit plan IF he needs one in 12 months time and it gives him a reason to keep playing elite football without arriving at training every day giving death stares to the coach who wouldn’t trade him and the teammate who took over the captaincy.
3. JAGGA SMITH
Jagga Smith underwent one of footy’s most unrealistic transformations in the space of several weeks early in 2025.
Before he tore his ACL in February 2025 the No. 3 overall draft pick was a smooth-moving Carlton midfield star set to play a key role in the Blues’ midfield.
As the Blues midfield struggled in a 0-4 start to the season their missing mid morphed into Zak Butters, Chris Judd and Greg Williams all wrapped up in one player.
So as he eases into the pre-season after time in a Philadelphia recovery clinic it is worth being a little more realistic about what he can do in his first full season of AFL.
Yes, he had games in the Coates League like a 50-possession, 239-ranking point, 17-clearance contest midway through 2024.
But he is also only one part of a midfield that will undergo huge change without Tom De Koning.
Let’s recalibrate our expectations of him a little as the Blues bring back Matt Cottrell, hope to get a full year out of Sam Walsh, and bring in Ollie Florent as a mid, wingman and half back.
De Koning is gone and the Blues get a genuine summer ruck battle to see if Marc Pittonet or Liam Reidy win the race as the starting ruckman.
Ex-Docker Reidy is the perfect age (25), height (204cm) and has the ideal form (ave. 16 disposals, 41 hit-outs, 11 contested possessions a game in 17 2025 WAFL games) to be given a chance at another club.
Some list bosses still believe he’s just a solid backup rather than a first ruckman but what a perfect chance to prove them wrong at Carlton.
4. COLLINGWOOD’S KIDS
Footy’s Geriatrics still won 16 home-and-away games and bashed Adelaide in a qualifying final despite their reputation as the AFL’s oldest ever list.
But while many are doubting them in 2026 they did move on 31-year-old Tom Mitchell, 34-year-old Mason Cox, 31-year-old Will Hoskin-Elliott and were happy to ease the transition as 32-year-old Brody Mihocek left for Melbourne.
By August next year as Darcy Cameron and Dan McStay hit the big 30 they will have eight 30 year olds but there is no doubt they have cleared the way for some kids.
Time to stand up Harry Demattia, Iliro Smit, Tew Jiath, Oscar Steene, Wil Parker, Roan Steele.
Before Craig McRae was a premiership coach he was the 2014 development coach of the year.
So he gets to go back to his development roots as he blends some of those kids in across the summer while also securing an exciting young ruck-forward in NGA star Zac McCarthy who some believe could be Collingwood’s next big thing.
5. St Kilda walking the walk.
Ross Lyon has added the football performance portfolio to his senior coaching duties, so it is safe to say that more than any other AFL coach the buck stops with him this year.
He wouldn’t have it any other way as he enters his fourth season in his second incarnation as St Kilda coach.
Those three seasons have returned 13, 11 and nine victories but if they have been diminishing returns via pure metrics finally Lyon has the list at his disposal to reverse that trend.
You could argue St Kilda was bloody-minded not to release Rowan Marshall it was still the right decision given how St Kilda will at times stretch rivals with three genuine A grade big men in Marshall, TDK and Max King stretching defences.
The hope is that King, returning from knee concerns, can get through a chunk of the pre-season to build on that synergy.
The main improvement will come from within _ Darcy Wilson, Mattaes Phillipou, Nas Wanganeen-Milera, Marcus Windhager, Hugh Boxshall and co.
But all of the inclusions drive competition for spots.
Dan Butler and Liam Collard need to have the summer of their football lives to play ahead of Liam Ryan and Jack Higgins, while Hunter Clark needs to do something to play in a midfield with Sam Flanders and Max Hall.
Ditto Anthony Caminiti and Dougal Howard now that Jack Silvagni has arrived to play centre half back alongside Cal Wilkie.
6. IS THE WIZARD’S NEXT TRICK AS A MIDFIELDER?
The Hawks missed on Essendon superstar Zach Merrett.
Their fans were shattered.
Rival supporters had a field day enjoying the moment.
It showed the tribal passions that exist between supporters bases but also indicated that Hawthorn isn’t everyone’s favourite new upstart any more.
These brash young Hawks had worn on some fans by the time they lost a preliminary final to Geelong, but their main concern is finding a midfield replacement for Merrett in 2026.
Will Day might or might not be a centre square mainstay at some stage but after four foot issues in recent memory no club should be more cautious with a player across this summer than the Hawks with their star.
So what has Sam Mitchell got next apart from the continued development of first-round picks Cam Mackenzie and Cam Ward?
Surely the explosive Watson trains as a mid for a big chunk of the summer, following the pathway set by Dylan Moore.
Mitchell was asked this year if Josh Weddle could play midfield and replied that he would have to work on his footwork and midfield craft.
No time like this summer for Weddle, who played everywhere in 2025 and had many exceptional moments but at other times looked lost.
With so much depth at both ends in key position stocks Hawthorn can afford to at least train him as a midfield across summer to explore that aspect of his game in case Day’s return does not go to plan.
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Originally published as The six key AFL storylines to follow this pre-season
Silvagni to be sidelined until 2026 as injury lingers
