Returning superstar, underperforming captain: Who’s under the gun at your AFL club

Just two months out from the AFL’s Opening Round, some players will be feeling the pinch ahead of a big 2025 season. Here is the player at your club who needs to perform.

Adelaide: Darcy Fogarty

Former first round selection Fogarty inked a monster six-year deal in October last year following a career best 41 goals. After a breakout year in 2022 where Fogarty kicked 25 goals from the last 10 games, he has become a consistent contributor for the Crows across 2023 and 2024.

However, Taylor Walker is likely to retire at the end of 2025. Given the Crows’ huge investment in Fogarty and Walker’s pending retirement, he must take charge of the young forward line and prove he can fill the void that will be left by Walker.

Brisbane: Eric Hipwood

Hipwood had a reasonable 2024 campaign kicking 33 goals from 24 games, slightly down on his 41 goals in 2023. Although kicking 33 goals, 17 of these came across four games demonstrating his inconsistency. Having inked a six-year contract extension at the end of 2022, the Lions will be looking for a more consistent return from Hipwood.

The retirement of premiership hero Joe Daniher also adds further expectation.

Carlton: Adam Cerra

After a career best 2023 campaign, Cerra endured a disappointing injury-riddled 2024 season. Cerra averaged over 25 disposals and 4.5 clearances a game in 2023 as the Blues charged to a drought breaking preliminary final appearance.

He also finished fourth in the best and fairest and would have gone close to winning barring a late season hamstring injury. However in 2024 Cerra averaged just 19.4 disposals and three clearances from 13 games. With far too much responsibility left to captain Patrick Cripps in 2024, Carlton urgently need a lift from Cerra in 2025 if they are to contend for the premiership.

Adam Cerra handballs under pressure from Christian Salem. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

Collingwood: Darcy Moore

After leading the Pies to the 2023 premiership, captain Moore regularly came under fire for his 2024 form. And deservedly so. He averaged just 4.1 marks per game (lowest since his debut season), 2.4 intercept marks per game (lowest since 2018 excluding COVID year), 12.6 disposals (lowest since 2018) and 1.8 score involvement (lowest since 2019 excluding COVID year).

If Collingwood are to be a serious contender again in 2025, they need Moore at his brilliant best.

Essendon: Archie Perkins

Perkins delivered a monster game in Round 1 last year with 24 disposals, 12 tackles and two goals, and it seemed as if Perkins was set to produce the breakout season Essendon fans had hoped for. However it wasn’t to be.

The youngster showed glimpses of his talent during an inconsistent 2024, but he cleared 20 disposals just once in his last 11 games. He found himself as the sub twice late in the year and omitted ahead of Round 21. After drafting Perkins with the ninth pick in the 2020 draft, Essendon will have high hopes in 2025.

Fremantle: Sean Darcy

2024 saw Darcy drop off in almost all key statistics, with his dip in form coinciding with a troublesome knee and the rise of Luke Jackson. Darcy registered his lowest output in disposals, marks, and hit outs to advantage since the COVID season.

Darcy signed a lucrative contract at the end of 2023 which will see him remain at Fremantle until 2030. The Dockers will be hoping for a clean bill of health which could see him justify their investment and return to his elite best.

Geelong: Jhye Clark

After being selected with pick eight in the 2022 draft, Clark has featured at senior level 16 times for the Cats. His arrival at the club was highly anticipated as he was the highest draft pick since 2007. Although dealing with a serious foot injury in his first season, so far he hasn’t quite delivered.

Across 15 games in 2024, he averaged 12.2 disposals playing mainly through the midfield. With Holmes, Atkins, Bowes, Bruhn, Dangerfield, Smith and Stewart set to play the majority of midfield minutes, it is hard to see where Clark fits. He may be forced to play out of position at AFL level and could be one on the move at the end of 2025 despite being contracted.

Gold Coast: Wil Powell

After a career best 2023 season, Powell established himself as an important part of the Suns’ line-up. He averaged 20.3 disposals and 5.8 rebound 50s per game. 2024 was another solid year for Powell, highlighted by a career best game against Richmond in the Opening Round, collecting 28 disposals and 13 marks.

Injury and suspension have at times restricted him, but when fit Powell has been a solid contributor with his speed and skill a feature. The arrival of John Noble and Daniel Rioli is certainly intriguing for Powell’s prospects. He may be forced out of his customary half back role. If he is not, surely his output is affected?

GWS: Jake Stringer

It will be intriguing to see how Stringer fares for his new club. At his best a genuine match winner, Stringer has at times struggled with inconsistency and injury issues across his career. After a whirlwind trade period, Stringer eventually found his way to Western Sydney on a two-year deal.

After kicking 42 goals from 23 games in 2024, the Stringer camp were after a two-year deal – something Essendon were not willing to offer. Essendon believed a one-year agreement would get the best out of Stringer, essentially acknowledging when offered security in the past he has not performed as well. At 31 with a two-year contract in front of him, Stringer is an interesting watch in 2025.

Nate Caddy and Jake Stringer of the Bombers celebrate a goal (Photo by Morgan Hancock/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)

Hawthorn: Changkuoth Jiath

When injury free, Jiath has proven a damaging half-back at AFL level. However the Hawks are now well stocked with creativity and dash down back through Jarman Impey, Karl Amon, Blake Hardwick and James Sicily.

Jiath missed the first half of 2024 through injury, but returned to play the next 11. He missed Round 21 due to calf tightness and could not break back into the side as Hawthorn made a brave finals push. Although deployed in different roles at times, Jiath averaged just 11.9 disposals compared to 20.1 in 2021 and 18.1 in 2022.

Jiath did win Hawthorn’s time trial on pre-season return, indicating he may have put his injury woes behind him. Having recently signed a new three-year contract, it will be intriguing to see where Jiath fits in a strong Hawthorn outfit.

Melbourne: Christian Petracca

Clayton Oliver’s recent form and personal issues have been well publicised, however it is his fellow midfielder Christian Petracca who would be looking for a big 2025 season.

After the poorly handled media circus surrounding Petracca during last year’s trade period, the pressure is firmly on him to perform. He began the 2024 season strongly, highlighted by a 21 possession, five goal performance in Round 9 against Carlton. However, a lacerated spleen on the King’s Birthday ended his season prematurely.

Speculation was rife during the back half of the season that Petracca wanted out, and at one point it seemed there was a very real possibility he would play for a rival club. Petracca will be looking to prove he is fully committed to his Melbourne teammates and fans in 2025.

North Melbourne: Dylan Stephens

Across his 59 game career Stephens has only shown small glimpses of the talent that saw him selected at pick five in the 2019 draft. After being traded to North Melbourne at the end of 2023 on a four-year deal, fans would have been slightly disappointed with his 2024 output.

Stephens played 16 AFL games, averaging 12.8 disposals which was down on his two previous seasons at Sydney. He featured at VFL level six times and was used as the tactical substitute on multiple occasions. After five years in the AFL system, North Melbourne fans will be hoping 2025 is a breakout year for Stephens.

Port Adelaide: Ivan Soldo

Following a failed trade request back to Victoria after just one year at Alberton, Ivan Soldo will be looking to regain the ruck mantle at Port Adelaide. Soldo battled form and injury issues to play just eight games at AFL level. He began the year as Port’s No.1 ruck, however Ken Hinkley favoured Jordan Sweet for the majority of the year.

Soldo played four games at SANFL level in the back half of the year and although he dominated the hitout battle on most occasions, registered more than 10 possessions just once and failed to take more than four marks in a game. An AFL premiership ruckman at Richmond, Port Adelaide will be looking for big improvement out of Soldo in 2025.

Ivan Soldo competes with GWS ruckman Kieren Briggs. (Photo by Jason McCawley/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)

Richmond: Tyler Sonsie

A very highly touted junior, Richmond fans have seen glimpses of what Sonsie is capable of. Pick 28 in the 2021 draft, Sonsie played seven impressive games late in 2022 where he averaged 17.6 disposals and 2.3 clearances.

Many Richmond fans expected Sonsie to become an important part of a rebuilding team. However, he has struggled for senior opportunities across the past two seasons adding just 17 games. A proven performer at VFL level, it is now a question as to whether Sonsie can translate that form to AFL level. Out of contract at the end of the year, 2025 looms as a big year for Sonsie.

St Kilda: Max King

When fit King has proven to be a damaging key forward. However that is where the issue lies. In 2022 he announced himself as one of the leading key forwards of the competition, playing 22 games and kicking 53 goals. King has since found it tough to play regular football due to a series of knee and shoulder injuries.

After being drafted at pick four in the 2018 draft, he has managed just 83 games from six seasons with only 23 of them coming in the past two seasons. A fit and firing King will be a welcome addition in a St Kilda outfit that desperately lacks scoring power.

Sydney: Callum Mills

Mills had a stellar three year period across 2021, 2022 and 2023. He was All-Australian in 2022 and a squad nominee in 2021. Following the 2023 season Mills suffered a serious shoulder injury in a Mad Monday wrestling incident which saw him sidelined until Round 18.

Mills played some reasonable football in the back half of 2024 including a 27 disposal, 10 mark performance against the Crows in the final home and away round. However his form was patchy and although deployed in a few different roles by John Longmire, he averaged just 17.4 disposals and 2.3 tackles compared to 24.4 and 6.3 respectively in his All-Australian year.

As captain of the club, Mills needs to return to his best in 2025.

West Coast: Tyler Brockman

Speedy small forward Brockman was traded to West Coast at the end of 2023. He played 26 games and kicked 23 goals for Hawthorn before moving West on a three-year deal. West Coast fans would have been slightly disappointed with his first season output, averaging 8.4 disposals across ten games and kicking just the solitary goal.

He also featured three times at WAFL level. Brockman missed some football in the middle part of the season as he was charged over a car crash in May and was forced to face court.

Western Bulldogs: Rory Lobb

2024 was an interesting year for swingman Lobb. He found himself out of favour with Luke Beveridge at the start of the year, turning out for Footscray seven times at VFL level. As early as May rumours came to the fore suggesting Lobb would request a trade to a fourth AFL club.

However, it was somewhat of a career revival in the back half of 2024 with Beveridge using Lobb in a key defensive post. He impressed with his ability to intercept and create play, averaging a career best 13.6 disposals and 2.1 intercept marks per game. 2025 proves an interesting year for Lobb as to whether he can establish himself as a key part of the Bulldogs defensive unit.