St Kilda went backwards in 2024, missing the finals after featuring in the post-season in 2023.
The club will want to progress forward this campaign with pressure to come for coach Ross Lyon if there is another decline.
Max King has struggled to live up to expectations in recent seasons, is 2025 going to be his year?
The Sporting News looks at the key forward and a young star the Saints must sign to a long-term deal.
MORE: AFL practice matches 2025: Fixture, results, scores for pre-season Community Series
Is Max going to become the St Kilda King?
Another year and another injury interrupted season for Max King, although the Saints are hopeful he will recover from a knee issue in time for round one.
After kicking 52 goals, 41 behinds in 2022 and looking ready to explode as a key forward superstar, King has only managed to play around half of the games since due to knee and shoulder issues.
Worryingly, he only kicked 19 goals in 12 games last season and he looked unable to compete against the best key defender from each team.
At the end of 2024, the Saints made the extraordinary decision to sign King up for the next eight seasons, despite his injury history.
There is no doubt King has the capabilities to be the best forward in the game but will his body hold up and does he have the mental strength to get there?
His knee scare in pre-season was another warning sign for the Saints, who will be praying King stays fit and finds confidence in 2025.
Will Wanganeen-Milera re-sign at the Saints?
This story is going to gain momentum over the season but South Australian star Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera is out of contract at the end of the season.
The 21-year-old is arguably St Kilda's most important player with his run, drive and creativity off the half-back line crucial for the team's transition.
Wanganeen-Milera averaged 25.7 disposals and 100.9 rankings points during a brilliant 2024, which saw him ranked third for kicks per game and sixth for metres gained per game in the AFL.
But there is murmurings the running defender could head back home to SA with either Adelaide or Port Adelaide and that noise is only going to get stronger as he remains unsigned.
With the Power losing Dan Houston to Collingwood in the off-season, Wanganeen-Milera would be the perfect replacement to bring into the club.
There is no doubt Wanganeen-Milera is a future All Australian in the making and it would be a devastating loss for the Saints, who would likely be well compensated with at least a top first round pick and a change.