Some may even struggle to see out the 2015 campaign, such is the growing physical and mental demands placed on them. Last year the likes of Darren Glass, Domenic Cassisi and Heath Scotland called it quits in the season, realising they could no longer compete at the elite level. Who will it be this year?

Players such as Dustin Fletcher, Brent Harvey, Chris Judd, Brian Lake and Shaun Burgoyne — all premiership stars — still have important roles but injuries and wear and tear can quickly change the best of intentions.

Some clubs will be able to cover a sudden absence while others will not cope as well if their veterans fall off the perch, having an impact on their team's finals, even premiership, aspirations.

Jon Pierik and Matt Murnane run the rule over your team's ageing talent.

ADELAIDE

Brent Reilly (32 in November)

Scott Thompson (32 in March)

Eddie Betts (29 in November)

James Podsiadly (34 in September)

WHAT WE SAY: 

Podsiadly served his purpose last year, providing a marking option alongside Taylor Walker, and was important when Walker missed games through injury. However, he will need to prove over summer he is in new coach Phil Walsh's best forward structure. At 33, that could be a tough task. Reilly might also face a fight for his position after two underwhelming seasons since his impressive 2012. Thompson, off contract at the end of the year, says he is keen to play on.

BRISBANE

Matt Maguire (31 in May)

Daniel Merrett (31 in December)

Brent Staker (31 in May)

Jed Adcock (30 in November)

Stefan Martin (29 in November)

WHAT WE SAY: 

Maguire is one of the feel-good stories of the AFL, having overcome serious injuries to forge an important role in the defensive half. Merrett was close to leaving during the trade period and the Lions will need a robust season from the key-position utility if they are to surprise and challenge for the top eight. It remains to be seen whether his heart is still in the Lions rebuild.

CARLTON

Andrew Carrazzo (32 in December)

Chris Judd (32 in September)

Kade Simpson (31 in May)

Andrew Walker (29 in May)

WHAT WE SAY: 

Carrazzo will be keen to show Mick Malthouse that his injury-interrupted 2014, where he managed 14 matches, was an aberration and not the start of a decline. Having watched the Blues take a more hard-line approach to off-field transgressions, Judd flipped on his previous intention to retire, believing the club is on the right path. While he is the consummate professional, the Blues will hope he still has the hunger to maintain his elite standards throughout the season and does not begin to regret his decision. Such a distinguished career deserves an appropriate ending. However, could that be another two years away if the Blues were to surprise this season?

COLLINGWOOD

Dane Swan (31 in February)

Sam Dwyer (29 in August)

Clinton Young (29 in February)

WHAT WE SAY: 

Having learnt a harsh lesson about playing when injured last year, Swan is determined not to waste another season. Expect him to be more inclined to take a quality, not quantity, approach, like other star veterans. What rival clubs have begun to question is whether he can, at his age, maintain the hard running that has set him apart. As the oldest player on an evolving list, it will be interesting to see how his performances this year affect his outlook to keep going beyond 2015.

ESSENDON

Dustin Fletcher (40 in May)

Paul Chapman (34 in November)

Jason Winderlich (31 in October)

Brendon Goddard (30 in May)

Jobe Watson (30 in February)

Adam Cooney (30 in September)

Brent Stanton (29 in May)

James Gwilt (29 in August)

WHAT WE SAY: 

The Bombers will rely heavily on their elder statesmen in a season they hope (at some stage) to be finally free of the supplements saga. Fletcher, preparing for a remarkable 23rd season, is still seen as a vital piece in defence, while the clever Winderlich had a strong 2014 and made the right call to play on. But questions remain. Does Chapman have enough left in the tank? The Bombers hope Cooney can break the lines up forward but how will his troublesome knee hold up? Watson and Goddard will soon turn 30 and remain two of the league's finest warriors - can they will this group to a flag in the next year or so?

FREMANTLE

Matthew Pavlich (34 in December)

Luke McPharlin (34 in December)

Aaron Sandilands (33 in December)

Michael Johnson (31 in October)

Ryan Crowley (31 in March)

Paul Duffield (30 in February)

David Mundy (30 in July)

Colin Sylvia (30 in November)

Jonathon Griffin (29 in January)

Tendai Mzungu (29 in February)

Danyle Pierce (29 in April)

WHAT WE SAY:

Star trio Pavlich, Sandilands and McPharlin will all suit up again, chasing that elusive flag. The task is to ensure they are not only healthy but playing well enough to ensure they are on the ride if Ross Lyon's team can reach September and push ahead to the promised land. An underperforming Sylvia was handed a three-year deal by the Dockers but could find himself cut midway through that term unless he can resurrect his career this season.

GEELONG

Corey Enright (34 in September)

Jimmy Bartel (32 in December)

Steve Johnson (32 in July)

James Kelly (32 in December)

Tom Lonergan (31 in May)

Andrew Mackie (31 in August)

Hamish McIntosh (31 in September)

Jared Rivers (31 in October)

Mathew Stokes (31 in November)

Harry Taylor (29 in June)

WHAT WE SAY:

Geelong have set the standard in ushering out their premiership heroes, allowing them – on the whole - to finish on the best of terms so that the club can move forward and remain a force. Cats fans will want to see that continue with another batch of club favourites coming towards the end. Enright has been remarkably consistent for so long that it seems hard to imagine he can keep producing at the same level nearing his mid-30s, but who is brave enough to write him off? Do Johnson and Kelly have enough in the tank to help push for another flag?

GOLD COAST

Nick Malceski (31 in August)

Gary Ablett (31 in May)

Michael Rischitelli (29 in January)

Andrew Raines (29 in March)

Greg Broughton (29 in September)

WHAT WE SAY:

The Suns have made it clear they want to be a top-four side so they will be expecting Ablett to maintain his status as the game's best player – and that his reconstructed shoulder does not slow him down. Former Swan Malceski signed a three-year deal, indicating the Suns believe the defensive play-maker will be an important cog. Raines, having been rookie listed after crossing from Brisbane, faces a fight to force his way into the team and extend his career, particularly after hurting his posterior cruciate ligament at training last week.

GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY

Heath Shaw (30 in November)

Shane Mumford (29 in July)

Joel Patfull (31 in December)

WHAT WE SAY:

The Giants have been on the lookout for veterans, even making a last-minute pitch to snag Geelong star Steve Johnson. The Giants are a far more physical team when ruckman Mumford plays so it's imperative that he remains healthy in a year when expectations of the club have never been higher. Patfull, a dual Lions best and fairest and a no-fuss defender, will add some much needed grunt.

HAWTHORN

Shaun Burgoyne (33 in October)

Josh Gibson (31 in March)

David Hale (31 in May)

Luke Hodge (31 in June)

Brian Lake (33 in February)

Sam Mitchell (33 in October)

WHAT WE SAY: 

Hawthorn's management has been superb in recent years in ensuring their best players are healthy at the pointy end of the season. Despite the birth certificates of players such as Burgoyne, Lake and Mitchell, they will be given every chance to remain key weapons. However, the emergence of Will Langford last season, where he elbowed out veteran Brad Sewell, is a reminder that coaches won't hesitate to turn to younger players if it's in the best interests of the team, regardless of reputations and contributions to past premierships. Which one of the 30-somethings will be next?

MELBOURNE

Daniel Cross (32 in March)

Mark Jamar (32 in August)

Bernie Vince (30 in October)

Heritier Lumumba (29 in November)

WHAT WE SAY:

Jamar realises the heat is on, with young ruckmen such as Jack Fitzpatrick, Max Gawn and Max King eyeing his spot. In response, the Demons' current longest-serving player has dropped four kilograms in an effort to prove his worth at a club that has the future firmly in mind. Vince and Cross have been astute, ready-made pick-ups to fill the gaping hole in the club's midfield as Paul Roos prepares the next generation. There is still work to be done in that respect, so they will need to perform again.

NORTH MELBOURNE

Brent Harvey (37 in May)

Drew Petrie (33 in October)

Jarrad Waite (32 in February)

Michael Firrito (32 in November)

Nick Dal Santo (31 in February)

Daniel Wells (30 in February)

Nathan Grima (30 in August)

Scott McMahon (29 in June)

WHAT WE SAY:

Harvey may be the second-oldest player in the league but, when it comes to injury and form, there will be more scrutiny on the inconsistent but, at his best, match-winning Waite. Under the ideal scenario, Waite will give the Roos extra goals and contested marking power in the club's quest to return to the top four and advance even further. However, if his body fails him badly, the second year of the contract that dragged him away from Carlton will come under the microscope. The Roos continue to rely on their ageing talent, and need strong seasons from Harvey, Petrie, Wells and Dal Santo if they are to be a serious premiership threat. Can they deliver?

PORT ADELAIDE

Kane Cornes (32 in January)

Jay Schulz (30 in April)

Tom Logan (30 in July)

Justin Westhoff (29 in October)

WHAT WE SAY:

Key veterans Cornes, Schulz and Westhoff look set for another strong year, as demonstrated by Cornes' pre-season application. The tagger has based his game on endurance and early signs are he still has the hunger to play his part in Port's premiership challenge, winning one of the club's three-kilometre time trials last month. Cornes was superb last year, finishing third in the best and fairest and leading the team for uncontested possessions. Schulz, up forward, and Westhoff will again have important roles in a team some believe is the flag favourite.

RICHMOND

Chris Newman (33 in May)

Nathan Foley (30 September)

Ivan Maric (29 in January)

Troy Chaplin (29 in February)

WHAT WE SAY:

On last year's evidence there is no reason to suggest Newman won't finish what could be the last year of his career as part of Richmond's best 22, where he wants to help erase memories of last year's elimination final disaster. Newman played 18 games in 2014, providing his usual contribution linking attack with defence. However, his spot could be influenced by whether the club stay in finals contention or have to look to the future. The Tigers launched a stunning surge to the finals last year - their veterans will need to deliver if the list is to avoid being labelled as over-rated.

ST KILDA

Adam Schneider (31 in May)

Nick Riewoldt (33 in October)

Farren Ray (29 in March)

Leigh Montagna (32 in November)

Beau Maister (29 in March)

Sam Gilbert (29 in August)

Sam Fisher (33 in July)

Sean Dempster (31 in January)

WHAT WE SAY:

Riewoldt is coming off one of his finest seasons, indicating his problematic knee is under control, while Montagna finished fourth in the best and fairest but his overall impact in a struggling team wasn't as outstanding as it has been in previous years. Fisher was regarded as one of the best counter-attacking defenders in the league during the Saints' grand-final years. However, he has played just 16 matches in the past two seasons because of injury and form issues. He was handed a one-year deal at the end of 2014 and the Saints hope he can provide leadership in a team undergoing a major rebuild, rather his career petering out early in the season.

SYDNEY

Adam Goodes (35 on Thursday)

Rhyce Shaw (34 in October)

Ted Richards (32 this month)

Mike Pyke (31 in March)

Jarrad McVeigh (30 in April)

Ben McGlynn (30 in August)

Heath Grundy (29 in June)

WHAT WE SAY:

Goodes could have easily called it quits - and most likely would have - had the Swans won the premiership. He showed in the second half of the grand final that he can still contribute, but battled knee problems all last season, having undergone stem-cell treatment. Sydney's ideal scenario would be to ease him through the season and have him ready to make an impact in the run into September. The need for Shaw to be consistent as a rebounding half-back has intensified following the departure of sidekick Nick Malceski. Like North and Essendon, the Swans need their elder statesmen to remain at the top of their games.

WEST COAST

Matt Priddis (30 in March)

Beau Waters (29 in March)

Sam Butler (29 in January)

Mark LeCras (29 in August)

Matt Rosa (29 in November)

Xavier Ellis (27 in February)

WHAT WE SAY:

The retirements of Dean Cox and captain Darren Glass last year, following that of Daniel Kerr and Andrew Embley the year before, have ensured the Eagles are transforming their list under coach Adam Simpson. Priddis can expect more attention this year after being a shock Brownlow medallist. Ellis had a strong first year at the club, having crossed from Hawthorn, and missed just the five matches. However, the absence of Waters for all of last year with injury, and two-thirds of 2013, has frustrated the Eagles and left the defender with a point to prove.

WESTERN BULLDOGS

Matthew Boyd (33 in August)

Dale Morris (33 in December)

Robert Murphy (33 in June)

Will Minson (30 in April)

Liam Picken (29 in August)

WHAT WE SAY:

Murphy (5th), Morris (6th) and Boyd (7th) carried their weight last year with high finishes in the club's best and fairest, but the spotlight will be greater on Murphy this year as he has assumed the captaincy. He will need to maintain his strong level of play to ensure he leads in a way the Dogs' young list needs. Having a captain on the slide can put pressure on not just the player, but the club as a whole. After an awkward ending to 2014 in which he was dropped, Minson will want to recapture something near his All-Australian form of the year before. Is he still capable?