HAWTHORN champion Shaun Burgoyne will start the 2018 season as the oldest player in the competition.

The four-time premiership player and Australian captain in the recent Virgin Australia International Rules Series will be 35 years and 152 days at the start of round one, 46 days older than Fremantle veteran Aaron Sandilands.

Western Bulldogs defender Dale Morris is the third-oldest in the AFL (35 years, 83 days), followed by North Melbourne forward Jarrad Waite (35 years, 46 days), who signed a one-year deal to play on at the Roos in October.

Burgoyne, who has played 341 career games with Port Adelaide and Hawthorn, needs to play nine matches this season to draw level with Western Bulldogs great Doug Hawkins for 15th all-time on the games played list.

The star Hawk needs to play 13 matches to pass Fremantle champion Matthew Pavlich (14th place), 16 to leapfrog Paul Roos and Bruce Doull (equal 12th), 20 to surpass John Blakey (11th) and 22 to draw level with Western Bulldogs great Brad Johnson in 10th place all-time.

Following the retirements of Nick Riewoldt, Drew Petrie, Sam Mitchell, James Kelly, Robert Murphy and (Adelaide's) Scott Thompson, Burgoyne is joined by Brendon Goddard (312), Luke Hodge (305), Gary Ablett (302) and Jarrad McVeigh (300) as the five 300-game players.Carlton's Kade Simpson (286 games), Melbourne's Jordan Lewis (283) and Adelaide's Eddie Betts (277) are the players in contention to play 300 games this season.

There are 57 players who will be 30 years or older as of round one, 2018.

At the other end of the scale, Sydney draftee Tom McCartin, pick No.33 in the 2017 NAB AFL Draft, is the youngest player in the competition in 2018.

McCartin, a mobile tall forward and the younger brother of St Kilda's Paddy, will be 18 years and 82 days for the beginning of the season.

The competition's average age is 23 years and 338 days. Richmond premiership defender Nick Vlastuin (23 years and 337 days) is the closest player to the AFL's average age.

Expectant Bombers fans hoping for finals action in 2018 may also see coach John Worsfold notch his 350th game as a coach if Essendon makes it through to the semi or preliminary final.

Worsfold coached the Eagles in 281 games from 2002-2013. He has led Essendon in 45 matches since taking over at the start of the 2016 season.

Summary of 2018 AFL club lists