Secret weapon hiding in reserves; cult hero’s comeback bid: Every club’s pre-season players to watch

Footy is back! At least, some form of footy.

The practice games kick off this week as we’ll get our first look at how all 18 teams line up following an eventful off-season with plenty of change and key storylines to follow ahead of the new season.

And so foxfooty.com.au has listed the most intriguing players to watch at every club over the next fortnight.

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ADELAIDE CROWS

All eyes at West Lakes will be on how Izak Rankine fits into his new team after his blockbuster move to the club from the Suns. Already one of the best small forwards in the game, Rankine is slated to play more midfield minutes at Adelaide, but he’s likely to split his time on the ball and in attack. Similarly, Josh Rachele is also likely to play more midfield in 2023 after a promising debut where he booted 17 goals from 13 games. The transition of both players will be a fascinating watch. Speaking of the midfield, Sam Berry is another name to keep an eye on as a potential breakout star.

BRISBANE LIONS

Pick 2 draftee Will Ashcroft will be among the most exciting players across the entire AFL this season as one of the most hyped rookies in recent memory. Ashcroft will look to crack into a deep Lions midfield that’s also been boosted by Josh Dunkley, who’s set to be unleashed as a permanent on-baller after playing a variety of secondary roles at the Bulldogs. Could the addition of the duo elevate Brisbane to genuine flag frontrunners? Cam Rayner has been experimented across half back over the pre-season in a move that coach Chris Fagan said has worked out so far.

CARLTON

In one of Carlton’s quieter off-seasons of recruiting compared to recent years, Blake Acres and Oliver Hollands are two players that Blues fans will no doubt be eagerly watching. Although you sense Hollands may be made to wait to make his debut, it’s been a few years now since Carlton has had a draftee to get genuinely excited about, while Acres figures to play a key role on the wing. Tom De Koning, who’s in a contract year and will have widespread clubs circling him, could also be set to break out in a big way, and Jesse Motlop is another who could emerge.

COLLINGWOOD

From all reports, Nick Daicos is ripping up pre-season and he could even get more midfield opportunities as he looks to go from strength to strength after his dazzling debut season and move into the upper echelon of genuinely elite players, if he hasn’t already. Is he a sneaky Brownlow Medal smokey? How Brownlow medallist Tom Mitchell fares in black and white won’t just be an intriguing watch for Pies fans, but the AFL world at large as the club hopes he provides a big boost to its contest and clearance game that was lacking last season. Fellow recruits Bobby Hill and Billy Frampton are said to be having big pre-seasons and figure to have key roles at either end of the ground, so too Dan McStay. Hill especially after Jack Ginnivan’s suspension, while Frampton also appears to be right in the selection frame to hold down a key defensive post and free up Darcy Moore and Jeremy Howe more.

ESSENDON

Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti is back – and if he can get even close to his previous best form – it’ll go a long way in helping the Bombers climb the ladder. Bargain-basement recruits Will Setterfield and Sam Weideman could also have key roles to play for Brad Scott’s side as they finally look to make their mark at AFL level after struggling with consistency previously. Perhaps more importantly from a team perspective, young gun Archie Perkins has star written all over him and another leap from the midfielder/forward could really help turn Essendon’s fortunes.

FREMANTLE DOCKERS

How the ruck dynamic between Luke Jackson and Sean Darcy works will be fascinating, with the former likely to spend more time forward in a bid to help Fremantle’s scoring woes – particularly following Rory Lobb’s switch to the Western Bulldogs. Nat Fyfe is also set to play predominantly in attack, and how fit he looks over the pre-season is critical as the former skipper looks to hit the ground running. Matt Johnson is said to be having a big pre-season as he looks to stake a claim for a Round 1, with spots up for grabs after the departures of several key Dockers in the off-season.

GEELONG CATS

Joel Selwood’s retirement opens up an opportunity in the midfield – as much depth as it already has – and several Cats will be putting their hand up to claim an on-ball spot over the coming weeks. Geelong Falcons Pick 8 draftee Jhye Clark has been likened to Selwood and could be the most obvious like for like as a possible Round 1 bolter, however trade recruits Tanner Bruhn, Ollie Henry and Jack Bowes will also be in the mix as they all look to impress over the pre-season games. Henry and Esava Ratugolea have spent time training as defenders over the summer, so where they line up over the practice hit-outs will be fascinating, although Tom Hawkins won’t be available for the opening rounds of the season as he recovers from injury to leave a void up forward.

GOLD COAST SUNS

After missing all of last season due to an ACL injury, Ben King will look to get back to his best form after a career-best 47 goals in 2021 alongside a new-look Suns forward line featuring Mabior Chol. With Touk Miller sidelined for the pre-season, an opportunity for a spot in the Suns’ midfield opens up, where the likes of Sam Flanders, Jed Anderson and Brayden Fiorini will all push their case. Injuries across half back has also put Charlie Constable in the frame for a Round 1 berth as he looks to lock down a spot in a new role.

GWS GIANTS

Is this the year Tom Green really elevates his game to another level and becomes a bona fide A-grade midfielder? The departures of Tim Taranto and Jacob Hopper paves the way for Green to move into a more prolific go to another level. Finn Callaghan is also said to be looking in great shape over pre-season in the former Pick 3’s bid to crack get regular senior opportunities under Adam Kingsley and establish himself at AFL level.

HAWTHORN

Following two indifferent seasons, can James Worpel get back to some of his best form after originally bursting onto the scene and winning a best and fairest in his second season? The departures of Jaeger O’Meara and Tom Mitchell opens up big midfield opportunities at Hawthorn, but where they go exactly is still an unknown. Will Day is another in line to potentially get those minutes on the ball as he looks to bounce back from an injury interrupted start to his career and deliver on his potential. Pick 7 draftee Cam Mackenzie is another to keep tabs on as he looks to push his case for Round 1.

MELBOURNE

It’s been spoken about all off-season, and we’ll finally get our first look at how the Brodie Grundy-Max Gawn ruck combo works. Is it a genuine 50-50 ruck split? Does Gawn move behind the ball or play more as a forward? Is Grundy the one who takes the hit and move out of the midfield? It may be the most intriguing thing to watch over the pre-season as the Demons search for the best formula to utilise the star big men. The Demons had issues in the forward half last year, and Jacob Van Rooyen will press his case to lock down a key position role. The word from the training track was Van Rooyen was ready for a debut last year, ending up kicking 36 goals for Casey as they cruised to the flag. Were the Dees hiding their secret weapon before unleashing him to make a strong side even stronger in 2023?

NORTH MELBOURNE

Luke Davies-Uniacke looked like a bona fide superstar in the back-half of last season, but the midfield bull is yet to really put it all together over an entire campaign. Does Alastair Clarkson unlock Davies-Uniacke’s full potential and unleash him as their main on-baller? Pick 3 and 4 draftees respectively Harry Sheezel and George Wardlaw are the future of the North midfield, but Roos fans will be eagerly watching how their two prized youngsters fare as they look to gain selection in the senior team. Forgotten former Pick 3 Will Phillips will be looking to bounce back from a 2022 ruined by glandular fever and also crack into Clarkson’s midfield. Of course, the Roos drafted Phillips over Logan McDonald, so the club clearly rates him.

PORT ADELAIDE

Former Pick 1 Jason-Horne Francis has a big spotlight on him after sensationally departing the Roos for Port Adelaide after just one season amid queries around his professionalism. The youngster has been slated for a midfield role at Alberton, and you sense his performances, whether good or bad, will be a key talking point throughout the season. After an indifferent 2022 campaign where he fell out favour in some ways and is now being linked to trade reports, Mitch Georgiades, who’s out of contract at the end of the year, will be out to consolidate himself again after such a promising 2021 season. Brynn Teackle is another generating pre-season buzz as he battles with Scott Lycett for the No. 1 ruck role.

RICHMOND

The Tigers recruited Jacob Hopper and Tim Taranto to seriously bolster their midfield, and how effectively they fit into Damien Hardwick’s system could make the Tigers a genuine premiership contender yet again. It likely forces Trent Cotchin out of the middle of the ground, with the former skipper training with the forwards as another role change to keep an eye on. And with Jack Riewoldt in his twilight years, will we see Noah Cumberland step up and become Richmond’s genuine No. 2 option up forward behind Tom Lynch?

ST KILDA

Pre-season injuries to Max King, Jack Hayes, Matt Allison and now Tim Membrey has depleted the Saints’ forward line stocks and gives Anthony Caminiti, who the club signed via the pre-season supplemental selection period, an unlikely opportunity to crack into Ross Lyon’s side Round 1. The Saints trialled Dougal Howard in attack during a practice match as another potential option, so where the vice-captain is used over the pre-season games will be telling. Pick 10 draftee Mattaes Phillipou has also impressed in his first pre-season as he stakes his claim to play senior footy immediately, while Nick Coffield will look to bounce back from an ACL injury that ruined his 2022.

SYDNEY SWANS

Logan McDonald was the heartbreak story from the grand final after John Longmire instead opted for Hayden McLean, and you sense McDonald will now be keen to make amends after being forced to watch Geelong dominate the Swans from the sidelines. Meanwhile, Errol Gulden appears set for more midfield opportunities in 2023 where he could take his game to another level. We know Longmire gives his youngsters apprenticeships in defence and up forward before he trusts them in key roles in the middle, and Gulden is in line to transition into a more prolific role up the ground.

WEST COAST EAGLES

It’s been a torturous few years for Elliot Yeo ruined by injury, but the dual All-Australian is said to be in great shape over the pre-season splitting his time between midfield and half back. Dom Sheed is another Eagle that’ll be hoping to get back to his best after his 2022 was ruined by injury. Elsewhere, Pick 9 draftee Reuben Ginbey will be in the mix to play Round 1 across half back, while Campbell Chesser will also stake his claim after his first season was wiped by a serious foot issue but is only expected to play in one of the two pre-season games.

WESTERN BULLDOGS

The Dogs may have proactively bolstered their forward line by adding Rory Lobb over the trade period, but they already have to young stars who could be ready to explode in Jamarra Ugle-Hagan and Sam Darcy. It’s meant Josh Bruce has moved to the backline alongside fellow recruit Liam Jones as the Dogs have shored themselves up at either end of the ground. Josh Dunkley’s departure meanwhile opens up a key void in the midfield and could pave the way for Bailey Smith to have an All-Australian calibre season, while Caleb Daniel has also been training with the on-ballers to potentially make young dasher Ed Richards go to another level across half back.