The breakout contender at every AFL club in 2020
Callum Brown showcased his obvious potential in 2019 with 98 score assists and 11 goals. Jon Ralph says the young Magpie is primed to take the next step in 2020. Who is the breakout contender at your club?
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Rowan Marshall entered 2019 as a barely-known St Kilda forward as deep as third in the ruck pecking order.
Bachar Houli had come off a season missing eight games with a groin injury as a pack of young Tigers tried to take his spot.
SCROLL DOWN TO SEE 2019’S BIGGEST IMPROVERS
That contrasting pair would finish the season as 2019’s biggest improvers, as Marshall recorded an astonishing 47-ranking point jump.
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Behind them were a shunned ex-Swan (Nic Newman), a young Hawks tyro (James Worpel) and a trio of Luke Beveridge’s young Dogs (Patrick Lipinski, Caleb Daniel and Josh Dunkley).
The takeout is this – you are never too young or old, too written-off to turn into a breakout star in the AFL.
If Hawthorn can rediscover Jon Patton’s best form and Chad Wingard shows the A-grade form of the last month of 2019, Alastair Clarkson’s mob are halfway to September.
Who are your club’s breakout stars for 2020?
ADELAIDE
Darcy Fogarty has the keys to the city. After a poor SANFL season he kicked nine goals in the final four weeks of the year and averaged five score involvements. Over to you, Darcy.
BRISBANE
Corey Lyons, brother of Jarrod, averaged 117 ranking points in the dominant NEAFL side, including 4.7 clearances and 15 goals. Can Oscar McInerney become a 30-goal forward or push Stef Martin from first-ruck duties?
CARLTON
David Cuningham’s best was brilliant – 23 touches, two goals, nine score assists in the rousing performance against the Pies. Blues insiders still believe, but at 23 can 2020 be his breakout year?
COLLINGWOOD
Callum Brown’s averaged 66 ranking points in 22 games, notching 98 score assists but only 11 goals. Has everything it takes to be a star half forward mixing goal power with a brilliant right foot.
ESSENDON
Andy McGrath was Essendon’s best player in the disastrous final loss (30 touches, 108 ranking points). But averaged just 75 ranking points for the year. Now is the time for him to grab hold of a midfield spot as he explodes in his fourth season. Has all the tools.
FREMANTLE
Sean Darcy. The No.1 ruck mantle is there if he wants it after the best game of his 26-game career in Round 22 against Essendon (113 ranking points, a goal and five score involvements).
GEELONG
Impossible to tip into Nakia Cockatoo given two games in the past two years, with Esava Ratugolea’s four contested marks and three goals in the semi proof of his huge upside as a ruck and key forward. Lachie Fogarty, Mark O’Connor and Brandan Parfitt in the mix.
GOLD COAST
Inside bull Will Brodie went nuts against Patrick Cripps, keeping him to 10 touches and helping himself to six clearances and 26 touches. Then his hammy snapped. We still haven’t seen Izak Rankine, but former No.9 draft pick Brodie could be anything.
GWS
So much exposed form given the Grand Final surge, but Ian ‘Bobby” Hill’s eight games gave us a taste of his future brilliance. Jackson Hately’s huge NEAFL form wasn’t quite reflected in his seven AFL games but he’s a huge talent.
HAWTHORN
Chad Wingard could finish 2020 averaging 100 ranking points after he overcame soft tissue injuries to finish the year with tallies of 98, 91, 112 and 62 (from 28 touches) as a bona fide mid. In 2017 Jon Patton kicked 44 goals along with 44 contested marks. Why can’t he do that again?
MELBOURNE
Dees fans would love it to be Sam Weideman, who hauled in 16 contested marks but kicked only 11 goals in his 11 games last year. Entering his fifth year and turning 23, this is his time.
NORTH MELBOURNE
The chance is there for Majak Daw to become an elite defender. Luke Davies-Uniacke enters his third year after 14 games averaging only 63 ranking points in 2019. But Tarryn Thomas might have more talent than any of the other kids with a rare combination of poise, goal sense, contested marking and field kicking.
PORT ADELAIDE
Ruckman Peter Ladhams was good enough to displace Paddy Ryder and his Round 21 contest was massive – 109 ranking points, a dozen contested possessions, six score involvements. He and Scott Lycett should back themselves to be a top-five ruck combo.
RICHMOND
No Tiger fan could miss Riley Collier-Dawkins’ pair of slashing goals on the run in the VFL Grand Final. He is still to debut, but the big one is Ivan Soldo. Could be Richmond’s No.1 ruckman by Round 6 if he keeps developing.
ST KILDA
So many candidates, including Max King, Josh Battle, Nick Coffield and Hunter Clark. But we couldn’t help but be excited by Dan Hannebery’s five games amid injury issues. Four of them hit at least 94 ranking points as he averaged 25 touches, 10 contested possessions, 5.2 clearances.
SYDNEY
It was Nick Blakey’s moments of magic as much as the 19 goals and 82 score involvements in 21 games that thrilled Swans fans. This kid just wants the ball in his hands. In a 2019 superdraft, why can’t he emerge as the best of the lot? Big call but he has everything he needs.
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WESTERN BULLDOGS
Hard to go past Aaron Naughton but he might have already arrived (32 goals, 53 contested marks). Tim English is a fascinating player who ranked poor for hit-outs won and below average for hit-outs to advantage and yet just could be anything. An intriguing case study.
WEST COAST
Jarrod Cameron has the chance to take Willie Rioli’s spot but Oscar Allen is ripe to become a star AFL forward. Adds forward pressure (2.8 tackles) to his mix of contested marking and on-the-lead pace after 20 goals this year. How quickly does he take over from Josh Kennedy, who still kicked 49 goals for all his struggles?
Originally published as The breakout contender at every AFL club in 2020