AFL 2024: Three potential position changes and breakout players for every club
The times are changing at Tigerland, and that may include leaving one of their most reliable defenders up forward. Which other clubs need to flip the magnets?
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It is that time of the year where the coaches clear the magnets and start again.
Most clubs will know where 80 per cent of their best team should line up in round 1 but it is the small changes that can make all the difference.
A fresh face in the midfield or a player swapping ends can change the whole look of a team or resurrect a career.
Trialled late in 2022, Geelong’s call to stick Esava Ratugolea in defence for all of 2023 got the athletic tall paid big money, with Port Adelaide going chips in on the Cat.
Adelaide’s decision to make Jordan Dawson a permanent part of the midfield resulted in an All-Australian campaign.
And Hawthorn planting James Worpel back in the centre square put him back on track to be a fully fledged star.
Check out what moves our experts think could be on the cards at your club in 2024.
ADELAIDE
1. Give Josh Rachele more time in the midfield
It was something the Crows began to do in 2023, but when the whips were cracking for Adelaide, Rachele was up forward. The young gun has the strength and speed to be a point of difference in a Crows midfield that still arguably needs it.
2. Send Elliott Himmelberg down back
He might not play at AFL level in the final year of his contract but with their injuries to tall defenders and the loss of Tom Doedee to Brisbane, the Crows need to work on turning Himmelberg into a key defender in 2024
3. Look at Riley Thilthorpe in the ruck
There is a school of thought at West Lakes that when the Crows are right in their premiership window Thilthorpe could be their No. 1 ruck. And in the final game of 2023, Reilly O’Brien was subbed out and Thilthorpe took up lead ruck duties, could this happen more in 2024?
BRISBANE LIONS
1. Don’t lose McCluggage on the wing
Hugh McCluggage was one of Brisbane’s best players after Will Ashcroft went down with a knee injury and he got to spend more time at centre bounce. He can’t be lost to the wing role again once Ashcroft comes back – he’s their best ball user and needs to have the pill as much as possible.
2. Get Cam Rayner more involved in the game
Has the talent and traits to be a game breaker – and has done so before – but Rayner still has his quiet games, which for his skill set is a waste. Can Chris Fagan find a lever to pull to get the best out of his young bull?
3. Keep Joe cooking in the ruck
Fagan found the perfect mix of forward-ruck for Joe Daniher last season. He impacted games like never before in a Lions jersey. Keep that going.
CARLTON
1. Sort Jack out
Jack Silvagni may be the odd man out – not really needed forward, in the ruck or in the midfield. Is it time to trial him as a defender?
2. Play Charlie higher
Might seem a little counterintuitive to move the two-time reigning Coleman medallist away from the goals but Curnow had a career-high 3.5 inside-50s this year and could bump that up even higher. He regularly looks like Carlton’s best kick in the forward half.
3. Lock in Young or Kemp
Next year looms as a possible make-or-break season for Lewis Young, while Brodie Kemp was dropped for the preliminary final. The Blues need a second lockdown tall in defence to complement Jacob Weitering and Mitch McGovern – the job is up for grabs.
COLLINGWOOD
1. Keep on swinging
The Pies ran out of time as finals approached but the idea of swinging Jeremy Howe forward has some merit, particularly now Dan McStay is out for the year due to a knee injury. Match up – and the fitness of Nathan Murphy – dependent, keep giving the leaper time up front.
2. Pendles push
The talk for years has been about when Scott Pendlebury would slide back to the half-back line. Maybe it’s worth a shot going the other way and rotating him up forward in a role Taylor Adams played this year. Pendlebury just finds the ball no matter what and could rotate well with a plethora of options who can run through the middle, like recruit Lachie Schultz.
3. Funky rucks
The traditional two-man tandem of Mason Cox and Darcy Cameron won the Pies the flag, but Craig McRae should keep searching for options in second ruck. Is it Ash Johnson, Billy Frampton or someone else?
ESSENDON
1. Let Archie loose
Archie Perkins enjoyed a sneaky-strong season in 2023 but he didn’t have a single centre clearance in the first 11 rounds. He was steadily introduced to centre bounces in the second half of the year and should spend plenty more time there.
2. Find a spot for the Unicorn
The days of the AFL world being wowed by Nik Cox’s athleticism have faded but he is still a unique specimen. A half-back role as an interceptor, who can create attacks, seems perfect and Cox finished his 2023 down back.
3. Grow the Weed down back
It’s the old adage – never ditch a failed forward until you try him in defence. And Sam Weideman’s reasonable finish to the 2023 season as a tall back was enough to start him there next year.
FREMANTLE
1. Find the perfect Jackson-Darcy ruck combo
The question remains: How can Freo maximise Luke Jackson? He showed glimpses of his game breaking tool set last season. With Sean Darcy freshly re-signed, he is sticking around for the long-term. The Dockers much solve the problem of how to best use this duo.
2. Give Michael Frederick the keys to the Lachie Schultz role
They call him ‘King Freddy’ and this is his chance to take the next step. With Schultz gone, Frederick needs to put his hand up to kick 30-35 goals next season.
3. Fyfe a full-time forward; give the kids a go in the guts
Nat Fyfe’s time as a midfielder is over. Give him a permanent position up front and give the likes of Neil Erasmus and Hayden Young a chance to shine in the middle.
GEELONG
1. Keep Jack Bowes down back
The former Sun was used all over the place in his first season at Geelong. But he has played his best footy in defence and the Cats need to open up more time to blood young midfielders.
2. Start Toby Conway in the ruck over Rhys Stanley
The highly rated ruckman made his AFL debut in the final game of the 2023 season and he should keep his place in 2024. Many think he will eventually take over from Stanley, the Cats should expedite this.
3. Throw Mitch Knevitt inside
Geelong is lacking in the inside midfield department and Knevitt averaged big junior numbers there. He also has the height at 193cm to be a big-bodied midfielder.
GOLD COAST
1. More midfield minutes for Bailey Humphrey
The Suns took a chance on their top pick last season and he flashed some brilliance. It’s a stacked midfield on the Gold Coast but he deserves a chance to show what he’s got.
2. Find a way to blood the academy kids early
Ethan Read probably won’t play much footy early but Jed Walter, Jake Rogers and Will Graham are all incredible talents who will be pushing to play from the jump. Find that balance
3. Is Joel Jeffrey the Lachie Weller replacement?
The 16-gamer was just handed a four-year extension so the Suns clearly see something in the versatile swing man. With Weller sidelined until mid-season, could Jeffrey slot in across half-back and prove himself?
GWS GIANTS
1. Versatile Lachie Ash offers plenty of options
Ash had the best season of his career off half-back and there could be a temptation to get him further forward thanks to his elite kicking and drop Isaac Cumming back. Whatever the Giants decide, Ash has thrived off a clearly defined role, so that has to be the priority.
2. Braydon Preuss no guarantee to be the second ruck
Preuss will have plenty of competition for a spot in the 22. If Kieren Briggs is ever out, he is the best replacement. But the Giants have the experienced Lachie Keeffe and the young pair of Wade Derksen and Max Gruzewski who can play as forward/ruck hybrids.
3. Still no need to rush Aaron Cadman
Aaron Cadman hit form at the back end of the VFL season, but Adam Kingsley’s patience with the No.1 draft pick should continue. He is learning his craft well off Jesse Hogan and there’s no need to force him into the best 22, that will come with time.
HAWTHORN
1. Push CJ up
Changkuoth Jiath missed the entire back half of the season and while the Hawks missed his run off half-back, they had time to find replacements. If fully fit, 2024 might be the time to plant Jiath on the wing and make the most of the running power.
2. One ruck at a time
Sam Mitchell moved away from playing both Ned Reeves and Lloyd Meek together late in 2023 and he should stick with the one-ruck formula. Mabior Chol can chop out for Reeves, which leaves Meek on the outer.
3. Decision time for DGB
The Hawks played Denver Grainger-Barrass up forward for some time in 2023 but next year it might be time to lock him into a position. Chol can partner Mitch Lewis up front, so start DGB down back next to James Sicily.
MELBOURNE
1. Give Daniel Turner a run as the third tall defender
He has managed just the three games over the past two years but it is time to give the man known as ‘Disco’ a run as the third tall. This will free up Harry Petty and allow him to have a 40-plus goal season.
2. Give Bailey Laurie first crack as Jake Melksham’s replacement
With Melksham out for most if not all of 2024 with his knee injury, someone needs to step up. After playing five games in 2023, Laurie is ready to have a crack and the Demons need to give him at least 15 games in the role
3. Blood Matt Jefferson up forward
The 195cm young key forward is yet to make his debut but the Demons need to refresh their attack and it is time for a forward line of Petty, Jacob van Rooyen and Jefferson.
NORTH MELBOURNE
1. Move Harry Sheezel out of defence
It was a masterstroke by the Kangaroos to ease Sheezel into AFL footy as a defender. But if North are to rise up the ladder then the Rising Star winner needs to be either playing as a midfielder or as an X-factor forward.
2. Unleash Tarryn Thomas as a hybrid midfielder
He’s had his issues off the field but now is the time for Thomas to show the skills the footy world knows he has. As a midfield/forward, Thomas could provide the class the Roos desperately need in a contract year.
3. Lock Charlie Comben in down back
Comben himself has noted he has started pre-season with the defensive group and with Aidan Corr now dealing with an ankle injury and Griffin Logue (knee) in the rehab group, Comben should be a lock at full-back for round 1.
PORT ADELAIDE
1. Figure out what to do with Ollie Wines
The 2021 Brownlow Medallist was at times shunted to a wing by the Power in 2023. Wines’ best position is as an inside midfielder but the Power’s future and present midfield is Connor Rozee, Zak Butters and Jason Horne-Francis. It’s a big dilemma Ken Hinkley has to solve.
2. Move Kane Farrell to the wing
Farrell has been used as a damaging half-back with his lovely left foot but the Power are now facing a bit of an issue out on the wing. He’s played there before and looms as a logical option for Port.
3. Look at Mitch Georgiades on the wing
When he returns from his ACL injury Georgiades will be a fascinating watch given he was dropped on multiple occasions in 2023. At 192cm he isn’t the tallest key forward and is athletic enough to play on the wing, which has been suggested before.
RICHMOND
1. Stick the Baker boy at half-forward
Retired champion Jack Riewoldt led Richmond’s goalkicking this year, followed by Dustin Martin, Shai Bolton and Tim Taranto, who all play big midfield minutes. Liam Baker has been thrown around plenty but locking him in the forward half could be a win and he should hit the scoreboard – he just wins contests.
2. Get Maurice fit
Another option as a small forward goalkicker is Maurice Rioli, who has to prove himself next year after sliding backwards in 2023. The Tigers need his pressure.
3. Gametime for Gibcus
Richmond fans are still waiting for Josh Gibcus to blossom and once his hamstring issues clear up the Tigers need to lock him in down back next to Noah Balta, who should be eyeing an All-Australian campaign.
ST KILDA
1. Unleash the kids
St Kilda has openly been looking for difference makers in the middle, so should invest more centre-bounce minutes into Mattaes Phillipou and Mitch Owens. The pair had excellent debut campaigns in 2023 and can shake up a middling midfield mix.
2. Jack in the square
Jack Sinclair’s ability to provide dash off half-back and run through the midfield has been a boon for the Saints but 2024 is a good time to push him further into centre square minutes. Make him virtually a full-time onballer to drive the ball forward.
3. Extra run from the back
With Sinclair spending more time around the ball under out magnet shifts, it might be time to focus more on rotating Brad Hill from half-back. Recruit Liam Henry said he was keen to share the wings with Hill, but the pair could alternate from the back too for quicker rebound.
SYDNEY
1. Errol Gulden has to stay on the wing
While at times he drifted onto the ball, Gulden looks perfectly suited to play his entire career on the wing. It gives him space to run into and a chance to impact the game at both ends of the ground.
2. Nick Blakey has found a defensive home
At stages, Blakey was the Swans’ most important attacking weapon in 2023. His penetrating runs and field kicking are among the best in the competition. But his defensive acumen continues to grow, he’s reading the play better and should remain in that rebounding halfback role.
3. Could Luke Parker add some experience up forward?
Towards the end of last season, Parker had plenty of success up forward. He’s a strong marker and knows how to find a goal, and with a young trio of key forwards, they could benefit from his experience in the forward line.
WEST COAST
1. Don’t overload Harley Reid with massive midfield minutes
You rebuffed every offer for pick No.1 so treat it like gold. Don’t run the Ferrari into the ground before it’s out of the showroom. Find the midfield-forward balance and let him develop.
2. Keep Yeo in defence
Has played just 37 games in four seasons. Let Elliot Yeo him be the marshal in defence, give his body a break and let the kids run through the middle.
3. Reuben Ginbey needs more support around the ball
Ginbey blitzed the first fitness test of pre-season and looks primed to go to another level in 2024. Who will put their hand up to go with him? Time for the next wave of Eagles to show themselves.
WESTERN BULLDOGS
1. Darcy the interceptor
Early signs are good for Sam Darcy to finally get a full season in. The Dogs have been looking for a tall interceptor for some time and playing him as a third tall gives him a chance to fly at the footy.
2. Back to back for Caleb
Caleb Daniel was one of the leagues most damaging backmen but has been sent further afield recently. Time to put him back, and maybe give Ed Richards some more time on the wing.
3. Let Jamarra roam
Possibly the biggest weakness in Jamarra Ugle-Hagan’s game at the moment is his kicking for goal. His skills kicking forward were sublime at times last season, time to see if he can create up field and run hard back to goal like Jeremy Cameron.
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