Ablett, Liberatore, Hogan, Stringer among stars with question marks hanging over them in 2019

They are the big names with big question marks hanging over them in 2019. The likes of Gary Ablett, Tom Liberatore, Jake Stringer and Jesse Hogan will have plenty of pressure on them come Round 1.

The stars with plenty to prove in 2019.

Gary Ablett polled 14 Brownlow votes last year, amassed 558 possessions, kicked 16 goals.

As Paul Keating would say, they are a beautiful set of numbers marred by a jarring best-and-fairest result.

Ablett couldn’t even sneak into Geelong’s top 10 in the Carji Greeves Medal, finishing 11th behind the likes of Jake Kolodjashnij, Sam Menegola and Zach Tuohy.

It is why what happens next for Geelong and Ablett will be so intriguing.

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Ablett is a 2019 enigma, one of a group of players it is hard to categorise and impossible to predict their journey into the coming season.

Here are 10 of the AFL’s enigmas, players who can polarise and confuse.

If they can erase the question marks that surround elements of their game, it will take their respective sides a long way to September.

Or maybe we will just realise they are acquired tastes and come to appreciate their talents with strong 2019 campaigns.

Gary Ablett tries to shrug off an Angus Brayshaw tackle. Picture: Michael Klein

Majak Daw takes a strong mark against Collingwood. Picture: Michael Klein

MAJAK DAW (North Melbourne)

Eyebrows were raised when Champion Data rated him the fourth-best defender in the competition recently.

But in Daw’s breakout season he played 18 games, took 41 contested marks and hauled in multiple contested marks in 13 of 18 games.

A player once considered the ultimate tease instead became a weapon who also used the ball well when he bounced out of defence.

With Robbie Tarrant and Scott Thompson also in the Roos back six, it means Daw or Thompson can play on a small or medium and provide aerial coverage for long bombs deep into 50m.

JACK BILLINGS (St Kilda)

Like Gary Ablett, his pure possession rate was in wild contrast to his best-and-fairest result.

Billings finished ninth in the Trevor Barker Award despite 459 touches (after 508 the previous year).

They are exceptional numbers for a half-forward and yet his 14.19 in front of goal was made even worse by seven shots that didn’t even hit the target. In all he went at 35 per cent accuracy at goal.

St Kilda next year could have an elite group of small/medium forwards including Billings, Jack Lonie, Jade Gresham, Ben Long, Dean Kent, Josh Battle (193cm) and Blake Acres as well as recognised talls Rowan Marshall, Tim Membrey, Paddy McCartin and Josh Bruce.

But it needs all of them to start nailing their chances in front of goal.

LIAM JONES (Carlton)

Liam Jones might have been 2017’s best story, a much-maligned VFL plodder who became a high-flying, highlights-reel full back.

Then last season he became Liam Jones again.

Jones seemed to continually get lost between playing an aggressive zoning defender playing in front of his man and the back-shoulder dour defender who still got beat on the lead anyway.

Brendon Bolton kept backing his man in, and with Jones out of contract again this year Blues fans will hope a more organised defence will help him find his feet again.

Liam Jones takes a strong defensive mark. Picture: Michael Klein

Mason Cox celebrates a goal in the Grand Final.

MASON COX (Collingwood)

In Round 1 next year Cox will mark exactly 12 months since he fronted up against Hawthorn, barely sniffed it, was suspended, and had fans wondering if he deserved his spot back.

Except this time around he will run onto the MCG against Geelong as one of the most hyped players in the competition.

Fair enough too after eight contested marks, three goals and five-time All-Australian Alex Rance’s scalp in the prelim.

Then two goals and three contested marks in the Grand Final after a first-half shutout against West Coast.

So is Cox the AFL’s new star forward, capable of 60 goals? Or is his entire season more accurate with a return of 25 goals from 24 games?

We think Cox might have cracked the code.

GARY ABLETT (Geelong)

Ablett won 30 or more possessions in 10 of his 19 games and kicked 16 goals, enough for any other player in the competition to win huge plaudits.

But Ablett seemed to avoid contact too much, became the king of the padded stats tally (too many around-the-back possessions or one-two link-ups).

And he couldn’t have the kind of impact forward that had seen many predict he could extend his career well into his 30s.

It will be fascinating to see how he and Chris Scott scheme over summer to get maximum bang for their buck from the games the automatic Hall of Fame Legend has left in him.

CHRISTIAN PETRACCA (Melbourne)

Under Simon Goodwin’s game style Melbourne has a multi-faceted, dynamic forward line that feasts on inside 50s while sharing the load.

None of that ignores the fact that Petracca still isn’t grabbing games by the scruff of the neck as many had predicted.

Last year playing more midfield time he averaged an excellent 20 possessions a game and after playing 24 games finished fifth in a star-studded best-and-fairest count won by Max Gawn.

But he only kicked 19.23 and managed only one September major.

So a really good year, but can Petracca be great?

If he to be a regular game-changer Petracca has so much talent he is surely capable of 40 goals a year, even playing a 70-30 forward-midfield mix.

TOM LIBERATORE (Western Bulldogs)

Do you really want it, Tom?

Do you want to be one of the elite inside midfielders in the game or just a wasted talent who eked out a moderate 10-year career?

In 2013 he won a remarkable 183 clearances as a down-and-dirty midfielder desperate to win the ball at any costs.

This year was a write-off due to an ACL injury after a promising pre-season, but the Dogs’ one-year contract offer shows you everything about the question marks hovering over him.

You could easily throw Jason Johannisen, Tom Boyd and Josh Schache into the enigma category out at Whitten Oval.

Tom Liberatore is returning from a knee reconstruction. Picture: Michael Klein

Jesse Hogan was traded by Melbourne to Fremantle. Picture: Michael Klein

JESSE HOGAN (Fremantle)

In the last days of August Simon Goodwin said Hogan was a “Melbourne person through and through” and would have been All-Australian if not for a foot injury.

Six weeks later they traded him to Fremantle for picks No.5 and 23, clearly worried about his off-field pursuits or lack of professionalism.

They also believed they could win without him, having knocked over West Coast (away), GWS, Geelong and Hawthorn with him sidelined before the preliminary final loss.

Hogan clearly lost his confidence as a power-marking forward at times last year - as the Demons pushed him further afield at times - but he still kicked 47 goals from 20 games.

There is the potential for a win-win next season, where he kicks 60 goals for Ross Lyon and the Demons march deep into the finals with Steven May as a defensive rock that helps them win a premiership.

CHAD WINGARD (Hawthorn)

Ken Hinkley clearly had major issues with some part of Wingard’s game - or desire to work hard for the cause - if he was prepared to trade him and Jared Polec despite a disastrous fade out to 2018.

Yet if you had to frame an over-under market for Wingard’s goal output this year it would be something like 40 majors for the year.

Hawthorn could value his pure talent and upside, Port Adelaide couldn’t pay him $800,000 based on three poor years including this year’s 22-goal season.

So now we get to see the fusion of Alastair Clarkson’s coaching and Wingard’s supreme talent.

Hinkley will likely do so with fear and trepidation, afraid of what he might produce at a rival club after being shunted out the door at Port Adelaide.

JAKE STRINGER (Essendon)

He roared home with a strong back half of the season after early calls for him to be demoted to the VFL.

He had big moments, kicked big goals (30 in all) and even played important minutes as a line-breaking midfielder.

But he still missed a top-10 finish in the best-and-fairest which fellow recruits Devon Smith (first) and Adam Saad (fourth) managed.

So a year to build on for Stringer, who kept away from the off-field nonsense dragging his career down and seemed a popular teammate who didn’t shirk hard work.

Now in a year where everyone believes Essendon can play finals, does he still have it in him to be a superstar of the game?