The 10 Victorian players you have to watch in 2018

FROM established champs to stars on the rise and players seeking redemption, GLENN McFARLANE lists the 10 Victorian players he can’t wait to see in 2018.

FROM established champs to stars on the rise and players seeking redemption, GLENN McFARLANE lists the 10 Victorian players he can’t wait to watch in 2018.

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1, DUSTIN MARTIN (Richmond)

How do you back up from arguably the most decorated individual season in history? Easy ... just add more silverware. Dustin Martin left his sizeable palm-print impression on the competition last season, making him compelling viewing on and off the field. His old mate Dane Swan insists nothing — not even one of the most lucrative contracts in Australian sport — will change him. That’s good news for anyone watching Dusty, but not so for those trying to stop him.

2, TOM LIBERATORE (Western Bulldogs)

You could be excused for thinking Liberatore auditioned last year for a starring role in The Hangover IV alongside Alan, Stu and Phil. Having soaked up the 2016 flag celebrations, including a bizarre cameo with the Vietnam Swans, Libba almost fell off the footy map in 2017, spending a month in the VFL. No Bulldog embodied the club’s fall more than him, yet he has worked his butt off over summer to regain respect. He could be the barometer to the Dogs’ hopes of a quick revival.

Tom Liberatore had a year to forget last season. Picture: Michael Klein

3, JAKE STRINGER (Essendon)

Stringer’s rollercoaster 2017 had the feel of a bad reality TV show about it. You didn’t really want to watch at times, but couldn’t look away. There were two messy breakups (one personal, one professional), a dodgy hammy, a new suitor in Essendon, and a question mark on whether he can reach the individual heights his talent once promised. We want more of the show; less of the reality TV stuff this year.

4. JORDAN DE GOEY (Collingwood)

He once promised to never let his coach down. But after doing so for two straight pre-seasons — both of them involving off-field alcohol-related incidents — you can understand Collingwood for thinking something has to change. Yes, Jordan De Goey is an immensely talented young footballer, but unless he can stay out of trouble, he will find himself playing elsewhere. Jordan, it’s time to pay Bucks back in deeds, not words.

5, CHARLIE CURNOW (Carlton)

Hype has barely been a part of the Carlton dictionary for the best part of two decades, but that looks set to change. Don’t be surprised if Charlie Curnow is rated as the best young footballer in Australia by the end of the season. Having been compared to a young Dermott Brereton and a kid not dissimilar to ‘Kouta’, the powerful 21-year-old has a level head on his shoulder and can deal with the expectations. In this case, we do believe the hype.

Charlie Curnow has been compared to Dermott Brereton. Picture: Getty Images

6, GARY ABLETT (Geelong)

It’s not quite the parable of the prodigal son, but Ablett’s return to where it all started — Geelong — will be one of the stories of 2018. One of the greatest footballers of all-time, it will be fascinating to see how the 34-year-old fits into a midfield mix with Patrick Dangerfield, Joel Selwood and Mitch Duncan, and how his body holds up after playing only 49 of a possible 88 games across the past four seasons.

7, PADDY McCARTIN (St Kilda)

If you had said St Kilda’s No.1 draft pick from 2014 would only play 22 games from his first three seasons, you would have laughed out of town. But a series of concussions, niggling injuries and the presence of a bloke called Nick Riewoldt slowed McCartin’s development. Hopefully, the injuries are a thing of the past and the time is now right. Saints fans would love nothing better than to see him live up to the promise.

8, CHRISTIAN PETRACCA (Melbourne)

The man the Saints overlooked for McCartin has threatened to take a season by storm for a few years. 2018 might be the year, and if he does, it will be something to behold. His ability to burst from packs and win one-on-one contests has Champion Data seeing similarities with a young Patrick Dangerfield. He was good in 2017, but a breakout 2018 could push the Demons into September at last.

Will Christian Petracca have a breakout season in 2018: Picture: Michael Klein

9, JAMES SICILY (Hawthorn)

Flawed footballers make the best viewing. The hot-tempered but sublimely talented Hawk found a new home in defence in the second half of 2017, and thrived as one of the game’s top interceptors. Carlton’s Jed Lamb got under his skin late in the year, and rivals will try the same this season. It will be fascinating to see his response.

10. BEN BROWN (North Melbourne)

One of the AFL’s most likeable and watchable players. Yes, he’s from Tassie, but we are claiming him. Can Brown match his phenomenal effort last year, where he kicked 63 goals in a team that only won six games? He kicked 22 per cent of his side’s goals and almost pinched the Coleman Medal. Would be great to see him win the Coleman, which would make him the first Roo to do so since John Longmire in 1990.