AFL pre-season: Young guns to watch in practice matches and potential debutants
Who is already locked in for a Round 1 debut, and which uncapped youngsters will be vying for a spot in the pre-season? Find out the contenders.
AFL News
Don't miss out on the headlines from AFL News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The pre-season is heating up and the pressure for spots is mounting.
Intra-clubs have been the order of the day for clubs in preparation for two pre-season practice matches against opposition sides, which kick off on Wednesday.
Draftees, players starved of opportunity, state-league train ons and new recruits have been shaking things up in internal trials as they vie for a Round 1 berth – headlined by North Melbourne No. 1 pick Jason Horne-Francis.
Stream every match of every round of the 2022 Toyota AFL Premiership Season Live & Ad-Break Free During Play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Try 14-days free now.
But coming up against rivals will prove to be a different challenge, giving us a better idea of who has justified the pre-season talk.
Which emerging players will be pressing their claims over the pre-season games, and who is contention of breaking into your side?
Here are the young guns to keep an eye on at your club, and the players already in the mix for an early debut.
KFC SUPERCOACH ROOKIE BIBLE: VERDICTS ON THE BEST PICKS
ADELAIDE
Potential R1 debutants: Josh Rachele, Jake Soligo
Since his name was called at pick No. 6 in the national draft, Crows fans have been excitably waiting to see pocket rocket Rachele unleashed. And they should get their wish, with his forward craft and power set to fill a glaring need for the Crows. One of the surprise packets for this Crows pre-season has been Soligo, with the clean and skilful small spending time with the stronger side in match simulation. The 180cm product shone on debut for Richmond’s VFL side last year and Adelaide’s pre-season matches could see him break into the developing side. Midfielder Jackson Hately spent most of last season in the SANFL after departing the Giants, and the pre-season will have a say on whether he can break in early. Strong-bodied midfielder Luke Pedlar, dynamic forward Brayden Cook and tall defender Josh Worrell played a handful of games between them last year and will be others to watch closely during the pre-season.
KFC SuperCoach watch: Jake Soligo, MID $117,300
CARLTON
Potential R1 debutants: Jesse Motlop
Carlton blooded several debutants towards the end of last year and its top pick, Jesse Motlop, looks to be behind a queue of small forwards. However, the son of former Power and Roos goalkicker Daniel kicked two majors in Carlton’s intra-club and could feature early if he keeps this up in the practice matches. Motlop became a senior regular for WAFL grand finalist South Fremantle in 2021. Corey Durdin will have his sights set on the void left by Eddie Betts, the pre-season giving him the opportunity to press his claims for Round 1. Like Durdin, 2019 first-round draftee Brodie Kemp played the final two matches of last season. The injury-hit talent has versatility on his side at 193cm, and is another Blues fans will be eager to see pressing his claims.
KFC SuperCoach watch: Brodie Kemp, DEF $156,800
COLLINGWOOD
Potential R1 debutants: Nick Daicos, Charlie Dean
There has been plenty of hype surrounding father-son Daicos, and rightfully so given his extraordinary talent. A halfback/midfield role beckons for the classy draftee, and as then coach Nathan Buckley said a year ago after he sparkled in a Collingwood practice game, Daicos was capable of playing for the Magpies in 2021. Collingwood’s recent double defensive blow Jordan Roughead and Jeremy Howe play into the hands of mature-age rookie Dean, who shone as an interceptor in the VFL last season. The 2021 Fothergill-Round-Mitchell medallist, awarded to the standout young talent in the VFL, should get the opportunity during the pre-season to put his hand up for a spot in the Magpies defence. Injury-hit father-son Will Kelly looks to be having a strong pre-season after three senior games in the last two years, and there are spots up for grabs in attack.
KFC SuperCoach watch: Charlie Dean, DEF $102,400
ESSENDON
Potential R1 debutants: Nic Martin (train-on), Ben Hobbs, Garrett McDonough
A year ago, Essendon gave mature-age WAFL forward Alec Waterman a list spot in the supplemental period after kicking multiple goals in a practice match. History appears to be repeating itself with 190cm Subiaco forward Martin, who put his hand up to join Waterman at the Bombers after booting four goals in recent intra-club match. The 20-year-old, along with promising small forward Wanganeen – the son of Bombers Brownlow medallist Gavin – will be pressing their case for Essendon’s two vacant list spots. With Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti’s return date unknown, watch their practice match progress with interest. The draft’s contested beast Hobbs may find it tough to break into the Bombers on-ball brigade but he has the frame and ball-winning ability to put himself in the mix. List boss Adrian Dodoro flagged after the draft last year that long-kicking McDonough was “going to play” in 2022. While the running defender he has been predominantly with the weaker side in match simulation, he is another who could strengthen his standing during the pre-season, along with powerful, injury-riddled key forward Kaine Baldwin.
KFC SuperCoach watch: Ben Hobbs, MID $153,300
GEELONG
Potential R1 debutants: Cooper Stephens
It looms as another difficult year for youngsters to break into an experienced side, but 188cm midfielder Stephens has finally caught a break after an injury-riddled start to his career. Speedster Holmes managed nine games in the back end of last year, including both the semi and preliminary finals, and will be another contending for a spot in the Geelong side over the pre-season matches. It is an important season for versatile tall Sam De Koning, with the first-round draftee adding considerable size to his frame.
KFC SuperCoach watch: Cooper Stephens, MID, $123,900
HAWTHORN
Potential R1 debutants: Josh Ward, Connor MacDonald, Ned Long
It is only a matter of time before Ward makes his Hawthorn debut and it looks to be sooner rather than later. The dependable draftee is ready to go has been playing predominantly as a midfielder in match simulation. Strong form in the pre-season matches will make it hard to ignore the No. 7 pick for Round 1. Other first-year midfielders who will press their case are MacDonald and Long, while second-year Hawks Connor Downie – who debuted as an unused substitute – and running machine Finn Maginness are others looking to work their way into the Hawthorn midfield. Keep an eye out for 23-year-old small forward Vincent Adduci, a Box Hill Hawks star who has been training with the club in pursuit of a list spot.
KFC SuperCoach watch: Josh Ward, MID, $180,300
MELBOURNE
Potential R1 debutants: None
Good luck to any young Demon vying for spots in this settled line-up with hardly any injury troubles to speak of – besides the recent calf setback to key defender Harry Petty. However, composed defender Jake Bowey will be a player of interest this pre-season after becoming a premiership player in just his seventh game. Could key position swingman Jacob van Rooyen, who has been training as a forward since joining the Demons in mid-January from Western Australia, contend for a spot later in the season?
KFC SuperCoach watch: Jake Bowey, DEF $265,600
NORTH MELBOURNE
Potential R1 debutants: Jason Horne-Francis
Take it to the bank, Horne-Francis is lining up for North Melbourne in Round 1. A spectacular leaping pack mark in match simulation on Friday underlined what the No. 1 pick is capable of, and two seasons against men in the SANFL has him battle hardened and ready to make an instant impact. A trio of talls will also be among those competing for Round 1 spots, with off-season recruit Callum Coleman-Jones, one-gamer Charlie Comben and Tristan Xerri catching the eye in internal trials. The pre-season matches should give us an insight into David Noble’s forward/ruck mix in the early stages of 2022. Second-year midfielders Tom Powell, who has been a standout on the track, and Will Phillips will also be ones to watch, along with exciting forward Eddie Ford.
KFC SuperCoach watch: Charlie Comben, FWD/RUC, $123,900
PORT ADELAIDE
Potential R1 debutants: Josh Sinn, Jackson Mead
Sinn’s pushed his case for a Round 1 berth with an eye-catching display in Port Adelaide’s internal trial, where his trademark speed was on full display on a wing. The electric draftee won three holding the ball free kicks and booted a goal, mixing between the stronger and weaker side. More performances like this in the Power’s pre-season games and he will be hard to ignore for their clash with season-opener against Brisbane. Uncapped father-son Jackson Mead is in contention to fill a role in the Port Adelaide midfield in his third year after a promising pre-season, while mature-age swingman Sam Skinner could enter the frame if given opportunities during the pre-season. The former Lion was picked up after being transformed into an intercept marking force in the SANFL last year. Hardened youngster Lachie Jones was hampered by injuries last year and the cult-hero can look to cement his spot in the Power backline.
KFC SuperCoach watch: Josh Sinn, DEF/MID, $157,800
RICHMOND
Potential R1 debutants: Josh Gibcus
The talk out of Punt Road suggests Gibcus is impressing, with the key defender looming as a possible Round 1 starter. The intercept king of the 2021 draft class, who attacks the ball in the air like Melbourne All-Australian Jake Lever, should be given the chance to press his claims in Richmond’s practice games. Draft slider Tyler Sonsie was promising through the midfield in their Saturday morning intra-club clash. The talented midfielder proved he can match it with senior bodies last year, booting two goals and winning 24 touches on VFL debut for Box Hill. Tiger supporters got to see more of Riley Collier-Dawkins – another intra-club standout – last year and the inside midfielder will hunting greater opportunity in 2022. Midfielder Thomson Dow will be contending with Collier-Dawkins, while a second pre-season under Maurice Rioli Jnr’s belt makes him another to keep tabs on after exceeding expectations in his first year.
KFC SuperCoach watch: Josh Gibcus, DEF, $171,300
ST KILDA
Potential R1 debutants: Jack Hayes (train-on)
Hayes, 24, is no spring chicken but the train-on player is capable of filling a role immediately at the next level. The mobile big man, who has dominated for Woodville-West Torrens in the SANFL for several years, is the players in the mix for one of St Kilda’s vacant list spots. After impressing in match practice, the pre-season matches shape as an important period for the South Australian as he chases an AFL berth. St Kilda’s first selection Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera fills a need with his elite kicking and looms as an inclusion at some stage this year, but will it be early? Athletic 193cm forward Cooper Sharman’s rapid rise from the SANFL Reserves to the AFL ranks last year culminated in a rousing four-goal haul in the final round. His three goals in the recent Saints trial game suggests there is more excitement to come as he vies to cement a spot in the Saints attack.
WESTERN BULLDOGS
Potential R1 debutants: Nil
Bulldogs fans will be eagerly awaiting the debut of father-son prodigy Sam Darcy, but it may not come this year as he recovers from a stress fracture in his foot and adds to his slender build. But the club’s other precocious key position youngster, No. 1 pick Jamarra Ugle-Hagan, will be a big talking point after the cruel ACL blow to Josh Bruce on the eve of finals last year. Superstar Marcus Bontempelli has taken 197cm talent under his wing and strong form in the pre-season matches will help him nail down a spot in the Bulldogs attack. Mature-age rookie Charlie Parker is another to track after impressing with his endurance during the pre-season.
KFC SuperCoach watch: Charlie Parker $102.4k, FWD/MID
Ablett family reveal details of son’s condition
Jordan and Gary Ablett had been reluctant to discuss many details about their little boy’s heartbreaking condition until now.
Four Cats sign on as flag trio remain without deals
Four Cats have signed short-term contracts with the club, including a free agent. It means three ageing stars are the only uncontracted Geelong players at the club.