Mick McGuane: Every AFL club’s breakout star and the players who need to lift

If the Blues want to bounce back from last week and maintain their impressive start to the season, they need more from a certain big-contract player, writes Mick McGuane.

Four weeks into the season, Collingwood premiership player and leading footy analyst Mick McGuane has run the rule over every team and picked out the players that have exceeded expectations so far and those who haven’t quite delivered.

He’s given a ‘Big Tick’ to a host of players across the competition – young and old – whose stocks have risen this year.

But he’s also put the ‘Needs to Lift’ tag on some high-profile players who have plenty of room for improvement.

Adelaide’s Rory Sloane needs to tidy up his kicking. Picture: Getty Images

ADELAIDE

Big Tick: Josh Rachele

In his debut season, Rachele is Adelaide’s leading goalkicker with 10.2 from the opening month. He oozes confidence and class and the way he plays the game is infectious. For a young player, he gets it done in critical moments. When he adds some more strength he will be a very powerful player.

Needs to Lift: Rory Sloane

I’ve long been an admirer of Sloane. But his team needs him to use the ball better. Even though he wins a lot of footy in congestion, his kicking efficiency is 51.6 per cent which rates below average. He also needs to add greater scoreboard impact, having gone goalless from three games so far.

BRISBANE

Big Tick: Marcus Adams

Defenders who back themselves in to take marks are worth their weight in gold in the modern game and Adams is exactly that. He is averaging the second-most intercept marks in the competition with 5.5 a game and is also quite sure with ball in hand when he does win it back.

Needs to Lift: Hugh McCluggage

The wingman finished second in the Lions’ best and fairest last year but I’m not convinced he’s hit his straps yet this season. There is scope for improvement with his decision making and execution and he can at times be overzealous and give away silly free kicks, which he needs to iron out of his game.

Marc Pittonet has been as important as anyone at Carlton this year. Picture: Getty Images

CARLTON

Big Tick: Marc Pittonet

The ruckman’s importance was on show when he missed the Blues’ loss with Gold Coast last weekend. In the first three weeks, he’d been giving the Carlton midfielders the ball a silver platter with elite hitouts to advantage. His next challenge is to take more marks around the ground.

Need to Lift: Jack Martin

The former Sun joined the Blues on a juicy long-term contract. It’s time to justify that. He’s had some injury concerns, but he’s got more to give. Martin has kicked just one goal this season and rates below average for forward-50 pressure. He needs to improve his work rate to put his offensive attributes on show.

COLLINGWOOD

Big Tick: Patrick Lipinski

The ex-Bulldog is taking his opportunity at Collingwood with both hands. He’s averaging 24.5 disposals, has a great balance between his clearance work and uncontested possession on the outside and can impact the scoreboard in attack, having kicked goals in three of his four games this year.

Needs to Lift: Will Hoskin-Elliott

When the pressure’s on, there are question marks around Hoskin-Elliott’s competitiveness. He’s an outside player and finisher, but he needs to shift his attitude to one which puts more emphasis on defensive work rate. We don’t see him chase down opponents often enough. He is averaging just two tackles and rates below average for pressure.

ESSENDON

Big Tick: Peter Wright

The towering tall has become a legitimate presence inside 50 for the Bombers, who are now trusting him as their target going forward. Assistant coach Dale Tapping has done a lot of work with Wright, who is averaging the most contested marks of any key forward in the competition with 2.8 a game and the third-most score involvements. When Essendon targets Wright inside-50, it kicks a goal 27 per cent of the time, making him the fourth-best target in the game.

Needs to Lift: Devon Smith

The small forward was dropped after Round 2 because he wasn’t winning enough of the footy or putting on enough tackling pressure. But there has been a clear attitude shift since, because the hunger returned when he came on as medical substitute last week and was the top-ranked player on the ground in the second half. The dropping might be the spark Smith needed to get back to his 2018 best-and-fairest form.

Devon Smith was much better for Essendon last week after a slow start to the season. Picture: Getty Images)

FREMANTLE

Big Tick: Will Brodie

The former No. 9 draft pick couldn’t crack a game in the Gold Coast midfield, but it’s been great to see him make the most of his opportunity with the Dockers. He works hard both ways, rates elite for contested possessions and has been Fremantle’s second-ranked midfielder behind Andrew Brayshaw this year.

Needs to Lift: Michael Walters

Earlier in his career, Walters wanted to become a midfielder as opposed to the specialist forward he is renowned for. The sooner he accepts playing where the team needs him, the better. His goalkicking radar has been off – having booted 2.5 from 10 shots on goal this year – and his ageing body is catching up with him. But he remains a player with X-Factor ability.

GEELONG

Big Tick: Isaac Smith

At 33 years old, Smith’s energy has returned, he’s accumulating the footy at will and running as hard as ever. He’s averaging a career-high five inside-50s a game and an impressive 466 metres gained. The former Hawk has got to know his teammates and how they play in his second season with the Cats. His leadership has also been strong.

Needs to Lift: Cam Guthrie

An All-Australian and club best-and-fairest in 2020, Guthrie has a high ceiling that he hasn’t quite reached this year. He plays his best footy when he has a high work rate and gets from contest to contest. His pressure game has still been good, but he is averaging his fewest disposals since 2019 at 20.8 a game.

Isaac Smith is getting it done for Geelong at age 33. Picture: Michael Klein

GOLD COAST

Big Tick: Noah Anderson

The No. 2 draft pick from 2019 has come out of the shadow of No. 1 pick Matt Rowell and is a serious player in his own right. He knows how to win the footy and knows how to use it, rating above average for clearances and elite for metres gained. If he can tidy up his inside-50 kicking on occasions, he will be even better.

Needs to Lift: Jack Lukosius

It’s always difficult in a new role, but for an elite kick the defender-turned-forward has managed just 3.5 from 10 shots on goal this season. He missed three shots against Carlton last week that you’d expect him to nail. If Lukosius can replicate his field kicking in front of the big sticks, he can be a serious weapon.

GWS

Big Tick: Tom Green

Couldn’t be more impressed with Green. He has great balance as a midfielder between his contested and uncontested game, he’s a clearance beast and is hitting the scoreboard with an average of 1.5 goals a game. GWS’s No. 1 ranked player and the fourth-ranked midfielder in the competition, he’s bearing the fruits of some hard work over summer.

Needs to Lift: Jesse Hogan

The key forward has been in the footy wilderness but has got a chance at a third club. He needs to awake the giant within, because his team needs him. Hogan is a potential game-changer but I’d like to see him play with some more mongrel and attack and demand the ball more, which will also benefit those around him.

Jesse Hogan needs to bring some more mongrel to his game. Picture: Getty Images

HAWTHORN

Big Tick: Mitch Lewis

A return of 12.6 so far is remarkable for a key forward in a team that’s in a development phase. Lewis has also taken 18 forward-50 marks and 11 contested marks – the latter ranking him equal-first in the competition among key forwards. I didn’t see this rapid improvement coming in his sixth season, but hopefully there’s more to come.

Needs to Lift: Tom Phillips

After playing such an important role for Collingwood in its 2018 campaign, Phillips now finds himself on the outer at the Hawks. The wingman has spent the past two weeks in the VFL, which wouldn’t sit comfortably with him. Still only 25 years old, we’ll find out a bit about Phillips and his willingness to be a regular senior player in coming weeks.

MELBOURNE

Big Tick: Luke Jackson

Out of contract at the end of the year, the young ruckman’s value is rising by the week. His ruck work has been top-notch and his follow-up work at ground level is as good as any big man in the game. Remarkably, the 20-year-old is the fifth-ranked ruckman in the competition this season.

Needs to Lift: Kysaiah Pickett

The small forward’s pressure has been elite, but he hasn’t quite had the scoreboard impact of last year just yet. Pickett has booted only three goals from his first four games, after kicking 40 goals from 25 games last season. If he keeps bringing the heat, the scores will come.

Luke Jackson’s value is rising by the week. Picture: Michael Klein

NORTH MELBOURNE

Big Tick: Luke McDonald

It hasn’t been easy playing in the Kangaroos’ backline this year, but McDonald has shown great leadership in trying to stem the tide. He gives great heart and effort and is an experienced player even if he is not as big a name as some in the side. McDonald rates elite for intercept marks and one-on-one contests.

Needs to Lift: Jaidyn Stephenson

Sometimes Stephenson’s effort and body language on the field is not reflective of a player who wants to be out there. When things are going well, he enjoys the moment. When things are going pear-shaped, he doesn’t seem willing to change them. We know the talent he’s got, but does he want to become a consistent performer? It’s time to step up.

PORT ADELAIDE

Big Tick: Travis Boak

You have to marvel at Boak’s preparation and professionalism to keep doing what he’s doing at 34 years old. His gut running ability is as good as ever and if you’re a younger opponent, Boak shows you where you need to get to. Everyone marvelled at what he did last season and he’s lifted again. He’s carrying a struggling team on his shoulders at the moment.

Needs to Lift: Connor Rozee

Sometimes you’ve just got to simplify your game. A run down tackle can lift a team and can get you into a game and Rozee needs to remember this. We’re not seeing the consistent effort that he had when he started his AFL career and therefore we’re not seeing enough of his natural talent. If he wants to be the player we think he can be, he needs to roll the sleeves up and get to work.

Connor Rozee needs to roll up his sleeves for Port. Picture: Getty Images

RICHMOND

Big Tick: Shai Bolton

This is a guy that you pay money to go and watch. His highlights real grows by the week, he’s got great spatial awareness, serious speed and high-marking ability. He’s averaging 2.5 goals and 7.5 score involvements a game – which are elite numbers – but can also provide a point of difference with a stint in the midfield. Special mention to Daniel Rioli, too, who has been sensational in a new role down back.

Needs to Lift: Shane Edwards

A largely unsung hero during the Tigers’ years of premiership success, Edwards hasn’t had the impact he would have liked thus far this season. He’s a leader and his side needs him to deliver more, particularly in the absence of Dustin Martin. Edwards is averaging just 14.3 disposals – his worst return since 2009.

ST KILDA

Big Tick: Max King

What more can you say about this key forward’s start to the season? He’s growing into a man before our eyes and is the equal-leader in the Coleman Medal race alongside Tom Hawkins on the back of becoming more dominant one-on-one. King ranks equal-first in the competition for contested marks, second for marks inside 50 and has had more shots at goal than any other player.

Needs to Lift: Brad Hill

The big-money recruit of three years ago was sensational in a different role in attack against Hawthorn last weekend. But one big game doesn’t make a season. Will we see more of what Hill produced in Round 4? Saints fans will hope so. However, it’s a watch this space because consistency hasn’t been his strong suit.

Max King has been huge for St Kilda. Picture: Michael Klein

SYDNEY

Big Tick: Nick Blakey

Playing a running halfback role, Blakey is complementing the Swans’ lockdown and intercept defenders well and provides great rebound from the back half. He is averaging elite numbers for metres gained (540m a game) and rebound 50s (6.5 a game). His energy and effort is contagious.

Needs to Lift: Logan McDonald

Fresh from signing a new contract, McDonald took his medicine after being dropped to the VFL after Round 2 and has since starred in the seconds, taking 19 marks (11 contested) and kicking 7 goals across two games. His upside is enormous and with Lance Franklin now out, the Swans will be looking to him to step up at senior level and own his position within the team.

WEST COAST

Big Tick: Willie Rioli

It’s been great to see Rioli overcome some personal challenges and return to the Eagles with a bang at a time of need for the club. He’s been one of the stories of the year so far and leads West Coast’s goalkicking with eight majors. He brings class, vision and pressure and will only get better as he will benefit from more match fitness the more games he plays.

Needs to Lift: Bailey Williams

With Nic Naitanui and Oscar Allen on the sidelines through injury, the Eagles need a hero to step up in the ruck and it’s over you, Bailey. Williams is only 11 games into his career, but was a second-round draft pick in 2018. It’s time for him to justify the faith that the recruiters showed in him and put a stake in the ground and help turns the Eagles season around.

Tim English has turned his game around this year. Picture: Michael Klein

WESTERN BULLDOGS

Big Tick: Tim English

After a tough 2021, English needed to lift and he has. His ruck work has been strong, his follow-up work has been great, he’s competing strongly and he has had more score involvements than any other ruckman in the competition this season. However, I’d like to see the Bulldogs play a second specialist ruckman, which would allow English to spend more time forward. The side looks quite one-dimensional with Aaron Naughton as the only key target in attack. Bevo, play Jordan Sweet and find out if he can measure up as a support ruckman.

Needs to Lift: Tom Liberatore

The Bulldogs’ best clearance player from last year has not started at a centre bounce once this season and I don’t understand why. I’d be asking Luke Beveridge to get him back to where he plays his best football – and that’s not at half-forward or on a wing. When Liberatore gets to work and gets nasty in the thick of the action, it benefits the team. Liberatore has had 27 centre bounce attendances this season, compared to 80 for Jack Macrae. He’s being coached out of the game – not into it – which is not his fault. Fix it, Bevo.