AFL practice matches: The big question marks and players to watch
With AFL clubs returning to play their unofficial practice matches this week, we break down every game’s question marks and talking points ahead of each clash.
With the unofficial practice matches officially under way, fans will be heading out to football grounds or hitting the couch to watch their favourite teams get ready for the 2024 season.
Melbourne and Richmond kicked off the week of games with a seven-period hit out ahead of their respective official Community Series matches, with spectators packing out Casey Fields on Sunday.
Break down each games’ talking points and players to watch here.
Collingwood v North Melbourne
Wednesday, February 21
AIA Vitality Centre, Melbourne, 10am AEDT
There is plenty to watch for both clubs’ supporters, as well as the neutrals that will undoubtedly tune in. George Wardlaw and Luke Davies-Uniake dominated the club’s intra-club last week, but coming up against the competition’s benchmark will be a different story. Can the pair of Roos stand up against the likes of Nick Daicos, Jordan De Goey and Jack Crisp? Charlie Lazzaro had an huge role in the midfield during the intra-club and looks like a chance to earn some centre bounce attendances over the course of the season, but in a best-22 situation can he get a similar role?
Fin Macrae dominated in the clinches during the club’s intra-club last week, so it will be a watch to see if he can do it again. If the third-year midfielder has another good outing for the Magpies, he should be in pole position to take over Taylor Adams’ midfield role. Ed Allan was another young gun that is fighting for a midfield role and he was impressive as well, but will need a good performance against the Kangaroos and then Richmond to break in and earn a debut. Plus, there are still question marks over who will fill Dan McStay’s spot in the forward line, with Reef McInnes and Ash Johnson both vying for the role.
Sydney v GWS Giants
Thursday, February 22
Tramway Oval, Sydney, 10am AEDT
Young midfielder Angus Sheldrick has been lauded by his teammates for his improvements throughout the pre-season and is a chance to feature early and often for the Swans. But with Taylor Adams coming into the side, will there be space? Skipper Callum Mills will miss the first half of the season as he recovers from his 0ff-season shoulder injury, so there will be the chance to fill that role. Chad Warner will be the main man inside the midfield, and his connection with new ruck Brodie Grundy will be important for any success the Swans are to have. Another question mark will be hanging over the forward line. With Buddy Franklin gone, Logan McDonald, Joel Amartey and Hayden McLean will need to find out who is that main target up forward and how the structure looks.
After falling agonisingly short of a grand final in Adam Kingsley’s first season in charge, all eyes will be on the Giants and how they play their football this year. The ‘Orange Tsunami’ became stuff of legend as Kingsley had waves of players running with the ball carrier. In modern AFL football the forward handball has been major assets in premiership-winning sides, look at Craig McRae’s Magpies of last year. Will Kingsley continue the trend that had the Giants as one of the competition’s most threatening sides in the back half of last year?
Carlton v Geelong
Thursday, February 22
Ikon Park, Melbourne, 11am AEDT
Two very contrasting 2023 campaigns will make this practice match intriguing for differing reasons. Carlton roared home in the back half of the season and were a kick away from a grand final, while Geelong dropped off due to injuries and poor form and failed to defend the club’s 2022 premiership. The Blues will miss Jacob Weitering down back, and with the key defender out for the opening rounds of the season all eyes will be on who replaces the star. Zac Williams is also set to feature heavily as he comes back from his ACL injury. But can the former Giant get his body right? It’s been a long time since he’s strung together a consistent season on the park.
Geelong is not a club that bottoms out, however 2024 looks to be the year of injecting some of its young talent into the mix. Tanner Bruhn had a solid year in his first campaign for the Cats and has been one of their best on track this pre-season, while Max Holmes is due for a big stint inside the centre square. But will the young stars push out the ageing veterans? Pat Dangerfield could spend more time down in the forward line, but Cam Guthrie was sorely missed last year and has come back in great shape. He is a pure midfielder and should be used in the engine room. Where does Jhye Clark fit in, and does Connor O’Sullivan slot into the hole down back after Esava Ratugolea was traded to Port Adelaide?
Brisbane v Gold Coast
Thursday, February 22
Brighton Homes Arena, Gold Coast, 6pm AEDT
The Q-Clash in February will pit a premiership contender against a side that is hoping its new coach can lead them to finals for the first time. Brisbane should be at the top end of the ladder again this year, with no real injuries to speak of and no major departures in the off-season. The watch will be on whether the Lions make any strategic changes, having fallen just four points shy of a premiership. No major overhaul is required, the Lions should be ready to go again.
There will be plenty to watch for in Gold Coast’s first official hit outs. Firstly, who are Damien Hardwick’s new favourites? Sam Flanders exploded in the second half of the 2023 season after Stuart Dew was sacked, will he remain in the midfield mix? Hardwick has referred to Bailey Humphrey as his next Dustin Martin-type player, will he be effective in that role? Who will play in the rebounding defender’s role? Plenty of questions to be answered in this practice match.
Western Bulldogs v Hawthorn
Friday, February 23
Whitten Oval, 11am AEDT
All eyes will be on Jack Macrae’s role in the Bulldogs’ outfit after the star midfielder was forced out of the engine room rotation and then dropped from the leadership group in the past 12 months. If he can regain a footing inside the centre square, he could be one of the competition’s best midfielders again. Sam Darcy has been thrown back and forward, so if he can nail down a consistent position inside Luke Beveridge’s team, he could be one to watch in his third season at the level. In saying that, Beveridge is not one to have players in consistent positions, with players like Caleb Daniel, Bailey Dale and Marcus Bontempelli often moved around the ground in an attempt to change the side’s look.
The Hawks will need to find a replacement for James Blanck, who tore his ACL in the club’s intra-club last week. Whether they look at Sam Frost, who was forced out of the best 22 last season, or move to Ethan Phillips, who signed for the season after the injury, remains to be seen. With Will Day outside of the midfield to start the season, the mix surrounding Jai Newcombe is up in the air, with Cam Mackenzie, Henry Hustwaite and Connor Macdonald all fighting for minutes inside the engine room. With Mabior Chol also landing at the Hawks, and booting three goals in the intraclub, Sam Mitchell will need to make a decision whether to run with Ned Reeves or Lloyd Meek as the sole ruck, and Friday could help make that decision.
St Kilda v Essendon
Friday, February 23
RSEA Park, 2pm AEDT
All eyes will be on Mattaes Phillipou, with track watchers suggesting the 19-year-old sensation has been training solely in the midfield for Ross Lyon’s Saints. Phillipou is one of Lyon’s favourites at St Kilda, and was drafted as a tall midfielder who can play forward, earning comparisons to Marcus Bontempelli in 2022. He played every game last season as a forward but has increased his fitness and is ready for the mix inside the centre square. The Saints will also need to figure out how to score more in 2024, so the clash against the Bombers will be a good opportunity to try a more aggressive style of football.
The Bombers brought in more ready-made talent than anyone in the league, and with it comes questions about the team’s cohesion. Friday will provide fans to see their new favourite players in action, with Ben McKay, Jade Gresham, Todd Goldstein and Xavier Duursma all expected to feature. McKay’s inclusion into the backline should free up Jordan Ridley to play an intercept role, while fans will be intrigued to see Nic Martin play his new role off half back. Nate Caddy is also knocking on the door of an early-season debut and a strong performance wouldn’t hurt his chances.
Port Adelaide v Adelaide
Friday, February 23
Alberton Oval, 5.30pm AEDT
Another team with a new-look backline, Port Adelaide will debut Esava Ratugolea and Brandon Zerk-Thatcher alongside Aliir Aliir against the Crows. But with the new talent coming in, where does that leave Tom Clurey? He has trialled as a winger this pre-season in an attempt to find him a new position, but he is likely to start the year on the outer. Connor Rozee will also captain the club for the first time, having signed a mammoth deal in the off-season to remain with the Power. How will the captaincy, as well as the eight-year-long commitment, affect the 24 year old’s output on the field?
Adelaide has plenty of question marks in its back half, with Nick Murray still recovering from a torn ACL. Tom Doedee left the club and moved to Brisbane, while Jordon Butts, Josh Worrell, Mark Keane and James Borlase are going to be required to fill the void. Dan Curtin looks likely to debut early in the season, however he was monstered when opposing Taylor Walker in the intra-club and will likely need to play on opposition’s third tall forwards, while Elliott Himmelberg has not shown much in his switch down back.
West Coast v Fremantle
Saturday, February 24
Mineral Resources Park, 7.45pm AEDT
Plenty of questions coming out of West Coast this off-season. Harley Reid has been flagged as a half back in his debut and was impressive despite limited touches in the intra-club, but how much impact can he have at AFL level? He is favourite for the Rising Star and is expected to have a big debut year, but will it be enough to turn around the struggling club? There are a number of injuries to key Eagles already this pre-season, meaning the Eagles will expose some of its depth in the practice match. Keen eyes on some of the club’s new recruits, like Matt Flynn and Tyler Brockman, who both performed well in the intra-club.
The role that Nat Fyfe plays in 2024 seems to be the biggest question coming out of Fremantle’s camp. He has been flagged as a pure midfielder, however has struggled to get, or keep, his body right during the rigours of an AFL season. He has not played double digit games in the past two seasons, and has one 20-game season (2019) in the past six years. He has also never played a full season, and eclipsed 19 matches just three times in his career. A full-time midfield role seems outlandish, however the Dockers faithful suggest he is in the best shape he has been in the past few seasons and won’t be subjected to being Fremantle’s most-important player.
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