AFL 2024: Every club’s best 23 for season opener

Who makes the cut and who misses out? Our experts have named every club’s best 23 ahead of the AFL season. See if they got it right here.

AFL best 23s for the 2024 season.

Players from all 18 clubs have busted a gut over the last few months to push their case for a spot in the senior team come the start of the season.

Now footy is just around the corner, and that hard work will pay off for some while others will be unlucky to miss out.

Our experts have had a crack at naming the best 23 for every club’s season opener.

Did we get it right? See for yourself.

Chris Burgess is predicted to take Riley Thilthorpe’s spot in Adelaide’s best 23. Picture: AFC

ADELAIDE

Best 23 for Round 1

B: J. Worrell, J. Butts, M. Michalanney

HB: B. Smith, M. Keane, W. Milera

C: C. Jones, J. Dawson, L. Sholl

HF: B. Keays, C. Burgess, J. Rachele

FF: L. Murphy, T. Walker, D. Fogarty

Foll: R. O’Brien, R. Laird, I. Rankine

INTER: M. Crouch, J. Soligo, L. Pedlar, M. Hinge

Sub: S. Berry

Notable absentees: R. Thilthorpe (knee), R. Sloane (eye), N. Murray (knee), H. Schoenberg (Achilles)

Lachie Neale will lead the Lions midfield again in 2024. Picture: Getty Images

BRISBANE

Best 23 for Opening Round

FB: B. Starcevich, H. Andrews, R. Lester

HB: K. Coleman, J. Payne, D. Wilmot

C: J. Fletcher, J. Dunkley, J. Berry

HF: C. Cameron, E. Hipwood, Z. Bailey

FF: C. Rayner, J. Daniher, L. McCarthy

Foll: O. McInerney, L. Neale, H. McCluggage

INTER: D. Zorko, K. Lohmann, J. Lyons, C. Ah Chee

Sub: J. Tunstill

Notable absentees: Tom Doedee, Will Ashcroft, Connor McKenna

Will Orazio Fantasia make his Carlton debut? Picture: Getty Images

CARLTON

Best 23 for Opening Round

B: Zac Williams, Lewis Young, Adam Saad

HB: Brodie Kemp, Mitch McGovern, Nic Newman

C: Blake Acres, Patrick Cripps, Ollie Hollands

HF: Tom De Koning, Harry McKay, Sam Docherty

FF: Orazio Fantasia, Charlie Curnow, Lochie Fogarty

Foll: Marc Pittonet, Adam Cerra, George Hewett

INTER: Alex Cincotta, Matt Cottrell, David Cuningham, Jordan Boyd

Sub: Jaxon Binns

Notable absentees: Sam Walsh (back), Jesse Motlop (toe), Caleb Marchbank (illness), Jack Martin (medial ligament), Jack Silvagni (ACL), Elijah Hollands (AFL ban), Jacob Weitering (calf)

Finlay Macrae is right on the edge of Collingwood’s best 23. Picture: Getty Images

COLLINGWOOD

Best 23 for Opening Round

B: Brayden Maynard, Darcy Moore, Oleg Markov

HB: Isaac Quaynor, Charlie Dean, Scott Pendlebury

C: Josh Daicos, Jordan De Goey, Steele Sidebottom

HF: Bobby Hill, Brody Mihocek, Beau McCreery

FF: Lachie Schultz, Mason Cox, Jamie Elliott

Foll: Darcy Cameron, Jack Crisp, Nick Daicos

INTER: Tom Mitchell, Will Hoskin-Elliott, Patrick Lipinski, Ash Johnson

Sub: Fin Macrae

Notable absentees: Jeremy Howe (quad), Nathan Murphy (conditioning), Dan McStay (knee), Billy Frampton, John Noble, Reef McInnes, Charlie Dean, Harvey Harrison, Nathan Kreuger (hamstring), Ed Allan

Ben McKay is one of four Bombers likley to make their club debut in round 1. Picture: Getty Images

ESSENDON

Best 23 for round 1

FB: A. McGrath, B. McKay, N. Cox

HB: N. Martin, Z. Reid, M. Redman

C: X. Duursma, D. Parish, S. Durham

HF: J. Gresham, K. Langford, M. Guelfi

FF: H. Jones, P. Wright, J. Stringer

Foll: T. Goldstein, Z. Merrett, W. Setterfield

INTER: D. Heppell, J. Caldwell, J. Menzie, E. Tsatas

Sub: A. Perkins

Notable absentees: S. Draper (groin) J. Ridley (quad), D. Shiel (foot), J. Kelly (hamstring)

Hayden Young looks a force in the middle for Fremantle, impressing again in that position against Port Adelaide on the weekend. Picture: Getty Images

FREMANTLE

Best 23 for round 1

FB: B. Cox, A. Pearce, J. Clark

HB: J. Aish, L. Ryan, E. Hughes

C: M. Johnson, A. Brayshaw, J. Sharp

HF: M. Walters, L. Jackson, S. Switkowksi

FF: P. Voss, J. Amiss, T. Emmett

Foll: S. Darcy, C. Serong, H. Young

INTER: N. Fyfe, M. Frederick, B. Walker, C. Simpson,

Sub: J. O’Meara

Notable absentees: H. Chapman, N. O’Driscoll, J. Corbett, S. Kuek

Oliver Dempsey is predicted to have done enough in pre-season to earn a round 1 spot. Picture: Getty Images

GEELONG

Best 23 for round 1

FB: Z. Guthrie, S. De Koning, J. Kolodjashnij

HB: T. Stewart, J. Henry, M. Holmes

C: M. Blicavs, T. Bruhn, M. Duncan

HF: B. Close, T. Hawkins, T. Stengle

FF: G. Miers, J. Cameron, S. Neale

Foll: R. Stanley, P. Dangerfield, T. Atkins

INTER: J. Clark, M. O’Connor, O. Dempsey, O. Henry

Sub: J. Bowes

Notable absentees: G.Rohan (back), C.Guthrie (quad)

Despite sitting in second spot on the club’s all-time goalkickers list, Alex Sexton has been unleashed off half-back. Picture: Getty Images

GOLD COAST

Best 23 for Opening Round

FB: W. Powell, S. Collins, S. Lemmens

HB: C. Budarick, C. Ballard, A. Sexton

C: B. Ellis, N. Anderson, B. Fiorini

HF: B. Ainsworth, J. Lukosius, B. Humphrey

FF: M. Andrew, B. King, T. Berry

Foll: J. Witts, T. Miller, M. Rowell

INTER: S. Flanders, D. Swallow, N. Holman, D. Macpherson

Sub: B. Uwland

Notable absentees: Lachie Weller, Jed Walter, Jake Rogers

Finn Callaghan is racing the clock for Opening Round. Picture: Phil Hillyard

GWS

Best 23 for Opening Round

B: Connor Idun, Sam Taylor, Jack Buckley

HB: Lachie Whitfield, Harry Himmelberg, Lachie Ash

C: Xavier O’Halloran, Tom Green, Finn Callaghan (test)

HF: Brent Daniels, Jake Riccardi, Toby Bedford

F: Toby Greene, Jesse Hogan, Aaron Cadman

Foll: Kieren Briggs, Josh Kelly, Stephen Coniglio

INTER: Callum Brown, Callan Ward, Jacob Wehr, Harvey Thomas,

Sub: Nick Haynes

Notable absentees: Harry Perryman (hamstring), Isaac Cumming (quad)

Mabior Chol is just one of the four new Hawks predicted to line-up in the forward line. Picture: Getty Images

HAWTHORN

Best 23 for round 1

FB: J. Weddle, J. Sicily, J. Impey

HB: J. Scrimshaw, S. Frost, K. Amon

C: C. Macdonald, C. Nash, J. Ward

HF: J. Ginnivan, M. Lewis, L. Breust

FF: N. Watson, M. Chol, J. Gunston

Foll: N. Reeves, J. Newcombe, J. Worpel

INTER: B. Hardwick, C. Mackenzie, H. Hustwaite, D. Moore.

Sub: H. Morrison

Notable absentees: W. Day (foot), C. Jiath (hamstring), J. Blanck (knee), C. Wingard (Achilles), D. Grainger-Barras (toe).

Demons players congratulate Caleb Windsor on being named to debut for Melbourne alongside Blake Howes and Jack Billings. Picture: Getty Images

MELBOURNE

Best 23 for Opening Round

FB: A. Tomlinson, S. May, J. Bowey

HB: J. McVee, J. Lever, J. Rivers

C: E. Langdon, J. Viney, C. Windsor

HF: A. Neal-Bullen, B. Fritsch, T. Sparrow

FF: K. Chandler, J. van Rooyen, J. Schache

Foll: M. Gawn, C. Petracca, C. Oliver

INTER: B. Howes, C. Spargo, C. Salem, J. Billings

Sub: B.Laurie

Notable absentees: K. Pickett (suspension), J. Smith (suspension), L. Hunter (calf), S. McAdam (calf), H. Petty (toe), J. Melksham (knee), T. Fullarton (hamstring).

Colby McKercher (L) and Zane Duursma (R) are locks to debut for the Roos. Picture: David Crosling

NORTH MELBOURNE

Best 23 for round 1

B: Z. Fisher, T. Pink, A. Corr

HB: C. McKercher, K. Dawson, H. Sheezel

C: B. Scott, J. Simpkin, D. Stephens

HF: Z. Duursma, C. Coleman-Jones, T. Powell

FF: C. Zurhaar, N. Larkey, P. Curtis

Foll: T. Xerri, L. Davies-Uniacke, G. Wardlaw

INTER: L. McDonald, W. Phillips, J. Stephenson, E. Ford

Sub: C. Lazzaro

Notable absentees: G.Logue (knee)

Ivan Soldo looks to have won the ruck battle over Jordan Sweet at the Power. Picture: Getty Images

PORT ADELAIDE

Best 23 for round 1: 

FB: B. Zerk-Thatcher, E. Ratugolea, L. Jones 

HB: D. Houston, A. Aliir, K. Farrell

C: M. Bergman, C. Rozee, W. Drew 

HF: J. Horne-Francis, T. Marshall, J. McEntee

FF: W. Rioli, C. Dixon, O. Lord

Foll: I. Soldo, O. Wines, Z. Butters

INTER: T. Boak, R. Burton, D. Byrne-Jones, J. Mead

Sub: D. Williams

Notable absentees: S Powell-Pepper (suspended), Mitch Georgiades (injury return)

Sam Naismith looks set to take the No. 1 ruck spot for Richmond in the absence of Toby Nankervis. Picture: Getty Images

RICHMOND

Best 23 for Opening Round

FB: Nick Vlastuin, Tylar Young, Josh Gibcus

HB: Jayden Short, Nathan Broad, Daniel Rioli

C: Kamdyn McIntosh, Dion Prestia, Sam Banks

HF: Liam Baker, Noah Balta, Shai Bolton,

FF: Dustin Martin, Jacob Koschitzke, Samson Ryan

R: Sam Naismith, Thomson Dow, Tim Taranto

INTER: Jacob Hopper, Tom Brown, Dylan Grimes, Marlion Pickett

Sub: Jack Ross

Notable absentees: Tom Lynch (foot), Toby Nankervis (foot), Jack Graham (quad), Ryan Mansell (syndesmosis), Tyler Sonsie (suspended)

Riley Bonner starred in St Kilda’s two practice matches and will debut for his club in round 1. Picture: Getty Images

ST KILDA

Best 23 for round 1

B: R. Bonner, Z. Cordy, L. Stocker

HB: N. Wanganeen-Milera, C. Wilkie, J. Battle

C: M. Wood, J. Steele, B. Hill

HF: D. Wilson, T. Membrey, M. Owens

FF: C. Sharman, M. King, J. Higgins

Foll: R. Marshall, M. Phillipou, S. Ross

INTER: R. Byrnes, B.Crouch, H.Garcia, L.Henry

Sub: M. Windhager

Notable absentees: P.Dow (knee), Z.Jones (concussion), J.Sinclair (calf), H.Clark (calf), D.Howard (hamstring)

Brodie Grundy will make his Sydney debut against his former side. Picture: Phil Hillyard

SYDNEY

Best 23 for Opening Round

B: Jake Lloyd, Tom McCartin, Harry Cunningham

HB: Nick Blakey, Dane Rampe, Matt Roberts

C: James Jordon, Chad Warner, Errol Gulden

HF: Tom Papley, Hayden McLean, Sam Wicks

FF: Will Hayward, Joel Amartey, Logan McDonald

Foll: Brodie Grundy, Isaac Heeney, James Rowbottom

INTER: Ollie Florent, Angus Sheldrick, Braeden Campbell, Justin McInerney

Sub: Robbie Fox

Notable absentees: Callum Mills (shoulder), Luke Parker (arm), Taylor Adams (knee)

All eyes are on Harley Reid in the Eagles’ season opener. Picture: Getty Images

WEST COAST

Best 23 for round 1 

FB: A. Witherden, T. Barrass, T. Cole

HB: L. Duggan, J. McGovern, H. Reid
C: J. Hunt, E. Yeo, A. Gaff

HF: N. Long, O. Allen, J. Cripps

FF: J. Petrucelle, J. Darling, R. Maric

Foll: B. Williams, T. Kelly, R. Ginbey

INTER: J. Waterman, D. Sheed, T. Brockman, C. Chesser

Sub: B. Hough

Notable absentees: M. Flynn, L. Ryan, E. Hewett, J. Culley, J. Jones

Caleb Daniel’s selection is up in the air. Picture: Michael Klein

WESTERN BULLDOGS

Best 23 for round 1

FB: B. Dale, L. Jones, N. Coffield

HB: E. Richards, B. Khamis, T. Duryea

C: A. Treloar, R. Sanders, B. Williams

HF: C. Weightman, R. Lobb, R. West

FF: J. Ugle-Hagan, A. Naughton, L. McNeil

Foll: T. English, M. Bontempelli, T. Liberatore

INTER: J. Harmes, L. Bramble, J. Macrae, J. Johannisen

Sub: C. Daniel

Notable absentees: B. Smith (knee), S. Darcy (not selected), J. O’Donnell (ankle)

Originally published as AFL 2024: Every club’s best 23 for season opener