AFL 2024: Young guns at every club who are ready to take the next step this season
So much for the second-year blues. This year’s crop of young guns appear ready to take the AFL by storm. MATT FORREST names who to watch for at every club.
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It is hard to follow in the footsteps of Nick Daicos, who in his second year elevated his game to be one of the competition’s best players.
Falling just short of being a Brownlow medallist in year two due to injury, the Magpies superstar had to settle with a premiership instead, and will continue to improve going into 2024.
Geelong legend Joel Selwood, who recently had a grandstand at GMHBA Stadium named after him, enjoyed a similar jump in his second year at the club.
Selwood went from 19.2 disposals per game in his debut season in 2007, when he helped steer the Cats to a flag, to 25.3 touches per game in 2008.
He received 19 Brownlow votes in his second season, a jump from just two votes in 2007.
While Daicos and Selwood’s second seasons were other-worldly, there have been players each year that have major performance spikes in their second season.
Find out who has the best chance at each club here.
Adelaide
2022 Draft Hand: Max Michalanney, Billy Dowling, Hugh Bond
Michalanney broke into Adelaide’s defensive six early in his career despite being a taller defender, playing 22 of a possible 23 games in his maiden season. Now with Tom Doedee leaving the Crows for Brisbane, a defensive post has opened up for the Crows, which only strengthens Michalanney’s role in the starting 22. Billy Dowling seems a fair way off AFL football, having not stood out in the pre-season, and while Hugh Bond is one of the club’s best runners, his kicking remains questionable. A breakthrough debut could be on the cards, but he would be a fair way down the pecking order.
Brisbane
2022 Draft Hand: Will Ashcroft, Jaspa Fletcher
The Lions went two-from-two with their father-son picks in last year’s draft, with Ashcroft proving he deserved to be the first overall pick. Fletcher managed to fly under the radar despite being taken 12th overall, with the winger breaking through for a debut in round 14 and never leaving the side. With Ashcroft targeting a mid-year return from a ruptured ACL, Fletcher is the last man standing as a breakout candidate. Considering he plays an outside midfield role, his chances of taking his game to another level in 2024 are high.
Carlton
2022 Draft Hand: Ollie Hollands, Lachlan Cowan, Jaxon Binns, Harry Lemmey
Hollands and Cowan both featured at times for Carlton, with Hollands becoming a regular at the Blues. There has been plenty of praise heaped on Binns this pre-season, with his VFL form in 2023 and marked improvement in the summer putting him on the edge of a debut. Lemmey still remains behind two of the league’s best key forwards in a team that also plays two rucks, so he will likely feature heavily at VFL level. Hollands can continue to develop into an elite winger at AFL level, while Binns may join him at some stage this year in the senior side too.
Collingwood
2022 Draft Hand: Ed Allan, Jakob Ryan, Joe Richards
With Taylor Adams now in Sydney, the talk of the pre-season has been whether Fin Macrae or Ed Allan replaces him in the side. While Macrae’s VFL form in 2023 and overall development has him ahead in the race at this point, Allan’s ability to play on the outside of the contest and pushing onto a wing means he should feature at some stage this season. Jakob Ryan made his debut in round 23 but was subbed off with concussion in the second quarter. He is likely behind a strong defensive group but could also feature at times. Allan is the one to watch at the Magpies.
Essendon
2022 Draft Hand: Elijah Tsatas, Lewis Hayes, Alwyn Davey, Jayden Davey
The fifth selection in last year’s draft had to battle through a meniscus injury that delayed the start of his first season at Essendon, but Tsatas finally broke through for a debut in round 21. It remains to be seen where he slots into Essendon’s midfield mix, however the tall, smooth moving ball winner will likely feature heavily in 2024. He has put on size in his first full off-season, had no injury complaints and been one of the best trainers each session. Jayden Davey should be in the frame for a debut at some stage after recovering from his ACL injury. He has spent match simulation since Christmas coming off half back.
Fremantle
2022 Draft Hand: Hugh Davies, Tom Emmett, Max Knobel, Corey Wagner
Tom Emmett broke through for a debut late in the season, with the mature-aged recruit showing he could mix it at the senior level in his two games. He booted four goals in his two matches and averaged 15 touches per contest, and with Lachie Schultz moving to Collingwood there is a spot open in the Dockers’ forward line he can fill. Hugh Davies and Max Knobel are both expected to ply their trade in the WAFL, with both key position prospects still a fair way off consistent AFL football.
Geelong
2022 Draft Hand: Jhye Clark, Phoenix Foster
The first-round pick out of the Falcons footy factory, Clark made his debut as the substitute but was promptly injured and did not feature at AFL level again in 2023. However, Clark has enjoyed an injury-free pre-season and the Cats are enamoured with the young midfielder. While Cam Guthrie should slot back into the engine room after missing most of last season, Clark will put up a fight for a spot at the dinner table and is expected to be in the conversation for a round 1 start.
Gold Coast
2022 Draft Hand: Bailey Humphrey
Bailey Humphrey is the obvious pick because he was Gold Coast’s only pick, but that does not mean he is not a chance to break out this year. Humphrey did not leave the senior side after making his debut, and he starred at times for the Suns when he got his chance through the midfield. If he can crack into a full-time engine room operator, Humphrey could be in line for a serious year.
Greater Western Sydney
2022 Draft Hand: Aaron Cadman, Harry Rowston, Darcy Jones, Max Gruzewski, Toby McMullin
The Giants had a lot of faith in Cadman being a long-term key forward star for the club when they traded up to the first overall pick, bypassing players like Harry Sheezel, George Wardlaw and Elijah Tsatas. Cadman did not enjoy an elite year, having trouble finding consistency but he still played 12 goals in a debut season as a key forward. He has put on size and increased his fitness in the off-season, and will be one to watch in the Giants side this year.
Hawthorn
2022 Draft Hand: Cam McKenzie, Josh Weddle, Henry Hustwaite, Jack O’Sullivan, Bailey Macdonald
Josh Weddle is already being touted as one of the best players to come out of the 2022 draft, after a standout second half of the season for Hawthorn. The Hawks traded up to the 18th pick to nab the key defender, who has become more of a winger/half back than a traditional lockdown. At 192cm tall and with good skills by hand and foot, Weddle could easily transition into a midfielder going forward, but his run and carry will be used in 2024 off the back line.
Melbourne
2022 Draft Hand: Matthew Jefferson, Jed Adams
While it is unlikely that either key position player really breaks out in 2024, Matthew Jefferson is the better chance given Melbourne’s forward line woes. Jefferson was close to a debut last season and had a solid season in the VFL, kicking 23 goals from 20 games including bags of four majors against Sydney and GWS’s VFL outfits.
North Melbourne
2022 Draft Hand: Harry Sheezel, George Wardlaw, Brayden George, Cooper Harvey
What a draft hand this is turning out to be. Harry Sheezel is already one of the competition’s best half backs and will likely roll through the midfield in 2024, while Brayden George is starring in his first match simulations after working his way back from a torn ACL and dislocated elbow that robbed him of his first year in the system. Cooper Harvey broke into the senior side and played three games, but it is the buzz of George Wardlaw that has many North Melbourne fans excited. He only played eight games last season as he battled hamstring complaints, but he was as exciting a talent as the Kangaroos have seen. Adding on size and building on his fitness this off-season, Wardlaw has not experienced any injury setbacks this summer and is expected to make a quantum leap in 2024. He could be one of the league’s best young midfielders by the end of the season.
Port Adelaide
2022 Draft Hand: Tom McCallum, Thomas Scully, Kyle Marshall
It will likely be a developmental year for the Power’s three key position pick-ups from 2022. Tom McCallum is the most likely of the three to break through, with Tom Clurey out of favour and being trialled on a wing. Port Adelaide brought in Esava Ratugolea and Brandon Zerk-Thatcher in the off-season, with both likely to plug holes in defence, meaning McCallum and Marshall are biding their time as back ups. Thomas Scully was drafted as a prospect and will continue to develop in the SANFL.
Richmond
2022 Draft Hand: Kaleb Smith, Steely Green
Kaleb Smith was ruled out of a maiden season debut after being put on the inactive list midway through the campaign. The young defender suffered a bone stress injury to his navicular bone in February in 2023, with the club deciding in May to put him on the inactive list. He had been impressive in his first pre-season, and he is back training with the main group so far this summer, and is expected to feature in the match simulation and community series matches coming up.
St Kilda
2022 Draft Hand: Mattaes Phillipou, James Van Es, Olli Hotton, Isaac Keeler
The youngest player out of the 2022 draft, Mattaes Phillipou is still barely 19 years old and already has 23 games of AFL football under his belt. Playing primarily as a medium-sized forward, Phillipou has put on some extra size this off-season and has featured prominently in the midfield rotation at the Saints’ match practice. It will be hard to earn a full time role inside the centre square, competing against the likes of Jack Steele, Jack Sinclair, Brad Crouch, Paddy Dow, Seb Ross, Zak Jones and Hugo Garcia, but Phillipou has serious polish and brings the Saints a taller midfield option.
Sydney
2022 Draft Hand: Jacob Konstanty, Cooper Vickery, Caleb Mitchell
Konstanty was a headline for all the wrong reasons in the off-season after a wrestling match with Callum Mills on Mad Monday led to the Swans’ skipper going under the knife and missing half of 2024 with a busted shoulder. However, it shows the strength of Konstanty’s tackling pressure. The uncapped small forward is a chance for a round 1 debut, having been one of the club’s standouts in the pre-season.
West Coast
2022 Draft Hand: Reuben Ginbey, Elijah Hewett, Harry Barnett, Coby Burgiel, Noah Long
Looking back a year, Eagles officials would be rapt with this draft class. Only Burgiel has not debuted, however co-captain Oscar Allen has big wraps on the 185cm forward, who was a top-30 pick less than 18 months ago. Reuben Ginbey is one of the main cogs of a bright young core at the Eagles, with the club planning a midfield around him and number one pick Harley Reid. The grunt of Ginbey was on show throughout 2023, but with a full pre-season and hopefully a clean run of injuries, Ginbey could be anything in 2024. Elijah Hewett was also impressive in his debut season, and will be hoping for more midfield responsibilities going into his second season.
Western Bulldogs
2022 Draft Hand: Jedd Busslinger, Charlie Clarke, Harvey Gallagher
It would be a surprise to see a Busslinger debut in 2024, however the Bulldogs are excited about the key defender’s progress. He would be a fair way behind Liam Jones, Alex Keath, Ryan Gardner and James O’Donnell. Charlie Clarke could break through for a senior debut after a strong VFL campaign, kicking 13 goals in 20 games including three in a finals win over Casey.
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