EveryyeartheAFLdeliversusasetofshinynewstarstofawnoverbutpredictingthenextflood

ofplayerstoestablishthemselvesasrecognisablefacesisnoeasytask.
Season2013unearthedanumberofunexpectedgems,sometooktheleapfromskilled
prospecttostarandotherssalvagedacareeratthecrossroadstocementbesttwentytwo
status.
WesawTomLiberatorerisefromBieberlikecontroversytosetthecentresquarealight.Justin
Westhofftradedinthetagofwhippingboyandbecameindisputablewalkingevidencethat
beardsmakeyouatleast30%betterateverything.MichaelHibberdandMichaelWalterswent
fromfracasinFrangaandfriedfoodbingestofringeAllAustralians.AndtheChadWingardshow
wouldhavebeenworthyofaspotonBroadway.
Practicematchesarejustaroundthecornersoitstimetodonthepredictioncapforthisyears
cropofplayerswhomighthaveBrucesalivatingwithhyperboleinthecommentarybox.
Fornumerousteamstheresaplethoraofpotentialnamesthatfittheprofiletomakealeapin
performance.UnfortunatelyotherssuchasSt.Kildahaveatalentpoolthatissuchatrainwreck
itlookslikesomethingChannelTenexecutivesgreenlitforproduction.
Adelaide
MitchGrigg
BradCrouchistheobviouscallherebutthatwouldbetooeasyashesalreadysolidifiedhis
statusasabreakoutstar.OneplayerwiththepotentialtomakeasimilarsplashintheCrows
midfieldthisyearisMitchGrigg.
Withtheinterchangecapcomingintoplayin2014itsimperativetohaveflexibilityinyoursquad.
TheCrowsmidfieldisstrongatthetopendbutdoesntbatoverlydeep.Griggpossesses
insideoutsidecapabilitieswhichshouldprovevaluablegivenAdelaideneedtotweaktheir
rotations(leadthecompetitionin2012,secondin2013).
GriggisnaturallygiftedwithaskillsetthatscreamsgenuineAgradetalent.Theformersecond
roundpickstormedhomeinthefinalfivegamesofthe2013seasonaveraging16.2disposals
(6.2contested)andtwoclearancespergame.Morethan65%ofGriggstotaldisposalswereby
footataveryclean67.9%kickingefficiency,andthekiddoesntmindgettingdirtyaveraging3.4
tacklespergame.
IfyouneedmoreconvincingjustwatchhimriverdancehiswaythroughtheEagles.
Keepaneyeon:JarrydLyons
Brisbane
RyanLester
Thedoitallyoungstercanplayanywhereandlookedespeciallyimpressiveagainstquality
oppositionin2013averagingashadeundertwentydisposalsagainstfinalssideswith9.3of
thosetouchescontested.TheresplentyoftoughcompetitionforspotsintheLionsmidfield

leadinginto2014butLestershouldhavenotroublecementingaplaceontheparkgivenhis
versatileskillset.
Afteradelayedstarttothe2013campaignduetoinjury,LesterfeaturedinfifteenoftheLions
remainingseventeengamesfinishingtoptenattheLionsindisposals,contestedpossessions
andcentreclearances,thelatteranareawherehiseffectivenessmirroredthatofmore
seasonedteammatesTomRockliffandBrentMoloney.
ItremainsunclearwhatspecificrolenewCoachJustinLeppitschhascircledforLesterbut
anyonewhocanshowaturnofspeedthatleavesStevieJchewingdirtwillreceiveplentyof
attention.
Keepaneyeon:MarcoPaporone
Carlton
TroyMenzel
ThestandoutaspectofMenzelsdebutseasonwashisabilitytoshowcasehiscleanhands.The
formernumberelevenpickmanagedjustthesevengamesin2013buthasshownenough
promisetogetfirstcrackatfillingthemidsizedvoidcurrentlyevidentinCarltonsforwardline.
InathreegamestretchlatelastseasonMenzelwasCarltonsequalhighgoalkicker,ranked
secondformarksinsidefiftyandcontributed51pointswhichwassecondbehindonlyformer
BlueEddieBetts.
Forgetabouttheskyhighskinfoldsatthedraftcamp,thatslonggone,thiskidissomething
specialwhichisevidentbasedonhisconfidentmovementandabilitytoreadtheplayalone.
Menzelhasimpressedonthetrackthisoffseasonandlookstobebookmarkedforamore
flexibleroleacrosshalfforwardwiththeoddstintinthemidfield.
Keepaneyeon:JarydCachia
Collingwood
MarleyWilliams
SinceovercomingofffieldbehaviouralissuesWilliamshassolidifiedhisspotintheMagpiesbest
twentytwoasareboundingdefender.ThekeytoWilliamssimpressive2013campaignwashis
levelofconsistency.TheyoungMagpieaccumulatedatleastfourteendisposalsinfifteenof
sixteengamesculminatinginaroundeighteenrisingstarnomination.
ArakingleftbootsawWilliamsdoingdamageatbothendsofthegroundonhiswayto47
reboundfiftiesand33insidefiftiesrankingtoptenattheclubformetersgained,andthirdfor
runningbounces.
ItsnosecretWilliamsdoesntmindabitofbiffwiththenumber35neverfarawayfromthe
actionwhichisafarcryfromthemoreplaciddaysofformerholderSimonPrestigiacomo.
TheemergenceofWilliamshassoftenedtheblowoflosingHeathShawwithhispenetratingrun

offhalfbacktheperfectweapontofillthevoid.
Keepaneyeon:JoshThomas
Essendon
DavidMyers
Turning25thisseasontheopportunitytoblossomhasbeenalongtimeinwaitingforthe
numbersixpickfromthe2007draft.Season2013wasbyfarthemostconsistentofMyerssix
seasonstodateasheremainedinjuryfreeandreacheddoubledigitgamesplayedforonlythe
secondtimeinhiscareer.
ItdoesnttakelongtoidentifythemainweaponinMyersarsenalwithhisboomingleftfoota
primaryfeatureinEssendonsheavykickinggame.NotonlycanMyersplugthemfromoutside
fiftyherankedthirdattheBombersforkickingefficiencybehindclassydistributorsBrentStanton
andBrendonGoddard.
AlthoughopportunitytoplaythroughthesquarewaslimitedlastseasonMyersclearlypossesses
mostvalueasalinkupoutsidecommoditywithall86ofhismarksin2013uncontested.Finding
theleftfooterhasprovenvaluablefortheBomberswithMyersseventhattheclubforscore
involvementsandfourthforrunningbounces.FurthermoreinthelasttwoseasonswhenMyers
talliestwentyormoredisposalsEssendonhasa91record.
Withanuninterrupted2013campaignandpreseasonunderhisbeltexpect#SwoonBootMyers
tobuildonhis18.4disposalspergameandshoulderaheavierworkloadintheBombersmidfield
bothonandoffthefield,asalreadyevidencedbyhiselevationtotheleadershipgroup.
Keepaneyeone:LauchlanDalgleish
Fremantle
LachieNeale
ApolaroppositefromthetallandathleticmoderndaymidfielderLachieNealeisstraightoutof
theRorySloanSchoolofplainoldnaturalfootballerswithanoseforthefooty.
Withjustthetwoappearancespriortoroundseventeenfewwouldhaveexpectedtheexplosion
offormNealewoulddeliverinthefinalsevenweeksofthe2013homeandawayseason.
Betweenrounds1723the176centimetrepocketdynamowouldstandequalwithMichael
Barlowaveraging24.6disposalspergametogowith9.4contestedpossessions,allatateam
high69.3%kickingefficiency.Thosebeefynumbersduringhispurplepatchwerentemptyeither
withLachietopsixattheclubfortotalpointscontributedandscoreinvolvements.
Despitefeaturinginthefinaltengamesoftheseason,includingagrandfinalGuernsey,the
Dockersmidfieldstillremainsoneofthedeepestandmosttalentedinthecompetition.Theres
nodoubtNealehasthenecessaryattributestobreakthebesttwentytwofromroundonebut
earlyonitmaybeanothercaseofpatiencefirst.

Keepaneyeone:HaydenCrozier
Geelong
CamGuthrie
WiththeCatspossessingtherareabilitytosimultaneouslyrebuildandcontendtheywerebound
tounlockafewgemsandnonehavelookedmoreathomeinthebigleaguesthanCamGuthrie.
Despiteappearingin80%ofGeelongsfixturesinthepasttwoseasonsandinheritingthe
famousnumber29Guthrietendstogoundertheradar.Arolemodelofdoingthelittlethingsand
impeccableconsistencyGuthrieistheexacttypeofmidsizeddefenderthatcomplimentsthe
Geelongbacksixsowell.
AsalockselectionintheCats2013lineupGuthrieconcededjusteightfreekicksallseasonwith
hisreadingoftheplayandinterceptmarkinghelpingkickstartGeelongslethalcounterattack
game.Guthries12.9disposalspergamerarelymissedatargetwithhis78%kickingefficiency
ensuringfewturnoverswereexperiencedinthemostfragilepartoftheground.
WithnumerousolderbodiesmovingonGuthrieisonenametheCatscanbankontoperform
weekinweekoutastheycontinuetorefinetheirlistforanotherPremiershipassault.
Keepaneyeone:JacksonThurlow
GoldCoast
AndrewBoston
Yearthreeoftheexpansionsidesawaslewofyoungtalentstaketheirclaimsaspotentialstars.
HeadlineactsTrentMcKenzie,JaegerOMeara,HarleyBennell,CharlieDixonandDionPrestia
allregisteredontheradarforfuturestardomwithboomrecruitJackMartinreceivingsomuch
hypeyoucouldbeforgivenforalreadypunchinghistickettothehalloffame.
OnenamewholikelywontreachthoseloftyheightsbutwillputinjustasmuchworkisAndrew
Boston.BreakingintotheSunssideinroundfourteenBostonfeaturedineightgamesmakinghis
markasaroaminghalfforwardwhocanaddrelieftothemidfield.
AstandoutshowingagainstPortAdelaidesawtheteenagerkickthreegoalswithBostonproving
itwasntaonceoffafortnightlatertallyingseventeendisposalsandfourgoalsagainstGWS.
IngameswhereBostonexperiencedover75%gametime(fourgames)heaveragedthirteen
disposalswithhisrelentlessattackonthefootyaclearhighlight.
WithCampbellBrownkinghittinghiswayoutofthecompetitionthedoorisopenforBostonto
claimaspotintheSunsfirstchoiceteamfromroundone.
Keepaneyeone:TimSumner
GWS
CurtlyHampton

TheGiantsarenowtakingontheappearanceofamoresettledunitandonebenefitoftheir
openingtwoseasonsoftrialanderrorhasbeentheevolutionofCurtlyHamptonacross
halfback.OriginallylearningtheropespredominantlyupforwardHamptonplayedeighteen
gameslastyearandlookstohavefoundhisnicheinAFLcirclesattheotherendofthepark.
Whenexperiencingmorethan75%gametimeHamptonhitdoubledigitdisposalsinevery
contest,ledtheclubinrunningbounces,andwassecondforreboundfiftieswhichrankedhim
amongtheGiantseliteformetersgained.PredominantlyusedasarunningweaponHampton
showedanabilitytoalsoapplydefensivepressureaveraging3.2tacklespergame.
MostyoungtalentexperiencesajumpinoutputduringtheirthirdyearonanAFLlistwiththeGold
Coastsimprovementaprimeexample.TheGiantsbacksixconsistingofkeypillarsTimMohr,
AdamKennedy,PhilDavisandsummeracquisitionHeathShawisonewhichcomplements
Hamptonsxfactorskillsetfavourably.
Keepaneyeone:JonathanORourke
Hawthorn
JonathanSimpkin
Anothersuccessfuladditiontothematureagerecruitrevolutionwhichisstartingtobecome
quitetheprestigiousclub,Simpkinisaninstantimpactmidfielderwhohasafreakabilityto
accumulatethefooty.
AgainstBrisbane,PortAdelaideandEssendontheformerSwanandCataveragedjust52%
timeongroundyetstillmanagedtogethishandsonthefootyanaverageofeighteentimesa
game.
ThebeautyofSimpkinishehasinside/outsideabilityandprovedtobejustasproductiveinhis
ninegameswherehereceivedmorethan60%gametimeaveraging20.6disposals(seven
contested)at68%efficiencywith4.2insidefiftiesand3.6tacklespercontest.
The26yearoldwasrewardedwithagigintheGrandFinalandmadeavaluablecameolatein
thegamefinishingwithsixdisposals.Withanagingmidfieldandthehistoricallycloseto
impossibletaskofgoingbacktobackexpectSimpkintoappearoftenintheHawkssquadasa
provenpinchhittingperformer.
Keepaneyeone:JedAnderson
Melbourne
JesseHogan
ItsbeenalongwaitforDemonsfansafterHoganshowedupintheNABCuplastseasonand
triggeredanAFLcommunitywidemancrushshowingtheskillandfootyIQexpectedofatalent
fiveyearshissenior.UnfortunatelyforMelbournefansHoganplayingsaviourwouldhavetobe
putoniceforanothertwelvemonthsashehonedhisskillsintheVFL.
FewprospectshavelookedmoreathomeandreadymadethanHoganwithhissplitsforthe

seasonoutstandingtosaytheleast.Thirtyninegoalsfromfifteengamesincludingsevengames
withthreeormoremajorstogowithonehundredmarks(thirtysixcontested),anddoubledigit
marksonfiveoccasions.
IfthereisanissueregardingHoganleadingintoseason2014itsfindingwherehepresentsthe
mostvalueinatopheavyDeesforwardline.ChrisDawesistheleaduptargetwhilstMitch
Clarkishealthyandmorevaluablestayingathomeclosertogoal,essentiallyleavingHoganas
theoddmanout.
HoganhasasimilarbuildandpedigreetoaTomHawkins,andlikeHawkinsitmightbein
Melbournesbestinteresttobringhimalongslowlywithminimalexpectation,butitshardnotto
getexcited.
Keepaneyeone:DomTyson
NorthMelbourne
AaronMullet
OneofthemoreestablishednamesonthislistAaronMulletplayedeverygamein2013andin
theprocesshasalreadymadetheleaptoconcretefirstclasstalent.
AnelectricmoveroffhalfbackwithanattackingmindsetandrakingleftfootMullettfinishedwith
animpressivefourteengoalswhilstproducingthirtyseveninsidefiftiesandseventynine
reboundfiftieswhichcombinedwasbehindonlyfellowdualthreatDanielWells.Mullettshoweda
greatabilitytoreadtheplayinthebackhalffinishingamongtheleadersatNorthMelbournefor
interceptdisposalsbutitwashisfootskillswhichwerethestandoutfeatureofhisgame.With
70%ofalldisposalsbyfootatanelite70.7%kickingefficiencythetwentyoneyearoldfinishedin
theupperechelonofdefendersforscoreinvolvements.
Averaging19.3disposalspergameversusfinalsopponentsitsclearthatAARonisathomeon
thebigstageandoneRoowhocouldbeonthepathtostardom.
Keepaneyeon:BradMcKenzie
PortAdelaide
MatthewLobbe
Lobbecamefromthecloudsinthesecondhalfof2013andestablishedhimselfasoneofthe
premierruckmanofthecompetition.Onthefringeofturning25butwithjust43games
experiencetheresstillplentyofupsideleftinLobbetomirrorthegrowingambitionsofhisPower
teammates.
Youdonthavetolooktoofartoseethetypeofimpactthe200centimetreruckmanhadasPort
AdelaidemarchedtowardsFinalsfootball.ThePowersawtheirscoringabilityatstoppages
increasefromninthinthecompetitionrounds113tofifthbetweenrounds1423,withLobbe
leadingtheleagueinhitoutspergameforthefinalnineweeksofthehomeandawayseason.
NotonlywastheruckworkAllAustraliancalibreduringtheboomperiod,Lobbessecondefforts
atgroundlevelwerealsoencouragingwiththebigmanleadinghisclubintacklespergame

whilstrankingthirdforclearances.
Theseasonsplitstellthestory,andhesundersat$15toleadthecompetitioninhitouts
Rounds

Hitouts

Contested
Possessions

Clearances

Tackles

Frees
Against

113

20.3

5.4

1.4

2.9

1.7

1423

34.8

6.2

3.6

6.2

1.3

Keepaneyeone:CameronOShea
Richmond
BrandonEllis
AlreadyafavouriteamongtheRichmondfaithfulandfantasyenthusiastsEllisspentthefirstfour
weeksoftheseasoninHardwickshacklesbeforebeingreleasedandputtingtogetherasuper
impressiveseason.
Ellisaveraged21.2disposals(sixthatclub)andledtheTigersinkickingefficiencytogowith
sevenmarkspergameafterforcinghiswayoutofthesubvestinroundfive.
Iftheformerfirstroundpickcanworkonhisinsidegametobecomeacompletemidfielderwho
canspotminutesinthecentresquaretheTigerswillhaveoneofthedeepestandtalented
twowaymidfieldsinthecompetition.AlongwithNickVlastuin,Ellisbarelyregisteredan
appearanceatthecoalfacein2013whilstplyinghistradeoffhalfbackbutbothshouldreceive
theopportunitytowettheirfeetastheclubeyesatopfourspot.
Keepaneyeone:LiamMcBean
St.Kilda
JoshBruce
UnfortunatelyfortheSaintstherearefewimpressiveprospectsontheirlistthatyoucanbankon
toshowsomethingin2014.Lastseasonsawthemajorityofyoungtalentabsentconsistent
opportunitytoestablishthemselvesundernowsackedcoachScottWatterswhichleavesalotof
mysteryandaroughroadaheadfornewappointmentAlanRichardson.
Onenamelikelytofeatureearlyandoftenattheveryleastoutofnecessityiskeyposition
defenderJoshBruce.
TheformerGiantpossessesandadequateleftbootbutthemajorityofhiskicksoutofdefencein
theGWSsystemwereshorttouncontestedtargets.Brucedoespossessgoodsizeat196
centimetresandreadstheplayatanimpressivelevel.
Season2013sawBruceaveragetwelvedisposals,4.8onepercentersand4.2markspergame
butheneedstowatchturnoversinthebackhalf(2.7pergame).

IfthereisoneareawhereyoucancutBrucesomeslackitsthebaptismoffirehefacedduring
the2013campaignwithsixofelevenopponentsfinalssides,althoughitsnotgoingtogetany
coolerinthekitchengiventheSaintsappeartobefacinganextendedromancewiththewooden
spoon.
Keepaneyeone:SpencerWhite
Sydney
GaryRohan
Theformernumbersixpicklookedsetforstardomasoneofthecompetitionsmostexciting
prospectsbeforeinjurystruckin2012puttinghiscareeronholdandtheslideruleinthe
headlines.
RohanmadehisreturntotheSwansinthefinalfiveweeksoflastseasonandshowedglimpses
ofhisfreakishnaturalabilitywhichprovedtobeoneofthefewhighlightsasSydneylimpedtothe
endoftheyearonthebackoffourstraightlosses.
WithRohanandLeroyJettaexperiencinghealthypreseasonsoppositiondefenderswillno
doubtfindthemselvesappearingasvictimsinhighlightreelpackages.AsfortheSwans,Buddy
Franklinisonboardandtheyhaveahealthylisttopickfrom.BothSydneyandRohanalikearein
primepositiontoreignitetheirpremiershipandcareerambitions.
Keepaneyeon:BrandonJack
WestCoast
ElliottYeo
WithBeauWatersinjuredfortheonehundredandtwentyseventhtimetheEaglesareinneed
ofareboundingdefenderwithoffseasonrecruitElliottYeotheobviousnamecircledtostep
straightin.
YeowilljointheEaglesreadytogoandhasdecentsizeat189centimetrestogowithhis
scintillatingrunoutofdefence.TheformerLionwasamongtheleadersattheclubforrebound
fiftiesandinterceptpossessionswithhisimprovedskills(74.2%kickingefficiency)ahandy
complimenttohisattackingstyle.
Yeoisstillvulnerableinoneononecontestsbutshouldbemoreprotectedinanexperienced
WestCoastbacksixwhichincludeskeypositioncommoditiesDarrenGlass,EricMackenzie
andMitchBrown.
Keepaneyeon:DomSheed
WesternBulldogs
JakeStringer
IftheresonerequestBulldogssupportersshouldhavethisyearitstoblacklistJakeStringer

frombeingthesub.Thiskidisalivewirewiththatrareabilitytoalwaysmakesomethinghappen.
WhenletofftheleashStringerhasalreadyproventhathecanproduceevenasakeyforward
targetinspiteofhistenderage.
Thereweresevengamesin2013whenStringerexperiencedmorethan50%gametime.In
thesecontestsheaveraged9.7disposalsat69%efficiencytogowith1.5goalspergame,
producedthesecondmostmarksinsidefiftyattheclub,andcontributedatotalof93points
whichwassecondtoonlyDanielGiansiracusa(97)and27morethanfellowforwardLiamJones
(66).
Notbadforateenagerwithbarely10gamesunderhisbelt.
TheBulldogswelcomeStewartCrameritotheirforwardlinemixwhichshoulddrawthe
oppositionfocusfurtherawayfromStringerandallowhimtoflourish.
Keepaneyeon:JacksonMacrae
YoucanfollowScottonTwitter@ScottyBarby
AlldatacourtesyofAFL.com.au,HeraldSun,FootywireandFoxSports