11/02/14 MakingaLeap EveryyeartheAFLdeliversusasetofshinynewstarstofawnoverbutpredictingthenextflood ofplayerstoestablishthemselvesasrecognisablefacesisnoeasytask. Season2013unearthedanumberofunexpectedgems,sometooktheleapfromskilled prospecttostarandotherssalvagedacareeratthecrossroadstocementbesttwentytwo status.WesawTomLiberatorerisefromBieberlikecontroversytosetthecentresquarealight. JustinWesthofftradedinthetagofwhippingboyandbecameindisputablewalkingevidencethat beardsmakeyouatleast30%betterateverything.MichaelHibberdandMichaelWalterswent fromfracasinFrangaandfriedfoodbingestofringeAllAustralians.AndtheChadWingardshow wouldhavebeenworthyofaspotonBroadway. Practicematchesarejustaroundthecornersoitstimetodonthepredictioncapforthisyears cropofplayerswhomighthaveBrucesalivatingwithhyperboleinthecommentarybox. Fornumerousteamstheresaplethoraofpotentialnamesthatfittheprofiletomakealeapin performance.UnfortunatelyotherssuchasSt.

Kildahaveatalentpoolthatissuchatrainwreck itlookslikesomethingAustralianTVexecutivesgreenlitforproduction. Adelaide MitchGrigg BradCrouchistheobviouscallherebutthatwouldbetooeasyashesalreadysolidifiedhis statusasabreakoutstar.OneplayerwiththepotentialtomakeasimilarsplashintheCrows midfieldthisyearisMitchGrigg.Withtheinterchangecapcomingintoplayin2014itsimperative tohaveflexibilityinyoursquad.TheCrowsmidfieldisstrongatthetopendbutdoesntbatoverly deep.GriggpossessesinsideoutsidecapabilitieswhichshouldprovevaluablegivenAdelaide needtotweaktheirrotations(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,thiskid issomethingspecialwhichisevidentbasedonhisconfidentmovementandabilitytoreadthe playalone. Menzelhasimpressedonthetrackthisoffseasonandlookstobebookmarkedforamore flexibleroleacrosshalfforwardwiththeoddstintinthemidfield. Keepaneyeon:JarydCachia Collingwood MarleyWilliams SinceovercomingofffieldbehaviouralissuesWilliamshassolidifiedhisspotintheMagpiesbest twentytwoasareboundingdefender.ThekeytoWilliamssimpressive2013campaignwashis levelofconsistency.TheyoungMagpieaccumulatedatleastfourteendisposalsinfifteenof sixteengamesculminatinginaroundeighteenrisingstarnomination. ArakingleftbootsawWilliamsdoingdamageatbothendsofthegroundonhiswayto47 reboundfiftiesand33insidefiftiesrankingtoptenattheclubforgainingterritory,andthirdfor runningbounces.ItsnosecretWilliamsdoesntmindabitofbiffwiththenumber35neverfar awayfromtheactionwhichisafarcryfromthemoreplaciddaysofformerholderSimon Prestigiacomo.

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 theRorySloaneSchoolofplainoldnaturalfootballerswithanoseforthefooty. Withjustthetwoappearancespriortoroundseventeenfewwouldhaveexpectedtheexplosion offormNealewoulddeliverinthefinalsevenweeksofthe2013homeandawayseason. Betweenrounds1723the176centimetrepocketdynamowouldstandequalwithMichael Barlowaveraging24.6disposalspergametogowith9.4contestedpossessions,allatateam high69.3%kickingefficiency. ThosebeefynumbersduringhispurplepatchwerentemptyeitherwithLachietopsixattheclub fortotalpointscontributedandscoreinvolvements.

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.Astandoutshowingagainst PortAdelaidesawtheteenagerkickthreegoalswithBostonprovingitwasntaonceoffa fortnightlatertallyingseventeendisposalsandfourgoalsagainstGWS. IngameswhereBostonexperiencedover75%gametime(fourgames)heaveragedthirteen disposalswithhisrelentlessattackonthefootyaclearhighlight.WithCampbellBrownking hittinghiswayoutofthecompetitionthedoorisopenforBostontoclaimaspotintheSunsfirst choiceteamfromroundone.

Keepaneyeone:TimSumner GWS CurtlyHampton TheGiantsarenowtakingontheappearanceofamoresettledunitandonebenefitoftheir openingtwoseasonsoftrialanderrorhasbeentheevolutionofCurtlyHamptonacross halfback.OriginallylearningtheropespredominantlyupforwardHamptonplayedeighteen gameslastyearandlookstohavefoundhisnicheinAFLcirclesattheotherendofthepark. Whenexperiencingmorethan75%gametimeHamptonhitdoubledigitdisposalsinevery contest,ledtheclubinrunningbounces,andwassecondforreboundfiftieswhichrankedhim amongtheGiantseliteformetersgained.PredominantlyusedasarunningweaponHampton showedanabilitytoalsoapplydefensivepressureaveraging3.2tacklespergame. MostyoungtalentexperiencesajumpinoutputduringtheirthirdyearonanAFLlistwiththeGold Coastsimprovementaprimeexample.TheGiantsbacksixconsistingofkeypillarsTimMohr, AdamKennedy,PhilDavisandsummeracquisitionHeathShawisonewhichcompliments 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,andhesoversat$15toleadthecompetitioninhitouts Rounds 113 1423 Hitouts 20.3 34.8 Contested Possessions 5.4 6.2 Clearances 1.4 3.6 Tackles 2.9 6.2 Frees Against 1.7 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