3 Players from your club to take you to that next level.

[Hans_Moleman]

Dawson Simpson/Hamish McIntosh- Simpson played only a handful of games in 2013 whilst McIntosh failed to get out on the park altogether. Our ruck/clearance work clearly struggled in the absence of an experienced, big-bodied ruckman, so it will become additionally important this year for at least one to see out the duration of the season. Ideally we'd want improvement from both and to see them consistently on the field (preferably Simpson).

Nathan Vardy- Depending on whether the club intend to primarily play him or Kersten as our 2nd KPF, Vardy taking some of the focus off Hawkins and kicking 1-2 goals each week would help our cause. Very athletic and good overhead but probably needs a stronger body and more consistency from week to week.

Travis Varcoe- Was inconsistent in 2013 and uncharacteristically struggled in big games, something that hasn't been the case in previous years. Also appeared to lack confidence in his own ability at times. Capable of causing some damage up forward when he's on but would like to see it happen on a more regular basis.

 

[NUFC Tiger]

My 3 would be Martin, Vickery and Conca.

Martin - has the potential and skills to be an elite player, one of the best in the game if he can put it all together. Needs to build up his fitness, work on his consistency and try and keep his head on straight. If he lives up to his potential, he can become a genuine matchwinner for us.

Vickery - We need someone to step up next to Riewoldt and Vickery seems to be the best option. Coming to the age where he should be settling well at AFL level, a preseason focusing on being a pure forward and with a season under his belt from his shoulder injuries in 2012, he should be primed to become a good KPF for us - especially without the distraction of learning to ruck and learning 2 different positions.

Conca - Ellis seems destined to become one of our best midfielders in the next year or 2 and Vlastuin had a ripping debut season. Conca is the third of that trio who has improved every season to date but has had some troubles with injuries. With Tuck retiring, someone needs to become a ball winner and Conca's fanatical attack on the ball should serve him well. He has good leadership and decent skills as well so if he can stay fit, would add a significant string to our midfield.

 

[mike123]

For Eagles:
Scooter - can accumulate, is built like a brick wall and has a burst of speed. If there could be some coherency between these attributes he's shown that he can be a top 25 mid in the comp.
Gaff - obviously has stagnated. People say he just needs to cope with a tag. I don't think the tag was the real issue. The inability of our midfield meant that he was chasing his player too often for him to be damaging the other way. He's put on some mass over the pre-season and will naturally improve if the midfield becomes more competitive and tidies up its disposal.
Wellingham - has versatility that our other mids don't have. Probably the only mid on our list who has demonstrated any ability to mark in the forward 50. If he could push his disposal average into the mid-20s and tidy up his occasionally errant kick he will be a very good player for us.

No surprises that all three are midfielders.

He isn't the only mid that needs to tidy up the occasional errant kick.

 

[eaglespremiers]

He isn't the only mid that needs to tidy up the occasional errant kick.

For most of our mids it isn't "occasional".

 

[aussierulesrules]

Obviously given our position on the ladder for the bulk of 2013 there is no shortage of candidates who we could really do with stepping it up a notch or two, either to levels they haven't reached before, or to levels they've reached in the past (like Fisher, Schneider, Gwilt and Gilbert, who have all struggled significantly with injuries for much of the past 2 or 3 years), but the most obvious one that comes to mind for me if we are to have a better year this year than last is David Armitage.

Dave had some terrific individual games last year and started the year on fire, which showed what he is capable of, but then was just as capable of having games where he didn't get near it (although that was better in the 2nd half of the year, when he was more consistent), so it would help our cause enormously if he were to have a Jack Steven-type breakout-year and have far more of those really good games and pretty much eradicate the really poor ones. He has been progressively better in the past two seasons, so hopefully that will continue again this year, especially if we've upped the ante as much over preseason as is being reported (as Armo's tank has been an issue in the past).

After him you could pretty much take your pick of any of Stanley, Hickey, Lee or Delaney, in the ruck or key positions, as they are all at least 23yo this year and are no longer "kids" and will be playing roles that could make a significant difference to our fortunes if they were played really well. Siposs, Mav Weller and Savage are another few who are in at least their 4th year at an AFL club now and as such it wouldn't be asking too much for them to take it up a notch or two, especially on what they did last year, when all were probably disappointing, to differing degrees (and for different reasons).

 

[Hodgepodge]

I would've thought the most obvious one for Hawthorn is Rioli. He can do all of that and more. But he needs to come to training fit (which I presume he did this year), stay healthy and be able to be called on at the right moments in the midfield.

That's a given, we know what Rioli can do when he is fit and firing, whereas the three players i mentioned are unknown and added quantities. Rioli can't take Hawthorn to the next level, because he is already part of that level.

In terms of the midfield depth you mentioned, then Garlett, Hallahan and Langford I feel will be part of the replacements for Sewell, Hodge and Burgoyne.

 

[Procrastinator35]

Luke Breust....
Brad Hill.....
Ben McEvoy....

 

[mike123]

That's a given, we know what Rioli can do when he is fit and firing, whereas the three players i mentioned are unknown and added quantities. Rioli can't take Hawthorn to the next level, because he is already part of that level.

In terms of the midfield depth you mentioned, then Garlett, Hallahan and Langford I feel will be part of the replacements for Sewell, Hodge and Burgoyne.

I think Rioli has to work on getting more cheap possessions. Usually he doesn't waste the ball and can do something special, so if he gets the ball more his confidence will rise and he will take on the game more.

 

[Monkey King]

Yarran - Has all the talent required to tear games apart. If he can step up to that level and have a few stints up the ground, then Carlton instantly become a different side. We need a couple of boys to become stars ... and I'm looking at you Yazz!

Casboult - I see most Blues posters have gone with Watson in order to free up Henderson forward, but I'm going to go straight to the source with Levi, who if he could stay more involved in the game and get his kicking right, would allow us to leave Hendo down back where he's so damned effective and only swing up forward when the match-ups suit (or when Waite is injured).

Gibbs - His games against the Hawks and Tigers last year showed where it's at for Gibbs. He's capable of the type of tough, contested footy that along with his skills and vision, impacts games. If could produce that type of footy week-in week-out with the given that Murphy will recover his pre-injury form, then the Carlton midfield takes on a whole new dimension.

 

[SSSSSS]

Gunston - Has all the tools and if there is anybody who can fill the void of Buddy it is him.

Schoey - Huge is an understatement. Lots of potential and a massive frame. Could be a big CHF or CHB. Either way we need him to establish himself and take one of the spots to give us that presence we need in the future.

Big Boy - We havn't had a gun ruckman in a while so hopefully he can buck the trend. We've done well without one so it's not crucial but it would certainly be nice to have.

 

[Bombers36]

Carlisle: had a pretty good 2013 all things considered, but needs to prove he can hold down CHF each week so we can release Hurley into a defensive role

Zacka: Injury hampered 2013 and a match winner at best, needs to find more consistency and lets hope being dumped from the leadership group spurs him on to that next level

Daniher: Will play more than a bit parts role this year given the injury to Bellchambers, is still a kid but showed glimpses in 2013, if he can play 15+ games in 2014 and kick 25+ it would be a huge bonus

 

[shintemaster]

Well, in the true spirit of preseason reports, there have been a number of houses trained down by this bloke, and he was even seen wearing a hat, so watch out.

Seriouslyness though, apparently stronger and killing it in the contested stuff. As a 22 year old inside type you would expect further development. Gotta get fitter though.

This is the key though. He's statistically amongst the very best in the competition at what he does, has a bag of tricks and can take a strong grab. Even if as a minimum over the next 3-4 years his only improvement was to increase his time on ground by 5-10% and keep doing what he does that would put him amongst the best in the league. I suspect we'll begin to see even more party tricks if his fitness does increase again.

 

[HBFlanker]

Aaron Black - 50+ this season, Will take Petrie's main role as a full forward
Lachie Hansen - Needs to be in contention as an AA third defender, one of the best intercept marks in the game
Ryan Bastinac - NDS recruitment will help out bastinac more than any other player at North in my opinion. Will not see a tagger in 2014 and has the ability to gather huge numbers

 

[the_interloper]

If Tyrone Vickery ever pulls his finger out we could be ****ing awesome.

 

[Doc Hattori]

For the Lions

Lisle - obvious choice as a key forward and needs to prove himself and become a focal point. He's somewhere between a permanent reserves player and a star, so its up to him
Leuenberger - needs to consolidate on last year and become recognised as the No 1 ruckman in the AFL
Redden - needs to step up as the gun midfielder he is capable of being and go to the heights of Rockliff and Hanly

 

[Doggy doo doo]

Gumby
Hill
Clarke

 

[Juddernaut08]

Yarran - Has all the talent required to tear games apart. If he can step up to that level and have a few stints up the ground, then Carlton instantly become a different side. We need a couple of boys to become stars ... and I'm looking at you Yazz!

Casboult - I see most Blues posters have gone with Watson in order to free up Henderson forward, but I'm going to go straight to the source with Levi, who if he could stay more involved in the game and get his kicking right, would allow us to leave Hendo down back where he's so damned effective and only swing up forward when the match-ups suit (or when Waite is injured).

Gibbs - His games against the Hawks and Tigers last year showed where it's at for Gibbs. He's capable of the type of tough, contested footy that along with his skills and vision, impacts games. If could produce that type of footy week-in week-out with the given that Murphy will recover his pre-injury form, then the Carlton midfield takes on a whole new dimension.

I like it. Looking forward to Gibbs having a ripper year.

 

[Slax]

Rich - we've seen what he can do, if he can learn to break the tag and find more consistency he can join the ranks of the elite midfielders.

Green - has speed to burn and some great skills play as a small forward, needs to step up and have more time on the ball as could become a damaging player who can run through the lines.

Lisle - Has been around long enough know to learn his trade as a key forward, really reaching make or break time and step up to take the number 1 forward position from Brown.

 

[flyinghi64]

I will go a little different to my counterpart above.

Midfield - Shuey. Has the ability and skill which he has shown glimpses of but needs to string it together more often.

Forward - Darling, as above. this guy could tear games apart but rarely if ever does. Has had some great quarters but needs more 4 qtr efforts and better conversion rates, some games he is a dead eye and other games he couldn't hit the proverbial barn door.

Back - Hurn, needs to stay fit and get more of the ball. So damaging with his kick so needs to get it onto his boot more often. Not many back's get tagged but when he started getting on a bit of a roll last year, before his injury, he started attracting one.

Also rans, NicNat(obviously), Gaff, Wellingham, Yeo(has speed/marking ability we need)

 

[Easy Slips Catch]

Sam Grimley. Been on the books since 09. Very similar to Rhys Stanley, physically gifted but not very good at footy. Has plenty of room to improve.
Taylor Duryea. Pretty much a like for like for Guerra. He only lacks that calmness that can only be gained through experience.
Will Langford. Has the potential to play a run with role plus has the speed to impact on break out plays. He is quicker and taller than Sewell so will offer us something different.

 

[coniglio_number1]

Heath shaw- great experience and excellent both ways.

Shane Mumford- Giles is a good ruck but mummy will let Giles drift forward more making a potentially damaging ruck pair.

Tom scully- can see him taking his game to the next level and overrtaking ward as our number 1 mid.

HM- shiel, treloar, Patton, smith, Whitfield, coniglio, Haynes, plowman, Davis, etc

 

[Natho]

Gaff
Shuey
Hill

 

[topdon]

Melksham
Daniher
Heppell

 

[BrunoC34]

Crameri - Will give our forward line much needed height (Don't rate Jones)
Wallis - Needs to take Boyd's spot in the midfield with Boyd taking a lesser role on the field
Roughead - Already proven himself as a very capable fullback, needs to back up last year.

 

[schnoods]

For me the 3 players that will take the club to the next level (I have left out new recruits for this season as they are unknown in the chemistry) are..

Lee Spurr - Great solid defender that has been compared to Glenn Archer. He has a cool head, good disposal and a fearlessness that makes him a tough opponent without being suicidal. He filled quite a few holes in our defence last season, especially with untimely injuries to McPharlin, Ibbotson and Pearce (Clancee). If the defence is a bit more injury free i think he could be much more damaging with his disposal from half back.

Matt Tabener- Was a bit green last season, but he is developing nicely. Big 197cm tall forward with a strong mark, he is starting to blossom into decent target. He only played 4 games for freo, showed a few dominating games in the Wafl. There will be times where a few of the Forwards will need to be rested or recover from injury. Pav, Gumbleton, Apeness and Keplar Bradley are fit for now, but fitness and form throughout the year could be an unknown quantity, and with a potential to contest the ruck too could be very handy.

Stephen Hill- With another big name coming to Freo in Sylvia, there will be a bit more depth in the midfield, where I think Hill will be a benefactor. Having struggled previously with a tag, it may free him somewhat and let him use his speed to break away. He has great disposal and has a much increased tank, probably the best example was his breakaway goal to seal the final against Geelong.