- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
Every year a handful of players have career-changing seasons – although that’s not to say they are always career-changing for the better.
So who will have the maximum impact at your club this season, and who will have the minimum?
Adelaide
Good: Rory Sloane – He’s getting better every season. He’s underrated and he’ll win Adelaide’s best and fairest this year.
Not so good: James Podsiadly – Tex Walker is back and Josh Jenkins is developing. Do they still need Podsiadly? If he kicks 26 goals like last year, I will definitely admit my error.
Brisbane
Good: Daniel Rich – He’s back from an ACL and with a loaded, new midfield, Rich is primed for a huge comeback season.
Not so good: Daniel Merrett – Brisbane have no big forward target who can kick a bag of goals. Merrett can do it once every five games. There will be a lot of pressure on him and I don’t think he will deliver.
Carlton
Good: Troy Menzel – He kicked 26 goals in 2014, two goals behind Lachie Henderson in Carlton’s leading goal scorers. He’s a livewire in the forward line and we’ll see him running through the middle this year as well.
Not so good: Liam Jones – It’s a tough pick because he’s starting a fresh at Carlton this season, however Jones is inconsistent. He needs to take contested marks and kick two goals a game to be effective.
Collingwood
Good: Travis Varcoe – Collingwood haven’t had a player with genuine pace in their line-up since Leon Davis in 2010. Varcoe will give them pace off the half back line, through the midfield, and in the forward line. He is incredible versatile and highly skilled.
Not so good: Jesse White – Sorry Jesse, I can’t see you having a better season than last, and that’s an issue. Patrick Karnezis will be coming for your spot and Corey Gault showed he could hold his own in the NAB Challenge.
Essendon
Good: Joe Daniher – 2015 will mark Joe’s third year in the AFL system. He kicked 28 goals in 2014, and he has the ability to kick 40 this season. If Essendon can provide good forward 50 entries to him, he’s a chance to start making the forward 50 his own.
Not so good: Adam Cooney – Correct me if I’m wrong, but it seems the general consensus is that Cooney’s best days are behind him, with injuries plaguing him since his Brownlow win. Essendon’s midfield is loaded with talent, and in terms of playing a small forward type the Merrett brothers and Chapman seem to have that role covered.
Fremantle
Good: Anthony Morabito – Considering all well went with his minor knee surgery in the preseason, Morabito will be injury free for the first time in three seasons for the Dockers. Watch out.
Not so good: Colin Sylvia – 2014 was a massive bust for Sylvia after crossing from Melbourne. I would assume this is his last chance – one I can’t see him taking.
Geelong
Good: Nakia Cockatoo – What an exciting preseason he had. He’s quick, skilled, young and complements this Geelong team incredibly well.
Not so good: Rhys Stanley – I don’t know where Stanley fits in Geelong’s forward line. He’s athletic, but he was better suited at St Kilda playing in front of Nick Reiwoldt.
Gold Coast
Good: Gary Ablett – Couldn’t go past Ablett on this one. He’s back from a season-ending injury, determined to get Gold Coast inside the top eight and possibly add a third Brownlow to his collection.
Not so good: Andrew Raines – I liked Raines at Brisbane but I don’t know what he adds to Gold Coast’s youthful, yet now experienced list.
Greater Western Sydney
Good: Joel Patfull – Huge recruit. Huge addition to their inexperienced backline. Huge pick-up for GWS.
Not so good: Dylan Addison – He’s now surrounded by his old Western Bulldogs teammates but I can’t see him being good enough to play beyond 2015.
Hawthorn
Good: Jed Anderson – After a great preseason Anderson is primed to show an already stocked Hawthorn midfield how good he can be.
Not so good: Brian Lake – Tough pick. The younger, more disciplined James Frawley will edge him out and take his spot.
Melbourne
Good: Heritier Lumumba – Has to be the Big H. Provides experience, skill and run from the backline pushing forward.
Not so good: Jimmy Toumpas – Can this kid play? He needs to show something in 2015, because he’s quickly being overtaken by the other young kids at Melbourne.
North Melbourne
Good: Jarrad Waite – I went with Waite because he could kick 50 goals this season if North is up in the top four. Should build a great partnership with Drew Petrie.
Not so good: Shaun Higgins – North had a solid midfield before recruiting Higgins. Don’t think his impact will be bad, but it won’t be huge either.
Port Adelaide
Good: Paddy Ryder – Ryder was the obvious choice here. I rate him as the best off-season acquisition by any club, he’ll be All-Australian this season.
Not so good: Johann Wagner – Was great on The Recruit but definitely made the wrong decision. He won’t see any game time at Port, but would have had a chance at the two expansion clubs.
Richmond
Good: Jack Reiwoldt – It’s time for Reiwoldt to dominate like he did in 2012 when he won the Coleman Medal. I’m predicting a 70-goal year from the big Tiger.
Not so good: Nathan Foley – I’m not sure if I even agree with my pick here, but Foley’s best may be behind him.
St Kilda
Good: Jack Steven – All Australian. That’s all.
Not so good: Arryn Siposs – Stanley is gone so you would think this would be Siposs’ year to shine. I can’t see it happening – they’ll go to Paddy McCartin over Siposs surely.
Sydney
Good: Isaac Heeney – Young. Exciting. I can see him being in their starting 22 by Round 4, if not Round 1.
Not so good: Adam Goodes – No disrespect, I absolutely love Adam Goodes, but he should have hung up the boots last year. He won’t be bad, but he’ll have a minimum impact.
West Coast
Good: Nic Naitanui – He’s number one now. It’s time to start playing like it. And he will.
Not so good: Sharrod Wellingham – Since leaving Collingwood, his career has really gone down. What does he bring to this West Coast line up?
Western Bulldogs
Good: Marcus Bontempelli – He could very well be the best midfielder at the Dogs at the end of the season. He’ll be top three in their best and fairest, maybe one or two seasons away from All-Australian.
Not so good: Jarrad Grant – Like Liam Jones, he is so inconsistent I don’t know where to rate him in this team.
Do you agree with my predictions? If not, who do you think will most and the least impact this season?
Who’s in your ultimate team? Pick the best team and compete with other fans for daily prizes on Draftstars. For the best odds on the game try out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Think. Is this a bet you really want to place? Set a deposit limit.