With the 2014 AFL Season approaching, here is a look upon the players that will make an impact at your club this year.
Adelaide: Taylor Walker
What a huge blow it what for the Crows last year when ‘Tex’ went down. The boy from Broken Hill has become a revelation up forward for Adelaide and his year in 2012 was crucial to the success that Adelaide had that year.
When Tex went down last year, so did the Crows season. With no more Kurt Tippett up forward anymore, Tex Walker has the biggest responsibility in the lineup. The midfield depth of Adelaide is very stable with the likes of Rory Sloane, Patrick Dangerfield and Scott Thompson.
However in the forward line, Tex will now be picking up the best defender. His success in 2014 will be crucial if Adelaide are to comeback from their substandard 2013.
Brisbane: Pearce Hanley
One of the most underrated footballers in the country. His pace of the halfback line can be be misunderstood. His ability to create and control play is second to none.
His foot skills have taken a while to improve, but the Irish man is now a very polished footballer. His innovative style and crunch decision making stands him as a very important player for the Lions.
Hanley has the ability to change a game, from just running and creating off half back.
Carlton: Dale Thomas
Proabably the most anticipated debut of the season will be Thomas in Carlton colours.
Now playing under his former coach at Collingwood, Michael Malthouse, Thomas will look to rejuvenate Carlton after they just scraped in the eight last year before winning an exciting elimination final against the Tigers.
He will be the most influential player at Carlton this year because of the energy he will bring them.
Carlton now have a red-hot midfield with the likes of Chris Judd, Marc Murphy, Andrew Carazzo, Bryce Gibbs (at times), Mitch Robinson, Brock Mclean and now Thomas. Exciting times for Blues fans ahead?
Collingwood: Luke Ball
With such midfield talent at Collingwood it is hard to pick a player who will stand up the most this year. Luke Ball however is a player with extreme motivation, athleticism and skill.
After moving over from St Kilda in 2010, Ball has provided Collingwood with a tough ball magnet in the centre of the ground.
With such silky players on the outside such as Scott Pendlebury, Dayne Beams and Clinton Young, Ball will be really important to the Magpies when the match of against the big guns of the competition such as the Hawks.
This is due to the fact Hawthorn have hard bodies in the midfield. For Collingwood to be competitive in the later stages of the year, Luke Ball needs to set up a good one.
Essendon: The Leadership Group
Enough has been said about the dramas of last year with the Bombers. The fact of the matter is Essendon are still a force to be reckoned with.
Even though James Hird will not be at the helm in 2014, for Essendon to remain competitive they will need the leadership group to stand up.
If there was ever a time that the club needed to stick together, it was last year.
If there was ever a time when the club needed a response, it is in 2014 from the senior guys.
Fremantle: Hayden Ballantyne
If you are a Dockers supporter you love him, and if your not you hate him. Although Hayden Ballantyne is a pest on the field, like it or not this guy has serious determination and mental strength. Ballantyne is a genuine footballer.
His pressure in the forward line is brilliant, and he has the ability to make something out of nothing.
As Fremantle edge towards their first ever flag, Hayden Ballantyne will again need a super season to erase those demons of last years horror Grand Final for himself.
Honourable Mention: Aaron Sandilands
Geelong: Steven Motlop
One of my favourite players in the competition. What an athlete. Motlop has brilliant skill and is swift across the forward line creating many opportunities for himself and his teammates.
As well as this, Motlop has a developing tank and Cats fans should see him playing more midfield time this year.
Motlop’s desire to win the ball, share it around and bring his teammates into the game with his class, makes him crucial for Geelong playing as a midfielder or a small forward.
Motlop is a player who can really break a game open. Good times ahead for this young talent.
Gold Coast Suns: Jack Martin
Will we see an absolute gun arise from the Suns this year? Jack Martin is tipped already to be 2014’s Rising Star and if he is anywhere as good as Jaeger O’Meara, the Gold Coast Suns are in for good times in the future.
Just as good as Ablett is, one can only feel that the energy Martin will bring to the Suns will lift the group.
Described as being quick with silky smooths and great finishing skills, Jack will fit in perfectly into the Suns team as they begin to develop a winning culture up North.
Greater Western Sydney: Heath Shaw
Well this will be very interesting. After winning a premiership at Collingwood Heath Shaw has a very different role to play at the Giants.
Moving to a team with limited success, GWS will hope Shaw will act as a role model on and off the field for the Giants boys as he finishes his AFL career with the leagues newest franchise.
Shaw has proved himself as a quality player coming off half-back line however the Giants will need his leadership and character this year.
Hawthorn: Brad Hill
This young man really announced himself last year as one to watch for the future. Approaching his third year in the AFL, Hill will strive to achieve consistency in his performances and should lift his game to another level in 2013.
Another player with a variety of skills and class. Although not the biggest name in the Hawthorn team, look out for Bradley Hill in 2014. A player who is on the rise swiftly.
Melbourne: Dom Tyson
A really good positive for Melbourne coming out of this offseason. Paul Roos has chosen wisely with the selection of Dom Tyson a very handy footballer originally from the Oakleigh Chargers in the TAC Cup.
Before he got drafted to GWS, Dom has played some very nice patches of football for the Giants, but a move to Melbourne is just what him and the club needed.
A hard running midfielder with a developing tank, this is a massive opportunity for the young man to step up.
North Melbourne: Majak Daw
What an incredible story. Majak Daw the first Sudanese player ever to play AFL, is set for a big impact this year and his coach agrees. Brad Scott putting the wraps of Majak Daw saying his best is ‘unstoppable’.
Last year we only saw a few games from Majak what we did see was exciting. Daw scored six goals against the Dogs last year, and who can forget this brilliant moment in his first ever game.
Majak was a great story last year, but it might be an ever better story this time round.
Port Adelaide: Jared Polec
After moving from the Lions in the trade period, Jared Polec will be keen to make some good first impressions with both the Power and the fans when he starts his 2014 season.
Polec was taken early in the draft yet hasn’t lived up to the expectations just yet, however at a new club on the rise can Port Adelaide bring the best out of this future star?
Richmond: Brandon Ellis
My tip to reach the ‘elite’ level this season. Ellis had a great start to his football career at Richmond enjoying his role at the club.
He lifted his game significantly last year, pushing forward and starting to impact both on the stats sheet and the scoreboard.
A really important player for Richmond as he can bring others into the game and also shut down an opponent at the same time. A gem of a player and someone to watch this season.
St Kilda: Shane Savage
St Kilda may be in for a tough year in 2014, but the arrival of Shane Savage should lift spirits. Crossing the waters from Hawthorn, Savage can play multiple roles.
St Kilda will use him as a small forward early, though he can be used as a midfielder and a winger.
Savage is a potential leader at St Kilda and was unlucky to not be included in Hawthorns premiership side last year. A real positive for St Kilda to build on this season.
West Coast: Sharrod Wellingham
An injury interrupted 2013 debut season with the Eagles, but I’m expecting big things from Wellingham this year.
A player of such class and quality will step up in the 2014 season as West Coast will look to find themselves back in flag contention.
Wellingham has the ability to sneak forward when required and spread the play, makes him a dangerous prospect for any opposition.
Western Bulldogs: Tom Liberatore
Finishing off with another up and comer, Tom Liberatore will look to build his reputation in the AFL this season after a couple of solid years with the Dogs.
A player who can rack up disposals easily, this year Liberatore should find more consistency in his game as he has more hunger and desire, now that he can compete at the highest level.
Very gifted player, and important to Dogs continue to monitor his progress.
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