This team has been formulated with players that need to up their game in 2021.
Check out what the team would look like, comprising only one player from the 18 clubs.
For this exercise there’s one captain: Angus Brayshaw of the Melbourne Demons, who would benefit from being given the captaincy. It would make him a better player, and hopefully he can recapture his 2018 this year.
Team of players who need to up their game in 2021: starting 18
Adelaide Crows: Daniel Talia
Brisbane Lions: Grant Birchall
Carlton Blues: Michael Gibbons
Collingwood Magpies: Brodie Grundy
Essendon Bombers: Jake Stringer
Fremantle Dockers: Rory Lobb
Geelong Cats: Shaun Higgins
Gold Coast Suns: Jack Lukosius
Greater Western Sydney Giants: Stephen Coniglio
Hawthorn Hawks: Sam Frost
Melbourne Demons: Angus Brayshaw (captain)
North Melbourne Kangaroos: Jared Polec
Port Adelaide Power: Hamish Hartlett
Richmond Tigers: Daniel Rioli
St Kilda Saints: Tim Membrey
Sydney Swans: Oliver Florent
West Coast Eagles: Luke Shuey
Western Bulldogs: Hayden Crozier
B: Grant Birchall (Brisbane Lions), Daniel Talia (Adelaide Crows), Sam Frost (Hawthorn Hawks)
HB: Hayden Crozier (Western Bulldogs), Jack Lukosius (Gold Coast Suns), Hamish Hartlett (Port Adelaide Power)
C: Jared Polec (North Melbourne Kangaroos), Angus Brayshaw (Melbourne Demons), Oliver Florent (Sydney Swans)
HF: Jake Stringer (Essendon Bombers), Tim Membrey (St Kilda Saints), Shaun Higgins (Geelong Cats)
FF: Daniel Rioli (Richmond Tigers), Rory Lobb (Fremantle Dockers), Michael Gibbons (Carlton Blues)
Foll: Brodie Grundy (Collingwood Magpies), Stephen Coniglio (Greater Western Sydney Giants), Luke Shuey (West Coast Eagles)
Backs
Grant Birchall had an average season in 2020 and will be looking to improve on it when 2021 is up and running. He needs to substantiate Brisbane’s decision to recruit him.
Daniel Talia has to prove that he should be in the Adelaide Crows best 22 in 2021. In order to this he needs to play at an optimum level in 2021.
Sam Frost will want to improve on his eighth-place finish in the Hawthorn Hawks best and fairest for 2020. In 2021 the Hawks will need him to improve with James Sicily suffering an injury. Despite that, he should benefit from the recruitment of Kyle Hartigan from the Adelaide Crows, who will most probably play full back.
Halfbacks
Hayden Crozier should finish in the top ten of the Western Bulldogs best and fairest in 2021. He failed to do so in 2020. He will need to improve in 2021 to justify his spot in the team. If he does so, the Bulldogs will benefit. There’s plenty of upside in him.
Jack Lukosius of the Gold Coast Suns finished equal ninth in their best and fairest in 2020. He did manage to have a bit of consistency, but not enough. In 2021 he will need to improve for the Suns.
Hamish Hartlett of the Port Adelaide Power has plenty of work to do if he is to get better. Despite playing every game in 2020 he failed to finish in the top ten of the Power best and fairest. If he performs at the level he is capable of, there should be no doubt that he finishes in the top ten in the Power best and fairest.
Centres
Jared Polec of the North Melbourne Kangaroos needs to be at his best if his side are to improve as a team in 2021. Although he missed four games, he should have finished in the top ten of the Kangaroos best and fairest. Hopefully he plays to his full potential in 2021.
Angus Brayshaw of the Melbourne Demons has a make-or-break season ahead of him in 2021. He must recapture the form that got him to third in the Brownlow Medal Medal count in 2018. He was such a pivotal part of the Demons making it to the preliminary finals in that season. He has age on his side, as he is only 24. It’s now or never for him and the Demons.
Oliver Florent finished tenth in the Sydney Swans best and fairest in 2020. That’s despite the fact that he played every game and averaged the sixth most disposals of any Swans player. His possible improvement is only one aspect of the Sydney team that could do with rectifying.
Angus Brayshaw (Photo by Will Russell/AFL Photos/Getty Images)
Half-forwards
Jake Stringer should be considered a matchwinner. The Essendon Bombers won four of ten games he played in during 2020. Despite being hampered by injuries, he will want to improve. He kicked five goals in the six losses that he was a part of as opposed to the nine goals he kicked in the four games the Bombers won with him in the team. He could almost be thought of as a bit of a barometer in 2021 based on his goal kicking stats of 2020, but he needs to be more consistent.
Tim Membrey averaged 1.11 goals per game in 18 matches in 2020. He needs to have a better season in 2021 as he should be aiming to at least finish in top ten of the Saints best and fairest.
Shaun Higgins, now of the Geelong Cats, would be disappointed that he finished eighth in the North Melbourne Kangaroos best and fairest. He was recruited by the Cats for a reason. He has the potential to help them improve and prove he is still a quality player in 2021.
Tim Membrey (Photo by Daniel Carson/AFL Media/Getty Images)
Forwards
Daniel Rioli needs to improve on his consistency that he displayed in 2020. He averaged only 0.67 goals per game in 18 matches that season. That sums it up. He is capable of being better in 2021. Hopefully the talent he possesses comes to the fore and he kicks more goals.
Rory Lobb averaged just 0.59 goals a game in 2020. He is a forward/second ruckman, so he needs to kick more goals. Despite playing every game in 2020 he failed to finish in the top ten.
Michael Gibbons of the Carlton Blues needs to justify his spot in the team based on his form in 2020. He averaged just 0.73 goals per game in 15 matches. He is capable of kicking many more goals and will need to do so in 2021.
Daniel Rioli (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
Followers
Brodie Grundy finished equal seventh in the Magpies best and fairest in 2020. He needs to improve. Despite featuring in every game, his performance wasn’t up to the standard that he is capable of playing. Hopefully that occurs in 2021.
Stephen Coniglio of Greater Western Sydney finished tenth in the Giants best and fairest count in 2020. That’s despite the fact he missed only one game and averaged the third most disposals of any GWS player in that season.
Luke Shuey played 13 of 18 matches in 2020. He did have a slightly injury-interrupted season, but he needs to improve purely from a performance perspective, as he should do in 2021.
Tim O'Hare
Roar Rookie
I don't know why people are suddenly giving Grant Birchall shit. During the season, commentators kept saying that he revolutionised Brisbane's backline. Also, does he really need to up his game? He was probably due to retire by now anyway so I feel anything he gives us now is a bonus. Conversely, a player like Dan McStay could struggle to hold his spot this year with the recruitment of Joe Daniher. Also, guys on the outer like Rhys Mathieson are probably at the end of their career if they don't step up.
Todd Field
Guest
I agree with the Angus Brayshaw choice however I'd add Jake Lever and Tom McDonald ahead of Gus. All three need solid pre-seasons and need to lift this year. As a Dees tragic, if we cannot make finals this year
Footyguy
Guest
Cameron when he first came out in 2019 he came on the scene with a bang Stats tell the story 11 goals 53 disposals from 7 games 2 goals 24 disposals from 5 games
WCE
Roar Rookie
JK will win another Coleman medal in his last year, no need to lift, he's already a superstar
berrlins
Roar Pro
Bruce easily for the Dogs. Scache I can't see playing again unless they redefine his role, trial him at half back or something, he's a great kick but has no mongrel.
Naughty's Headband
Roar Rookie
It'd be interesting to know how Crozier ranks as a back flanker or back pocket. He's probably in the top half dozen players in his role already.
Naughty's Headband
Roar Rookie
I'm still holding out some hope with Schache, and the Dogs must do as well. He had an injury interrupted 2020 so never really go a good go at it, but he needs to find some intent quickly in 2021 if he's going to have a long career. He's a beautiful kick, he's big and he's improved his tank so he has plenty of attributes. I think he just lacks the confidence to take the game on. He could be a handy centre half forward.
Naughty's Headband
Roar Rookie
Haha, yes he does. A big, slow mountain that can't catch.
Mr Right
Roar Rookie
It's easy to say he shouldn't in their best 22, but who are you going to play full forward? Mitch Lewis only played about 8 games last season. In 2016 & 2017 I saw Jon Patton have two pretty good seasons kicking 38 & 45 goals. Mitch Lewis & Tim O'Brien don't have the same body strength to be taking regular pack marks. Patton has to prove his body can hold up in 2021 or his AFL career is over. So many injuries over so many years, some put it down to bad luck, I say his luck must change this year or no one is going to take him on again.
ScottyJ
Roar Rookie
Youre spot on with Lobb. Wants to be more forward than ruck then he needs to kick a lot more goals. Can take a grab but that run up was cringeworthy. Heres hoping he irons that out and kicks 40+.
Hawks12
Guest
Here’s a tip for my hawks. Scully needs to improve massively. And in my opinion probably won’t and will not be in the hawks best 22 come mid season and will be moved on by years end. Need a lot more than just running copious amounts of klm’s to compete in the modern game
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
frost is far too inconsistent. His mobility and creativity are his big advantages, but his creativity can be something of a bane for the Hawks.
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
I disagree with your choice of Jake Stringer, he has done everything that Essendon has asked of him. He has been the most consistent player for the bombers these last few years and I reckon he’s a smokey for the best and fairest this year particularly if he can get on the scoreboard a little more frequently this year. The players who need a big year at Essendon are Dyson Heppell, Dylan Shiel, or Darcy Parrish. If you want to make it a forward then Jayden Laverde needs a big year, he needs to play multiple games and kick goals in every games. In the backline Aaron Francis needs to drastically improve given his own antipathy towards playing consistently.
Bruiser
Roar Rookie
the eagles have lost it :thumbdown:
Bruiser
Roar Rookie
didn't set the world on fire by a long shot, fair call
Bruiser
Roar Rookie
of all the blokes to target..
Bruiser
Roar Rookie
two cents is about right yeah
Bruiser
Roar Rookie
its a compliment :laughing:
Bruiser
Roar Rookie
J Bruce stands alone like a mountain.
Macca
Roar Rookie
And my point is he can’t kick more goals if he isn’t in the side and given the competition for his spot being a b- player in that role won’t be good enough in 2021 at the Blues.