AFL pre-season: One player from each club to watch during the Marsh Community Series

With the Marsh Community Series beginning this evening and the anticipation for the AFL season at fever pitch, here is one player from each team to keep your eye on.

Adelaide: Matt Crouch

The Crows’ ball magnet missed the entirety of 2021, with groin surgeries derailing his season. However, he made his first appearance for the Crows since 2020 in the practice match against Brisbane and got through unscathed. Keep an eye out for Crouch and how he covers the ground because we know he could find the footy underwater blindfolded!

Brisbane: Cam Rayner

Similar case to Crouch, Rayner missed the entire 2021 season due to a torn ACL. He featured in the same practice match last week, getting through the game and showing flashes. Watch for Rayner in his second outing: with a midfield role in his grasp, can he demonstrate the ability to tear games open?

Carlton: Adam Cerra

The biggest fish of the 2021 off-season found his way to Ikon Park and he has not put a foot wrong. With Sam Walsh missing the start of the season, all eyes have turned to new boy Cerra to fire. Was arguably best on ground in the practice match against St Kilda, can he back it up in the Marsh game and hit the ground running come Round 1?

Collingwood: Nathan Krueger

Saw the Pies firsthand in Morwell against the Hawks and boy was this guy impressive. Coming over from Geelong, Krueger was a physical force in Morwell, strong in the air and even better on the ground with follow up efforts and tackles. With tall forward stocks, the big question for the Pies: can Krueger nail down his Round 1 spot?

Essendon: Andrew McGrath

Looks to have made the move back to the half-back flank, similar to the role he played early in his career. Looked really good against the Dogs, with his combination of grunt and dash working well for the Bombers. Can the man touted as next Essendon captain step up in his new role and propel his club to premiership contention?

Fremantle: Will Brodie

Coming across from the Gold Coast Suns, Brodie played a big game against the Eagles as an inside midfielder, doing a lot of the grunt work. However, that game was without Nat Fyfe and David Mundy. With those two likely to play the Marsh Series hit-out, how will Brodie handle himself in the full-strength line-up?

Geelong: Tyson Stengle

Looked like his AFL career could be over but he got a lifeline from the Cats. He stood up straight away against the Tigers, kicking 4.3 and having a hand in everything. With Eddie Betts mentoring him and the Cats’ small forwards lacking offensive X-factor, is Stengle the answer?

Gold Coast: Matt Rowell

I don’t think we have ever seen someone burst on the scene like Rowell did in the first five rounds of 2020. Unfortunately, we haven’t seen the best since then due to injury. He got through the game against Port healthy and looked very good. Please, footy gods, let Matty Rowell get through this Marsh Series game!

Matthew Rowell of the Suns (Photo by Jono Searle/AFL Photos/via Getty Images )

GWS Giants: Matt Flynn/Brayden Preuss

I have gone for a duo here and SuperCoach players will be watching this even closer. But the Giants ruck situation is a very interesting one. Preuss came from Melbourne at the end of 2020 looking for a No.1 ruck role, however, with Flynn covering for him in 2021 while injured, it is his role to lose.

Hawthorn: Connor McDonald

Shoutout to good mate and YouTuber Daz Talks Footy who educated me on this kid and as a Hawks fan, I am excited. Showed really positive signs in Morwell and if he is picked to play against the Tigers in Tasmania, watch out.

Everyone will want to talk about Josh Ward, but McDonald could potentially be the best rookie from day one.

Melbourne: Luke Jackson

Melbourne looked as good as ever against North at Casey Fields and the team is the most settled in the AFL. However, I am looking forward to seeing the ruck situation and just how many centre bounces Luke Jackson attends. I love his talent and think he can really explode in 2022.

North Melbourne: Hugh Greenwood

I know what you’re thinking, where is Jason Horne-Francis? And yes, everyone will be watching him but I don’t want to pick the obvious choice from each team. Greenwood is a very good AFL player and with a Ben Cunnington-sized hole (all the best in recovery Cunners) in the North midfield, how will Greenwood fair in the blue and white?

Port Adelaide: Zak Butters

Fun fact: Port Adelaide’s top three midfielders based on centre bounce attendances in the 2021 finals were Ollie Wines, Travis Boak and Robbie Gray. One of those won a Brownlow and the other two are 34 years old. Port need youth and excitement in the midfield for their own premiership success, and Butters looks the obvious choice.

Richmond: Hugo Ralphsmith

Looks to have potentially taken the Bachar Houli half-back flank spot and played really well against the Cats. With Houli being such a big cog in the Richmond machine over the last five years, they will be looking at someone to fill those shoes.

Ralphsmith is a good decision maker and clean user, plus no chance you can miss him with that head of hair!

St Kilda: Jade Gresham

The Saints have a big problem in their midfield, it is seriously one-paced. Steele, Crouch, Ross, Clark, the list goes on. Jade Gresham shapes to be the man who can add a real X-factor to this group, with his pace and skill adding a different vibe. If he can get through the game while playing some midfield clock, it is a massive tick for Saints fans.

Sydney: Isaac Heeney

Swans fans, it might finally be happening. It has been teased that Isaac Heeney would move into the midfield for years now without ever happening but against the Giants he attended 48 per cent of possible centre bounces. With Parker, Kennedy and Mills lacking spark, Heeney would be a beautiful addition to the group.

West Coast: Tim Kelly

It appears the Eagles are dropping like flies, and they may be lucky to field a healthy side come Round 1. This is time for Tim Kelly to stand up and show he was worthy of the mega package that went Geelong’s way for him. They still have Nic Nat, Kelly and Gaff which is the formula for a good midfield, but I think Kelly is the one.

Western Bulldogs: Bailey Smith

It was a turbulent off-season for the East Malvern Mullet and with an impressive Dogs midfield rotation showing up against the Bombers, where does this leave him? We obviously know his talent and I am in no way doubting his place in the best 22, however, I am curious to see his role.

Will it be permanent wing, or half-forward, and does he get centre bounce attendances? Will be an interesting watch.