Round 2 of the 2020 AFL season is around the corner and that means it’s time to focus on the storylines that will be key to the weekend of footy and beyond.
Given Round 1 feels like it was 20 years ago and the other storylines dominating the media news cycle, there hasn’t been a great deal of talk about what will actually happen when the ball is bounced.
So we’ve gone through every match-up to outline each team’s most intriguing player heading into the game.
Whether it’s someone under an injury cloud, a player with an increased weight on their shoulders, an interesting match-up or a long-awaited debut, here are the players who you will have to keep an eye on come Round 2.
Collingwood versus Richmond
Collingwood: Darcy Moore
Every single game is important given the reduced season, but a match between two premiership contenders could mean everything come finals time. The last time Richmond and Collingwood faced off, Tom Lynch booted five goals in a match the Tigers won by, funnily, five goals. Darcy Moore did not play in that game and he will likely be given the job of clamping Lynch. That match-up could go a long way to determining which team gets the 2-0 start.
Richmond: Tom Lynch
On the other side of the coin, it’s flown under the radar how badly Jacob Weitering beat Tom Lynch in Round 1. The Tigers got over the line, but Lynch was thoroughly quelled by the young key defender and has had to stew on that performance for months. On the biggest stage and up against a team he dominated in 2019, can Lynch turn things around? We can’t wait to find out.
Geelong versus Hawthorn
Geelong: Jack Steven
There’s no doubt all eyes will be on Jack Steven after he was stabbed in the chest a few weeks ago, especially since the details of the situation remain murky. Putting all that aside, this is a four-time St Kilda best and fairest winner who will likely make his Geelong debut in Round 2 and he will need to help pick up the slack left by Tim Kelly’s departure.
Hawthorn: Jon Patton
Patton looked good in his first game in Hawthorn colours and his first game back since a torn ACL in 2018. He will need to be the spearhead for the Hawks in 2020, a target for their quality midfield and a foil for the likes of Mitchell Lewis, Luke Breust and Jack Gunston. Patton was as fit as he has ever been coming into Round 1 and it’s easy to forget he kicked 45 goals in his last full season.
Brisbane versus Fremantle
Brisbane: Dayne Zorko
The Brisbane captain has to take this return to training easy after he suffered a foot injury in Round 1. The Lions are doing what they can to look after their skipper, hoping the injury doesn’t get worse and turn into an ongoing stress fracture. Brisbane must take full advantage of this opening month of the year where they won’t have to leave the Gabba and having a fully-fit Zorko up and running will be key to that.
Fremantle: Jesse Hogan
All of a sudden, Jesse Hogan is fit and on the plane to Queensland with the rest of the Fremantle team. If the Dockers can get him ready for the resumption of the season, a firing Hogan changes the complexion of their team. Suddenly they have a star forward that takes pressure off Matt Taberner and Cam McCarthy, allows Rising Star nomination Sam Sturt to settle without too much weight on his shoulders while providing predictability for star small forward Michael Walters. A fit Hogan certainly would make the Dockers significantly more interesting in 2020.
Carlton versus Melbourne
Carlton: Harry McKay
Harry McKay had a great 2019 season, leading Carlton’s goal kicking and showing he will be one of the game’s strongest contested markers. He dealt with groin issues in the pre-season and missed Round 1, but should be ready to go come Round 2 and will need to do it without Charlie Curnow in 2020. The Blues will be hoping the 22-year-old has a breakout year and develops into a reliable key forward option. David Teague has spoken often about his desire for Carlton to be a high scoring team and McKay will need to be a focal point of that.
Melbourne: Kysaiah Pickett
The Round 1 West Coast versus Melbourne game wasn’t spoken much about given we knew the season was going to be postponed – and given the Eagles belted the Demons – but Pickett was incredibly exciting on debut. He kicked two goals and could have had a few more playing as a small forward for the Dees. Carlton conceded nine goals to Shai Bolton, Jason Castagna and Daniel Rioli in Round 1 and have struggled with small forwards in recent years. The opportunity will be there for Pickett to earn a Rising Star nomination.
Port Adelaide versus Adelaide
Port Adelaide: Charlie Dixon
After an incredible pre-season performance, Charlie Dixon missed Round 1 with a groin injury that has now completely healed. Dixon has never quite had a year to back up the talent he has shown throughout his career, but the time off to get his body right may just have been perfect for him. Some have Port Adelaide among those who can win the flag in 2020, but they’re probably not getting near it unless Dixon shines and realises his full potential.
Adelaide: Taylor Walker
Shorter quarters open the door for Walker to spend some time in the midfield and even as Adelaide’s back-up ruckman, something that has been mentioned a few times across 2020. Walker is one of the best field kicks in the entire AFL and a different role will be interesting to watch, given he has spent most of his career deep forward.
Gold Coast versus West Coast
Gold Coast: Izak Rankine
Few players have been hyped up before their debut more than Izak Rankine, who is being touted as a future star of the game, despite not playing in his first season. The classy half-forward has been training fully in Queensland for a while now and looks certain to make his debut in Round 2 against the Eagles. All eyes will be on Rankine to see if he can be the player that helps lift the Suns off the bottom of the ladder.
West Coast: Tim Kelly
As mentioned earlier, the Melbourne versus West Coast game was a strange one given the news that the AFL would enter a lockdown. The lack of energy from the players was clear, particularly given the Eagles put the Demons away early. Tim Kelly was fine in his West Coast debut, but now we will get a better look at his role in this Eagles side and the chemistry he develops with Nic Naitanui, Luke Shuey and the rest of the West Coast midfield.
GWS versus North Melbourne
GWS: Harry Perryman
Harry Perryman was one of the breakout players of Round 1, with the young midfielder booting four goals against Geelong. He also gathered 20 disposals at 85 per cent disposal efficiency, making it one of the best performances of the whole weekend. Was it a one-off or have the Giants got another superstar on their hands? That’s what we will hopefully start to find out against North Melbourne.
North Melbourne: Jack Ziebell
North Melbourne star Shaun Higgins believes Jack Ziebell has greatly benefited from the time off, with the captain needing time to recover from a high-grade medial strain. Ziebell getting back to his best will be key to North’s 2020, given he sets the tone in terms of pressure around the ball and physicality. Ziebell might become the first player ever to suffer a serious knee injury in Round 1, go under the knife, and play in Round 2.
Sydney versus Essendon
Sydney: Isaac Heeney
Isaac Heeney has been touted as the likely main forward replacement for Lance Franklin, given he will miss an extended period of time with a hamstring. Heeney booted four goals in Round 1 against Adelaide and has the talent to be one of the game’s best players. A forward line of Heeney, Nick Blakey, Tom Papley and Tom McCartin is unconventional, but might be one of the most interesting in the AFL.
Essendon: Dyson Heppell
The Essendon skipper is pushing to be ready for Round 2 after a year impacted by ongoing foot issues. He is training well, but all reports suggest he is touch and go to get on the plane to Sydney. The break has given the Bombers a chance to shrink their worrying injury list, but they’ll be hoping to have their captain out there in Round 2 as they begin a campaign to make finals in 2020.
St Kilda versus Western Bulldogs
St Kilda: Max King
St Kilda has a number of interesting players, but all eyes were on Max King in Round 1 and nothing will change going forward. The promising key forward kicked two goals and looked every bit a future superstar of the game and now he comes up against a Bulldogs team that has struggled to stop key forwards in the last year.
Western Bulldogs: Tim English
There’s no other way to put it, English was completely dominated in Round 1 by reigning All-Australian ruckman Brodie Grundy. He finished with 11 hit-outs and only the 10 disposals, while Grundy did whatever he wanted all night in what was a one-sided battle. English is touted a star ruckman of the future, but now comes up against a fellow rising gun in Rowan Marshall and must rebound from what was a night to forget.