The 2021 AFL season will sneak up on us all and spots in club best 22’s will fill up quickly.
The off-season shook up every team and those who were on the fringes of the best 22 in 2020 will be hoping to break out and earn regular games.
We’ve looked at the player at your team who needs 2021 to be the year where they force their way into the side on a weekly basis.
Elliott Himmelberg
Key position players always take a bit of time to develop and that has been the case with talented forward Elliott Himmelberg.
He started showing signs of his immense potential last season when tallying 11 games and kicking nine goals, while taking some strong contested marks. Prior to that he had played just eight games and kicked nine goals across two seasons.
Entering his fifth year with the Crows, and with veteran Taylor Walker slowing down, the time is right for Himmelberg to stand up and make a name for himself.
Along with Darcy Fogarty, the youthful pair must take the reins of the Adelaide forward line as the club goes through a transition phase.
Andrew Slevison
Marcus Adams
Marcus Adams has had an injury plagued career with another foot injury derailing his 2020 campaign.
The key defender has played 11 games in two years with the Lions since being traded from the Western Bulldogs and a clean run at it would greatly help Brisbane.
Adams taking over key defensive duties would free up Harris Andrews and Darcy Gardiner to play more attacking and intercepting roles and could elevate both players even further.
The 27-year-old has only played 38 career games and never more than 11 in a season and would simply be icing on the cake for this Lions team.
Nic Negrepontis
Tom De Koning
Matthew Kreuzer’s 2020 season ended in Round 1, with Marc Pittonet filling the ruck void at Carlton for most of the year. However, by the end of the campaign it was clear Tom De Koning is the long-term ruck solution.
The Blues turned the keys over to the 21-year-old across the final block of the season and he impressed, going head-to-head with the likes of Nic Naitanui, Brodie Grundy, Jarrod Witts and Reilly O’Brien.
De Koning has shown he is capable of playing forward, but Carlton’s best side will likely feature three key forwards and only one ruckman. A breakout year from De Koning would be big for the Blues structurally in that regard.
Nic Negrepontis
Tyler Brown
The younger brother of the more established Callum, Tyler Brown will look to grab more opportunities in the Pies midfield in 2021.
Having played nine games in 2020, Brown showed flashes of his ability to win the ball in tight spaces use it with compsosure.
Adam Treloar’s departure opens up a slot in the Pies' engine room, and coming into his third season, Nathan Buckley should look to Brown to fill the hole of the ball-winning midfielder.
The Collingwood coaching staff are said to have big wraps on the 188cm midfielder, and 2021 could be the year that Brown begins to solidify his spot in the club’s best 22.
Lachlan Geleit
Aaron Francis
His name has been mentioned in these circles for a few years now.
Aaron Francis has all the natural ability in the world but he just needs the application to take his game to the next level. He saw Jordan Ridley go past him this year and his not quite developed into the defensive intercept star the Bombers would have hoped for.
Hamstring and back injuries restricted him to eight games in 2020, but his form was also an issue as he somewhat regressed from his solid 2019 campaign. Spent time playing a more key defensive role in his last three games so perhaps the Dons are looking at changing his role slightly in 2021.
The 23-year-old is a super talent and has shown glimpses over five seasons, but now he needs to fully deliver.
Andrew Slevison
Griffin Logue
After impressing across the first five rounds of 2020, Griffin Logue’s season was cut short by ongoing injuries.
The former top 10 pick from the 2016 National Draft will undoubtedly be a key part of Fremantle’s backline in 2021 if he can get his body right and will take pressure off Luke Ryan, who carried a heavy load in 2020.
The Dockers’ new game style is largely dependant on their defence and without Logue, Alex Pearce or Joel Hamling in 2020, they performed admirably. A breakout year for Logue could make him the cornerstone of the defensive unit.
Nic Negrepontis
Charlie Constable
Constable, a former Rising Star nominee, will look to force his way into Chris Scott’s plans next season.
The 21-year-old is a talented midfielder who has played just nine games for Geelong. Was forced to bide his time in 2020, featuring in Rounds 8 and 9 before losing his place and remained on the fringes for the rest of the campaign.
2021 will be the young Cat’s fourth season at the club in what shapes as a make-or-break year.
He comes out of contract next season and was reportedly weighing up his future due to a lack of game time last season.
Alex Zaia
Will Brodie
Brodie, a top 10 draft selection in 2016, would feel he has much more to give at AFL level.
In four seasons at the Suns, the midfielder has played 20 games, making just one senior appearance in 2020 – Gold Coast’s Round 1 loss to Port Adelaide.
Out of favour but contracted until the end of 2022, it looms as a defining season for the Murray Bushrangers product.
He hit the ground running on day one of pre-season - running a 30-second personal best in his 2km time trial.
The Suns were open to offers for the 22-year-old, but a trade wasn’t forthcoming. Looking to break into a emerging Gold Coast midfield littered with young talent.
Alex Zaia
Isaac Cumming
The 20th pick in the 2016 draft, Isaac Cumming is yet to fully nail down his spot in the Giants side. He played seven games across 2018 and 2019, before adding just three more in 2020.
The Academy product now gets the chance to stake his claim across half-back following the departures of Heath Shaw and Zac Williams.
The rebounding defender signed a two-year deal this year, indicating that the club has high hopes for him. He has the natural ability to make it at the top level and now just needs to grasp the opportunity.
Andrew Slevison
Harry Morrison
Morrison managed 11 games in 2020 for a struggling Hawthorn outfit.
After breaking his jaw while playing for Box Hill last season, the quick outside midfielder was hoping to recapture some form in 2020, but instead had an underwhelming season for the brown and gold, averaging 14 possessions.
Hawthorn fans will be hoping to see something that resembles the Morrison they saw in 2018 next season, when the then second-year Hawk played in 21 games – including both finals – and earned a NAB Rising Star nomination in round 20 against Essendon.
With 42 games in his four-year career to date, the Hawks need Morrison – as well as a few of the other young midfielders on the list - to go to the next level in 2021.
Brent Sternberg
Sam Weideman
Weideman’s exceptional finals campaign in 2018 feels like a lifetime ago now, but Melbourne fans have long memories and they desperately want the key forward to be that guy for them again in 2021.
Having booted 46 goals in 44 games across five seasons for the Dees, the time is now for Weideman to become the player patient Melbourne fans know he can be. With Ben Brown crossing from North Melbourne to be the focal point up forward, Weideman will have the luxury now to develop as the second foil.
Dees fans saw Christian Petracca become the player they knew he could be this past season and in 2021 it’s Sam Weideman’s turn. Melbourne’s finals hopes might hinge on his development.
Brent Sternberg
Luke Davies-Uniacke
Luke Davies-Uniacke will be given every opportunity in 2021 and will likely play every game in order to fast track his development, but the Roos will be hoping the young midfielder continues to improve on what we saw at the end of 2020.
The 2017 no.4 draft pick had two big games in rounds 16 and 18 that would have North Melbourne fans excited and if he can take another step in 2021, coupled with the return of Ben Cunnington, it will go a long way to the Roos having a competitive midfield.
In Round 16 against Port Adelaide, he had 23 disposals and five clearances and laid the blueprint for 2021.
Nic Negrepontis
Todd Marshall
A promising key position prospect who has shown glimpses of his potential, Marshall played 14 games in 2020 taking his career tally to 34 across four seasons with Port Adelaide. He suffered a broken thumb which sidelined him for multiple weeks last season.
The 22-year-old has played mostly forward and pinch-hit in the ruck on occasions but is yet to nail down a regular spot.
Standing at 198cm, he could be the perfect foil for Charlie Dixon but will face stiff competition from fellow youngster Mitch Georgiades for the centre-half forward role.
He needs a big summer to elevate his game to new levels.
Alex Zaia
Mabior Chol
Mabior Chol has a fantastic opportunity ahead of him in 2021.
The athletic big man operates mainly as a forward who can pinch-hit in the ruck and with Ivan Soldo expected to be sidelined for most of next year, it could represent plenty of chances.
Chol played 11 games in 2020, including the first final against Brisbane, but was easily muscled out by Harris Andrews which suggests he needs to be become stronger in the contest.
With Callum Coleman-Jones out to make amends for his Gold Coast hub misdemeanour, Chol might have competition for the Toby Nankervis support role but he has first dibs on it after playing some solid footy in his 20 games over the last two seasons.
He has the natural talent. He just needs to bed down a spot in the 22.
Andrew Slevison
Luke Dunstan
Dunstan will embark on his eighth season with the Saints in 2021.
The inside midfielder found senior opportunities scarce last season, playing just the solitary AFL match – St Kilda’s Round 1 defeat to North Melbourne – picking up one Brownlow Medal vote in the process.
A torn pectoral muscle interrupted his 2020 campaign. The 25-year-old was linked with a return home to South Australia during the trade period but opted to remain at Moorabbin.
He comes out of contract next season and needs a big year to earn a new deal. Has 104 games under his belt and should be coming into the prime of his career.
Alex Zaia
Ben Ronke
After bursting onto the scene in 2018 with 24 goals, Ben Ronke has kicked only nine from 16 combined games over 2019 and 2020.
While injuries interrupted his 2020 season, the small forward didn’t fire a shot in the three games he appeared in, unable to register a goal or behind from any of his games early in the year.
Tom Papley is the Swans' clear primary target inside 50, and John Longmire is screaming out for another potent goal scoring option to stretch opposition defences.
While Ronke is a certain starter with his 2018 form, he will need to again hit the scoreboard to secure his spot in the club's best 22.
Lachlan Geleit
Daniel Venables
This choice might be a bit rough, as Venables has been on the sidelines for almost 18 months recovering from a severe head knock suffered in 2019.
Venables hasn’t seen the field since a collision with Melbourne's Tim Smith halfway through the 2019 season caused him a significant brain trauma, but the Eagles decision to re-rookie the midfielder after de-listing him earlier this year shows they’re still keen on the 2018 premiership player.
West Coast officials have said Venables has shown significant progress recently, and so there’s a chance for Venables to improve on his tally of 21 games in four seasons if healthy.
He’s not under pressure like some others, but 2021 might be Daniel Venables last roll of the dice.
Brent Sternberg
Pat Lipinski
In 2019 Luke Beveridge left Patrick Lipinski in the VFL until Round 10, hoping to nurture his on-ball sense. His patience was rewarded, as the 2016 draftee stepped up to average 22 disposals, 4.6 marks, 3.6 tackles, 2.8 inside 50s, an assist and nearly a goal.
Lipinski shifts his angle while running with the ball, loops handpasses to advantage and flights his kicks exquisitely. In 2019 form, he’s a cert.
In 2020 he didn’t see enough of the ball, nor make sufficient use of his 187cm frame. The Dogs also tightened their rotation, and he wanted for continuity at selection and in his role.
The 22-year-old has never experienced fiercer contention for a place, but his tools remain unique at Whitten Oval.
Nathan John