There are many players who have made significant progress during the formative years of their AFL careers.
This progress brings with it high expectations and the prospect of that player taking the next step to become even more of a key figure at their respective club.
Ahead of the 2021 season, we have taken a look at a group of defenders who we believe can take their game to another level.
Tom Doedee (Adelaide)
Tom Doedee has seen his last two years cruelled by injury but there is no doubting his ability.
He played just nine games last year but some of his performances were full of merit in difficult circumstances. He is held in high regard by the Crows, so much so that he skippered the side in Rory Sloane’s absence during the 2020 season.
With a full pre-season under this belt, and a more settled defence around him, the 23-year-old can take the next step with his intercept marking and defensive rebound at the forefront.
Andrew Slevison
Caleb Marchbank (Carlton)
Like Gold Coast’s Charlie Ballard and Sydney’s Tom McCartin, Caleb Marchbank has also played 48 career games. The difference is that Marchbank is three years older.
The talented third tall in defence missed the entire 2020 season with ongoing neck and knee injuries and is yet to put a full season together in his career.
He has the skills to flourish in a Carlton backline where he will likely play as an intercept marker and use his skills to attack off half-back.
Marchbank is comfortably in the Blues’ best 22 when healthy, and looms as a player that could greatly improve Carlton’s overall defence in 2021 if he gets a solid run at it.
Nic Negrepontis
Isaac Quaynor (Collingwood)
Isaac Quaynor took further steps last year when adding 11 games to the four he played in his 2019 debut season.
The talented 21-year-old showed he belonged at the top level by producing some quality performances throughout 2020, namely his 20-touch, seven rebound 50 game against Carlton in Round 14.
The former Oakleigh Chargers star brings pace, balance and nice foot skills to Collingwood’s defence and with two seasons behind him could now take the next step, just as many at the club expect him to.
Eventually he may move into the midfield but he’s still only 15 games into his career and will likely continue developing in the back half, learning his craft from the likes of Jeremy Howe, Jack Crisp and Brayden Maynard.
Andrew Slevison
Charlie Ballard (Gold Coast)
Charlie Ballard has been a recurring part of Gold Coast’s best 22 for two full seasons now, but had a breakout 2020.
At 195cm, he has the profile of a key defender, but another pre-season in the gym will help him deal with some of the competition’s monster key forwards.
Ballard showed his skills as an excellent intercept marker in 2020, but has only played 48 games and is still 21 and clearly has another level to go to. He and Sam Collins developed good chemistry down back as the season went on, with Ballard usually taking the secondary key forward option.
He will be a player to watch in 2021 as the Suns, hopefully, begin to make a rise up the ladder.
Nic Negrepontis
Noah Balta (Richmond)
After spending his first season in the reserves, Noah Balta emerged on the scene in 2019.
He showed enough to have Richmond fans excited before elevating himself even further in 2020. The athletic big man forced his way into the Tigers’ premiership-winning defence early last season and subsequently cemented his spot in the side.
The 21-year-old was handed some significant defensive tasks including on Charlie Dixon in the Preliminary Final and Coleman Medallist Tom Hawkins in the Grand Final, keeping both key forwards quiet.
Now a premiership player, Balta possesses all the attributes to take a quantum leap in 2021, primarily as a defender, who has the ability to pinch-hit in the ruck and also play up forward.
Andrew Slevison
Nick Coffield (St Kilda)
St Kilda’s resurrection in 2020 was partly down to the improvement of their young brigade with former first-round draft pick Nick Coffield emerging as a reliable defensive pillar for the Saints.
The 21-year-old is starting to repay the faith shown by coach Brett Ratten after a slow start to his career that was also disrupted by a serious shoulder injury.
Fit-again Coffield found his niche playing across half-back in a new-look St Kilda defence, taking more marks and intercept marks than any other Saints player last season, culminating in a fifth-place finish in the best and fairest.
Embarking on his fourth season with 36 games under his belt, the young Saint has plenty of upside to his game and will only get better in the coming years.
Alex Zaia
Tom McCartin (Sydney)
Tom McCartin played the final five games of the 2020 season in the backline and looked like a natural. The Swans were ravaged by injuries to key position sized players last year and McCartin held his own playing as a tall intercept marking defender.
With Dane Rampe back in the side to lead the way, McCartin could be in for a breakout year if he is settled down in defence and is given time to grow into the role.
He may have played 48 career games, but the Swan has only just turned 21 and was the youngest player in his draft year. Expect McCartin to continue developing and he could have a big impact for the Swans in 2021 playing across the half backline.
Nic Negrepontis