What does the future look like at your club?
We have dissected each of the 18 lists and pulled together your club’s best 22 of players 25 and under.
The only criteria is that a player must not have turned 25 prior to the new season commencing.
See what the future looks like at your club below:
FB: Andrew McPherson / Jordon Butts / Nick Murray
HB: Will Hamill / Fischer McAsey / Wayne Milera
C: Lachlan Sholl / Harry Schoenberg / Mitchell Hinge
HF: Jackson Hately / Darcy Fogarty / Josh Rachele
FF: Lachlan Murphy / Riley Thilthorpe / James Rowe
FOL: Elliott Himmelberg / Jordan Dawson / Sam Berry
I/C: Chayce Jones / Zac Taylor / Brayden Cook / Luke Pedlar
Adelaide’s under-25 side is littered with talent.
The Crows are looking towards the future and there’s no doubt they have some promising players, but there appears to be a lack of depth at this early stage.
Jordan Dawson, Riley Thilthorpe and Lachlan Sholl are three players the Crows need in their side and fans should expect big things from this trio in 2022.
Jordon Butts is an emerging key defender who finished in the top 10 in the Malcolm Blight Medal and appears to be a player to build a defence around. Nick Murray is his offsider and Fischer McAsey is expected to flourish with some continuity.
Draftee Josh Rachele looks extremely promising as a small forward, and there is some optimism surrounding midfielders Harry Schoenberg, Luke Pedlar and Sam Berry.
The Crows must blood games into these players, and while it may impact their competitiveness over the next few years, it will serve them well in the future.
Hugh Fitzpatrick
FB: Noah Answerth / Brandon Starcevich / James Madden
HB: Darcy Wilmot / Jack Payne / Callum Ah Chee
C: Hugh McCluggage / Jarrod Berry / Harry Sharp
HF: Zac Bailey / Tom Fullarton / Cameron Rayner
FF: Keidean Coleman / Eric Hipwood / Thomas Berry
FOL: Kalin Lane / Deven Robertson / Jaxon Prior
I/C: Kai Lohmann / Blake Coleman / Ely Smith / Connor McFadyen
Brisbane has plenty of talent in their under-25 brigade, with a raft of them already rusted on senior players.
The likes of Hugh McCluggage, Eric Hipwood, Zac Bailey and Cameron Rayner have plenty of AFL football under their belts and excitingly for Lions fans, are about to enter the primes of their careers.
Down back, Brandon Starcevich announced himself as one of the league’s best small/medium defenders, but with Harris Andrews now 25, the club could look to recruit another tall defender to add depth to he and Jack Payne.
The young midfield has a nice balance, with McCluggage providing the run and carry, Jarrod Berry and Deven Robertson providing the grunt, while Bailey and Rayner can run through the stoppage as dangerous burst on-ballers.
Hipwood leads the forwards, while there’s plenty of x-factor at his toes with brothers Keidean and Blake Coleman and first-rounder Kai Lohmann exciting small forwards.
The Lions are a contending side but at least half of this team should find themselves playing consistent football in 2022, holding the club in good stead for the future.
Lachlan Geleit
FB: Liam Stocker / Jacob Weitering / Luke Parks
HB: Tom Williamson / Lewis Young / Brodie Kemp
C: Will Setterfield / Matt Kennedy / Lochie O’Brien
HF: David Cuningham / Jack Silvagni / Zac Fisher
FF: Matthew Owies / Harry McKay / Corey Durdin
FOL: Tom De Koning / Sam Walsh / Adam Cerra
I/C: Josh Honey / Jack Carroll / Lachie Fogarty / Paddy Dow
The majority of Carlton’s key players are under 25 or just above, which should excite Blues fans.
Sam Walsh and Adam Cerra are midfield stars of the present and future, while Matt Kennedy, Will Setterfield, Lochie O’Brien and Paddy Dow are still developing.
Jacob Weitering is an established star and they will hope Lewis Young can fill the slot next to him long term. All of Carlton’s key slots are players in this age bracket in Walsh, Weitering, ruckman Tom De Koning and full forward Harry McKay.
De Koning has shown signs of breaking out as a ruckman/key forward hybrid, while McKay won last year’s Coleman Medal following a breakout season. The club has high hopes for small forwards Matthew Owies, Josh Honey and Corey Durdin, who should all receive opportunities this year under Michael Voss.
Nic Negrepontis
FB: John Noble / Charlie Dean / Isaac Quaynor
HB: Trey Ruscoe / Will Kelly / Nick Daicos
C: Caleb Poulter / Patrick Lipinski / Josh Daicos
HF: Trent Bianco / Nathan Kreuger / Oliver Henry
FF: Beau McCreery / Ash Johnson / Jack Ginnivan
FOL: Aiden Begg / Finlay Macrae / Tyler Brown
I/C: Reef McInnes / Nathan Murphy / Arlo Draper / Callum Brown
Collingwood has added a bevy of players in this age bracket in the last two off-seasons, with the club hitting the draft hard in both 2020 and 2021.
Nick Daicos starts at half-back but would expect to find himself the leader of the club’s future midfield alongside his brother Josh Daicos, Patrick Lipinski and first-rounders Finlay Macrae and Reef McInnes.
Down back, Isaac Quaynor, John Noble and Trey Ruscoe look likely starters in Round 1 this year, while Charlie Dean was a lock to debut in the season opener if it weren’t for injury.
Forward of the ball, recruit Nathan Kreuger will play a big role for the club this season, while there’s goalkicking talent in Oliver Henry and Jack Ginnivan, the club would love to add tall forward that’s an early draft selection in the coming years, though.
Only five of the named 22 in McInnes, Dean, Ash Johnson, Arlo Draper and Aiden Begg are yet to debut, and at least three of those (Dean, McInnes and Johnson) would expect to play AFL this season such is the club’s list profile.
Lachlan Geleit
FB: Nick Martin / Zach Reid / Cody Brand
HB: Brandon Zerk-Thatcher / Jordan Ridley / Mason Redman
C: Matt Guelfi / Jye Caldwell / Nik Cox
HF: Archie Perkins / Kaine Baldwin / Aaron Francis
FF: Tex Wanganeen / Harrison Jones / Brayden Ham
FOL: Sam Draper / Darcy Parish / Andrew McGrath / Jye Caldwell
I/C: Nick Bryan / Ben Hobbs / Sam Durham / Patrick Voss
Essendon’s core players are under 25 and are among some of the side’s best players heading into the new season.
Down back, Jordan Ridley leads the back six, with hopes high that top draft pick Zach Reid will overcome his injury issues and become a consistent part of the Bombers defence.
Further up the field, Ben Rutten has plenty of midfield options. Jye Caldwell, Darcy Parish and Andrew McGrath are still under 25 with their best footy arguably yet to come.
Harrison Jones and teenager Kaine Baldwin lead the forward line for Essendon’s under 25 side, with Tex Wanganeen in the forward pocket and Archie Perkins drifting forward. Aaron Francis was deployed further up the field last year and should play predominantly as a forward.
Top 10 draft pick Ben Hobbs should play early in the season and makes the bench alongside mid-season draft recruit Sam Durham and project ruckman Nick Bryan.
Laurence Rosen
FB: Heath Chapman / Griffin Logue / Brandon Walker
HB: Hayden Young / Brennan Cox / Nathan O’Driscoll
C: Jordan Clark / Neil Erasmus / Matt Johnson
HF: Lachlan Schultz / Jye Amiss / Mitchell Crowden
FF: Liam Henry / Josh Treacy / Michael Frederick
FOL: Sean Darcy / Andrew Brayshaw / Caleb Serong
I/C: Lloyd Meek / Bailey Banfield / Will Brodie / Sam Sturt
The Dockers reset at the draft this year, bringing in three highly rated West Australian youngsters in Jye Amiss, Neil Erasmus and Matt Johnson, with the latter two hopefully replacing Adam Cerra, who departed for Carlton.
Andrew Brayshaw and Caleb Serong are the rolled gold midfield stars of the future, while Sean Darcy is an established ruck star.
They will be hoping Amiss can develop into a key forward of the future, though Josh Treacy impressed in his first season last year.
Griffin Logue and Brennan Cox are impressing key defensive pillars, while Hayden Young, Jordan Clark and Liam Henry provide class on the outside.
Nic Negrepontis
FB: Zach Guthrie / Sam de Koning / Flynn Kroeger
HB: Nick Stevens / Jack Henry / Sam Simpson
C: Brandan Parfitt / Max Holmes / Cooper Stephens
HF: Tyson Stengle / Esava Ratugolea / Shannon Neale
FF: Brad Close / Francis Evans / Gryan Miers
FOL: Toby Conway / Quinton Narkle / Mitch Knevitt
I/C: Paul Tsapatolis / Cooper Whyte / James Willis / Ollie Dempsey
Geelong has exactly 22 players who will be under the age of 25 when the season kicks off.
The Cats haven’t been shy about the fact they’re recruiting for the now, and that’s certainly left them vulnerable in regard to their youth. But that’s not to say the talent isn’t there.
They’re relatively well covered across the ground. In defence, Jack Henry and Sam de Koning both look long-term best 22 players, while Zach Guthrie could also fall into that category.
Sam Simpson is silky with ball in hand and could feature on a wing or in the middle, while Brandan Parfitt has already engrained his spot in the Cats’ best side. Max Holmes looks set to follow suit after a bumper pre-season.
The talent up forward is perhaps Geelong’s best when it comes to young players. Gryan Miers, Brad Close and Esava Ratuloea will all play more often than not, while so could Tyson Stengle if he keeps up his pre-season form.
There’s no doubting they’re an ageing list, but if they can keep the core young talent together and recruit a young key forward, they could be around the mark for many years to come.
Seb Mottram
FB: Connor Budarick / Caleb Graham / Jack Bowes
HB: Jeremy Sharp / Charlie Ballard / Wil Powell
C: Alex Davies / Brayden Fiorini / Elijah Hollands
HF: Ben Ainsworth / Jack Lukosius / Darcy Macpherson
FF: Sam Flanders / Ben King / Izak Rankine
FOL: Mac Andrew / Matt Rowell / Noah Anderson
I/C: Charlie Constable / Jez McLennan / Joel Jeffrey / Malcolm Rosas
The 22 listed above isn’t all that dissimilar from the one Stuart Dew will likely role out for Round 1, showcasing how young the list really is.
The obvious highlights come through the midfield. Matt Rowell and Noah Anderson walk into any midfield in the league, while Brayden Fiorini is a ball magnet in every sense of the word. Alex Davies and Elijah Hollands could develop into special players.
The forward line is also well-stacked, and the ACL injury to Ben King might not have as bad an effect as first thought. Jack Lukosius kicked three goals against Geelong in the club’s practice match, while Izak Rankine has all the talent in the world. Ben Ainsworth and Darcy Macpherson have been serviceable players so far, but can they take the next step?
Finally, the backmen also aren’t that different at AFL level to this team. Charlie Ballard punches above his weight, Wil Powell is developing into a strong interceptor and Jack Bowes plays a handy role off half-back. Connor Budarick is in Dew’s best 22, Jeremy Sharp has reportedly had a monster off-season and Caleb Graham should also play AFL in 2022.
All in all, the Suns' talent under 25-years of age is certainly nothing to sneeze at. There are several - if not more – players who could become genuine stars of the competition in the next few years, while the majority of the team listed above would play AFL for most clubs in the near future.
Seb Mottram
B: James Peatling / Jack Buckley / Jacob Wehr
HB: Isaac Cumming / Sam Taylor / Connor Idun
C: Harry Perryman / Tom Green / Conor Stone
HF: Jarrod Brander / Jake Riccardi / Tanner Bruhn
F: Ian Hill / Zach Sproule / Brent Daniels
FOL: Matthew Flynn / Tim Taranto / Lachlan Ash
I/C: Kieren Briggs / Finn Callaghan / Xavier O’Halloran / Ryan Angwin
The Giants have no less than 11 first-round selections in this 22 with four of those taken in the top 10.
At the head of the pack is Tim Taranto, a prime mover for years to come. The captaincy is not out of question for the 24-year-old, provided he signs on.
Tom Green is a potential star who promises to carry the midfield for the next decade while Lachlan Ash has the scope to step up from a rebounding defender to a prolific ball winner. Harry Perryman is a proven performer and an important piece of the current side.
Future All-Australian Sam Taylor leads a capable defence with Jack Buckley the other key option. Isaac Cumming (who is also destined to play up the ground) and Connor Idun have plenty of talent.
In attack, Jake Riccardi has plenty of potential, but requires some continuity, while Zach Sproule needs to fill out. Smalls Bobby Hill and Brent Daniels will feature for some time.
The future looks promising for the Giants with a nice smattering of talent across all areas of the ground.
Andrew Slevison
B: Josh Morris / Denver Grainger-Barras / Harry Morrison
HB: Changkuoth Jiath / Jack Scrimshaw / Connor Downie
C: Will Day / Jai Newcombe / Lachlan Bramble
HF: Dylan Moore / Mitch Lewis / Conor Nash
F: Tyler Brockman / Jacob Koschitzke / Connor MacDonald
FOL: Ned Reeves / Josh Ward / James Worpel
I/C: Sam Butler / Emerson Jeka / Seamus Mitchell / Finn Maginness
The Hawks might be in for some short-term pain, but the upside here is that some of the club’s most exciting players and the reason their fans will be coming to the footy this season are included in this side.
Will Day. Changkuoth Jiath. Josh Ward. Connor MacDonald. Jai Newcombe. Lachie Bramble. Jack Scrimshaw. Denver Grainger-Barass. Dylan Moore. All are at various stages of fan favourtism among Hawk fans and are players Sam Mitchell will build its future around.
There are plenty of midfield options here and lots of rebound off half-back, but there is clearly also a need for another key defender and perhaps a key forward if none of Jacob Koschitzke, Mitch Lewis, Emerson Jeka and Jackson Callow (who didn’t make this team) enjoys a breakout year in 2022.
This team has a few holes, but there are quite a few here who can clearly play and in Day, Ward and Worpel, three possible future Hawthorn captains.
Ashley Browne
FB: Judd McVee / Harrison Petty / Daniel Turner
HB: Jacob Van Rooyen / Deakyn Smith / Jake Bowey
C: James Jordon / Oskar Baker / Blake Howes
HF: Toby Bedford / Kade Chandler / Tom Sparrow
FF: Charlie Spargo / Sam Weideman / Kysaiah Pickett
FOL: Luke Jackson / Clayton Oliver / Trent Rivers
I/C: Fraser Rosman / Bailey Laurie / Taj Woewodin / Andy Moniz-Wakefield
Reigning premiers Melbourne’s best 22 under 25 is littered with players who have yet to make their AFL debut.
While the Dees are all about the here and now, products like Jacob Van Rooyen, Bailey Laurie and Blake Howes all should challenge this season to make their respective debuts.
But while there are plenty of unknowns, the Demons also boast some of the best players in the competition under 25.
Three-time best and fairest winner Clayton Oliver is just 24, while Luke Jackson, Kysaiah Pickett, Trent Rivers and Jake Bowey will only get better.
This is a side brimming with talent waiting in the wings if injury does strike in 2022.
Laurence Rosen
FB: Aiden Bonar / Ben McKay / Kyron Hayden
HB: Bailey Scott / Lachie Young / Will Phillips
C: Jaidyn Stephenson / Jy Simpkin / Tom Powell
HF: Tarryn Thomas / Nick Larkey / Curtis Taylor
FF: Cam Zurhaar / Tristan Xerri / Jack Mahoney
FOL: Callum Coleman-Jones / Jason Horne-Francis / Luke Davies-Uniacke
I/C: Charlie Lazzaro / Josh Goater / Charlie Comben / Jacob Edwards
It feels like North Melbourne’s entire list is in this age bracket, minus a few veteran stars. Their midfield of the future with the hyphen-trio and Jy Simpkin.
Jaidyn Stephenson, Tom Powell, Will Phillips and Tarryn Thomas will all also feature prominently in 2022 and the years to come.
They have key forward-ruck stocks in Tristan Xerri, Charlie Comben and Jacob Edwards to pair with Callum Coleman-Jones, while Nick Larkey and Ben McKay will hold up key pillars.
The Roos could use another young key defender on their list, but are mostly stocked in other areas. Cam Zurhaar is developing as an impact forward and Josh Goater is highly rated coming out of the draft.
Nic Negrepontis
FB: Lachie Jones / Jake Pasini / Martin Frederick
HB: Josh Sinn / Sam Skinner / Dan Houston
C: Xavier Duursma / Willem Drew / Miles Bergman
HF: Connor Rozee / Todd Marshall / Kane Farrell
FF: Dylan Williams / Mitch Georgiades / Jed McEntee
Fol: Sam Hayes / Zak Butters / Sam Powell-Pepper
I/C: Jackson Mead / Hugh Jackson / Dante Visentini / Jase Burgoyne
Port Adelaide’s list contains a host of exciting young prospects who will look to carry the club into the future.
Dan Houston is an elite ball user who has been deployed across half-back and on a wing. Lachie Jones was unearthed last year and immediately earned cult hero status at Alberton. Josh Sinn, the Power’s top draftee from last year, has pace to burn and is one to watch in 2022.
Connor Rozee, Zak Butters and Xavier Duursma – all selected in the first round of the 2018 National Draft – have enormous upside entering their fourth seasons at the club.
Rozee and Butters appear set for increased midfield minutes this upcoming season. After an injury-interrupted start to his career, Willem Drew had a breakout 2021 campaign as an inside mid.
Up forward, Todd Marshall and Mitch Georgiades are talented tall targets who will eventually succeed veteran spearhead Charlie Dixon. Georgiades took a quantum leap last year, booting a career-high 32 goals.
Alex Zaia
FB: Tom Brown / Josh Gibcus / Bigoa Nyuon
HB: Rhyan Mansell / Ben Miller / Daniel Rioli
C: Tyler Sonsie / Jack Graham / Hugo Ralphsmith
HF: Sydney Stack / Noah Balta / Shai Bolton
FF: Maurice Rioli / Mate Colina / Noah Cumberland
FOL: Samson Ryan / Riley Collier-Dawkins / Liam Baker
I/C: Jack Ross / Will Martyn / Thomson Dow / Sam Banks
After a period of success, the Tigers will need to look to their next generation for future glory.
There is plenty to like about the club’s younger brigade with Noah Balta and Shai Bolton leading the way. Balta is the man to help carry the club forward given his athleticism and ability play at both ends of the ground. Bolton is a star in the making who can do it in attack and through the middle.
Three-time premiership player Daniel Rioli narrowly makes the cut for this team, falling in by just one month. He has been set up as a rebounding half-back in 2022 where he is expected to provide plenty of drive.
Draftee Josh Gibcus is an exciting talent as a key back and promises to be a central figure for the next decade, with Ben Miller and Bioga Nyuon the other developing tall options.
Sydney Stack could be anything provided he applies himself and can be effective at both ends, Jack Graham has future captain written all over him, and Liam Baker is fast emerging as one of the team’s most important players.
There is plenty of promise in the likes of Riley Collier-Dawkins, Jack Ross, Thomson Dow and Rhyan Mansell, while Hugo Ralpshmith already looks a player.
If Richmond is to again contend in this next block of years, it will be this group of under-25s who must take things forward.
Andrew Slevison
FB: Ben Paton / Josh Battle / Darragh Joyce
HB: Nick Coffield / Tom Highmore / Leo Connolly
C: Ryan Byrnes / Jack Bytel / Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera
HF: Cooper Sharman / Matthew Allison / Marcus Windhager
FF: Jack Higgins / Max King / Ben Long
FOL: Max Heath / Jade Gresham / Hunter Clark
I/C: Jack Peris / Mitchito Owens / Oscar Adams / Josiah Kyle
St Kilda has some key players under the age of 25.
In defence, Ben Paton quelled some of the game’s best small forwards before missing all of last year with a broken leg. Nick Coffield will unfortunately miss the entire 2022 season with an ACL injury. Utility Josh Battle has played down back in pre-season, while Tom Highmore showed promise as an intercept defender last year.
Through the midfield, Jade Gresham and Hunter Clark are classy operators with the former an X-factor player the Saints have sorely lacked over the past two seasons. Gresham and Clark will hope for more luck on the injury front after missing chunks of 2021. The latter is currently sidelined with a shoulder injury.
Max King, a top five draft selection in 2018, is the Saints’ brightest young star and has the potential to be one of the competition’s premier key forwards. Livewire Jack Higgins booted 27 goals in his debut season at Moorabbin. Mid-season draft recruit Cooper Sharman emerged as a marking target late last year.
Alex Zaia
FB: Will Gould / Barry O’Connor / Will Gould
HB: Nick Blakey / Tom McCartin / Braeden Campbell
C: Oliver Florent / Callum Mills / Justin McInerney
HF: Will Hayward / Logan McDonald / Sam Wicks
FF: Errol Gulden / Hayden McLean / Chad Warner
FOL: Peter Ladhams / James Rowbottom / Dylan Stephens
I/C: Joel Amartey / Lachlan McAndrew / Angus Sheldrick / James Bell
You'd be forgivven to think that this side is Sydney's Round 1 side that will be facing the Giants next week.
The Swans line-up is littered with young talent, Tom McCartin looks set to be a 200-game defender, Callum Mills is already a star midfielder and Logan McDonald looks set to explode this year.
Justin McInerney, Errol Gulden, Nick Blakey, James Rowbottom, Sam Wicks and Chad Warner will all also feature prominently in 2022 and the years to come.
There are plenty of midfield options here and lots of rebound off half-back, but there is definitely a need for another key defender and perhaps a key forward alongside McDonald.
If the Swans can keep all these young guns, look out!
Hugh Fitzpatrick
FB: Tom Cole / Harry Edwards / Josh Rotham HB: Luke Foley / Rhett Bazzo / Alex Witherden C: Campbell Chesser / Zane Trew / Brady Hough HF: Jack Petruccelle / Jake Waterman / Jamaine Jones FF: Jack Williams / Oscar Allen / Isiah Winder Fol: Bailey Williams / Luke Edwards / Sam Petrevski-Seton I/C: Tom Joyce / Connor West / Patrick Naish / Greg Clark
Even having gambled the farm on the 2020 and 2021 seasons only to lose a home elimination final and then miss the top eight altogether, there’s a lot of promise in the emerging Eagles.
Harry Edwards has been anointed the long-term successor to Jeremy McGovern, and in the meantime his presence gives West Coast the option to swing the five-time All-Australian forward.
Josh Rotham cut his teeth as a second tall in 2020, but settled as an interceptor and distributor last season, and will ensure a seamless transition when premiership captain Shannon Hurn has had enough.
Adam Simpson has come to depend on premiership player Tom Cole as a stopper, while Luke Foley and former Brisbane backman Alex Witherden will run the ball out of the backline for much of the next decade.
Luke Edwards, the son of Adelaide champion Tyson, emerged as a genuine two-way midfielder amid a spate of injuries last season, ex-Blue Sam Petrevski-Seton will get the opportunity to create from congestion.
Eagles fans will have to wait to see draftee Campbell Chesser after a serious ankle injury, but when he returns he’ll damage teams by foot playing off the back shoulders of the contested ball winners.
The forward line is littered with talent, led by Oscar Allen. The Western Australian has been dubbed the heir to all-time leading goalkicker Josh Kennedy, while Jack Petruccelle and Jamaine Jones possess deadly goal sense when the ball goes to ground.
The ruck is the primary concern; Bailey Williams’ minutes at the elite level have been limited despite Nic Naitanui’s minutes restrictions, and Callum Jamieson is a raw prospect, so West Coast have signed former Fremantle talls Luke Strnadica and Hugh Dixon.
Shrewd recruitment gives us a through-line from the exhausted Eagles outfit before us to their next period of contention, be it late 2022 or far beyond.
The present injury crisis will afford many of their young players an opportunity to show us why they should be there when the window opens again.
Nathan John
FB: Charlie Parker / Josh Schache / Bailey Williams
HB: Ed Richards / Ryan Gardner / Luke Cleary
C: Lachie McNeil / Louis Butler / Arthur Jones
HF: Laitham Vandermeer / Jamarra Ugle-Hagan / Riley Garcia
FF: Sam Darcy / Aaron Naughton / Cody Weightman
FOL: Tim English / Bailey Smith / Rhylee West
I/C: Jordon Sweet / Dominic Bedendo / Buku Khamis / Cody Raak
A number of established Bulldogs are yet to blow out the candles for their 25th birthday, so the runners-up are positioned well to remain in contention for some time.
Bailey Williams is the pick of the back six, a sturdy, versatile defender with a powerful, accurate kick. The first 58 team sheets of Ed Richards’ career were like Forrest Gump’s box of chocolates, but he appears ready to settle on a half-back flank.
This group really shines in the key posts. Aaron Naughton is among the favourites for the Coleman Medal having booted 47 goals in 2021, while Tim English has been an impactful ruck-forward for three seasons and has sharpened his tools over summer.
Josh Schache has had a pre-season to acclimate to a key defensive post and looks assured, so top two selections Jamarra Ugle-Hagan and Sam Darcy have the luxury of time and patience, at least internally.
The Dogs’ contested chops are concentrated in a handful of more senior players, but explosive onballer Bailey Smith was one of the best players over the 2021 finals, Rhylee West has flashed potential, and Louis Butler can play on the inside, outside and on a back flank.
Up forward, Laitham Vandermeer runs up and down the flanks, plays above his small stature and kicks goals, while Cody Weightman has the makings of a less sympathetic, more nimble Brad Johnson.
The rest are raw prospects, some untested at senior level, but the Dogs’ talent spotting and development has been strong for some time.
Just missing the cut are Marcus Bontempelli and Toby McLean at 26, and Bailey Dale, Josh Dunkley and Roarke Smith at 25.
Get used to the Doggies.
Nathan John