If you could pick one player at your AFL club to breakout in 2023, who would it be?
Would you select a highly talented recent draftee who could come in and attempt to fulfil their full potential, or would you pick a lesser known youngster who may fill a more important positional need?
We put the call out on Twitter to see what fans thought and have compiled one for each team based on some of the intriguing responses.
See our picks for each team below.
If you could pick one AFL player at your club to have a breakout season in 2023, who would you choose?
— SEN 1116 (@1116sen) October 21, 2022
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Riley Thilthorpe
Adelaide could have a stacked forward line in 2023.
Darcy Fogarty was 2022’s breakout player, Taylor Walker is still going strong, Izak Rankine joins the fold, and they don’t want for small forwards … but what if Riley Thilthorpe makes a big leap too?
The second overall pick in the 2020 National Draft, Thilthorpe has shown signs as a developing young key forward, but his 2022 season was heavily interrupted by injuries and COVID.
Thilthorpe exploding in 2023 as a key forward and secondary ruckman would give the Crows one of the best forward lines in the AFL.
Cam Rayner
Coming off a torn ACL, Cam Rayner had a solid season, but was always going to need time to find his feet again.
Expecting him to breakout in 2022 fresh off the injury would have been asking a lot, but with another pre-season behind him who knows what the 2017 top draft pick is capable of.
Given the acquisition of Josh Dunkley, it’s likely Rayner will play predominantly across half-forward with the occasional on-ball burst.
If he breaks out on top of the Lions’ other acquisitions, look out.
Brodie Kemp
Carlton had many answers in this category, including ruckman Tom De Koning, but Brodie Kemp is an intriguing prospect.
One thing the Blues need to add to their arsenal is a third goal kicker beyond the twin towers and Kemp, a 2019 first-round pick, has the potential to be the third marking forward inside 50 and play an important role across half-forward.
If he develops as a dangerous forward who can also push through the flanks and into the midfield, it could provide Carlton a weapon they desperately need.
Finlay Macrae
Collingwood fans are excited to see Fin Macrae take the next step in 2023.
The midfielder, who was taken with pick 19 in the 2020 draft, was forced to be patient this year as the Magpies went on a remarkable run.
He managed just two senior games, adding to the nine he played in his debut season.
But there is no denying his ability as evidenced by his consistent VFL season in which he averaged almost 24 disposals and won the best and fairest for his efforts.
Will Kelly is another Pies player that has the scope to improve quickly provided he can remain injury free.
The versatile Kelly strung some footy together in 2022 in playing 17 VFL games and could be primed to step up at senior level next year.
Zach Reid
Nik Cox may have received the most initial spotlight and Archie Perkins has been the best of the trio to date, but Zach Reid remains the most intriguing prospect of Essendon’s three top 10 picks.
The Bombers are desperate for a key defender to breakout and while Reid may be a few years away from realising his potential, breaking into the side’s best 22 would certainly help Brad Scott’s side out.
Reid has had injury setbacks consistently in his short career to date and some continuity would help the talented key defender out.
Jye Amiss
Jye Amiss may be the most straightforward entry on this list.
Fremantle needs a key forward, even more so with Rory Lobb departing, and Amiss has already shown glimpses of what he is capable of.
He is still a few years away from his physical peak, but Amiss has clearly displayed his ability to take marks and kick goals at AFL level, doing so in a final. The top 10 pick from the 2021 National Draft will need to fill a very important hole for the Dockers going forward.
Freo fans will be hoping for a big pre-season that leads to a strong year.
Ollie Henry
You could probably put any of Geelong’s trade period additions here.
Tanner Bruhn has the potential to be a star midfielder and Jack Bowes has already shown his talent at AFL level across half-back, but Ollie Henry seems like a logical positional upgrade.
Henry could give Geelong another marking forward who can hit the scoreboard and take some pressure off the veterans across a lengthy home and away season.
Could he quickly take Gary Rohan’s position in the Cats’ best 22?
Elijah Hollands
Elijah Hollands showed in his handful of outings in 2022 that he is certainly up to AFL standard, and then some.
The no.7 draft pick made his first foray into the AFL world this year, playing five games at senior level after recovering from a knee injury that sidelined him for his debut season.
His 23-disposal, two-goal game against Hawthorn in Round 21, which landed him a Rising Star nomination, gave us a glimpse into his enormous potential.
The Suns (and every club for that matter) have a need for a quality operator who patrols a high forward position and can also run through the midfield.
Hollands is that man and the stage is set for him to break out in 2023.
Jake Riccardi / Finn Callaghan
About to enter his fourth season with GWS, Jake Riccardi is right in the wheelhouse to step right up.
The Giants are in need of a leading forward and Riccardi has the tools to put himself firmly into the picture to hold down that spot, especially now Harry Himmelberg has found a home in defence.
Riccardi, 23 next month, kicked 15.14 from 15 games (including one as a medi-sub) and with Toby Greene and Jesse Hogan already present, he could become a more than handy third attacking option if new coach Adam Kingsley opts to go that way.
Finn Callaghan is a young Giant who has a bright future and will be keen to break into the senior team in 2023 having tasted senior action on five occasions this year.
The classy midfielder looked solid at AFL level early in the season but was restricted by the same foot injury that troubled him during pre-season.
With that under control this summer, and with Tim Taranto and Jacob Hopper out of the way, there should be plenty of opportunities for Callaghan in 2023.
Ned Reeves
Garry Lyon is incredibly bullish on Ned Reeves and believes he could be one of the best ruckmen in the game in coming years.
Given Hawthorn is heading down the path of a long rebuild, Reeves will get all the time he needs and should have capable help with Lloyd Meek coming to the Hawks.
At 208cm, the ruckman has strong hands and will continue to develop his tank and skills in the coming years.
Hawthorn has a number of young players who could make a leap in 2023. Denver Grainger-Barras, Will Day, Jacob Koschitzke and Josh Ward among them.
Jacob van Rooyen
When fans are calling for a debutant key position player in a final, you know there’s potentially a special talent waiting to be unleashed.
The 193cm forward had some big games in the VFL for Casey, with six games kicking three or more goals and a bag of six.
Doing it in a dominant VFL team may not necessarily translate at AFL level, but if he can hold down a best 22 spot for the Demons in 2023 and provide another goal kicking option, it will go a long way towards their premiership pursuit.
Charlie Comben
North Melbourne fans have been excited about Charlie Comben for multiple years, but unfortunately timed injuries have always slowed his progress.
The 199cm key forward getting a full pre-season under his belt and breaking into the best 22 would be huge for a North side crying out for support for Nick Larkey.
Will Phillips in the midfield, Callum Coleman-Jones in the ruck, potentially Jacob Edwards inside 50, the Roos have a number of youngsters who could break out next year, but Comben is the most exciting if it all comes together given the glimpses on the training track and in the VFL.
Jason Horne-Francis
You could argue that Jason Horne-Francis already broke out in 2022, but he did so at North Melbourne and he has since returned home to South Australia.
The midfielder will suit up for Port Adelaide in his second season, an unprecedented situation for a no.1 draft pick in the infancy of his career.
Horne-Francis showed he is clearly more than competent at the level by picking up 20 or more touches in six of his 17 games and landing a Rising Star nomination in Round 7.
Now he is back home and in familiar surroundings, Horne-Francis could simply be ready to explode in 2023.
You just get the feeling there is plenty more to come.
Josh Gibcus
In 2022, the no.9 draft pick enjoyed an impressive start to what will likely be an extensive AFL career.
Josh Gibcus played 18 games in his debut campaign and largely looked right at home in defence.
His aerial exploits, vertical leap and ability to take an intercept mark are the attributes that will carry him a long way.
Gibcus, who also showed he can drift forward when needed, was rewarded by the Tigers with the Best First Year Player award for his efforts.
With Robbie Tarrant and Noah Balta holding down key defensive posts, and with Nick Vlastuin and Dylan Grimes also defensive focal points, Richmond coach Damien Hardwick has the luxury of playing Gibcus in a more periphery role as he continues to develop.
Hunter Clark
St Kilda made the call to hold Hunter Clark to his contract and not trade him to North Melbourne.
Now the question is whether they can get the best out of him in 2023 and convince him Moorabbin is the place to be. Will the Ross Lyon regime be the right environment for the talented midfielder?
Clark has barely had a chance in recent years, suffering a series of freak injuries. He needs a clean run at it, a big pre-season and a defined role in Lyon’s new system.
Logan McDonald
It was a shame that Logan McDonald was dropped from Sydney’s Grand Final side because it would have been intriguing to see what he could bring to the big stage.
Admittedly, his form in the lead-up was lacklustre and the Swans needed some experienced bodies up forward to take on the Cats.
Nevertheless, the no.4 pick from the 2020 draft is a gifted footballer who just needs some continuity at the level to fully assimilate.
It is clear he has the ability judging by his 10 marks and three goals against Carlton in Round 10 and his 16-disposal, three-goal outing against Melbourne in Round 12.
With Lance Franklin entering what will likely be his final season, the Swans must begin preparing for life after ‘Buddy’ and no doubt that will include McDonald at the forefront.
Oscar Allen
Oscar Allen missed all of 2022 with a foot issue which basically makes him a new recruit in 2023.
There is also a gaping Josh-Kennedy-shaped hole in the forward line for him to fill.
Allen is a highly-rated key position player capable of operating at both ends of the ground but surely the Eagles deploy him in attack next year.
He will be 24 early next season and with almost 60 games under his belt, the time is now for him to step right up, even if he is playing catch-up after a 2022 without action.
Jamarra Ugle-Hagan
The Bulldogs’ forward line with Aaron Naughton and Rory Lobb will be dangerous in 2023 – but imagine if Jamarra Ugle-Hagan makes a leap and gets anywhere near the levels touted pre-draft.
The Dogs would have a three-pronged attack inside 50 that rivals any team in the competition and could propel them back into the premiership conversation.
Ugle-Hagan’s talent is clear and he had breakout performances in the back half of the season, including booting five against Melbourne.