Which young AFL stars could win their club’s best and fairest this year?
We’ve picked out 10 players from across the league who have played under 50 games and could be their club’s top player in 2024.
In 2023, Harry Sheezel, Will Day and Errol Gulden all came into the season under 50 games and all took home their respective clubs’ B&F.
We’ve left off Will Ashcroft, given his knee injury, while the likes of Chad Warner, Gulden and Tom Green have crossed the 50-game threshold.
See our picks below:
Nick Daicos (Collingwood)
The obvious one – Nick Daicos would likely already be a Collingwood best and fairest winner if not for his late-season injury.
Daicos broke out in 2023, emerging as one of the game’s best players and will likely play purely on-ball this year and enters as the Brownlow Medal favourite.
Jye Amiss (Fremantle)
Amiss had a quietly incredible year as a 19-year-old key forward, kicking 41 goals for Fremantle.
With another pre-season under his belt, he could quickly emerge as a superstar of the competition.
Sam Flanders (Gold Coast)
Finished 2023 like a house on fire once Stuart Dew was moved on, Flanders averaged over 25 disposals per game from Round 15 onwards.
If he maintains his role in the side, expect Flanders to be a prolific ball winner and a shot to win the Suns’ B&F.
Kieren Briggs (GWS Giants)
One of the surprising stories of 2023, Kieren Briggs came out of nowhere, shoved ahead of Braydon Preuss and Matt Flynn, and not only became the club’s clear no.1 ruckman, but one of the best in the competition.
If he can have a strong pre-season and continue to improve in 2024, anything is possible for the 24-year-old.
Harry Sheezel (North Melbourne)
Harry Sheezel was the catalyst behind this list, having won a best and fairest at Arden Street in his first season.
Could he move from half back into the midfield in his second season and go to another level?
Jason Horne-Francis (Port Adelaide)
In his first season at Port Adelaide, Jason Horne-Francis showed why he came into the competition as such a highly rated prospect.
Will he break out in 2024 as a bona fide star midfielder of the competition? Playing alongside Connor Rozee and Zak Butters, it is entirely possible.
Mitchito Owens (St Kilda)
Another big surprise packet in 2023 was the emergence of Mitchito Owens, who became one of St Kilda’s star players across half-forward and through the middle.
It will be fascinating to see how he is used in 2024 – it’s not impossible that he becomes the club’s most important player and runs away with their best and fairest.
Josh Weddle (Hawthorn)
Josh Weddle is the talk of the town in all Hawthorn circles, with the young star having an eye-catching debut season and impressing over summer.
Likely to take on a bigger role in his second season, Weddle could become a key player for the Hawks through the middle in 2024.
Harley Reid (West Coast)
It’s fair to say West Coast’s best and fairest hasn’t been particularly impressive in recent years. Could Harley Reid leapfrog everyone and win it in his debut season?
We saw Sheezel do it for the Roos last year. The question will be where Reid plays and how much West Coast puts on his young shoulders in 2024.
Jamarra Ugle-Hagan (Western Bulldogs)
No player in the AFL feels more primed for a breakout season than Jamarra Ugle-Hagan.
The key forward has steadily improved and had games where he’s looked like a superstar and 2024 could be the year he puts it all together.
