The premiership coach identifies the players who will go to the next level in the upcoming season.
Adam Cerra
Roughnecks
Drafted by Fremantle with pick 5 in the AFL draft, Adam Cerra fits nicely into the “third-year break-out” category. He was projected for big things as an even smaller person, averaging 99 in the U-18 championships. However, last year, Cerra played a lot in defence, hampering his scores. Only once did he score above a hundred. But with Freo rebuilding, a new coach (who may know about attacking game-styles) and the loss of Langdon and Hill resulting in a dearth of talented wingmen, everything is in place for Cerra to have a big year.
Christian Petracca
Solomon’s Soldiers
The Soldiers have seen their fair share of break-outs already, with McCluggage, Daniel, Milera and Worpel all taking big steps forward last year. This year may be the year for Petracca – the same one who has over-promised and under-delivered for years. Although he is listed as a forward, it seems as though Melbourne will play him in the guts. And Petracca scored a massive 145 in the first preseason game. It’s a bit bold prediction, but I’m going to assume that things go better for Melbourne this year (big call) and that Petracca’s consistency (very big call) will be a massive part of that.
Ed Langdon
Shire Scourers
Sometimes a change of scenery works out marvellously. And I’m not discussing Nelson’s move to New Zealand – I’m talking about Ed’s move to Melbourne. The demons spent 22 rounds last year slowly realising that playing football requires foot-skills. Given Langdon is a marksman by boot, expect expert hand-ballers (and very much non-expert kickers) like Harmes, Oliver and Viney to find Langdon at every opportunity. In the preseason thus far, Ed Langdon has spent over 90% of his time on the field. They want him on the park and with the ball as much as possible. He’d be my safer bet for a big-rise demon in 2020.
Will Brodie
Defenestrators
Paul has had a love for Will Brodie for a long, long time. Drafted to the Defenestrators with a sixteenth round pick back in 2017, Paul has been waiting for Brodie to come good for three years now. And while Paul has not yet been rewarded in all these years, there are some very big rewards on the cards for 2020. Brodie scored 104 in Marsh 1 and then backed it up with a 104 in Marsh 2. I take that as a sure sign that this year, Brodie will average 103.
Andrew Brayshaw
Lethal Vipers
Much like Adam Cerra, Andrew Brayshaw is another young Docker ripe for a third year breakout. His talent is undeniable – he played midfield at the end of last year and scored two tons. Really, we ought to have seen this earlier, but the heavy blow to his jaw also saw a heavy blow to his fantasy scores. But now, Brayshaw can chew steak again and looks fit and firing – one of the surest bets to improve his scoring of all these break-out candidates.
Jarrod Berry
General Soreness
I’m a big fan of Berry – and not just because Berry is the latest nickname for my daughter Verity. Jarrod Berry is now 22 years old and fresh off an average of 79.6. With two full seasons of play now under his belt, I expect Berry to have a big uptake in scoring in 2020. Scored 50 from just 36% playing time in his first preseason hit-out. You can tell Brisbane rate him, because they drafted his brother just to keep him happy (kinda like Dayne Beams before him).
Peter Ladhams
MaherShalalHashBaz
I have high hopes for Peter Ladhams this year. He dominated in the SANFL last year, amassing possessions, hit-outs and tackles at will. He even impressed in the finals series. But the real measure of the talent can be found not just that he managed to score an AFL 100 last year, but that Paddy Ryder saw the writing on the wall and bolted for St Kilda. It wasn’t Lycett’s hold of the number one ruck position that scared Ryder – Marshall is number one at St Kilda. I’m convinced that the immense talent of Peter Ladhams was too much to ignore and showed Ryder the door. I predict Ladhams to be the number one ruck at Port by year’s end (which is partly due to my faith in Ladhams and largely due to my lack of faith in Lycett).
Jonathon Ceglar
Feelin Dusty
Whilst not all will be convinced that Ladhams will bolster his scoring, it’s hard not to see big things happening for Hawthorn ruckman Jonathon Ceglar. Having spent many weeks on the sidelines over the past two years, Ceglar is now officially numero uno at Hawthorn, with McEvoy playing at centre half back. Ceglar has very little in the way of ruck competition, and so if he contests over 80% of centre bounces (and there is little reason to think he won’t), expect big scores from him, much like his 92 in Marsh 2.
Hunter Clark
Taxmanian Devils
Hunter Clark played very well last year. But since he only
played very well for half the year, I feel justified for saying 2020 will be
his breakout SEASON. St Kilda like the ball I his hands and Hunter likes the
ball in his hands (and Max likes the ball in his hands). And even though he
is a player with a first-name for a
last-name and a last-name for a first-name, he will score well and that will be
enough to keep Max happy.
Clark will be great this year. But if that’s too obvious a pick for you, there
are a bunch of teammates at the Taxmanian Devils who could (dare I say should)
also break out – Adam Tomlinson, Connor Rozee and Paul Ahern.
Hugh Greenwood
Puttanesca Chiefs
It’d be nice to think that the Puttanesca Chiefs have such a talented list, that everyone is at the peak of their powers and the team couldn’t possibly be better. Unfortunately, they have Hugh Greenwood, who seems certain to improve his average this year. Greenwood is now far away from the Chinese Water Torture preseason camps of Adelaide, which is one reason he should play better. Also, Gold Coast seem very grateful to have a player of above-average competence on their list and look like they will give him every opportunity in the midfield. And so my final break-out candidate is very much likely to make the rich grow richer.