Prediction Biggest Improver 2025

[dplggr47]

I just hope Pedlar gets his body right and can break into the midfield.
I hope Rachele continues on an upward trajectory rather than going backwards like this season.
Would like to see Dowling and Curtin getting some midfield time.
With no milestone games or triggers to reach in contract for Brodie Smith

33

Brodie Smith

Age

33

Ht

194cm

Wt

88kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

19.5

5star

K

12.3

5star

HB

7.2

4star

M

4.2

4star

T

2.1

4star

MG

500.1

5star

D

17.1

4star

K

12.6

5star

HB

4.5

3star

M

3.5

3star

T

2.3

3star

MG

438.9

5star

D

17.2

5star

K

10.8

4star

HB

6.4

4star

M

3.8

4star

T

3.6

5star

, I'd like to see him playing SANFL and someone like Ryan taking his place in the team

 

[cleanhands]

I just hope Pedlar gets his body right and can break into the midfield.
I hope Rachele continues on an upward trajectory rather than going backwards like this season.
Would like to see Dowling and Curtin getting some midfield time.
With no milestone games or triggers to reach in contract for Brodie Smith, I'd like to see him playing SANFL and someone like Ryan taking his place in the team

Personally I think Rach plateaued not backwards

 

[AFC979810]

Nuh. Just nailing it as a half back.

He is an amazing and versatile lock down defender. If he stays in the back 6 - I just don't see crazy improvement from him.

We have an incredibly even back 6. Hinge/Cumming will be used as our dominant rebounding HBF. Worrell will be our 3rd tall and be our #1 intercept defender. Murray will be our KPF 1.

I just don't see him having enough of an impact to really stand out.

This is more a reference to the AA reference - considering he was 4th in our B&F in 2024.

 

[dplggr47]

Personally I think Rach plateaued not backwards

He gave me unrealistic expectations when he kicked 5 goals on debut. He also showed he had an excellent set shot.

 

[FullyBigKPro]

Has to be Rachele.

Will have just turned 22 when the season starts. 56 games under him.

Will be in a forward line surrounded by TT,FOG,Keays,ANB,Rankine.

Has shown 6-10 game bursts of being a Toby Greene level player. Now with 4 preseasons and a better fitness base under him looks poised to tear apart the competition.

Of course - this could completely backfire with our mastermind head coach completely destroying his confidence and turning him into a shell of himself and making him so unhappy he requests a trade despite having 4 more seasons on his contract.

Phil Walsh im pretty sure who said "get 50 games into them" in regards to young players before you truly see their quality and they feel settled at AFL level.

Rachele and TT have to be absolutely primed next year you would think.

 

[Crow till I die]

If Curtin plays from the off and on the back of a big preseason, across half forward and a wing, he could absolutely light it up for us both delivering inside 50 and hitting the scoreboard too.

I also think we might see Thilthorpe if he also gets through a full preseason start to really monster opposition defenders and present as our elite pack marking key forward

 

[StonesThrow]

Always hard to predict this, but Worrell for me. He reminds me of someone who should be playing for Geelong.

 

[adelaidecrows]

I think dowling will be our biggest improver. I suspect he is on track to start cementing himself in our midfield mix. the kids a gun.

 

[Pea Nut]

My vote is also Curtin. Coming from such a low base, and with the talent he has, he could really light it up and have a big impact.

 

[Dangerousfield]

We are absolutely primed to rocket up the ladder, so much young talent bursting through, no more Smith, Murphy, McFlurry and will get a soft draw as well with hapless WC, Norf, Richmond Cubs as likely double ups. I'm excited for 2025

Only Nicks could muck this up!

 

[Jetwa5h]

Ok and i know there is another thread for this.......
I have seen people mention Edwards, Curtin, Taylor, Bond, Pedler etc as the big improvers, Now none of those were consistent first 22 players this year, coupled with the inclusion of ANB, Cummings, Peatling and Pick 4, what do you hope our 22 looks like at the end of 2025, ie who have these guys forced out

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Thilthorpe
Curtin
Pedlar

 

[Captain Furious]

Mitch Hinge for me - 190cm, strong, fast and booming kick. He has all the tools but most importantly doesn't get spooked in traffic (like half our mids) and goes through the front of packs (rather than out the back like the other half). The more we get him involved, the more damaging he'll be. Would love to see him on a wing and even rotating through the midfield. Think our forwards would like to see that too.

 

[119others]

Early signs of future gun on our hands - Ryan, pick 4

Salvaging career - Pedlar to return better than 2023 (and Jones also)

Stepping up to star players (likely AA squad over coming years) - Rachele (Nicks to be deemed a genius by the media - but not BF - for dropping him last game 2024), Worrell, Max, Soligo plays mid all year. This group is primed.

Taking the completion by storm - AA team Rankine , AA squad The Beast

Taking longer than expected - Curtin, Edwards

Why choose one

 

[Ham]

If Curtin plays from the off and on the back of a big preseason, across half forward and a wing, he could absolutely light it up for us both delivering inside 50 and hitting the scoreboard too.

I also think we might see Thilthorpe if he also gets through a full preseason start to really monster opposition defenders and present as our elite pack marking key forward

Curtin is still eligible for rising star yeah?

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

Curtin is still eligible for rising star yeah?

Yep and possibly in 2026 too

 

[woopedazz]

Pedlar sucks. Will get a few games and do a few good horizontal marks and a good run out of congestion to immediately handball to an opponent on the outside. People will say he is gonna be a real find. Then come mid season he will slowly drift out of the side and never be seen again.

Pedlar, I hope you read this and prove me wrong.

 

[Jeffcrowe]

Personally I think Rach plateaued not backwards

He clearly had his best season on a statistical basis , didn’t disappear after round 9-10 for starters

 

[OldCrowBloke]

I went for Keane - he has great physical attributes and will get a proper pre-season this year.
He is still inexperienced, but will continue to learn a lot and hopefully get rid of some of those brain fades.
Seems to be a popular guy in the group, so should get heaps of support.
For those old enough to remember, he could give Nathan Bock vibes.

 

[Golumless]

Tied between Rachele and Soligo for me, noting I'm counting Thilthorpe as broken out from his 7-game stretch.

Two players in pretty similar situations, four years in (which is a typical breakout point), showed flashes of being A-graders but haven't quite got their and their situations are set to improve as Rankine is likely to spend less time in the forward line, and Soligo is due to become a first choice inside midfielder. My guess is this is the year they make that step up.

For the young'ins who aren't established, I'll go for Curtin if we can settle on a role and give him a clear run at it. Even if that is going back to defense as a third tall, as long as he gets a best 22 spot, he'll likely perform at a very respectable click offensively.


(I do also like the Keane/Worrell shouts)

 

[Dirty Bird]

I went Curtin,

But I'm very intrigued to see what happens with Pedlar. I expect him to do similar to what Sholl just did. Good season, into subpar, into very good.

I feel with some of the others, it'll be more consistency. Thilthorpe to be more consistent. Fogarty to be more consistent. Rachele to be a little more consistent.

Their standard is already good, and I believe all will be better. But it's Curtin who I can see doing a Soligo (blowing out and dominating) or Pedlar doing a Sholl and returning to, and slightly surpassing what he did a few years back.

 

[Jeffcrowe]

I went Curtin,

But I'm very intrigued to see what happens with Pedlar. I expect him to do similar to what Sholl just did. Good season, into subpar, into very good.

I feel with some of the others, it'll be more consistency. Thilthorpe to be more consistent. Fogarty to be more consistent. Rachele to be a little more consistent.

Their standard is already good, and I believe all will be better. But it's Curtin who I can see doing a Soligo (blowing out and dominating) or Pedlar doing a Sholl and returning to, and slightly surpassing what he did a few years back.

Fair call ! I like it

 

[Jeffcrowe]

I went for Keane - he has great physical attributes and will get a proper pre-season this year.
He is still inexperienced, but will continue to learn a lot and hopefully get rid of some of those brain fades.
Seems to be a popular guy in the group, so should get heaps of support.
For those old enough to remember, he could give Nathan Bock vibes.

He’s actually our best intercept mark already

I think people underestimate the strides he’s made in such a short space in time

Highly underrated due to the odd brain fade

 

[Danger in Texas]

He’s actually our best intercept mark already

I think people underestimate the strides he’s made in such a short space in time

Highly underrated due to the odd brain fade

I like that for now, we have the versatility to go with either double locks, or one lock and an interceptor at our KPD posts. That is, at least for the next two years (I imagine Butts may look for better opportunity at the end of his contract if Keane continues his upward trend)

 

[earlsta]

You can see the agility/speed by Curtin at 23s when he does the side step and kicks the goal. Pretty crazy for someone that’s 197cm