Players who need to own 2026

[Golumless]

We have had a host of players that have shown they could be AFL level by having at least one solid season but for various reasons haven't gone on to improve and become high quality AFL players:

2021 - Schoenberg, Sholl
2022 - Berry
2023 - Jones, Pedlar, Murray*
2024 - Nankervis

From 2025 - it feels as though Zac Taylor could possibly be that type of player.

Really hope Nank can get back in the side and build on his 2024 form. Really like him as a player and think he has a bit of that x factor we need.



*tough on Murray i know.

Very tough on Murray. Dude's a monster when he's fit.

 

[jackster83]

Very tough on Murray. Dude's a monster when he's fit.

He hasn't been fit since mid 2023.

He's a concern.

 

[Golumless]

He hasn't been fit since mid 2023.

He's a concern.

Nah, just a monster who is coming off an ACL injury.

And the current 2nd best key defender in the league in one v one situations.

 

[dogs105]

redhorse

 

[MarcusP2]

We have had a host of players that have shown they could be AFL level by having at least one solid season but for various reasons haven't gone on to improve and become high quality AFL players:

2021 - Schoenberg, Sholl
2022 - Berry
2023 - Jones, Pedlar, Murray*
2024 - Nankervis

From 2025 - it feels as though Zac Taylor could possibly be that type of player.

Really hope Nank can get back in the side and build on his 2024 form. Really like him as a player and think he has a bit of that x factor we need.



*tough on Murray i know.

Nank mostly needs to stop taking on 5 players every time he has the ball and focus on making smarter decisions.

 

[Burtonsgottago]

Keane is an AA Defender, 2025; he knows how to defend,
BUT ...

Keane definitely needs to know when to leave his man, or not. He played a shocker on Gunston, but Nicks made no change (he rarely does).

Butts should have played on Gunston and it wouldn’t have been as bad.

 

[Burtonsgottago]

Nah, just a monster who is coming off an ACL injury.

And the current 2nd best key defender in the league in one v one situations.

Not this season

 

[Golumless]

Not this season

Nope. That stat is from this season.

 

[1990crow]

Rankine - has not had a single very good season in his career. Time to put something on the board.
Soligo - poor season 2025. Has so much more to give
Fogarty - needs to slim down and find more of the ball

Hinge, Keays - fair bit to prove
Cumming - can do better

Youngsters - Curtin, Draper. Because we need them to.

 

[crows dude]

Rankine Rash Pedlar Draper to become the midfielders we know they can be helping Dawson out. Soligo to become the goal kicking half forward that allows us to play rash and Rankine mainly in midfield.

 

[PCORF]

Rankine cannot afford to be anxious about his past mistakes. He needs to focus on the game when it matters.

Fogarty needs to spend more time at FF improve on the lead.

O'Brien needs to focus more in getting it to teammates, not just blind taps especially when the team is under pressure.

If we make it back to the finals then Dawson really needs to lift his game at the business end of the season.