AFL fans got their first taste of what to expect from their clubs last Thursday and Friday as 16 teams turned out in eight unofficial practice matches.
With new recruits and draftees putting the jumper on for the first time, here’s what the main talking point was from each club’s performance.
GWS and the Western Bulldogs played in their own intra-club games.
Pressure is pivotal for the Crows to succeed
Early in Adelaide’s contest against Fremantle, the Dockers threatened to blow the game open as they dominated a sluggish Crows outfit.
However the manner in which Adelaide was able to respond provided the blueprint as to how the club can compete this year.
The Crows overwhelmed a formidable Dockers side with sheer pressure and grit, neutralising Fremantle’s potent midfield and storming ahead to reclaim the lead in the second half.
This pressure allowed Adelaide to trap the ball in their forward half, with the ensuing onslaught of inside 50s allowing the Crows’ star-studded forward line to take charge.
Considering that Adelaide’s biggest weakness looks to be the overall strength of their midfield, the relentless pressure they demonstrated is a crucial component of the Crows’ game this season.
If Adelaide are able to bring this pressure routinely in 2023, a rise up the ladder looks to be on the cards.
Jack Makeham
Recruits make Lions immediately better
Brisbane topped up in the off-season after making a Preliminary Final last season and going off Friday’s performance against Sydney, there’s no reason why they shouldn’t improve in 2023.
Jack Gunston and Josh Dunkley showed off their class in the 45-point win kicking three and two goals respectively, while Will Ashcroft showed he’s ready to make an immediate impact in his first season.
With at least three quality additions to the side’s best 22, the Lions haven’t been better placed to win it all in almost two decades.
Lachlan Geleit
The Blues don’t yet have a settled 22
The key takeaway from Carlton’s scratch match is that while they have 17 or so players locked in for Round 1, the final five or six are completely up for grabs.
Injuries to the likes of Sam Walsh, Zac Williams, Jordan Boyd, David Cuningham and Matt Cottrell have opened up not only starting positions, but the depth behind them.
Against Collingwood we saw the Blues give extended runs to first-year players Oliver Hollands, Lachie Cowan and Alex Cincotta, all of whom impressed and would be in Round 1 calculations.
Blake Acres looked immediately like a key cog and has locked in one wing position. Could Hollands stand opposite him against Richmond? Lochie O’Brien will also be right in the mix after a good performance, but the Blues could easily play all three. The next practice match against Sydney will provide more answers.
Nic Negrepontis
Dan McStay looks a shrewd pick up
Collingwood were criticised in the off-season for handing a five-year deal to free agent Dan McStay, but going off his performance against Carlton, he looks worth whatever the Magpies paid up.
With Brody Mihocek out, McStay was the key target inside 50 and the former Lion finished with three goals and could have easily kicked more if it wasn’t for his unselfishness.
McStay’s marking, competitiveness and leading patterns stood out against the Blues and after playing third fiddle in Brisbane, he looks every bit a quality number one or two target at his new club.
Lachlan Geleit
A revitalised forward line under Scott
It’s not set in stone, but Essendon’s forward line could be set for a revitalisation in 2023. Last year saw a disjointed attack struggle with a lack of small forwards, but Jye Menzie, Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti and Alwyn Davey jnr will excite Dons fans to no end.
Menzie booted three goals against Gold Coast to pose a threat on the scoreboard, McDonald-Tipungwuti brought the pressure and enjoyed a classy finish and Davey jnr’s ball use was a class above what you’d expect for a first-year player.
All three won’t bring their best throughout the entire 2023 season, but they should play senior footy under Brad Scott this year and fill roles the Bombers struggled without last year.
Seb Mottram
New-look forward line brings new potency to Fremantle’s attack
With Luke Jackson’s arrival and Nat Fyfe’s new role, much has changed in Fremantle’s forward line since 2022.
Neither spent the entirety of the practice match up front, with Jackson mixing in some time in the ruck and Fyfe heading further up the ground, however they had plenty of impact inside 50.
Particularly potent was the combination of Jackson, Fyfe and Matt Taberner as forward targets, a structure that could become a staple of Fremantle’s offence, with each snagging at least one goal in the match.
Considering this was Fyfe’s first appearance in his new role as a primary forward, many expected the former skipper and Dockers’ forward line to go through a long adjustment period.
However, while Fyfe will certainly take time to get fully comfortable, it seems like Fremantle’s attack is significantly improved.
Jack Makeham
All three of Geelong’s recruits could play Round 1
When the Cats completed a trade period swoop that saw Jack Bowes, Ollie Henry and Tanner Bruhn join the club, there were plenty of questions about how they’d fit into a premiership side.
They were all answered on Thursday. Bowes’ ball use was as good as anyone’s at GMHBA Stadium and was a clear standout in his half on the ground. Henry too left a sizeable mark on the contest up forward, while even Bruhn – who most expected would be made to wait for his Cats debut – proved his name was right in discussions when holding his own in a stacked midfield.
Most pre-season predictions had no more than one or two of the recruits playing. But Thursday’s contest against Hawthorn would have put a few fringe premiership players on high alert heading into the new season.
Seb Mottram
Constable could actually play in defence
Not a noted ball user in his time at Geelong and early years at the Suns, a pre-season move for Constable to defence raised eyebrows.
But the 23-year-old played down back against Essendon and impressed. He found plenty of the footy and used the ball well enough to be right in Stuart Dew’s calculations.
Constable [earned the praise of teammate Sam Collin(https://bit.ly/3Ir7dUV)s] and with Lachie Weller and Wil Powell out injured, Constable might well have just played himself into Gold Coast’s side against Sydney in Round 1.
Seb Mottram
Tom Green is ready to dominate
The Giants were one of two sides not to play an intra-club match, instead electing to play an internal match simulation as their primary practice match for the week.
It clearly didn’t bother Tom Green to compete against his teammates, as he played like a man possessed in the scrimmage.
With the ink still drying on his new four-year deal, Green tallied a monster 50 disposals in front of his home-town Canberra crowd, leading the Charcoal ‘A’ team over the Orange ‘B’ team.
If Green brings this level of sheer dominance against clubs other than his own, the midfielder is poised to run rampant throughout the entire AFL this season.
Jack Makeham
The young Hawks are going to have to grow up quickly
It was grim watching for Hawthorn fans in the club’s first practice game against Geelong. Sam Mitchell’s troops started the contest hot but faded soon after and proved no match for the Cats on their home deck.
Numerous players showed more than enough, but that in itself won’t be enough to prevent the club from getting belted across the year. To avoid that, Mitchell is going to have to install plenty of self-belief and consistency in his group. That’ll be tough if the club dishes up contests like they did on Thursday, where many players struggled to input themselves on the contest.
Hawthorn is the youngest and least experienced club in the AFL and isn’t tipped for great things in 2023. But performances like Thursday will quickly send the club backward and cost Mitchell his job.
That being said, it was the club’s first public game of the season and against the reigning premiers.
Seb Mottram
Lachie Hunter could thrive in his new colours
While he wasn’t the biggest name to join Melbourne in the off-season, Lachie Hunter could well be the Demons’ best pick-up.
The Demons secured the 28-year-old for a future third-round pick during the trade period, and going off his performance on Friday, that already looks a steal.
The 2018 Western Bulldogs best and fairest winner made an immediate impact on the wing against St Kilda, with his left foot and footy smarts a highlight.
Alongside Ed Langdon, the outside ball-user could help form one of the competition’s best wing partnerships, giving Melbourne another advantage over their opposition.
After some down years at the Kennel, Hunter could well get back to his best footy under Simon Goodwin if his form continues.
Lachlan Geleit
The Kangaroos will be much harder to score against under Clarko
North Melbourne may not seriously threaten the pointy end in 2023, but one thing is clear - they’ll be so much harder to score against under Alastair Clarkson.
Against Richmond at Arden Street last Friday, the Kangaroos produced an improved and more steely performance than we’ve seen in recent seasons.
They were much better set up around the contest and in defence, making it a struggle for the Tigers to cut through them. Clarko also has them playing a more robust style while adding some slingshot off half-back when the moment arises.
Wins may still be hard to come by but the Kangas should be a lot more competitive in 2023.
We also learnt that no.3 draft pick Harry Sheezel has plenty of class (if we didn’t already know) and Cam Zurhaar looks like he could be a decent midfielder if the club opts to go that way with him.
Andrew Slevison
Expectations should be tempered for new recruits
All eyes were on Jason Horne-Francis and Junior Rioli throughout Port’s matchup with West Coast, with the pair making their first intra-club appearance in Power colours after being acquired over the off-season.
With so much coverage surrounding the two over the last few months, expectations have continued to rise, however Friday’s game indicated that it may take some time before they can live up to them.
Horne-Francis and Rioli both put up strong performances against the Eagles, however neither looked completely comfortable in the unfamiliar structure, each impacting the game for bursts before fading away.
They showed flashes of what’s in store for Port fans, with Horne-Francis having moments of midfield dominance and Rioli snagging a pair of goals, but the match was a valuable reminder that it may take some time before the pair consistently break games open.
Jack Makeham
Taranto will prove to be a gun recruit
When you give up two first-round draft picks and pay a player significant money on a massive seven-year deal, then you’d expect he’ll be decent at worst.
In his first serious hit-out with Richmond, Tim Taranto showed that he could be an absolute gun recruit.
He picked up plenty of the footy around the contest, spending almost all of his time as a midfielder, while also getting forward and impacting on the scoreboard.
Taranto’s presence is just what important Tiger Dion Prestia needs.
Fellow Giants recruit Jacob Hopper was solid but not as eye-catching as Taranto.
We also noticed that the Tigers played Dustin Martin almost exclusively as a forward and it looks as though Damien Hardwick will persist with Trent Cotchin in attack after he spent his day around forward 50.
Andrew Slevison
St Kilda are starting the season behind the eight ball
While they were probably never going to be on Melbourne’s level in 2023, St Kilda’s opening practice match performance showed how far they are behind the competition’s elite.
Already without the likes of Max King to start the season, Jack Billings unfortunately suffered a fractured fibula in the practice match, ruling him out for up to eight weeks.
The Saints have dealt with various other injuries this pre-season as well, with Jack Hayes, Matt Allison, Zak Jones and Tim Membrey all currently sidelined.
Without Billings and King in particular for the opening two months of the season, Ross Lyon will face an uphill battle to get his team rolling from Round 1.
Saints fans will be hoping their replacements can put in a better performance than they did on Friday at Moorabbin.
Lachlan Geleit
Swans ruck stocks set to be tested in 2023
Due to injury, the Swans were unable to use Tom Hickey and Peter Ladhams in their practice match against the Brisbane Lions. Hickey suffered a calf injury during training a week prior and the club expects him to miss the first few weeks of the 2023 season.
Ladhams was rested for the Lions clash due to tendonitis but the club is confident he will play the next practive match against Carlton..
Without their immediate ruck options, 22-year-old Lachlan McAndrew was forced to run alongside experienced Lions ruckman Oscar McInerney. McAndrew was competitive in the first half which reflected on the scoreboard.
However, as McAndrew began to fatigue, McInerney stamped his authority in the second half and the Lions midfield was able to dominate for the remainder of the contest.
It’s evident that both Ladhams and Hickey must remain healthy for the Swans to make another Grand Final appearance.
Charles Goodsir
A monster year could be in store for Oscar Allen
If the practice match against Port is anything to go by, 2023 could be the year of Oscar Allen.
Making his return after missing all of last season, Allen looked comfortable slotting into the no. 1 forward role left vacant following Josh Kennedy’s retirement.
Allen was a sheer force against the Power, kicking three goals and dominating aerially as he put on a marking masterclass in the second half of the contest.
The young gun was one of several Eagles to make their return in the practice match, however was able to shine brighter than established stars such as Elliot Yeo and Dom Sheed, who were also coming back to the squad.
West Coast will be looking to climb from the bottom of the ladder this season, and Oscar Allen is set to lead the charge.
Jack Makeham
Seamless return for Jones, key forwards in abundance
After a year out of the AFL system, Liam Jones slipped seamlessly back into life at the elite level.
Admittedly it was only an intra-club match for the Western Bulldogs, but the former Doggies forward and Carlton defender looked right at home in defence.
His presence, and that of Josh Bruce, will add depth and flexibility in defence alongside Alex Keath and Ryan Gardner.
In attack, the Dogs have plenty of tall options with Aaron Naughton, recruit Rory Lobb and youngsters Jamarra Ugle-Hagan and Sam Darcy.
All of a sudden their key stocks look much deeper.
Andrew Slevison