AFL 2023: five breakout players for the upcoming season
Who’s primed for a big 2023?
Every AFL season there is a group of players who pose as real stars of the competition.
With an alert eye through the summer months, some players have their sights set on the coming season.
Clubs that spend time in the gym and on the track will be delighted at how their men have prepared for 2023.
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However, some seem more determined to assert their claims to the league, whether for purposes of redress or to declare their talent as youngsters.
Although it is almost impossible to decide who, The sports news has taken on the difficult task of identifying those who are ready to take the next step towards fame or there.
Here are five players to keep an eye on (in no particular order):
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2023 AFL Season Breakout Players
Finn Callaghan (GWS)
GWS fans should be optimistic about how good Callaghan can be in 2023 and beyond.
Picked three in the 2021 draft, Callaghan had high expectations for what he would produce at the elite level.
The 192cm midfielder was a deadly left-footed jab who was immediately targeted by the Giants to join the club but unfortunately he failed to show his true talent.
Plagued by injuries in his debut season, he was limited to five appearances in the first half of 2022.
However, after an interrupted off-season that had sparked interest from the opposing club, Callaghan put his head down and his work showed in the match simulations and practice games ahead of the 2023 season.
The 19-year-old, fresh from St Kilda and on a new two-year deal with GWS, was one of the best in the intra-club match, showing his speed and first-rate use of the ball.
At the 2023 official audition, the Giants faced Gold Coast and Callaghan was once again named one of the best.
The youngster amassed 22 disposals and scored twice, forcing the AFL world to acknowledge his relatively unseen brilliance.
So much so that former recruiter Matt Rendell thinks Callaghan could topple the Rising Star favorite and pick two Will Ashcroft in the count as the game’s best young player in 2022.
“(Will Ashcroft) is a favourite, but will he play every game and do really well in midfield?” Rendell continued Sen.
“I gave a couple of people a tip that I think is a huge opportunity, GWS’ Finn Callaghan.
“Once Taranto and Hopper are out he’s going to get a lot of playtime and I’m telling you he’s a star.
“He was No. 3 in the draft (2021) and just re-signed with them.
“If I want to try a little bit, I’ll take Finn Callaghan for the rising star.”
Callaghan is poised for more minutes in midfield – where he does his best work – and will benefit from the experience of Josh Kelly and Stephen Coniglio around him.
MORE: Each AFL team’s predicted lineup in round one
Kysaiah Pickett (MELB)
Melbourne are confident they can re-sign Pickett for 2024 despite interest from the competition.
And for their sake we hope that trust will translate into a signature, otherwise the club will be angry for a long time when he leaves.
But before that, Pickett looks set for a massive 2023, with reports pointing to a move to midfield.
In the past two years, the 2019 draft pick 12 has scored 81 goals (40 and 41) as a true small forward.
Pickett’s journey from good player to star looks quicker, stronger and on the right track, and there’s every indication that that may be the case this year.
Let’s compare with some of the stars.
Two of the most exciting and best small forwards in recent memory — Eddie Betts and Charlie Cameron — took seven and six years, respectively, to kick 50 majors in one season.
Cyril Rioli never reached that mark, although we know his impact was more than his own score.
An underrated Luke Breust pulled off the impressive feat in its fourth season, while Sydney’s Tom Papley has hovered for about half a century but never ticked over it.
Pickett’s insane ability to consistently find the ball in dangerous positions is compared to too many of the greats before him and could take him to such heights.
A 50-goal season from a small forward is worth its weight in gold and the Demon could achieve it in 2023.
Not to mention the added flexibility of going into midfield, wreaking havoc and spitting into the forward 50, losing your opponent and becoming dangerous again.
Pickett is a massive watch in this space.
James Worpel (HAW)
It’s safe to say that James Worpel’s 2022 season was absolutely disappointing.
Recognized as one of football’s rising midfielders, the Hawthorn youngster has all the qualities to take on some of the league’s best players.
However, lack of form and injury meant Worpel was unable to find his momentum last year, raising doubts as to whether he can return to his form as the 2019 Peter Crimmins medalist.
But when one season ends, a new one begins and with it a new beginning.
Following the departures of veterans Tom Mitchell (Collingwood) and Jaeger O’Meara (Fremantle), the Hawks have a huge vacancy and are crying out for someone to command the center position.
Worpel is more than capable of stepping into the role, and his preseason suggests he could do just that.
The 24-year-old has rarely made a mistake over the summer months and is ready to reclaim the role of primary midfield.
Hawks GM of Football Rob McCartney believes Worpel can return to who the club knows he can be and says his hard work seems to be paying off.
“What we also liked about the weekend was that Worpel announced to some of them again: ‘Hey, don’t forget me either. I just turned 24, I’ve played 79 footy games, but I’m looking forward to playing my best footy in the next 100 games,” McCartney said Sen.
“He’s worked exceptionally hard, he’s probably one of our toughest coaches, our playing group recognize he’s a standard setter in terms of his work ethic when they talk about standards within the group.
“If the form alludes to you for a while, you have some self-doubt, but he was able to work through that and find the form that made him a player for us this season when he won the (Peter) Crimmins medal.”
Worpel’s performance in the practice game against Collingwood was nothing short of outstanding, racking up 30 departures as a true midfielder and feeling more than comfortable as the Hawks’ No.
While their immediate future is likely to bring some pain, Hawthorn fans should rest easy knowing there are many talents on this list and Worpel is one of them.
Brodie Grundy (MELB)
A seasoned veteran like Brodie Grundy doesn’t necessarily fall into the category of possibly having a breakout year like some of the younger players, but he’s destined for big things in 2023.
After an emotional but amicable split from former team Collingwood, Grundy joined forces with Melbourne and Ruckmann champion Max Gawn just as alarm bells began to ring at opposing clubs.
The 28-year-old, who is a two-time All-Australian, is still capable of reaching incredible heights despite a PCL injury that limited him to six games last year.
In 2018-2019, Grundy was recognized as the top tall man of the game for his ability to track ruck contests and overwork his opponents.
Since joining the Dems, he has worked on his forward craft, which he showed in the training game against Richmond and scored three goals.
As we know, AFL players need to have more than one string on their bow these days, and the thought of Grundy being able to play effectively in the forward 50 is scary to think about.
Adding forward artistry to his already impressive rucking ability only strengthens the case for the former Pies’ 2023 season and what he can produce.
Collingwood felt that moving Grundy was the best decision for the club, but you know that alone will give him enough motivation to prove them wrong.
The new Demon would love to do what he does best again, this time just in navy blue and red.
Darcy Fogarty (ADE)
Darcy Fogarty’s time has come.
The full forward has taken his time to develop but looking at the back end of last year 2023 is his season.
After struggling with form in early 2022, Fogarty was on the side and struggling to cement his place when doubts arose.
However, he reacted well and scored 31 goals in the last 12 games of the season.
Fogarty’s talent was on full display and Adelaide fans began licking their lips at just how good he could get.
Built like a traditional forward, not many defenders can match the 23-year-old’s sheer size and strength, while his speed surprises most.
At the start of 2023, trainer Matthew Nicks had a massive grip on Fogarty and admitted he’s figured out how to better reconcile being a professional athlete this offseason.
“He’s got his head down now, gone to work and has real talent,” Nicks said AFL.com.au.
“His game has gone to another level and he is the reason this happened.
“He has great support around him. James Rahilly is our forward coach and he’s done a fantastic job with him.
“Just believe in yourself and be positive about the contribution he’s made to the team. He really blew up after putting in some work and he has credit for that.
“He’s matured even more off the field (and) has now moved up. He wants input, he wants to share ideas and thoughts, and he has a really good football brain.”
Taylor Walker has held the mantle as the Crows’ key forward for well over a decade, but it might be time to pass the baton.
All of Adelaide is now waiting. It’s up to you, Fogarty.