The 2024 AFL season is finally here, and as with any new season, there’s plenty that fans are excited about.
From the all-new Opening Round in NSW and Queensland to the second edition of Gather Round, the fixture for the early season is filled with plenty of tantalising match-ups.
There’s also a brand new, talent-stacked pool of draftees ready to hit the ground running in their AFL careers, with plenty of focus sure to be on their performances as they get their first taste of senior football.
The new season also looms large for many players whose AFL careers are already underway, with plenty of players ready to add more to their game, or to take the next step.
So we’ve selected two players from every club you can categorise as candidates to be breakout players in 2024 — from top draft picks to hard-working youngsters.
AFL breakout players for 2024 season
Here are 36 players to keep an eye on as the new season gets underway.
Adelaide
Josh Worrell | 22 | Key Defender
Worrell has featured just 17 times in his four seasons on the Crows’ list, but with a lack of key defensive depth at the club, will be keen to cement a spot in the club’s best 22 in 2024. He impressed in the second half of 2023, playing every game from Round 11 onwards, and will look to continue repaying his coaches’ faith after a consistent and impressive end to the season.
Sam Berry | 22 | Midfielder
Although he featured just four times at senior level in 2023, Berry has already established himself as an elite tackler across his 39 AFL games. He impressed in the Crows’ Community Series game against West Coast with 22 disposals and two goals, showing he’s added some depth to his game and is ready to hit the ground running in his fourth AFL season.
Brisbane
Jaspa Fletcher | 20 | Midfielder
Fletcher compiled an unassuming and impressive 2023 season to begin his AFL career, featuring in every game for the Lions after making his debut in Round 14. As Brisbane looks for redemption following its Grand Final loss to Collingwood, expect Fletcher to continue to improve as he displays his impressive running capacity and ball use up and down the wing.
Darcy Wilmot | 20 | Half-Back
Wilmot’s career has been full of surprises, selected as a draft bolter in 2021 before making an unexpected debut in the Lions’ 2022 Elimination Final. But what shouldn’t be a surprise is continued improvement from the dashing Lion, whose speed and kicking off half-back has been a handy asset to last year’s runners-up.
Jaspa Fletcher. Wow.#AFLFinals pic.twitter.com/rbpb8afVF8
— AFL (@AFL) September 9, 2023
Carlton
Ollie Hollands | 20 | Midfielder
Hollands established himself as one of the Blues’ most promising young players with an impressive debut season on the wing in 2023. The 2022 pick 11 impressed in both of Carlton’s practice match fixtures as he was rotated through the centre bounce, so looms as a sure breakout candidate in his second season at AFL level.
Jesse Motlop | 20 | Small Forward
Now entering his third AFL season, Motlop has averaged over a goal per game throughout his short 33-game career to date. He improved week-on-week in 2023, showcasing his impressive forward craft and goal sense with two majors in Carlton’s Semi-Final win over Melbourne. With the small forward role one of the few areas in which the Blues lack, Motlop looms as the leading candidate to lock in a long-term spot in Carlton’s best 22 as he aims to improve on an impressive second AFL season.
Collingwood
Finlay Macrae | 21 | Midfielder/Forward
The younger brother of the Bulldogs’ Jack, Finlay Macrae has had to bide his time on the Pies’ list as he waits for an extended crack in a stacked midfield. With the departure of Taylor Adams to Sydney, it looks like Macrae’s time may have arrived, with the 21-year-old sure to be raring to go after putting up consistently high numbers in the VFL over the past few seasons.
Charlie Dean | 22 | Key Defender
While he’s yet to play an AFL game, Pies fans are certainly familiar with Dean’s name – and are equally as excited for him to take to the field. Dean has missed the majority of both his seasons on Collingwood’s list through injury, but took to the field with aplomb in the Community Series matchup against Richmond, collecting 12 disposals and 8 marks in just a half of footy. Dean will be vying to earn a shot at senior level in 2024, and after the wait he’s endured, expect him to take it with both hands.
Essendon
Archie Perkins | 21 | Midfielder/Forward
Perkins is one of a number of first-round midfield talents on the Dons’ list, and has featured consistently for his side in his three AFL seasons, playing 62 of a possible 68 games for the Dons. While he’s featured predominantly in the forward line, Perkins’ midfield minutes increased in 2023 and will likely continue to do so, so Dons fans will be excited to see him transfer his game-breaking capacity to the centre bounce even more this year.
Elijah Tsatas | 21 | Midfielder/Forward
Tsatas’ debut season was heavily interrupted by injury, though he broke through to debut and play the final four games of 2023, where he showed a small glimpse of why the Bombers selected him at Pick 5 in 2022. With a full, uninterrupted pre-season under his belt, Tsatas will head full-steam into his second AFL season, where he’ll look to dazzle as both an inside and outside midfielder.
Fremantle
Hayden Young | 22 | Half-Back/Midfielder
Young is widely regarded as one of the AFL’s best kicks – an impressive label for a player entering his fifth year in the league. While the 22-year-old has established himself as an impactful, penetrative force off the half-back line, Young looks set to earn some consistent midfield minutes in 2024, where he’ll aim to use his piercing, accurate left boot to break out of stoppages.
Jye Amiss | 20 | Key Forward
You could argue that Amiss’ 2023 season – his second at AFL level – was his breakout season, with the young tall booting an accurate 41.17 from 22 appearances. But if that was just his second season, imagine what Amiss is capable of with another preseason under his belt. He’ll be an important focal point in the forward line, and will be getting silver service from the likes of Hayden Young, so don’t be surprised if his 2024 goal tally is even greater than last year’s.
Tremendous finish from Hayden Young ⭐#AFLPowerFreo pic.twitter.com/On5C0MyCyG
— AFL (@AFL) March 1, 2024
Geelong
Max Holmes | 21 | Midfielder
Holmes is highly rated at the Cats, inheriting plenty of midfield minutes in 2023 in the wake of Joel Selwood’s retirement. The 21-year-old displayed his impressive ball-winning ability all throughout his third AFL season, and will undoubtedly be aiming to continue stringing together some big midfield numbers in 2024.
Jhye Clark | 19 | Midfielder
Clark is another highly-touted youngster on the Cats’ list, but made only one appearance in an injury-interrupted debut season. A name featuring consistently in Rising Star discussions, Clark returned some impressive numbers in the Cats’ Community Series fixture against Essendon, finishing with 17 disposals and four clearances as just a glimpse of what he can offer in the AFL arena.
Gold Coast
Bailey Humphrey | 19 | Midfielder/Forward
Humphrey impressed in his debut season at the Suns, featuring 19 times as he found a home in the forward line while rotating intermittently through the midfield. He displayed an impressive and skilful goal sense in the forward 50, booting 11.12 for the season, while his midfield showings were highlighted by a 26-disposal performance against Brisbane – a sign of what’s to come in an exciting career.
Jed Walter | 18 | Key Forward
The spearhead in the Suns’ quartet of first-round Academy draftees, Walter’s debut will be long-awaited by all footy fans by the time it rolls around. While he’s set to miss the first portion of the season as he recovers from a broken collarbone, there’s no doubt Walter will be raring to go once fit, with AFL recruiters highly impressed by his ready-made build and skill-set. Given these factors, it may seem audacious to mark Walter as a breakout candidate, but if there’s anyone who’s ready to have an impact, it’s him.
GWS
Finn Callaghan | 20 | Midfielder
Callaghan put up some impressive numbers in his second AFL season last year, passing the 20-disposal mark in over half of his games. While he’ll miss the start of the season as he recovers from a shoulder injury, Callaghan will almost certainly return to the Giants’ best 22 once fit, and will certainly be ready to take his game to another level this year.
Aaron Cadman | 20 | Key Forward
The first pick of the 2022 draft, Cadman played 12 games in his debut season as he acquainted himself with senior-level football. But from all off-season reports, he’s spent plenty of time in the gym over the off-season, returning to training with plenty of added muscle on his frame. Cadman started the pre-season with a bang, booting four goals in the Giants’ practice match against Sydney, before kicking one major from 13 disposals against Gold Coast in the Community Series – performances that indicate he’s ready to take the next step in 2024.
Hawthorn
Josh Weddle | 19 | Defender
Weddle played 17 games for the Hawks in his first season on an AFL list, finding his groove as an intercepting and rebounding defender. Named the Hawks’ Most Promising player at the club’s 2023 Awards night, he’s backed it up during the pre-season, taking out the club’s time trial as he builds into his second season. Weddle will certainly be one to watch in 2024.
Connor MacDonald | 21 | Midfielder/Forward
MacDonald has hit the ground running in his AFL career to date, playing 41 of a possible 45 games across his first two seasons. Playing through the forward line and on a wing, MacDonald is an exciting prospect for the Hawks’ young midfield, and has the foundation to take his game to the next level as he enters his third season in the league.
23 in 2024 for Josh Weddle! 💛🤎 pic.twitter.com/wNoJre2oV8
— Hawthorn FC (@HawthornFC) December 7, 2023
Melbourne
Jacob van Rooyen | 20 | Key Forward
van Rooyen exploded onto the big stage in 2023, booting three goals on debut in Round 3 against Sydney on his way to kicking 28.9 from just 20 games in his second season at the Dees. He also wowed with his strong abilities in the air, creating plenty of highlights with a big leap and a strong pair of hands. With a near-full season at the top level now under his belt, Dees fans will be excited to see van Rooyen continue to develop into a powerful goal scoring option in 2024.
Caleb Windsor | 18 | Midfielder
The murmurs of an Opening Round debut are getting louder for Windsor, with the top-10 pick among the Dees’ best in both pre-season fixtures. Windsor booted two impressive goals and collected 11 disposals from just 66% time on ground in the Community Series game against Carlton, and looks set to get plenty of chances to display his capabilities on the AFL stage this season.
North Melbourne
George Wardlaw | 19 | Midfielder
It was a quiet, injury-hampered debut season for Wardlaw, but the Roos youngster is one of the hot favourites for the Rising Star award this year, following in the footsteps of teammate and fellow draftee Harry Sheezel. With North Melbourne in a constant state of rebuild and an arsenal of young talent at its disposal, expect Wardlaw to be front of the pack, and get used to seeing him with ball in hand and impacting the game on the big stage.
Colby McKercher | 18 | Midfielder
McKercher is another asset in the Roos’ young talent arsenal, taken at Pick 2 in the 2023 AFL Draft. He was rated highly by talent scouts as one of the best ball-winners in the draft pool, and looks ready to have an immediate impact at AFL level, much like now teammate Harry Sheezel. Expect to see plenty of the speedy youngster in 2024 as North Melbourne looks to build back up the ladder.
Port Adelaide
Jason Horne-Francis | 20 | Midfielder
Very few players in the league have had such a tumultuous and scrutinised start to their career as Horne-Francis, who remarkably is in just his third year at AFL level. Moving home to Port Adelaide in 2023, Horne-Francis played all but one game, having plenty of impact through the midfield and occasionally in the forward line. Without the intensity of the spotlight on him in 2024, expect Horne-Francis to continue to work hard and put up some prolific numbers in 2024.
Jed McEntee | 23 | Forward
McEntee has built into his AFL career nicely, having been selected by Port Adelaide in the 2021 Mid-Season Draft. The 176cm forward featured 22 times for Port Adelaide in 2023, providing an excellent source of forward pressure as he averaged just shy of three tackles per game, to go with his 14 goals for the season. As a valuable asset to the dynamic Power forward line, 2024 could certainly be the year for McEntee to take the next step and become a reliable small forward option for his club.
Richmond
Josh Gibcus | 20 | Key Defender
After an impressive debut season in 2022 in which he featured 18 times for the Tigers, Gibcus didn’t feature at AFL level in 2023 as he battled various injury concerns. Drafted with Pick 9 in 2021, Gibcus is an exciting intercept defender who looms as a future leader of his club’s backline. Returning to the Tigers’ starting 22 for the Community Series matchup against Collingwood, Gibcus will have his eyes firmly fixed on the 2024 season as he looks to make an impactful return from injury.
Samson Ryan | 23 | Ruck/Forward
The 206cm Queenslander is a very exciting ruck prospect for the Tigers, and his development suggests he could be a long-term star in the yellow and black. With skipper Toby Nankervis approaching the twilight of his career – and missing the start of the season due to injury – Ryan will have a fantastic chance to cement his spot in the Tigers’ lineup after playing 14 games in 2023.
St Kilda
Mattaes Phillipou | 19 | Forward/Midfielder
Phillipou played every game for the Saints in his debut season, putting up some consistent numbers across the year. Regarded widely as an excitement machine in front of goal while also being able to amass possessions through the midfield, Phillipou has laid the foundation to improve his ball-winning and goal-kicking outputs as he enters his second season in the AFL.
Anthony Caminiti | 20 | Key Forward
Caminiti made his way onto the Saints’ list with far less fuss than Phillipou, but his first season at the Saints was just as impactful. A Pre-Season Supplemental selection, Caminiti played 18 games and booted 19 goals in his first season at the Saints, providing a more-than-handy goalscoring option in the absence of, then alongside, fellow key forward Max King. Now with a proper pre-season under his belt, Caminiti will be looking to prove he can coexist alongside King and Tim Membrey as a tall forward brigade.
Sydney
Angus Sheldrick | 20 | Midfielder
Alongside the breakout stardom of fellow midfielders Errol Gulden and Chad Warner, Sheldrick has proved in his small taste of AFL football that he’s got what it takes to impact the game like his teammates. While the first four of his nine games for the Swans were played as the medical substitute, Sheldrick paid dividends when called up to the side full-time, averaging 20 disposals, including a return of 29 in the Swans’ record win over West Coast. With former skipper Luke Parker a notable absentee for the beginning of the Season, is Sheldrick the man to step in and make an impact?
Logan McDonald | 21 | Key Forward
McDonald took a big leap in 2023, booting 32 goals from his 20 games as the Sun went down on the career of goalkicking champion Lance Franklin. McDonald finished second only to star teammate Tom Papley in his side’s goalkicking, and with ‘Buddy’ now retired, McDonald seems to be the man who’ll take the spearhead mantle ahead of teammates Hayden McLean and Joel Amartey.
West Coast
Reuben Ginbey | 19 | Midfielder
Ginbey matched it with plenty of AFL stars in his debut season for the Eagles, averaging 5.9 tackles per game before a hamstring injury prematurely ended his season. Finding an elite tagger is a rare discovery for AFL clubs, and based on Ginbey’s first season, he’s well on the way to earning that label. As he adds a disposal-winning side to his already elite tackling game, expect to hear plenty more about Ginbey as a young star.
Harley Reid | 18 | Midfielder
He’s the talk of the town over in the West, and we’ll get to see the Eagles’ prized Pick 1 take to the field from the get-go in 2024. Reid impressed with some very complete performances in the Eagles’ two pre-season fixtures, and with numerous games of VFL experience in 2023 under his belt, looks all but set to take AFL football by the scruff of the neck, as his predecessors in Harry Sheezel, Nick Daicos and Sam Walsh have all done.
Western Bulldogs
Ryley Sanders | 19 | Midfielder
It’ll take a special talent to seriously contend Harley Reid for the 2024 Rising Star award, and Sanders could be that talent, according to plenty of experts. The young Bulldog was perhaps the most impressive first-year player across the 2024 pre-season, highlighted by an incredible 30-disposal, 10-score-involvement performance against Hawthorn. Sanders looks ready-made for AFL footy and is certain to have a huge impact in his first year.
Jamarra Ugle-Hagan | 21 | Key Forward
The former Pick 1 showed glimpses of stardom in 2023, booting 35.35 from his 23 games across the season as the perfect foil to his key forward partner Aaron Naughton. While Ugle-Hagan’s goal accuracy is a point for improvement, 70 scoring shots across the season is an eye-catching number, and indicates that he’s ready to explode into Coleman Medal contention in 2024.
