Who will step up in 2017

[Demon Head 250]

If you could name one player at the club who will improve by leaps and bounds in 2017, he would be ???

[old demon me!!! 108]

You beat me to it,i was thinking of this today and who i think will step up is Salem but i hope Ben Ken does because he reminds me of Paul Callery  , i also think Spencil might have a good year but probably with Casey unless the worst happens ,GOD FORBID ,oh and come to think of it i think ANB could have a good year . 

 

[Bombay Airconditioning 5,938]

I want Petracca to explode. 

Salem in now ready to show us what he's got.

Watts must maintain the rage, even take it up another notch.

 

[Sir Why You Little 34,553]

This topic is raised each year, and fair enough to

But i think 2017 will be different, in so much as i think the team as a whole will step up. i think a whole bunch of players will take the jump together.

That is what the Cats did in 2007, yes i know they were further advanced than we are now, But for the club to take that Quantum leap (and that is what we have to do) multiple players will need to step up.

[Demon Jack 6,324]

Brayshaw. Looking seriously fit at the moment.

[Dwight Schrute 16,800]

oscar McDonald 

[Lord Travis 10,176]

Can't pick just one!

I hope it's Salem. He's got all the tools to be a really damaging player for us, just needs to keep healthy and build consistency.

From training reports it seems Hogan and Brayshaw will take another big step up next year. I'm also expecting Petracca to build his tank more and impact games for longer. He could seriously explode that kid!

[bing181 8,169]

1. Brayshaw

2. Oscar Mac

3. Salem

[In Harmes Way 7,527]

I hope either of the two Essendon boys give a good account of themselves, because if they provide a bit of polish we're going to be seriously good this year

[monoccular 16,096]

If Petracca grabs the game we could be in for a very exciting year.  He could really be anything, a scary thought  

But, it is a team game, and as the old saying goes a champion team beats a team of champions (or champeens as Jack Dyer used to say)!

[tiers 2,769]

I agree with SWYL. The player to step up could not possibly be identified yet (who expected Hunt?) and how would it matter?

It is the team as a whole that will step up, one small step at a time. Watching them mature as footballers and gell as a unit is my wish.

Go dees.

 

[McQueen 17,864]

If it's a question of who I want to step up, that should've stepped up by now, I'm looking at Dean Kent.

He's been given a bit of an armchair ride by the coaches in my opinion. I'm sure they think he has the tools as do I. He's a classic example of consistent inconsistency.

I reckon young Dion Johnstone might put some pressure on him and Jeffy by the sounds of it.

[RalphiusMaximus 5,993]

Mitch King. 

[Roger Mellie 3,510]

Petracca - only dipped his toe in the talent pool last year. As mentioned above, he's had a taste and should explode this year

Salem - hasn't been on the park long enough to take a big step. Hopefully it's this year

Brayshaw - will be filthy he missed so much footy last year. Set to make up for it and some.

[drdrake 3,038]

Our forward group, Hogan, Watts, Petracca, Kent, Garlett, Weiderman and Co, I think as a group they are ready to become a seriously dangerous unstoppable forward line

[Lil_red_fire_engine 10,216]

1. Stretch 

2. Brayshaw

3. Salem

[Biffen 12,342]

Max Gawn to step up on his opponents heads.

Edited January 3, 2017 by Biffen

[Ethan Tremblay 28,423]

22 minutes ago, drdrake said:

Our forward group, Hogan, Watts, Petracca, Kent, Garlett, Weiderman and Co, I think as a group they are ready to become a seriously dangerous unstoppable forward line

I agree dr. And out of that group I think Petracca is going to explode. Might slow towards the end of the season but we'll already have 10 wins half way through the season so it's all good.

[Maldonboy38 5,927]

1. Brayshaw

2. Hunt

3. Hogan 

[The team we love 416]

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/teams/melbourne/oscar-mcdonald-determined-to-take-next-step-for-melbourne-in-2017/news-story/00b54cb004d72ee42e27bcf56eb436ed

Oscar McDonald.

Couldnt see this posted anywhere..

Still a lot of upside. 

Copy the link into a Google search to avoid the paywall. 

[spirit of norm smith 12,959]

Petracca

Kent

Brayshaw

Salem

Weideman

Harmes

Frost

Melksham

Hibberd

Lewis* (if he plays at the same level as 2016, he will be our best player)

All will step up and improve MFC dramatically in 2017.

 

[Deeoldfart 7,757]

The list of 'possibles' is long (probably the best position for young talent that we've been in since the introduction of the draft and player trading) but as SWYL said, a bunch of them will need to go to the next level if we are to seriously become a team to be reckoned with. Having said that, I reckon there are a couple who might really surprise. They are Billy Stretch and James Harmes.

[stuie 7,374]

Brayshaw 100%.

And my smokey would be JKH to have taken over Jeffy's spot by the end of the season.

 

[Dwight Schrute 16,800]

I reckon dean Kent has been building nicely, 25 goals last year and might be a chance to kick 30-35 goals in 2017 

[Vogon Poetry 2,095]

Clearly to be a great team you need great players and I think we have a lot of potential in this area - Gawn, Viney, Hogan, Petracca, Brayshaw, Oliver and Hunt would probably be my pick.  We then have a cast of very good players - Salem, Watts, Tyson, Stretch, McD x 2, Kent, Weideman, Hibberd and Jetta.  I've left out players like Vince, Jones and Lewis given their age. The lists above are not exhaustive but indicative.

Then we have what I would call "bottom sixish".  Two players that I reckon will play a large part in how good we become are Harmes and AVB.  I've watched some of the replays from last year and these two played a much greater role that I thought.  Harmes with his aggression and AVB with his strength.  AVB came off a limited preseason and fought an ankle issue which stopped him becoming fit enough for stints in the midfield but on reflection I think he could be much more important than we thought.

Of course then there are the unknowns.  JKH is one I know the club has not lost hope in.  Hannan and Johnstone may provide something and even Bugg and Kennedy could finally establish themselves.  But AVB and Harmes are the two for me that could make a much bigger impact than many think.  It's easy to pick Salem or Petracca because they have obvious talent at the top level.  Harmes and AVB don't but I reckon they will both have a significant impact.

And Wagner is another who could surprise but it's just hard to see where he gets a game.