There are many ways for a club to take forward steps from one season to the next. One of them is for a player or players to have breakout seasons and show great improvement in the way they play and their influence on the team’s performance. Who at Melbourne do you think can take the next step up?

5 minutes ago, Chelly said:

There are many ways for a club to take forward steps from one season to the next. One of them is for a player or players to have breakout seasons and show great improvement in the way they play and their influence on the team’s performance. Who at Melbourne do you think can take the next step up?

I'll just get in by saying the most obvious, and the guy we all hope and expect to give us a boost.... JVR. No pressure tho.

I feel it's time that Clayton Oliver lived up to expectations.

4 B&F's, 3 All Australians, 2 AFLCA Player of the Year Awards, 1 Premiership Medal.

The guy has clearly been coasting throughout his career to date.

Edited October 27, 20223 yr by Demon Jack

Joel Smith with a season of health and full fitness at last.

Realistically .......none

Sparrow has the best chance perhaps

The safest bet would be Harrison Petty. Locks down the AA key defender spot and becomes the brick wall that returns us to the stingiest defence 'by a mile' again, so long as the mids and forwards are doing their jobs up the field. He's just about to turn 23, so there is massive scope for him to go to another few levels and be our May/McGovern for the next 5-10 years.

The wacky bet would be Schache. He's our new Weid, a very 'unlikely' shot to fulfil his potential, but if he did then that really could unlock something different for us, and by virtue, likely have the biggest impact.  I know versatile depth is the major hope we have at this stage, but stranger things have happened and there should be an opportunity if Brown and McDonald reach their end this year. And from the video, it sounds like he's going to work hard over the off-season to try and prove everyone wrong.  Of course every interview contains similar fluff.

Edited October 27, 20223 yr by John Demonic

We talk about third year and fourth year breakouts. So Kozzie (could go AA?), Rivers, and Bowey would be the safest bets? 
JVR, Chandler, Laurie all would be great for obvious reasons. 

Disco Turner and Petty. Petty forward, Disco back with May and Lever, all saluting on the last day in September!

Bowser, if he can add a couple of kg's to the frame, could take his game to another level

The Weid to finally fulfil the promise he showed in the 2018 finals series…………..oh wait.

Honestly though, we need a second/third tier player to break out to really improve us. It would really benefit the team if a Bowey, Rivers, Jordan, Laurie, Sparrow or Chandler were to elevate their game. Of those, I’m tipping Rivers.

Disco Turner and Chandler most likely for me.

Chandlers second half of the VFL season was pretty impressive, and we need him to be heaping pressure on Spargo & ANB the latter just killed momentum in games time and time again with his inaccuracy in front of goal.

Like to see JVR and AMW knocking on the door hard and hopefully getting a taste of senior footy too.

Fritsch to kick 60+ and lock down an AA spot.

Dogga!

Kade Chandler.  Too good for VFL. 

26 minutes ago, The Jackson FIX said:

Kade Chandler.  Too good for VFL. 

Yeah I'm hoping he gets some games next year. Every time I see him play in the VFL or even AFL practice matches he impresses.

Our forward line could do with some alternative options such as Chandler, JVR and Schache if players such as Brown, Spargo and Melksham aren't performing.

 

8 hours ago, Demon Jack said:

I feel it's time that Clayton Oliver lived up to expectations.

4 B&F's, 3 All Australians, 2 AFLCA Player of the Year Awards, 1 Premiership Medal.

The guy has clearly been coasting throughout his career to date.

No doubt he's got another gear/ level to go to. He's been foxxing to date 

I predict he's capable of at least another 27% improvement on what he's done so far

I suspect that the majority here would hope that JVR storms into the game like David Schwartz did. 
Of those who have already played I expect JJ will make a big jump and join the premium (and hopefully premiership) midfield on a regular basis. 

9 hours ago, Chelly said:

There are many ways for a club to take forward steps from one season to the next. One of them is for a player or players to have breakout seasons and show great improvement in the way they play and their influence on the team’s performance. Who at Melbourne do you think can take the next step up?

Jordan

Lachie Hunter...back to his best with us.

Howes, although injury plagued this year, has what it takes from what I have seen of his limited game time in the 2's.  Of course there if JVR and Turner.   Also, Lachie Hunter, if he is in the right mindset, is a great pick up for us.

I  would like to see  Trac and Max go and kick 90% of there shots, then we would not have to worry about BBB,JVR ect. Even 2 goals improvement by both would do the trick

 

Andy Moniz-Wakefield

I think a few have the potential to have breakouts.  To me the ones that come to mind are:

Kade Chandler

Jacob Van Rooyen

Disco Turner

Harry Petty

Tom Sparrow

Edited October 27, 20223 yr by Katrina Dee Fan

I'd already consider Petty as "broken out", but he's the obvious one who could have an even bigger impact if he's tried up forward and is successful there. Otherwise he could be an AA level KPD on his current trajectory. 

The other I'd put forward is Rivers. His first two seasons were very good for a youngster, but he struggled with managing a knee injury and lacking preseason fitness in 2022. If he's fully fit and gets a full prison, he could very well have a big impact in defense next year. We need to replace Hibberd in the short term, and Rivers looks to have both the defensive and rebounding side to his game to be effective there. Love his booming kick too, which suits our game style transition forward with both Gawn and Grundy as tall marking targets on the wings in transition.

In terms of a breakout - ie shown potential but not put it together consistently - Tom Sparrow for mine.

Has all the tools, needs a bit more composure and needs to nail his disposal more often.

Does that and he becomes a bona fide weapon.