2022 Version of Bailey Dale

[GVGjr]

Bailey Dale had a sensational year in 2021 and I think it's fair to say he more than played his part in our resurgence.
In most years you look for a player or two to step up and make a difference so on the cusp of 2022 who do you think might be able to do a Bailey Dale and have a break out season for us and the reasons why?
If you have a few players in mind, lets hear all of them as well.

[Bulldog4life]

I have good feelings about Marra stepping up to be a regular this season. His attitude has changed this year...according to himself...and with following the Bont around over summer only good will come of it. Another off season in the gym will improve his strength too. Remembering he was number one draft pick by far too I think he will surprise a lot of people.

[Mofra]

I wish: English
Likely: Josh Dunkley. His year was ruined by injury but his best is elite.

Marra is a good one. He'll be a regular by the endof the year

[comrade]

I'm going to go with Garcia. Will establish himself as that high forward.

[GVGjr]

I think Weightman could really surprise next year. It's a hard spot to shine on a regular basis but I don't doubt he has the ability.
He's had two good seasons but has the potential to take a step or two forward again next season.

I wonder if Vandermeer can stay fit what level of improvement he can make. Such and exciting player when things click for him.

[GVGjr]

I wish: English
Likely: Josh Dunkley. His year was ruined by injury but his best is elite.

Marra is a good one. He'll be a regular by the endof the year

Dunkley could be massive for us if he stays healthy. We need to find him some more time in the middle.

[jazzadogs]

I have good feelings about Marra stepping up to be a regular this season. His attitude has changed this year...according to himself...and with following the Bont around over summer only good will come of it. Another off season in the gym will improve his strength too. Remembering he was number one draft pick by far too I think he will surprise a lot of people.

I think the 'Josh Bruce' role is the obvious spot where someone could step up and have a great season. Marra will surely get first crack at it, but I wonder if Schache, Cordy or someone else will be the one to surprise.

Bailey Williams is one that I think could push for AA - he started this season with a handful of brilliant games, but by the end seemed to be playing more of a lockdown role. If O'Brien's addition frees him up to be more offensive, it could be big for him.

The other obvious one is Bailey Smith. If he can produce his finals series over the full season, then he moves from being very good to elite.

[kruder]

Richards for mine, the first game he played back from longterm injury gave us a glimpse of what he is capable of in defence.

[Dry Rot]

Parker will surprise us all. Has all the tools, just needs a good pre season and some polish.

[GVGjr]

There is about two ways of looking at this:

Players that could be in the All Australian discussion at the end of the season which doesn't include the regulars like Bont, Macrae and Hunter:
Players that could have a break out season by the end of the season:

Potential AA level players for us include Bailey Smith, Josh Dunkley and Aaron Naughton
Break out season players for us might include Cody Weightman, Josh Schache, Ed Richards, Jamarra Ugle-Hagan, Riley Garcia, Tim English, Laitham Vandermeer, Jordon Sweet and Bailey Williams.

And finally we have a couple of players that might have an Anthony Scott type debut season in Charlie Parker and Robbie McComb

Isn't great to have that many players with so much upside? Our assistant and development coaches have a lot to work with.

[Bulldog4life]

Parker will surprise us all. Has all the tools, just needs a good pre season and some polish.

Agree could fit nicely on the wing for us.

[Bulldog Joe]

There are plenty on the list who look poised to produce career best seasons and the team would benefit greatly if this comes from one of the fololwing

Tim English - to be a genuine agressive No 1 ruck or Jordan Sweet to do it instead.

Josh Schache - showed his best signs late in 2021 and has the potential to be a key swing man, but CHB beckons

Marra - Show the hype is justified as a 4 quarter player and we are very dangerous.

[Twodogs]

Richards for mine, the first game he played back from longterm injury gave us a glimpse of what he is capable of in defence.

Yep I'll go with Richards' too. If he can stay healthy he brings a bit of pace and ball movement in parts of the ground where we don't currently have it.

[Dry Rot]

Yep I'll go with Richards' too. If he can stay healthy he brings a bit of pace and ball movement in parts of the ground where we don't currently have it.

I agree but where do you play him?

Down back? Probably the best position, but who does he displace?

[jeemak]

I really don't know whether we have anyone who can come from the fringe and hit All Australian levels in an unfamiliar position this year. Looking back on what Dale did, it was an outstanding and freakish effort and I still can't really believe it happened.

For mine, we get better if Dunkley and Treloar stay fit and healthy. Both are capable of All Australian squad level football. If that can happen and Steph and Sweet share first ruck duties competently, English plays as a forward/ ruck and is settled in that role leaving Marra to help out as well, then I think we look better than we did rolling into the last two weeks of the finals.

[kruder]

I'm a little surprised at the Marra talk, he hasn't played much footy in 2 years and with Bruce out will find it hard to be consistent I reckon.

He is going to need more than one good preseason for mine, no doubt he will improve and has ridiculous talent but I will be surprised if he can impact as much as Cody did in his second year( unbelievable second year).

[jeemak]

I'm a little surprised at the Marra talk, he hasn't played much footy in 2 years and with Bruce out will find it hard to be consistent I reckon.

He is going to need more than one good preseason for mine, no doubt he will improve and has ridiculous talent but I will be surprised if he can impact as much as Cody did in his second year( unbelievable second year).

It's fair. But, he did impact a couple of games a little to a bit when he played and that was after one preseason off an extremely short run up.

I don't buy into social media hype however, it has pleased me to see images of him really getting into it and even the things coming out of his mouth suggest to me last season was a smack in the face for him and he's embarrassed.

It doesn't mean I think he'll be the best third forward in the competition. Just that if he is fit and is given a chance he may cause a lot of head aches playing a third role the likes of the King brothers or anyone else could only dream of playing.

[azabob]

After a rough start to his career and a injury ravaged 2021 Ryan Gardner has shown he can play a key role in our back 7.

If he can get a full pre season and remain injury free he will be critical as our lockdown defender.

The flow on effect for Keith, Williams and O'Brien will be huge also as they can look to be more attacking rather than worrying about locking down the oppositions number one forward.

Hopefully VDM and Garcia stay injury free to add some bite and niggle to our forward 50. Both players seem to have a burst of speed and don't mind letting the opposition know they are around both physically and verbally.

[GVGjr]

Aza, Gardner plays an important role for us and probably has another level in his development he can achieve however, I think he will always tend to be serviceable more than a huge improver for us.
I like his mobility and his ability to read the ball in the air but I'm not convinced we can get a lot more from him other than getting him healthy.

[The Doctor]

Josh Schache

[Go_Dogs]

Josh Schache

Forward or back?

I really hope he’s come back and demanded to be played at CHB.

[GVGjr]

Forward or back?

I really hope he’s come back and demanded to be played at CHB.

From all accounts (Thanks DT) he's been training with the defenders.

[Mofra]

I'm a little surprised at the Marra talk, he hasn't played much footy in 2 years and with Bruce out will find it hard to be consistent I reckon.

He is going to need more than one good preseason for mine, no doubt he will improve and has ridiculous talent but I will be surprised if he can impact as much as Cody did in his second year( unbelievable second year).
I don't think anyone is expecting him to be at the level of a seasoned KPF.
It's not beyond the realm of possibility that he's at the very least a best 22 player by the end of the year. Freakishly talented and has come back in much better shape than he started last year.