Sneaky Breakouts in 2020

[outside66]

Following Rowan Marshall’s ‘sneaky-breakout’ year (i.e. where no one would have predicted the heights Marshall reached in 2019) I was thinking about whether there might be another player on our list who could really take their game to not just the next level, but right up to the penthouse! One player who might supersede all expectations could, IMO, be Jack Sinclair.

After an outstanding 2017 that had Champion Data ranking him as an elite wingman entering 2018, Sinclair went on to having a solid season that pretty much mirrored his 2017 stats. His game hadn’t improved but it didn’t go backwards. 2019 saw Sinclair go backwards a bit in terms of disposals (less than 3 and 4 touches per game compared to ’18 and ’19 respectively) and his general influence in games.

With luck, the addition of Hill, Hannaz, Roberton, Geary, Webster, and Jones will not only increase quality depth and make it harder to remain in the best 22 it will make the work easier for everyone else around them. Sinclair included. In an era where outside of the key positions, everyone else is pretty much a magnet on the board. Players who have cool heads, can run, and use the ball well will thrive.

Sinclair is currently on 86 games and has perhaps carried more weight/responsibility over his career than your average player (outside of the Gold Coast or Carlton). So with the combination of experience he has built up thus far, healthy and strong preseason (with luck) under a new voice, plus the addition of quality/experienced players around him, I reckon it all could bode well for Sinclair taking the lift to the top floor!

I’d be interested in other people’s views on which players that perhaps aren’t on the ‘breakout radar’ who could step up in a big way.

[cwrcyn]

One that many seem not to rate is Phillips. He has elite endurance and knows how to find the ball. He's one who,given the opportunity could become our next Leigh Montagna

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[skeptic]

Paton and Hind are the other two that come to mind

Both showed glimpses and have a ton of promise. Parker is the other obvious choice given that he clearly has skills and will be better for a second preseason

[shanegrambeau]

One that many seem not to rate is Phillips. He has elite endurance and knows how to find the ball. He's one who,given the opportunity could become our next Leigh Montagna

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Played 7 games in ‘18 and only 4 last year. Hardly, inspiring. Club propaganda talks about speed time trials, and ‘cementing’ ..perhaps they have a plan for to build the new car park.

[freely]

One that many seem not to rate is Phillips. He has elite endurance and knows how to find the ball. He's one who,given the opportunity could become our next Leigh Montagna

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Played 7 games in ‘18 and only 4 last year. Hardly, inspiring. Club propaganda talks about speed time trials, and ‘cementing’ ..perhaps they have a plan for to build the new car park.

Yeah, but he looks so comfortable when he plays. I'm surprised he didn't cement his spot early in a similar way to sinclair in his first year. I wondered if there were off-field issues at work. I don't know how easy it will be for him to get in now but I don't know why it would have been so hard two years ago.

[cwrcyn]

Give Phillips a chance, at least. Way too early to write him off. He's tracking like his brother who's turned out to be a fine player

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[Secret Kiel]

Jack Sinclair can be the guy, absolutely he can.

I hope he sees all the extra competition for spots and fears the hell out of it so much that he knows he has to work even harder to get to the next level. In a sense it's an opportunity because the extra competition could be the motive force he needs to get to the next level, which is A grade or Elite.

He could be one of those extra A grade midfielders our list still needs and if we can procure from the current list then this will also immensely help us at the trade table this year.

I don't think we've seen the best of Members yet either. He's never had the luxury of a good mechanism into the forward line.

[Devilhead]

I had a sneaky breakout on the couch the other night ..... the wife and the cat weren't too happy

[cwrcyn]

As long as that breakout didn't follow through................

[B.M]

Chances

Nick Coffield
Doulton Langlands
Max King
Ben Long
Jack Bytel
Logan Austin
Ed Phillips
Ben Paton
Matty Parker
Daniel McKenzie
Ryan Byrnes
Darragh Joyce
Oscar Clavarino

[Secret Kiel]

If you had to pick 2 from your list BM who would they be and why

[resaintlee]

What about Jack Lonie? With more skilled players about his opportunities should increase. He is a gutsy determined player who will be bursting to step up.

[Joffa Burns]

Chances

Nick Coffield
Doulton Langlands
Max King
Ben Long
Jack Bytel
Logan Austin
Ed Phillips
Ben Paton
Matty Parker
Daniel McKenzie
Ryan Byrnes
Darragh Joyce
Oscar Clavarino

I'd say Ben Long, has teased with glimpses from year to year but really needs to become consistent, could be a very good player.

I like him over Phillips, Paton, Langlands etc due to skill, ability to do the freakish and hardness at the contest.

The other underrated IMO is Paton who showed a bit last year down back.

Langlands doesn't have AFL footskills IMO and Phillips is an athlete who may or may not develop.
Bytel & King were highly rated juniors so wouldn't fit the sneaky breakout title and agree Sinclair is not a bad selection.

[skeptic]

Austin is the player that could pbly come from nowhere if good enough...
Always liked the kid, good size, can run. Would love to see him get an extended go at something

[B.M]

I know the club likes Langlands

I like Ben Paton

I would have thought Lonie’s last two seasons were already very good?!

Others have a chance too

I worry that Long is too in and out of games, Austin is not strong enough and has others in front of him?

Bytel could come from nowhere if he is fit and finds twos form?

[Secret Kiel]

Are there different breakout categories?

Debut player who looks the goods and holds down a spot from debu. ...King and Bytel (Wilkie last years winner)

1-4 year player who becomes an automatic 22 or 200 gamer. Parker and Wilkie ? (RoMa last years winner)

Over 4 years who can go to A grade.... Sinclair, Ross and Members

[damienc]

Chances

Nick Coffield
Doulton Langlands
Max King
Ben Long
Jack Bytel
Logan Austin
Ed Phillips
Ben Paton
Matty Parker
Daniel McKenzie
Ryan Byrnes
Darragh Joyce
Oscar Clavarino

I like your thinking.

However, not sure I would agree with every name on the list.

Let's hope you are right and I am wrong.

For a change.

Just kidding.

[The Barometer]

Agree on Sinclair, strikes me as the kind of player who could elevate his game as the side gets better around him. Neat skills, smart decision maker, covers a lot of ground. At the point in his career where he needs to start finding more of it and consistently impact games, flip side is if he has an underwhelming year he could find himself being shopped around.

[The Barometer]

Are there different breakout categories?

Debut player who looks the goods and holds down a spot from debu. ...King and Bytel (Wilkie last years winner)

1-4 year player who becomes an automatic 22 or 200 gamer. Parker and Wilkie ? (RoMa last years winner)

Over 4 years who can go to A grade.... Sinclair, Ross and Members

If we are categorising I'd hope that King is an "unsneaky" breakout and he shows the talent that made him a top draft pick!

[The Barometer]

Austin is the player that could pbly come from nowhere if good enough...
Always liked the kid, good size, can run. Would love to see him get an extended go at something

Where do you think he will play? Key back or more a tall intercept type role? I know a Port fan who was upset they lost him so would also like to see him put together a solid string of games even at the VFL level.

[skeptic]

Austin is the player that could pbly come from nowhere if good enough...
Always liked the kid, good size, can run. Would love to see him get an extended go at something

Where do you think he will play? Key back or more a tall intercept type role? I know a Port fan who was upset they lost him so would also like to see him put together a solid string of games even at the VFL level.

It’s a hard call because I think he was a great get but then got injured which led to Battle breaking out and then we recruited Howard and have had Roberton come back in addition to Carlisle

He is absolutely more suited to the intercept role IMO or as the third tall that moves up the ground

[B.M]

Who does a tall intercept role play on?

[Spinner]

Chances

Nick Coffield
Doulton Langlands
Max King
Ben Long
Jack Bytel
Logan Austin
Ed Phillips
Ben Paton
Matty Parker
Daniel McKenzie
Ryan Byrnes
Darragh Joyce
Oscar Clavarino

Next time tell us who isn’t a chance...

[skeptic]

Who does a tall intercept role play on?

You want me to list 17 opponents?