Who needs to improve at your AFL club during the off-season.

[Nige]

Interesting article here.

WHEN AFL clubs welcome first to fourth-year players back to training there will be some hard truths told.

Given AFL players have an average shelf life of about 3-5 years, who needs to improve at your club to make a name for themselves in 2014?



SAM KERRIDGE (Adelaide)

EXPLODED in Round 9 kicking six goals in the Crows win over North Melbourne before training off, missing a large chunk of the 2013 campaign. The Crows have been patient with Kerridge, 20, and he should benefit from a third pre-season under his belt.



MITCH GOLBY (Brisbane)

THE talented left-footer is primed for a break out season after putting up strong numbers in 2013 to finish 10th in the club's best and fairest. Golby averaged a tick under 20 disposals and kicked six goals.



LEVI CASBOULT (Carlton)

CASBOULT fits the key forward mould Carlton so desperately needs to help Jarrad Waite inside the arc. The big 23-year-old bobbed up against Richmond in Round 21 - was it a sign of things to come or an aberration?



ALEX FASOLO (Collingwood)

FASOLO went backwards in 2013 playing three games - one as the substitute - before a foot injury ended his season. With Andrew Krakouer (delisted) gone, Ben Kennedy, Kyle Martin and Sam Dwyer still learning, a fit Fasolo has the chance to return to the heights of 2012 where he kicked 28 goals.



ELLIOTT KAVANAGH (Essendon)

KAVANAGH has skills, tricks and hunger, but has lacked the size to play AFL football. But the 2011 no.19 pick is on the right track and can make an impact in 2014. The hard-at-it midfielder averaged seven tackles a game in the VFL including season highs of 14 (twice) and 10 (twice).



HAYDEN CROZIER (Fremantle)

IT'S not going to be easy, but Crozier can forge a regular spot in a team expected to feature in finals. The half forward, suiting up for his third pre-season, will be looking to add size over summer while maintaining his speed and leaping ability. Arguably, Crozier's greatest asset is his ability to find the goals - even when used as the substitute. One to watch in 2014.



BILLIE SMEDTS (Geelong)

A HIGH draft pick who at times doesn't look that interested in playing senior football. 2014 will be a litmus test for the talented half-forward flanker following the departures Paul Chapman and James Podsiadly. Needs a big pre-season to get off on the right foot.



SEB TAPE (Gold Coast)

TOUGH as teak Tape will be keen to play a full season after spending much of last year recuperating from knee surgery. The South Australian product, taken with pick 13 in 2010, played seven of the Suns' last eight home-and-away games - missing Round 22 after he was flattened by Port Adelaide star Hamish Hartlett the week before. Tape's run off half back should free up top draft pick David Swallow to return to the midfield.



WILL HOSKIN-ELLIOTT (GWS Giants)

WE'RE not at panic stations yet, but the 2011 no.4 pick must start playing regular games. The Hyphen managed nine games in 2013 - dropped after round 3 unable to return until Round 12 when he played six games on end before a bout of concussion ruled him out again.



MITCH HALLAHAN (Hawthorn)

HAS done everything right at VFL level to earn his stripes, now he just needs an opportunity on the big stage. But it's not going to be easy for the clearance specialists with Sam Mitchell, Jordan Lewis and Brad Sewell ahead of him in the pecking order.



MICHAEL EVANS (Melbourne)

WHILE Evans is not the most talented midfielder on the list, he has worked hard overcoming a series of injuries (hip/back) to play 13 games in two seasons. The 20-year-old managed nine games under axed coach Mark Neeld and will need to prove his worth if he is to stay around with Paul Roos at the helm.



KIERAN HARPER (North Melbourne)

INJURIES and formed derailed Harper's 2013 campaign. The explosive half forward was dropped after round 3 never to be seen again - in senior ranks - after breaking down with a foot injury. Expect Harper to be one of the big improvers during the off season.



AARON YOUNG (Port Adelaide)

YOUNG repaid Ken Hinkley's faith late in the year playing the last five games of the season including both finals. The shaggy-haired half forward bobbed up kicking goals in each of his home-and-away appearances while he was critical in Port's stunning elimination final win over Collingwood racking up 13 disposals starting as the substitute.



JAKE BATCHELOR (Richmond)

BATCHELOR needs a strong off-season to win his spot back in the team. The 21-year-old dropped the ball last year playing just nine games after managing 16 and 14 games respectively in his ifrst two seasons at the top level. Batchelor needs to improve at ground level as well as get more of the ball.



ARRYN SIPOSS (St Kilda)

ST KILDA needs the talented fourth-year forward to step up to the plate in 2014. Siposs played just nine games last year taking his career tally to 25. The booming right-footer, with a strong pre-season under his belt, looms as the ideal one-two forward punch with champion Nick Riewoldt. The captain can't do alone anymore, and with Stephen Milne and Justin Koschitzke gone, the time is right for Siposs to shine.



HARRY CUNNINGHAM (Sydney)

CUNNINGHAM played just five games in 2013 and two of them were finals. And boy, did the country kid step up kicking two goals in each of the finals against Carlton and Fremantle. Cunningham will be looking to use that invaluable experience as the driving force behind a strong pre-season.



MURRAY NEWMAN (West Coast)

NEWMAN played four games in 2012 after being taken pick 23 in the national draft. But he faded off the scene last year, unable to break into the side on the back of mediocre WAFL performances. The speedster would need to improve sharply over the pre-season and win his spot back in the team.



JASON TUTT (Western Bulldogs)

TUTT needs to put in a strong pre-season to earn his stripes at Whitten Oval after three lean seasons. The ACT product, who exploded on the AFL stage kicking four goals with his first four kicks on debut, can't afford another sluggish year. It's now or quite possibly never for this small forward.

[LF]

Newman is lucky he is still with the Eagles

[Ricochet]

Newman is lucky he is still with the Eagles

I think you'll find player welfare is the only reason his is

[SydneyRox]

After all the draft talk etc. I expected Sam Reid to be the one for Sydney.

Cunners is going to have to have a big pre season, the guys who he is competing against like Jetta and Rohan will be injury free. Got his work cut out for himself!

[LF]

Newman is lucky he is still with the Eagles

I think you'll find player welfare is the only reason his is

Yeah that would be the reason why

[ADEZ]

Good find, but really? he's 27  ::)

ALEX FASOLO (Collingwood)

FASOLO went backwards in 2013 playing three games - one as the substitute - before a foot injury ended his season. With Andrew Krakouer (delisted) gone, Ben Kennedy, Kyle Martin and Sam Dwyerstill learning , a fit Fasolo has the chance to return to the heights of 2012 where he kicked 28 goals.

[The_Captain]

West coast eagles: About 70% of the team... need to stop relying on the old timers to do all the work. Too many of them think they are better than they are!

[Vinny]

Carlton:
- Levi getting his kicking right, he has really good hands.
- Yarran needs to get whatever it is with Mick sorted, build up a tank get consistent and back to his best.
- Murphy needs to get back to his best, which will see the boys around him improve too.

[Mr.Craig]

Hill, Grimley, Hallahan, Anderson, Duryea.

If they can all develop further this year it will make life a lot easier.

[strikes91]

Golby is a good player, shouldn't of been the lion player used

[specky92]

I'm excited for Kavanagh in 2014, will most likely be used as a tagged to replace Buddha Hocking

[Capper]

Would agree with Cunners for the Swans but everyone knew that. There are a couple of people that need to step up next year to see if they are worth the money they are being paid