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Best 22 projections for 2020: Adelaide, Brisbane, Carlton

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Published by
Kristian Amenta and Alex Caiafa and Ben Pascuzzi

We're going through each side and predicting their best 22 for the 2020 season.

Today, we've looked at the potential best 22's of Adelaide, Brisbane and Carlton.

Adelaide

B: Luke Brown, Daniel Talia, Jake Kelly

HB: Rory Laird, Tom Doedee, Brodie Smith

C: Rory Atkins, Rory Sloane, Wayne Milera

HF: Tom Lynch, Taylor Walker, Chayce Jones

F: Lachie Murphy, Darcy Fogarty, Billy Frampton

R: Reilly O'Brien, Brad Crouch, Matt Crouch

I/C: Paul Seedsman, Bryce Gibbs, Ned McHenry, Tyson Stengle/Pick 4

Discussion: Adelaide will be looking to improve on a disappointing 2019 campaign which saw them finish 11th on the ladder and unable to get any sort of consistency going in the season.

It was a year to forget for the Crows that resulted in a number of list changes and also a new head coach at season's end.

The Crows decided to move on from Cam Ellis-Yolmen and Hugh Greenwood who both have found new homes, and have also moved away from the Josh Jenkins and Eddie Betts era up forward that had been so serviceable to them over the years.

The Crows will look to bring in some fresh youth and energy down forward and around ground to add more of a punch, led by exciting young players Darcy Fogarty, Reilly O'Brien and Chayce Jones.

With the Crouch brothers and Sloane still running the midfield, the cool heads of Laird, Smith and Talia running the backline and ex-captain Taylor Walker and Tom Lynch always looming as big goal threats, the Crows still have enough talent in the team to be in finals contention and should be in good stead to improve dramatically from their 2019 performance.

DARWIN, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 01: Brad Crouch of the Crows celebrates after kicking a goal during the round 11 AFL match between the Melbourne Demons and the Adelaide Crows at TIO Stadium on June 01, 2019 in Darwin, Australia. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)

Brisbane

B: Noah Answerth, Harris Andrews, Grant Birchall

HB: Alex Witherden, Darcy Gardiner, Daniel Rich

C: Hugh McCluggage, Lachie Neale, Mitch Robinson

HF: Dayne Zorko, Eric Hipwood, Cam Rayner

F: Lincoln McCarthy, Daniel McStay, Charlie Cameron

R: Stefan Martin, Jarryd Lyons, Jarrod Berry

I/C: Cam Ellis-Yolmen, Callum Ah Chee, Marcus Adams, Allen Christensen

Discussion: The Lions were the surprise packet of 2019, coming from 15th position in 2018 to finish 2nd (equal top on percentage) on the ladder and prove to the footballing world that the hype surrounding the team was real and this team would be the next big up and coming team.

The Lions' hard work throughout the season earned them their first finals berth in 10 years and a home final, but it didn't go as planned after they were knocked out in straight sets by Richmond and GWS.

But that didn't take away the fact that 2019 was a success that the team can build on. The loss of Luke Hodge as their experienced and spiritual leader will most certainly have an effect on the group, but the addition of his premiership-winning former teammate Grant Birchall from Hawthorn should be just as serviceable and provide more experience around the ground for what remains a young group.

With most of the core team returning along with the handy additions of Cam Ellis-Yolmen and Callum Ah Chee to add some more talent across the field, the Lions look primed to have a big 2020 and improve on their straight sets elimination in 2019.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 25: Eric Hipwood of the Lions celebrates during the 2019 AFL round 23 match between the Richmond Tigers and the Brisbane Lions at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on August 25, 2019 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Carlton

B: Kade Simpson, Jacob Weitering, Caleb Marchbank

HB: Sam Docherty, Liam Jones, Nic Newman

C: Will Setterfield, Patrick Cripps, Sam Petrevski-Seton

HF: Charlie Curnow, Mitch McGovern, Jack Silvagni

F: Michael Gibbons, Harry McKay, Eddie Betts

R: Matt Kreuzer, Sam Walsh, Ed Curnow

I/C: Zac Fisher, Marc Murphy, Lachie Plowman, David Cunningham

Discussion: After a very shaky start to the 2019 season which saw the Blues only on one win up until round 12, they decided to pull the pin on Brendon Bolton's coaching tenure and ushered in the era of caretaker coach David Teague.

Under Teague, the Blues played with more freedom and played a more entertaining brand of football, which resulted in the team winning six of their last 11 games and resulted in Teague being offered the role as full-time coach of the club.

The Blues' young core have stuck together through the trade period and there were no notable departures from the best 22, which allows this group to further grow together, led by superstar and other co-captain Patrick Cripps and a vast array of young up and coming talent such as Jacob Weitering, Sam Walsh and Charlie Curnow.

Add that to the additions of former Blue Eddie Betts via trade from Adelaide who will strengthen the small forward ranks and provide more goals, and returning co-captain Sam Docherty from two years off with two knee reconstructions, and the Blues gain some serious experience and talent that will only help the team moving forward.

With all factors combined, the Blues look ready to make a considerable push up the ladder in 2020 from their 16th place finish in 2019.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 15: Sam Walsh of the Blues in action during the 2019 AFL round 13 match between the Carlton Blues and the Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium on June 15, 2019 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
Published by
Kristian Amenta and Alex Caiafa and Ben Pascuzzi