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 Port Adelaide, Richmond and St Kilda.
B: Darcy Byrne-Jones, Tom Clurey, Ryan Burton
HB: Hamish Hartlett, Tom Jonas, Riley Bonner
C: Karl Amon, Ollie Wines, Xavier Duursma
HF: Brad Ebert, Justin Westhoff, Connor Rozee
F: Robbie Gray, Charlie Dixon, Todd Marshall
FOLL: Scott Lycett, Travis Boak, Tom Rockliff
I/C: Zak Butters, Jack Watts, Dan Houston, Willem Drew
Port Adelaide was one of the more inconsistent sides in 2019 that under-achieved to an extent after what was looking like a promising season early on.
The Power lost a couple of key names in Paddy Ryder (St Kilda) and Dougal Howard (St Kilda) during the trade period without gaining anything to replace the losses either, making things look a bit bleak from that perspective.
The Power still has the likes of Travis Boak, Robbie Gray, Ollie Wines and Scott Lycett running around on the list as the experienced leaders.
Mix that with the likes of exciting youngsters Connor Rozee, Xavier Duursma and Zak Butters who shun bright in 2019, and the Power could break out and improve on their 2019 campaign dramatically.
Consistency will be the key for this team to unlocking their full potential and reaching those heights though.
B: Dylan Grimes, Alex Rance, David Astbury
HB: Bachar Houli, Nick Vlastuin, Jayden Short
C: Marlion Pickett, Dion Prestia, Josh Caddy
HF: Shai Bolton, Tom Lynch, Shane Edwards
F: Daniel Rioli, Jack Riewoldt, Jason Castagna
FOLL: Ivan Soldo, Dustin Martin, Trent Cotchin
I/C: Nathan Broad, Jack Graham, Kane Lambert, Sydney Stack
Richmond just continues to go from strength to strength after winning the 2019 premiership and their team remains fairly intact from the trade period to no surprise really.
Despite losing the likes of Brandon Ellis (Gold Coast) and Dan Butler (St Kilda) during the trade period, the Tigers get back star back-man Alex Rance from injury after missing 2019 in its entirety to go along with the returning premiership core in all parts of the ground, led by stars Dustin Martin, Jack Riewoldt, Tom Lynch, Dylan Grimes and Trent Cotchin.
The Tigers also have the depth to cover all avenues, with young talent such as Liam Baker, Patrick Naish, Jack Ross, Mabior Chol, Noah Balta and Callum Coleman-Jones all waiting in the wings ready to contribute when called upon, while Jack Higgins could also make a return at some point after suffering brain bleeding during 2019.
Richmond will be just as potent in 2020 and will look to go back-to-back and again be right up there in the premiership race.
B: Jarryn Geary, Jake Carlisle, Callum Wilkie
HB: Dylan Roberton, Dougal Howard, Hunter Clark
C: Jack Billings, Seb Ross, Bradley Hill
HF: Jade Gresham, Tim Membrey, Jack Sinclair
F: Dan Butler, Max King, Jack Lonie
FOLL: Rowan Marshall, Jack Steele, Dan Hannebery
I/C: Luke Dunstan, Jimmy Webster, Zak Jones, Josh Battle
St Kilda had arguably the best 2019 trade period of any club and will look to build on what was an exciting finish to the 2019 season for the club.
The Saints lost some of their experienced talent in Josh Bruce (Western Bulldogs), Jack Steven (Geelong) and Blake Acres (Fremantle) during the trade period, but they brought in five new recruits in Bradley Hill, Paddy Ryder, Dougal Howard, Dan Butler and Zak Jones who could all make their debut in round one.
Ryder was the only one to miss with the addition of Max King to the line-up, but the experienced ruck will be sure to play his fair share of games in 2020.
With the exciting young talent such as Jack Billings, Seb Ross and Jade Gresham all returning mixed with the experienced recruits brought in to help fill the holes they have been missing, the Saints will look to soar in 2020 and make a push for a finals spot.