Following their earliest years in the AFL, players will break through the ceiling above them and shine like never before, showing signs of the star they can be.
Sometimes it's the beginning of a star in the making, other times it's an anomaly. Sometimes it's a player at the dawn of their career, other times it's a player with a handful of seasons in the bank.
Here are 10 players we predict will take their game to the next level in 2023.
2. Cam Rayner
Someone that has been in this breakout category for several years now, is it finally time Cameron Rayner shows us why he was drafted with pick number one in 2017?
After missing 2021 with an ACL injury, it was probably too much to ask him to breakout last year, but he enjoyed a solid return nonetheless.
Showing glimpses in 2022, like in Round 22 against St Kilda where he kicked three last-quarter goals to get over the line, Rayner has the potential to be a star of the competition.
With stars around him like Josh Dunkley and Lachie Neale, the former being one of the best midfield-forwards in the game to learn from, the 23-year-old could break out.
