Just over a month out from the 2024 season, we are listing off some stars of the competition to watch out for this year.
We've compiled a ranking of the projected top 50 players in the competition for 2024, looking through spots 40-31 in this edition.
Rather than naming the best performers of 2023 or the top players entering Opening Round, this list will look at the best players currently with some projections as to how they may rank at the end of the year.
Part one addressed many up & coming young names who have done just enough to scrape into the exclusive top 50, this list of 10 gets to the players who are entrenched in that club but need to bolster their production further or impact the outcome of games to climb higher.
SEE: 50-41 PREDICTED PLAYERS FOR 2024
7. 34 - Jason Horne-Francis
Time is also on the side of Jason Horne-Francis to grow into the Patrick Dangerfield proto-type many expect him to be, but he is progressing quicker than we thought.
No one disputes that year two was more successful than year one for the former number one pick, though his averages were surprisingly similar - one more disposal and one more clearance being the only discernible increase.
The most telling development was his leap from 0 Brownlow votes to a whopping 16, achieved by balancing out his underwhelming performance with a host of profoundly impactful ones.
Granted, some of his performances have been publicly lambasted for boosting his Brownlow tally perhaps undeservedly, but this speaks to his ability to impact with limited possession of the ball.
If he's this influential averaging under 18 touches, who knows what levels he can reach when he averages 25.
