Five weeks into the 2021 AFL season, there have been plenty of unexpected storylines.
A number of teams that struggled during a COVID interrupted 2020 season have bounced back in spectacular fashion, whilst others have dropped in dramatic fashion.
Teams like Sydney and Adelaide have started the season in unexpected fashion, jumping the gun early with strong starts to the season. A heavy contrast compared to previous seasons, the young sides are showing plenty of upside and promise for success now and in the future.
This is heavily in contrast to sides with older lists. The likes of St Kilda, who have the oldest list in the competition, are struggling hugely with the new free flowing style of the game. With heavy losses to the reigning premiers Richmond (84 points) and young Bombers (75 points), the Saints find themselves 2-3 with a miserable 71.4% percentage.
It is starting to become apparent that the implementation of the new standing on the mark and interchange rules has made the game quicker, potentially suiting the younger, quicker players.
As such, we've highlighted the most promising young lists in the competition, emphasising that we aren't necessarily predicting these teams will be successful, but simply stating that they possess the best young talent.
1. Sydney Swans
It shouldn't come as too much of a shock to see the Sydney Swans atop of this list. After a rebuild that seemingly lasted 20 seconds, the young Swans are already performing an elite once again starting the 2021 season 4-1.
Everywhere you look across the park, the Swans have scary young talent. Starting in the middle, 22-year-old Oliver Florent continuously impresses each and every season. Starting his craft on the wing, Florent is starting to develop his game to more time inside the contest.
No game this year better displays Florent's potential like Sydney's Round 3 win over the Tigers, where Florent finished with 29 disposals (83%) and 6 inside 50's. With more time in the middle of the ground, look for Florent to become the Swans next inside bull.
Another inside bull for the Swans has been the tackling machine James Rowbottom. The 20-year-old has had a brilliant start to his 2021 campaign, being able to accumulating 22 disposals and an elite 8 tackles despite a hyperextension to his knee in the first quarter ofย the Swans Round 1 upset win over the Lions. After spending rounds 2-5 on the sidelines, Rowbottom set to return for the Swans clash against the Suns.
In the first three rounds during the Swans fast start to the season, the three Rising Star nominees were all young Swans.
In Round 1, Errol Gulden was the rising star nominee catching the highly touted Brisbane Lions off guard with 19 disposals and three goals. The Swans Academy product's strong competitive nature has been on brand with the culture at Sydney, thoroughly impressing those within the club and now on the big stage.
Embed from Getty Images Round 2's nominee was No. 5 pick in the 2020 Braeden Campbell. Campbell had himself a day out off halfback with 25 disposals, eight rebound 50's and 708 metres gained. Brilliantly versatile and with a fantastic left boot, Campbell looks to have already cemented himself in the Swans backline after 5 games played.
In Round 3, the Swans arguably took their biggest scalp when they demolished the reigning premiers Richmond at the MCG. With what was an outstanding game by many,
Chad Warner was a highlight, earning himself the Rising Star nomination for his 20 disposal and 2 goal effort. With an unrivalled hunger for the contest, Warner's 2021 numbers have well and truly impressed. His 19 disposals and 4.6 tackles a game illustrates his work ethic and ability to get the footy in and amongst the contest.
The beauty of the many Swans young guns is that coach John Longmire used the latter half of the 2020 season to experiment with players positions to unlock their true potential. โOne of the things we wanted to do was to keep introducing young players, but the next phase was to keep exposing and looking at them in different positions and see what comes out of it.โ Longmuir told Sportsday radio in regards to the 2020 season.
A number of young Swans have benefitted from this, including the likes of Will Hayward and Tom McCartin, who were both drafted as forwards but have found themselves performing well in the defensive half of the ground. McCartin now finds himself lining up against the oppositions key forward, a role that he has seen him grow in and start to excel.
Longmire has credited the move of Hayward down back brilliant for his development, in which should start to come into fruition once he gets more games under his belt in 2021.
With plenty of other names across the list - like the freak of nature Nick Blakey, the lightning quick Justin McInerney or the young forward Sam Wicks who will have the opportunity to fill the injured Lance Frankilin's shoes whilst injured - the Sydney Swans are a team on the rise thanks to the unlimited stocks of young up and coming talent.
The likelihood that Sydney are currently over-performing is probable, with the course of the season likely to level out the inexperienced side with the rest of the competition. However, with the young talent they are bleeding games into and a new reinvigorated style of play from John Longmire, the ceiling for this team is off the charts.
โWe are really confident in that young group coming forward.โ Longmire said before the start of the season speaking to Sportday Radio.
And after what we have seen through the first month of the 2021 season, he has every right to be confident.
