Each year it seems AFL fans are banking on a different player to rise above expectations to cap an All-Australian level season after years of middling performances.
High draft picks, adjusted roles or players in their early 20s showing glimpses of being elite create the most off-season buzz from December to March, and this summer is no exception.
In years past, pundits have pre-empted the breakout of Jake Stringer, Cameron Rayner, Errol Gulden and Charlie Curnow just to name a few. Some rise with the pressure, while others succumb to it.
In 2024, the fate of many teams rests primarily on the improvement of their young guns, some are hoping to fill a void left by departing greats and some are looking to bolster an area of the field for a particular team.
We've named five players who need a breakout campaign this year for the sake of their teams and their own career arcs.
3. Riley Thilthorpe
According to his averages, Thilthorpe's career-best season was his rookie year, kicking 18 goals with 11 disposals per match in 14 appearances.
His production has plateaued since, thanks in part to Taylor Walker's dominance forward of centre, but he is still yet to show a clear improvement in any face of his game.
Granted, his role in the side is complicated with Walker and Darcy Fogarty playing first and second fiddle up forward and Reilly O'Brien taking the rucking reigns.
Though for Adelaide to climb into the eight and feature deep in September, they need a breakout year from their 202cm, 103kg big in his 4th season, both in the air and in front of goal.
Similar to Tom De Koning, he may only need to provide some pack marks and goal or two in a big game to be worth the investment and with the Crows expecting to compete with the best this season, 2024 is the year to step up.
