The player at your club who needs a big end to the 2024 season

Who is the player at your club who needs to fire in the back end of the season?

It might be a player returning from injury who could lift their team into finals. It could be an underperforming player who must find form. Perhaps it’s someone who simply needs to rediscover themselves on a footy field after barely playing.

We’ve gone through each of the 18 clubs and picked out one (or a few) players who need a big end to 2024.

Brodie Smith

Having been a mainstay in the Adelaide side for the best part of the last decade, Brodie Smith found himself out of the team across the last few weeks.

Smith was dropped by Matthew Nicks after the Round 13 loss to Richmond and has missed the Crows’ last two AFL matches, playing SANFL in the meantime.

While he has been recalled for this weekend’s meeting with Brisbane - replacing the injured Will Hamill - he does need to find some form at the elite level.

The 259-game veteran is without a contract for 2025 and his spot on the list is not yet guaranteed, even if Nicks gave him a vote of confidence by saying: “He is a big part of our future, he is a big part of where we at”.

Many Crows fans are calling for the club to promote youth and play Dan Curtin or another emerging youngster, therefore there is pressure on Smith to perform and win a new contract.

Andrew Slevison

Zac Bailey

It’s been a stop-start season so far for Zac Bailey.

He missed five matches with an ankle injury before returning in Round 11, but he hasn’t quite been at his best since.

Aside from his 26-disposal showing against Port Adelaide in Round 15, Bailey has just been playing a bit-part role for Brisbane.

His footy has been ok of late, but he has the ability to provide so much more.

The 24-year-old has kicked just 10 goals from 10 games this season. If he can improve his output, especially around goal, then the Lions will benefit greatly as they chase a finals spot.

Andrew Slevison

Jack Martin

Things are running smoothly inside 50 for the Blues at the minute – can Jack Martin return and have an impact in the back half of the season?

Carlton moving Alex Cincotta and Zac Williams forward in re-worked roles, coupled with the recent form of Orazio Fantasia, will make it harder for Martin to slip back into this side.

His impact at the end of 2023 however shows what he can add to this side when fully healthy, but it has been another frustrating year of injuries for the veteran forward.

The Blues have been using Williams in Martin’s role, but they are still lacking that third marking option inside 50. It could be the final piece of the puzzle for a Carlton team that is building nicely.

Nic Negrepontis

Isaac Quaynor

After making the All-Australian squad in 2023, Isaac Quaynor hasn’t been as effective in 2024.

The small defender has seen his averages dip in disposals, tackles, marks and rebound 50s after playing in a premiership last campaign. Quaynor ranked 10th in total intercepts last season but sits 62nd this year.

If his best footy returns, it’ll go a long way to helping the Magpies in their quest for back-to-back.

Lachlan Geleit

Kyle Langford

Essendon forward Kyle Langford has been good in 2024 and was in genuine All-Australian calculations before Round 10.

Despite that early season form, the forward has kicked just three goals in his last four games as he’s begun to tail off a bit.

There’s no surprise that Essendon has also lost three of those four without their star forward having a big say.

The Dons haven’t lost in any of the seven games that he’s kicked three or more in. If he returns to that level of output it’ll be huge in Essendon’s top four and finals hopes.

Lachlan Geleit

Nat Fyfe

Fremantle great Nat Fyfe has had a good 2024 compared to the 2022 and 2023 when he battled injury.

While the veteran has no doubt enjoyed a better campaign and has been impactful on-ball, he’s still come in for criticism on occasion and in Saturday’s win he turned into a big-bodied tagger on Isaac Heeney.

With the likes of Andrew Brayshaw, Hayden Young, Caleb Serong and James Aish in the side, perhaps Fyfe needs to lock down that role in the back half of the season if he wants to remain in the best 23 and an important player for Justin Longmuir going forward.

Lachlan Geleit

Patrick Dangerfield

Geelong captain Patrick Dangerfield is so important to this team.

The Cats went 1-5 without Dangerfield during this recent six-week absence with a hamstring injury. It’s evident that the midfield needs him.

While he may not have dominated in last weekend’s win over Essendon, his presence allowed the likes of Jack Bowes, Max Holmes, Tom Stewart, Tom Atkins and the like contribute to the triumph.

If Chris Scott’s men are to get back to the footy they were playing alert in the season, then Dangerfield must stay fit and drive that midfield group forward.

The only way the Cats can compete at the pointy end of the campaign is if a wound-up ‘Danger’ is playing a significant role in the guts.

Andrew Slevison

Jack Lukosius

Gold Coast utility Jack Lukosius has had an up-and-down season in 2024.

Starting in attack before shifting to defence and being put back forward, Lukosius has kicked 16 goals from 15 games – with 11 of those being as an inside 50 option.

The tall has kicked two or more goals in three of his last four games and he looks a strong partner to Ben King who is in the Coleman race.

While Lukosius has shown signs, he’s still yet to really grab the season by the throat.

If he does that, and he has shown he can in patches, the former No. 2 pick can take the Suns from finals contenders to a locked-in September outfit.

Lachlan Geleit

Toby Greene

The Giants are in a rut having won just two of their last eight.

In that time, captain Toby Greene has kicked 13 goals (1.6 per game), provided six goal assists (0.75 per game) and averaged a tick under 17 touches.

On the surface they seem like alright numbers but if you look at GWS’ sparkling run from last year, his attacking output pales into comparison.

From Round 13 last year, the Giants won 11 of 14 games in which Greene kicked 38 goals (2.7 per game), provided 13 goal assists (1.07 per game) and averaged almost 18 touches.

While he’s getting just as much of the ball, the Giants need him to fire inside 50 if they are to rediscover their mojo. And they’d love Jesse Hogan to join him.

Hogan has still been solid all round, but he has fallen away after a blistering beginning to the campaign, coinciding with the Giants’ scoring plummeting. They’ve failed to kick above 79 in their last eight.

Andrew Slevison

Mitch Lewis

Hawthorn has been without key forward Mitch Lewis for most of the season after injuring his hamstring on Easter Monday.

Since suffering that injury, he’s also battled a knee cartilage issue but he finally made a return for Box Hill last week, kicking two goals.

Simply put, a player that good shouldn’t be spending more than one week in the twos and he’ll regain his spot in the back half of the campaign.

So far in 2024, he kicked just three goals from three games. Even though it’s not a big sample size, he averaged 2.4 goals a game in 2023.

Lewis returns against Geelong this week and if he gets back to his best on the run home, the Hawks may just go to another level again. It’ll be like having a new recruit in the back half of the year if that’s the case.

Lachlan Geleit

Clayton Oliver

The 2024 season hasn’t quite gone to plan for Clayton Oliver and Melbourne.

After a tumultuous off-season, the three-time All-Australian and four-time best and fairest has struggled to really get going.

Oliver is averaging just 24.4 disposals - the lowest number since his debut season of 2016 - and has put up just 4.5 clearances and 3.7 inside 50s - both well below what he has delivered over the last handful of seasons.

The 26-year-old appeared back to his contested and dynamic best against Brisbane last week and it almost led to a famous Demons win on the road.

If he can continue to deliver that in the remaining home and away games, then the Dees might yet force their way into the eight.

Andrew Slevison

Jy Simpkin

The two-time best and fairest winner hasn’t had his best campaign in 2024.

While he’s played a selfless role with the likes of Luke Davies-Uniacke, George Wardlaw, Harry Sheezel and others playing more on-ball minutes, Jy Simpkin hasn’t had the impact he would have liked as a midfielder/half-forward.

His stats have dropped across the board in disposals, tackles and clearances but has shown he can still impact with 20 or more touches in each of his last three games, he’s also kicked three goals across that period.

If Simpkin can keep impacting like that, it’ll go a long way to helping the Roos take the next step and climb off the bottom of the ladder.

They need their leaders showing this young side the way and the co-captain has a great opportunity to do that now he’s set the platform in recent weeks with some nice form.

Lachlan Geleit

Todd Marshall

Port Adelaide forward Todd Marshall looked poised for a big 2024 after enjoying quality 2022 and 2023 seasons.

In 2022, the 25-year-old kicked 45 goals at an average of 2.1 a game and in 2023, he kicked 36 at 1.7 a game.

So far in 2024, he’s kicked just 20 majors from 15 games at 1.3 a game. Either Marshall is regressing, or he’s simply out of form.

For the Power to really compete, they’ll need their spearhead to find some more form in the back half of the year.

Lachlan Geleit

Tom Lynch

Richmond forward Tom Lynch has played just eight games of footy since the beginning of the 2023 season.

He has had a wretched run with foot and hamstring injuries and is still 1 to 2 weeks away from a return from his latest hammy.

With only eight fixtures left in 2024 time is running out for Lynch to remember what it feels like to play continuous games at the top level.

The undermanned Tigers have been battling away under Adem Yze so there are zero expectations on what they do for the remainder of the campaign, but it would be nice to see Lynch back and firing.

Similarly, where does Dion Prestia sit? The oft-injured on-baller is out of contract this year and would also love to get back to playing good footy in order to prolong his career.

The likes of Thomson Dow, Kamdyn McIntosh, Hugo Ralphsmith, Jack Graham, Marlion Pickett (currently injured) and Noah Cumberland are all out of contract and perhaps playing for their careers.

Andrew Slevison

Callum Mills

This might be slightly unfair on someone who is yet to play a game in 2024, but the rest of the Swans have delivered and now it’s time for the captain to do the same.

Callum Mills’ unfortunate shoulder injury in pre-season has denied him from gracing the turf with his resplendent Swans so far yet he will undoubtedly have a key role to play in the business end.

He can play as a cool head across half-back, as a contested beast in midfield or even be used in a run-with role which could be handy in a cut-throat final.

In a similar vein, former skipper Luke Parker will be available in Round 18 and could still push for senior selection. He would add experience, nous and bite if John Longmire can work out what to do with him.

The Swans are also going to want key forwards Logan McDonald, Joel Amartey and Hayden McLean to take the next step in big games which will come thick and fast later in the campaign.

Andrew Slevison

Mitch Owens

St Kilda’s Mitch Owens has plateaued this year and that’s a big concern for not only Owens but St Kilda fans in general given how talented he is.

The lack of young talent at the Saints is a serious issue and they need players like Owens to take that leap and turn into an A-grader.

Owens is considerably down on his numbers from last year and that’s largely because he’s barely played in the midfield and that’s on coach Ross Lyon.

It’s on Lyon and his coaching staff to get the best out of their younger kids and the way they’ve used Owens this season isn’t helping anyone.

You can’t question his talent, it's just we haven’t seen it this year and he'd want to finish the last eight games on a high and head into 2025 with some momentum.

Hugh Fitzpatrick

Oscar Allen

After a brilliant individual 2023 season when booting 53 goals in 23 games for a team that won just thrice, Oscar Allen has spent much of 2024 on the sidelines.

A knee injury sustained early in the year kept the West Coast co-captain out of action until only recently.

He kicked 2.4 upon his return against Essendon before being held goalless in last weekend’s lacklustre home loss to Hawthorn.

Jake Waterman has taken the mantle as the Eagles’ prime forward and the challenge is there for the sublimely talented Allen to take it back.

The Eagles have just pride to play for in the remaining two months of the season and the 25-year-old 85-gamer would love to rediscover his very best before another subpar year wraps up in the west.

Andrew Slevison

Rory Lobb

Fremantle tall Rory Lobb must have a big back half of the season if he wants to continue figuring as a key piece of the puzzle at Whitten Oval.

The utility tall has spent plenty of time in the VFL this year as he’s played just seven AFL games in a mix of forward, forward/ruck and even recent roles in defence.

There have been reports getting around about his wish to find a third AFL home if things continue not going his way at the Dogs, but after rejoining the team in Round 12, he should have a clear run of footy to prove himself to coach Luke Beveridge.

Even if he does move on at the season’s end, putting some good footy together will no doubt give him more options to request a trade to come October.

Lachlan Geleit