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Digby Beacham’s AFL Season Preview

Posted on | Posted by Digby Beacham

PREMIERSHIP WINNER – GWS $9.50*

It might well be fraught with danger this selection. Certainly there will be many pointing out (quite rightly) that the Giants need to be proven as trustworthy in September before they can be considered a legitimate premiership threat.

Coughing up big leads in a qualifying final loss to Sydney at the SCG and then choking at home against eventual premiers Brisbane at home the following weekend doesn’t scream “be on me next start” when it comes to assessing the fortunes of the Giants.

However, this is a seriously gifted list that despite the exit of Harry Perryman and Isaac Cumming, is very much built for now. The decision to chase and invest in the enigmatic Jake Stringer is an indication that the Giants feel they have the pieces to contend, whilst also being mindful that Jesse Hogan and Toby Greene can’t be asked to do all the heavy lifting forward of centre.

In All-Australian spearhead Hogan and the undeniably talented Greene, coupled with Stringer, 2025 could be the year where we see Aaron Cadman make a statement. He is a serious talent who went about his business in year No.2 in the system, playing 23 games and kicking 30 goals, including four in the finals. Cadman has smarts, a wingspan, mobility, strong hands and will relish not being the No.1 or No.2 target in attack as a third-year player who turns 21 this week.

GWS will be forced to make do without the prolific Tom Green (calf) in the early part of the season which is less than ideal, but Stephen Coniglio is poised to reap the benefits of a smooth summer as he looks to bounce back from an injury-interrupted 15-match season in 2024. He remains a key cog in a running division that is happy to be aggressive offensively, but content also to stand toe-to-toe at the stoppages when needed.

Any backline that features Sam Taylor is going to prove problematic to play against. Fingers crossed the WA star has a clear run on the injury front. If that happens, expect him to be in the All-Australian side.

Do GWS bat as deep as some of the other premiership contenders? The short answer is no. Nor do they have a decided home-ground advantage of a Brisbane or a Collingwood, especially against interstate opponents. But if they have access to premier personnel for the most and learn the lessons of last September, they can leave a Giant-sized footprint throughout the finals in 2025.

BROWNLOW MEDAL – Nick Daicos $4.25*

Nick Daicos polled 38 votes last year and finished runner-up in the Brownlow Medal to Carlton skipper Patrick Cripps. You read correctly. 38 votes. Ridiculous really.

It followed his 28 votes and a third-placed finish in 2023. He is a polling machine that is deservedly favourite for the game’s highest individual award. Without wanting to go back in time, Daicos polled in 18 matches last season, reinforcing he is clearly a player before the umpires’ eyes and has a skillset that few others in the game possess.

There was talk over the pre-season about a lingering foot injury but if the community series display against Richmond last week was any indication, he is tracking along nicely once more. As a premiership player and All-Australian in 2023, it would have been natural had Daicos’ input cooled ever so slightly last season.

But his hunger remained. He ranked fourth in the league for disposals with 704 at a tick over 30 touches per game. His centre clearance work remained pure, as did his ability to win contested possessions (319), inside-50 entries (127) and tackles (107).

Daicos also hits the scoreboard regularly, often finishing in a manner that leaves those at the ground in awe and umpires only too willing to make a mental note ahead of awarding Brownlow Medal votes.

If you are weighing up whether to invest with TABtouch on Daicos to win this season’s Brownlow, consider the following — he has more Brownlow Medal votes (77) than he has played games (70). And when you factor in the pre-season injuries to Marcus Bontempelli, Errol Gulden and Zak Butters, it just makes sense.

COLEMAN MEDAL – Josh Treacy $15*

The young Fremantle spearhead represents the value here.

Still only 22 (he turns 23 in August), Treacy attacks 2025 off a career-best year. He booted 45 goals from 20 matches and it is no coincidence that the Dockers’ demise over the final month of the season was closely aligned to his unavailability due to a knee injury. On nine occasions last year, he booted three goals or more.

It was a coming of age 2024 that sparked calls about whether Treacy is in fact Fremantle’s most important player. You could certainly mount an argument he is and with another summer under his belt, further improvement can be expected.

Another advantage for the Victorian product is Fremantle’s desire to play a more attacking brand of football in line with the offensive talent now at Justin Longmuir’s disposal.

Granted, it should also suit Jye Amiss, who has bulked up noticeably over the pre-season, while the acquisition of Shae Bolton could also eat into Treacy’ opportunities. But the anticipated rise of Fremantle this year, coupled with Treacy’s accuracy (71/4% in 2024), simply cannot be ignored.

Can Jeremy Cameron, Jesse Hogan and Charlie Curnow, possibly even Harry McKay, win the Coleman Medal? Most definitely. But the double-figure odds of a young man on an excellent trajectory is appealing.

RISING STAR – Levi Ashcroft $4.50*

There are no bravery awards in settling on Levi Ashcroft being adjudged the game’s best young player in six months’ time.

But one must remember this young man has been tuned up for the AFL arena from a very young age and has done nothing in his maiden pre-season at the elite level to indicate he isn’t ready to embark on a glittering career.

His father, Marcus, was a star — a three-time Brisbane Lions premiership player who logged more than 300 matches at AFL level — and his older brother Will is fresh off winning a Norm Smith Medal in only his second season.

Will seemed assured of claiming the rising star award in a debut campaign in 2023, only to have his season ended prematurely with a torn anterior cruciate ligament.

Levi looks like Will, plays like Will and much like his sibling, is regarded so highly internally at Brisbane he will be granted opportunities to not only appear in the starting 18, but inside the centre square at stages.

And when you factor in the likes of Lachie Neale, Josh Dunkley, Will Ashcroft among others rolling through there, that is quite an accomplishment.

Ladder Prediction

1. GWS

2. Hawthorn

3. Fremantle

4. Brisbane

5. Geelong

6. Collingwood

7. Carlton

8. Sydney

9. Adelaide

10. Port Adelaide

11. Melbourne

12. Gold Coast

13. Western Bulldogs

14. Essendon

15. St Kilda

16. North Melbourne

17. West Coast

18. Richmond

*Odds correct at the time of publication.

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