ESSENDON
Theturmoil has stopped Essendon endured a horrorseason off the field in 2013 – perhaps the worst season a club has ever had infootball history. But with that saga appearing over – the players are stillwaiting for full clearance from ASADA of infraction notices – they canconcentrate on footy. The Dons still won 14 games this season, the most in aseason since 2003.
Theforward line It didn't really work in 2013, and hasstruggled for fluency the last two seasons. The big guys haven't developed muchchemistry and the smalls had a year to forget, apart from impressive youngsterJackson Merrett. But there is a lot of talent down there, and if they can getthe structure right the Bombers' attack will be hard to contain.
JakeMelksham The midfielder had a sluggish startto the year, resulting in being dropped. But he turned things around at themid-way point of the season and had a terrific finish to his campaign. In manyof Essendon's final 10 games Melksham was among its best, and stood up in toughcircumstances. He has set the foundation for a very good 2014 season. - Callum Twomey
NORTHMELBOURNE
Valuablelessons learned The Roos were extremely competitiveagainst the competition's best teams in 2013, but too often could not finishoff wounded opponents. However, Roos coach Brad Scott has another pre-season tohammer home the importance of all-ground defence and counteracting oppositionmomentum swings. If North can learn those lessons, it should convert morematch-winning leads into victories in 2014.
Kinderdraw If there's one positive for the Roos inmissing this year's finals series it's that they should receive a farfriendlier draw next season. North's first five rounds in 2013 included clasheswith Collingwood, Geelong, Sydney Swans and Hawthorn, while its five returnclashes included games against the Magpies, Cats and Hawks.
Thetwo Aarons Running defender Aaron Mullett andforward Aaron Black had played 13 games between them before the start of thisseason, but both were among the most improved players in the AFL in 2013.Mullett, 21, played every game and was the Roos' best counter-attackingdefender, while Black, 192cm, cemented a spot in attack from round five,impressing with his remarkable agility. The pair should only improve in 2014. - Nick Bowen
Aaron Black produced a breakout season for North Melbourne this year. Picture: AFL Media
ADELAIDE
Twintowers rebuilt The Crows were forced to finishtheir season without either of their two choice key forwards in 2013, withTaylor Walker (knee) and Josh Jenkins (ankle) both injuring themselves inrounds five and 17. Jenkins spent 12 weeks as the club's no. 1 forward andwhile he was shown up on numerous occasions by elite defenders he insists thatexperience will hold him in good stead when 'Tex' returns and retakes hismantle.
Younggun We finally got a glimpse of Brad Crouch at theelite level after he was forced to spend 2012 playing senior footy for WestAdelaide in the SANFL – and we liked what we saw. The 19-year-old is a smoothmover who makes good decisions and can deliver the ball nicely. He's a stronglybuilt midfielder who, after another pre-season, will add serious grunt to theCrows' middle.
Lastline With Ben Rutten's career winding to a closeand Michael Doughty retired, Adelaide need the new crop of defenders to takethe reins. Along with last season's NAB AFL Rising Star Daniel Talia, LukeBrown and Rory Laird emerged as the future of the club's small defenders whilemature rookie Kyle Hartigan did enough to offer coach Brenton Sanderson hopethat his defensive line will hold firm in 2013. - Harry Thring
BRISBANELIONS
Moreclass in the mix Previously if the ball wasn't inSimon Black's hands, Lions fans would cringe with it going into the forward 50.Now Daniel Rich is more consistent, and with Pearce Hanley and rookie Sam Mayesplaying further up-field, they have class on both wings, more options and moreoptimism going forward.
Theirbest is very, very good Often we saw it when theywere trailing, but when the Lions were aggressive and took the game on theywere exciting to watch. The extraordinary comeback win over Geelong, the bigrevival against North Melbourne and the late rally to scare Richmond were allexamples of cracking open quality outfits when they chose to be daring.
Leuenbergerlooks a star After an injury riddled start to hiscareer and a complete wipeout of 2012 with an achilles problem, MatthewLeuenberger bounced back with a sensational season. The ruckman controlled theLions midfield and is someone to build a team around. Not only is his tap-workamong the league's best, his athleticism and work around the ground provide animportant link in both attack and defence. -Michael Whiting
WESTCOAST
Afit Nic Naitanui The 2012 All Australian ruckmanhad a season dogged by groin issues. He managed just 11 matches for the yearbefore he was shelved after the round 17 loss to the Swans to get himself rightfor the pre-season and an assault on 2014.
Afit Eagles squad Injuries plagued the entire sidethis season. Just two players have managed to play every game with seniorplayers such as Naitanui, Shannon Hurn, Beau Waters, Matt Rosa, Daniel Kerr andSharrod Wellingham each missing 10 games or more.
They'vebounced back before The Eagles won the wooden spoonin 2010 for the first time in the club's history and returned with a vengeancein 2011 to play off in a preliminary final against Geelong. The Eagles will bestung by the disappointment of 2013 when so much was expected of them. Theywill be hungry in 2014 to right those wrongs. – Alex Malcolm
The Eagles will be desperate for Nic Naitanui to come back at full fitness next year. Picture: AFL Media
GOLDCOAST
Thekids are now consistent Dion Prestia, HarleyBennell, David Swallow and Trent McKenzie now have 50 games under their beltand the difference between their best and worst has narrowed considerably. Justwait to see what another off-season can do.
Gunsstill in the holster It's hard to believe the Sunsplayed so well with much of their talent sitting on the sidelines. Zac Smith(knee), Tom Lynch (knee) and Brandon Matera (ankle) missed much of the seasonthrough injury, are all in the best 22, and should play much of 2014.
JackMartin We all saw what Jaeger O'Meara did thisseason, and fans can expect just as much from Martin. Just like O'Meara didlast year, the West Australian spent the season terrorising NEAFL teams inpreparation for his assault on the big time. He's lightning quick, deceptivelystrong and uses the ball superbly. Watch him go. - Michael Whiting
WESTERNBULLDOGS
TomLiberatore He is an absolute gem. He has put theoff-field dramas of 2012 behind him to show the football world what he is trulycapable of. In one year he has become an elite inside midfielder. He is exactlywhat the Bulldogs needed, and going forward, that first use of the ball ispriceless.
Anemerging defence The Bulldogs have the luxury oftwo budding key defenders in Michael Talia and Jordan Roughead. Both showed majorimprovement in 2013, and it can only get better. The pair forms the foundationof the side coach Brendan McCartney is trying to build.
Draftpicks Despite the Bulldogs' impressive run of winslate in the season, they are still going to get their hands on a top five draftpick. That is invaluable, given the compromised drafts of recent years thathave starved sides like them of new talent. They're on the hunt for a forward,and if they can snare one, either in the draft or by trading, only good thingscan come of it. - Jacqui Reed
ST KILDA
The trade and draft period The Saints have promised to be aggressive, so buckle up for list changes. Can the club land a key defender? Which premium young midfielder will they snare with pick No.3? The club's revamped list management regime has a plan and it's a reason for hope at Seaford.
Spencer White The exciting young forward opted to undergo wrist surgery in August with a view to being available for day one of pre-season. From there, it is hoped he can push for selection and display his undoubted talent at AFL level. The future St Kilda forward line looks promising, with Tom Lee also showing good signs in 2013.
A strong ruck partnership Ben McEvoy has proved capable of shouldering a heavy ruck load, but he was as pleased as anyone with the late-season form of Tom Hickey. Given both can work on their forward impact through the pre-season, the duo could be a significant strength for the Saints in 2014. That will only help Jack Steven, Seb Ross and Co in the midfield. - Nathan Schmook
MELBOURNE
PaulRoos Melbourne fans' hearts around the country musthave skipped a beat when Roos declared his interest as "50/50" forthe vacant coaching job. To most people, Roos is exactly what the club needs.His coaching record speaks for itself and he would have a licence to do what heneeded to turn the club around.
Forwardthinking Jesse Hogan is set to be unleashed on theAFL next season, and if his VFL form is anything to go by that could be a scaryprospect. Slotting Hogan alongside Chris Dawes, a fit-again Mitch Clark, JackFitzpatrick, Jack Watts and Jeremy Howe looms as an imposing Demons forwardline.
Youngtalent: Jack Viney and Jimmy Toumpas will havelearned a lot from their first season playing in the AFL. Dean Terlich, DeanKent and Mitch Clisby also showed promising signs in their first years in the competition.Melbourne needs to continue to build its midfield depth and a player such asSouth Australian midfielder James Aish is one it will target in this year's draft.- Ben Guthrie
If Jesse Hogan, Mitch Clark and Chris Dawes play together next year, the Dees may lift. Picture: AFL Media
GREATERWESTERN SYDNEY
JeremyCameron The 20-year-old's form ultimately tailedoff a little, kicking just four goals over the closing three matches to finishthird in the Coleman Medal and possibly cost himself an All Australianguernsey. But by any estimation it was an outstanding season for the youngster,who emerged as the face of the team and will only get better as the servicefrom midfield improves and he adds some bulk to his lean frame.
Rounds17-19 In round 16 this year, the Giants copped anabsolute hiding to the Sydney Swans on their first visit to the SCG to the tuneof 129 points. Winless at the time, it was looking grim for GWS. But thesecond-year club responded with two very competitive showings against Essendon andCollingwood before romping to its first win over Melbourne to provide relieffor fans and give an indication of a bright future once all the young talentmatures.
The comingtrade period The club has talked boldly all yearabout how active it intends to be during the trading period as it attempts toadd a minimum of two or three experienced bodies to the list. In the twilightof their careers, Chad Cornes, Luke Power and James McDonald contributedmightily to the cause in 2012 and were sorely missed this year. If GWS can addsome younger players of a similar ilk, the improvement could be dramatic inyear three. - James Dampney
