Brendan Fevola (Brisbane Lions) - all eyes will be fixed on the former Blue when he begins his partnership with fellow power forward Jonathan Brown. Can you have two bulls in one paddock? It will be intriguing to see how the imposing duo share the forward 50. Fevola is just one of the Lions' 'foreign legion' with recently acquired players like Matt Maguire, Brent Staker and Xavier Clarke sure to be followed closely.
Lachlan Henderson (Carlton) - was one of the most exciting tall prospects to come out of the 2007 NAB AFL Draft and he'll be given every chance to fulfill his potential at Carlton. Now entering his third AFL season, Henderson has done a solid apprenticeship with the Lions and will go a long way toward helping Blues fans forget about No.25 if he grabs his opportunity with both hands.
Luke Ball (Collingwood) - arrived with plenty of fanfare after his much-publicised crossing from St Kilda. The one-time No.2 draft pick has struggled with injury in recent seasons so all will be watching to see whether a new strip can help him recapture his best.
Mark Williams (Essendon) - managed just 16 goals in 13 games before injury curtailed his 2009 season, leading the Hawthorn brains trust to believe he was expendable. The move to Windy Hill might prove just the tonic and the NAB Cup should provide a decent gauge of his progress as he works to get his career back on track.
Stephen Hill (Fremantle) - didn't disappoint Fremantle fans with 22 games in his debut season last year. His blistering turn of pace and uncanny ability to pull off the unexpected were one of the highlights of an average season for Freo and the extra kilos a full pre-season have given him should allow him to take the next step.
Marcus Drum (Geelong) - will a new environment help the former Fremantle player become a new player? Drum showed only glimpses in his four seasons at Freo, struggling to break into the senior side. But the 191cm utility wasn’t taken at No.10 in the 2005 NAB AFL Draft without reason. Perhaps a new setting and a return to his home state will see him reach his full potential.
Ryan Schoenmakers (Hawthorn) - saw a surprising amount of action for the reigning premiership team, and impressed in his 13 games playing mostly down back. Trent Croad's untimely retirement will leave the club keen to hasten his development and he has responded with an excellent pre-season. He, Stephen Gilham and the newly-arrived Josh Gibson loom as key figures in 2010.
Tom Scully and Jack Trengove (Melbourne) - will take the first steps of careers that will be forever linked after the Dees took them with the first and second picks at the last national draft. Trengove is thought to be slightly ahead of Scully physically, but both look set to make some sort of impact at senior level in their first seasons.
Lachlan Hansen (North Melbourne) - managed 16 games in 2009 and with the benefit of experience and another pre-season, the big unit is poised to flourish. The Roos will likely go through a few growing pains as Brad Scott moulds his new side, but Hansen should become a regular contributor that the coach can build his team around.
Jackson Trengove (Port Adelaide) - hasn’t played senior football yet but after overcoming his own serious hamstring problems the promising key-position prospect is likely to get an opportunity. Trengove was the slider of the draft two years back but has overcome injury and will be looking to earn a chance.
Dustin Martin (Richmond) - is considered the best kick from last year’s draft crop and is likely to earn a chance immediately at Punt Road. The No.3 draft pick from the Bendigo Pioneers is one of the new faces of the future under Damien Hardwick’s reign, and he will bring some excitement for Tiger fans.
Ben McEvoy (St Kilda) - has bulked up after a solid summer in the gym and is likely to get every chance to play - at least in the pre-season competition - in 2010. While his ruck work continues to progress Saints fans will also be eager to see his ability forward of the centre.
Shane Mumford (Sydney Swans) - while exciting draftee Gary Rohan might earn a chance in the NAB Cup, it is the former Cat, whom Paul Roos has so heavily invested, that Swans fans will be eager to see up close. Sydneysiders saw Mumford a few times last year, but they might still be wondering whether he is worth the four years the Swans offered him.
Nic Naitanui (West Coast Eagles) - Eagles assistant Peter Sumich has cautioned fans to be patient when it comes to precocious talent Naitanui, but one can’t help but get excited when it comes to the athletic ruckman. The spring-heeled jack can seemingly leap tall buildings in a single bound and, after another summer and greater education at Subiaco, will be better again. Nic Nat will see plenty of action during the NAB Cup.
Barry Hall (Western Bulldogs) - is big, bad, bustling and now a Bulldog. Will Hall solve Rodney Eade’s supposed forward line woes? Some thought the absence of a power forward was the missing ingredient for the Bulldogs. Seeing how Hall has returned from his six-month hiatus from the game, along with how he fits into the Doggies’ line-up, will be interesting viewing during the pre-season comp.
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
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