Not only is the 2013 All Australian his club's best player, but with the added responsibility of acting co-captain, Dangerfield must have another big season if the Crows are to atone for last year. His output is unquestioned -Dangerfield averaged 23 disposals and close to two goals a game last year but it will be his ability to consistently lead the side through tough times on which he'll be judged this season. As the main man in a talented but emerging midfield group including fellow acting co-captain Rory Sloane, it will be up to Dangerfield to set the tone with his trademark ferocity and power at the contest. Upon their unveiling as acting skippers, Sloane spoke of Dangerfield's two incredible long-rangegoals against Fremantle in round 20, 2012, claiming those two acts helped inspire the side to victory. On his day he's unstoppable and inspirational. - Harry Thring

Travis Cloke has been so resilient in recent seasons that his importance is often overlooked, but Collingwood relies on its key forward more than most. Having kicked more than 50 goals in each of the past three seasons, he provides a key target for a talented midfield and gives the team's small forwards a player to feed off. Under Nathan Buckley, Collingwood uses handball more often and doesn't kick as long regularly but still looks to Cloke to get them out of trouble and gain space. The Magpies will also be banking on Brodie Grundy bearing the ruck burden all season. Without him, the Pies will be weakened but not defeated while Ben Reid gives the team versatility and would be a huge loss. However Cloke is the one player opponents can't control and Collingwood can't afford to be without him for long periods this season. - Peter Ryan

The Hawks had their 2014 photo shoot the other day and an online message board had some fun with this and asked supporters to caption some of the 'behind the scenes' photos that surfaced, including one of a pensive-looking Roughead. And may well he be deep in thought because he shapes as his club's most important player this year. As Hawthorn marched to the 2013 premiership it showed it could keep winning with just about every player out of the side at some stage or another. Sam Mitchell, Luke Hodge, Cyril Rioli, Josh Gibson, Brian Lake, Grant Birchall…they all missed games. But not Roughead, who played every game and kicked 72 goals en route to winning the Coleman Medal. Roughead played the power forward role to perfection - strong in the air, great with his hands, creative at ground level and accurate in front of goal. The Hawks played Lance Franklin further up the ground last year and Roughead thrived as the focal point with the likes of Cyril Rioli, Luke Breust and Jack Gunston playing at his feet. Franklin has gone to the Swans now, so there is no going back for the Hawks – Roughead needs to keep delivering his solid three goals a game average if the Hawks are a chance to claim back to back flags. - Ashley Browne

You look at Melbourne's disastrous 2013 season and countless reasons spring to mind as to why it happened. The coaching situation and the off-field circumstances are the most obvious. On the field, a sparse midfield and a defence that, in the end, found it impossible to cover all the leaking holes in the boat were also contributing factors. But the club also struggled in attack. The Demons were ranked last in the League for points scored last season, behind even the inexperienced Greater Western Sydney. There is no doubt Clark's absence was a killer. The tall forward kicked 29 goals in half a season in 2012. Last year, he managed seven majors in just four games as a niggling foot injury destroyed his season before it had even begun. Nathan Jones' presence in the midfield is something the Demons can rely on consistently, while Colin Garland and James Frawley are central figures in halting the opposition's scoring power. But Clark is the Demons' money-man and his value to the side was exposed in the harshest of ways last season. If Clark can stay fit, the Demons will be an infinitely better side under Paul Roos. - Ben Guthrie

Petrie, Andrew Swallow and Daniel Wells have been North's most consistent performers in recent seasons and veteran Brent Harvey remains its biggest game-breaker, but no one is more important to the Roos than Petrie. Petrie has been the Roos' go-to man in attack since being settled as a permanent forward in 2011, leading the club in contested marks in each of the past three seasons and topping the Roos' goalkicking in 2011 (48) and 2012 (58) before finishing second to Lindsay Thomas last year (48). North has deep stocks of young key forwards, but none can match Petrie's strength overhead or his ability to create crumbs for his small forwards. As promising as Aaron Black was last year, at 192cm he is 5cm shorter than Petrie and acknowledges his contested marking needs work. Robbie Tarrant and Majak Daw have the size and strength to play close to goal like Petrie, but both remain works in progress, having played just 38 and six AFL games respectively. Petrie's ability to stay fit and keep producing at 31 will be pivotal to North's 2014 finals chances. - Nick Bowen

It's hard to look past Power superstars Travis Boak and Chad Wingard as the club's most important players for 2014 –they both won All Australian honours last year. But Westhoff's versatility is going to prove crucial to Port's hopes of backing up its brilliant 2013 season. The 27-year-old played the best football of his career last year as a forward, defender and as a ruckman. He can take big contested marks either in attack or in defence, but Westhoff's ability to run the ball and act as a link from one end to the other is a serious asset. With the interchange cap heightening the risk of playing two dedicated ruckmen, his stints in the midfield - offering Matthew Lobbe time up forward - will also prove valuable. As his early 2013 form proved, when Westhoff is at his best he's a match winner. He can be such an awkward opponent to match up on and there's no doubt his output this year will be key to his side's success. - Harry Thring

Jack Riewoldt and Trent Cotchin are Richmond's stars and the obvious candidates here. However, the Tigers' versatility in attack and growing depth in the midfield leaves them relatively well placed to cover injury to their two biggest names. It's a different story in defence where Chaplin was irreplaceable in 2013 after crossing from Port Adelaide as a free agent. The Tigers boast a number of young tall defenders – including Dylan Grimes, Ben Griffiths and David Astbury – but injuries have plagued the group. Alex Rance has been a consistent presence since 2009, but he was a significantly better player alongside Chaplin. At 195cm, Chaplin often stands the opposition's most dangerous power forward, allowing Rance to peel off his opponent and rebound. Chaplin, who finished third in the Tigers' best and fairest last season, also has the ability to create attack from defence. He is valued at Punt Road as an on-field marshal who improves the players around him, and the 27-year-old will be critical to the Tigers' chances of pushing into the top four this season. - Nathan Schmook  

 

There's the obvious case for Nick Riewoldt, given the superstar's elite fitness and ability to run pretty much everywhere, and it's easy to say the 31-year-old is their most significant player. But, as far as the most important player for the rebuilding club's next five years goes, Steven gets the nod. After winning the best and fairest last season and being named in the extended All Australian squad, the talented midfielder is sure to attract more attention this season. His contested ball winning ability, speed and strength makes him an important facet of the Saints' midfield, especially with Nick Dal Santo's departure, and it's important for Steven to carry on his form of 2013 and take that step towards becoming one of the competition's elite. He's in a good position to do that, having taken on the challenge of the increased intensity of the Colorado training camp and having not missed a beat throughout the summer months. The Saints are also bullish about his ability to wear a tag, given he got a taste of it towards the end of last season when the opposition targeted him rather than Dal Santo.  - Jennifer Phelan

The Western Bulldogs are one the best contested sides in the competition, and Ryan Griffen is their most important because he brings in spades what the young side lacks - explosive pace, run and carry and spread from the contest. The recently-installed captain is one the elites of the League in those areas and he complements those traits with the ability to win the contested ball along with sure judgment and foot skills. Griffen, 27, took his game to another level in 2013, averaging 28 possessions and four tackles a game on his way to earning his first All Australian jumper and a second club best and fairest. Behind Griffen, the two best placed to knock the skipper from his perch are key defender Jordan Roughead and tough midfielder Tom Liberatore - Roughead for his ability to curtail the competition's monster forwards and Liberatore for his innate ability to find space and set up a teammate with a sublimely delivered handball. - Ryan Davidson