Preview '23: Good to great
In the next of our 2023 season previews, our Insiders answer the question: Which three players do we expect to go from good to great in 2023?
Ahead of the opening round game against the Bombers on 19 March, we bring you a series of 2023 season preview articles. From the best first year players to a prediction for where we will finish on the ladder, get ready as we crystal ball all the burning questions.
Perhaps one of the more exciting questions we are asking ahead of the season opener against the Bombers on Sunday revolves around the expectation of top-shelf emergence.
We are all primed to see players improve in 2023 - to see players build on their body of work and gain much needed experience as we strive towards the ideal profile of a premiership list.
But the most exciting thing to daydream about is which players will elevate themselves to a whole new level this year. Who are the players that are going to stand up and be noticed by the rest of the AFL world? Who are going to rise from being merely good players to a great ones?
Our Insiders make their predictions on who it will be in 2023.
Danny Prins
Dylan Moore
This one might be a little contentious, as there will be a school of thought from a segment of Hawk fans that Moore already fits into the ‘great’ group.
Champion Data has him listed as elite and I believe the rest of the AFL landscape will list him there too, come the end of 2023.
Moore’s next trick will be to become a front line midfield option as well as a goal kicking small forward. If he can do that, he has the potential to become one of the best in the competition in that hybrid role.
Will Day
I’ve been on the Will Day train since day one, but even I am willing to admit that the glimpses we have seen from him are just that, glimpses.
An uninterrupted preseason, training with the midfield group, with the promise of midfield minutes, has myself and many a Hawk fan, excited for what season 2023 looks like for Day.
The catch? He needs to keep his body right, if he stays fit, the sky is the limit.
Jai Newcombe
Newcombe starts his second full season on Hawthorn’s list as the clubs number one midfield option.
This is a two edged sword, on one hand he will be the first person opposition clubs put time into, but on the other hand he will be given licence to ‘do his thing’ with the midfield unit that will be without Tom Mitchell and Jaeger O’Meara.
Expect Jai to spend a bit of time working through his new found attention, but be prepared for him to come out the other side an even better, and more complete, player.
Brad Klibansky
Will Day
2023 is going to be his year. After being taken with pick 13 in 2019 national draft, Day has had a frustrating start to his AFL career. Since debuting in 2020 he has only played a total of 33 games in his first three seasons, mainly due to injury.
He finally looks to be fully fit and has spent some time in the midfield this pre-season.
Day is arguably our most talented player and if giving an injury-free run, he has the potential to win the club’s best and fairest this season.
He is out of contract at the end of this season and his management have put contract talks on hold. With the two South Australian clubs reported to be interested, let’s hope he has a big season and re-signs a long term deal with the club
Josh Ward
Taken with Pick 7 in the 2021 National draft, Ward already looks like a 100-game AFL player. He played 14 games in 2021 and if not for a concussion suffered at Box Hill, he would have played 20.
In his last six games of the season, he only had under 20 disposals once, whilst not looking out of place against his much stronger and experienced opponents.
Ward will look to establish himself alongside Jai Newcombe this season as one of our top midfielders. With Newcombe expected to cop the majority of opposition attention, look for Ward to excel and take his game to another level.
He is capable of averaging 25 quality touches a game.
Changkuoth Jiath
Similar to Day, CJ had a disappointing 2022 with both injury and suspension. He has now played 37 games and barring injury will reach 50 games this season.
He looks to have put on more size in the off-season and still possesses incredible pace which will be critical off half back this season. CJ has the potential to be one of the best half backs in the AFL and 2023 will be the year we see him explode to star status.
Simon Morawetz
Will Day
Daysy has delayed his contract negotiations, and putting yourself in his shoes, you’d have to say “fair enough”. He can be great, but hasn’t been able to put it together for long periods just yet.
Re-signing now wouldn’t be wise for his wallet; he’d rather re-sign after a successful season. He’s backing himself to go big in 2023 – and so am I.
Lloyd Meek
The big fella was stifled playing under Sean Darcy and will get a chance to blossom this year.
I think that although we’ll give Ned Reeves the first crack at the ruck, Meek will be unambiguously our first choice by season’s end.
Josh Ward
A pretty obvious choice for this list. Ward has the quality – and, crucially, the opportunity – to spread his wings this season.
The last time a second-year midfielder was entrusted with this sort of responsibility, he won the Peter Crimmins Medal.
Andrew Weiss
Will Day
Please please please stay injury free. We have really only been able to see glimpses of what he could do if he gets his body right and plays a full season.
His 17 games of football in 2022 were a bit better than meh, and averaging 16 touches per game I actually think the experienced he gained across the backline will put him in great stead for 2023.
Expecting him to go closer to 22 touches per game, and have more of an impact flashing through the middle.
Josh Ward
Already through the pre season we have seen cause to suggest that Ward is the most gifted player we have on our list. His skill, execution and poise is beyond exciting.
The one question will be how his light frame and underdeveloped tank can handle four quarters of footy each week for 23 weeks on end.
But if it can - by golly will he be projected from good to great in 2023.
Fergus Greene
Speculative choice here. Because it is hard to argue he is a good AFL player given his history, but I am putting him here off the back of his two pre-season performances (which were very, very good).
With the loss of Jack Gunston I think he plays every game, I can see him kicking 30 goals, and becoming a key part of our completely dysfunctional forward line.
So if (and it is a big if), he can do that, he may just become the next great half forward we have been looking for.
Ashley Browne
Will Day
Now looks every bit the modern-day AFL footballer, rather than an aspiring one. If the body holds up, watch out…
Dylan Moore
I mean, Hawks fans know he’s good, as do the boffins at Champion Data. But AFL media types are often 12 months behind. This is the year they (finally) sit up and take notice.
Changkouth Jiath
People forget he played catch-up last year after an injury-interrupted pre-season. No such worries entering 2023. He and the MCG are a match made in heaven.
In the next preview article for 2023 we look at which players we think will be in some trouble a the end of the year if they fail to perform this season.
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Thanks guys
Agree. Lots of exciting options.
Moore, Newcombe, Ward, McDonald, Lewis could hit A Grade status and join Sicily and Breust
Day - expectations seem high. 20 games @ a genuine 20 disposals would be a step in right direction.
Jiath is the same. 20 games and 20 per would be a nice return and set him up for a tilt in 2024
Greene is interesting. He is just out of Box Hill if he kicks 35 goals that would be awesome
Will Day is contentious given his injury history same with Mitchell Lewis otherwise he'd be a stone wall certainty for being good to great.
My 3 good to great would be
1.Josh Ward
2.Blake Hardwicke
3.Dylan Moore