AFL 2024: Every team's predicted 23 for round one

Kieran Francis

AFL 2024: Every team's predicted 23 for round one image

With the AFL 2024 season fast approaching, players are battling to get into their club's best 23.

Which players are likely to play Round 1?

The Sporting News looks at the predicted teams for the start of the AFL campaign.

MORE: AFL practice matches 2024: Fixture, schedule, dates, venues for pre-season Community Series

Adelaide Crows Round 1 predicted team

Full Back Brodie Smith Jordon Butts Chayce Jones
Half Back Max Michalanney Josh Worrell Wayne Milera
Centre Jake Soligo Jordan Dawson Mitch Hinge
Half Forward Ben Keays Darcy Fogarty Josh Rachele
Full Forward Luke Pedlar Taylor Walker Izak Rankine
Followers Reilly O'Brien Rory Laird Matt Crouch
Interchange Lachlan Murphy Sam Berry Daniel Curtin
  Lachlan Sholl Ned McHenry (sub)  

Sam Berry has likely played himself into the team in Round 1 with an impressive two-goal, 22 possession game against West Coast in pre-season.

With Riley Thilthorpe ruled out through injury, Luke Pedlar should come into the forward line, with Chris Burgess not figuring in pre-season senior matches.

Adelaide's defence is likely to be thin with both Mark Keane (concussion) and Nick Murray (knee) out injured.

 

Brisbane Lions Round 1 predicted team

Full Back Brandon Starcevich Harris Andrews Ryan Lester
Half Back Conor McKenna Jack Payne Keidean Coleman
Centre Zac Bailey Josh Dunkley Jarrod Berry
Half Forward Dayne Zorko Eric Hipwood Cam Rayner
Full Forward Charlie Cameron Joe Daniher Lincoln McCarthy
Followers Oscar McInerney Lachie Neale Hugh McCluggage
Interchange Deven Robertson Darcy Wilmot Callum Ah Chee
  Jaspa Fletcher Kai Lohmann (sub)  

Kai Lohmann impressed in a midfield role but is likely to be the sub for round one given his general forward craft.

Only Will Ashcroft and Tom Doedee will be missing through injury.

Conor McKenna is in doubt, with James Tunstil the likely replacement if the Irish doesn't get up.

 

Carlton Round 1 predicted team

Full Back Zac Williams Mitch McGovern Brodie Kemp
Half Back Nic Newman Lewis Young Adam Saad
Centre Blake Acres Patrick Cripps Oliver Hollands
Half Forward Sam Docherty Charlie Curnow Jack Martin
Full Forward Matt Owies Harry McKay Lachie Fogarty
Followers Marc Pittonet Adam Cerra George Hewett
Interchange Tom De Koning Matthew Cottrell Jordan Boyd
  Matthew Kennedy David Cuningham (sub)  

Injuries galore at Carlton with Sam Walsh, Jacob Weitering and Jesse Motlop ruled out for Round 1, while a swag of players are in doubt.

Opportunities will be given to the likes of Lewis Young, Lachie Fogarty, Jordan Boyd and David Cuningham.

 

Collingwood Round 1 predicted team

Full Back Isaac Quaynor Darcy Moore Jeremy Howe
Half Back Brayden Maynard Nathan Murphy Scott Pendlebury
Centre Steele Sidebottom Jack Crisp Josh Daicos
Half Forward Bobby Hill Mason Cox Jamie Elliott
Full Forward Lachie Schultz Jordan De Goey Beau McCreery
Followers Darcy Cameron Nick Daicos Jordan De Goey
Interchange Patrick Lipinski Will Hoskin-Elliott Tom Mitchell
  John Noble Oleg Markov (sub)  

Dan McStay's (ACL) position is up for grabs but not sure if Ash Johnson or Reef McInnes did enough to grab it.

Finlay Macrae is going to be right on the edge of selection.

Essendon Round 1 predicted team

Full Back Andrew McGrath Ben McKay Jayden Laverde
Half Back Mason Redman Zach Reid Nic Martin
Centre Jye Caldwell Darcy Parish Xavier Duursma
Half Forward Jade Gresham Harrison Jones Jake Stringer
Full Forward Archie Perkins Peter Wright Kyle Langford
Followers Todd Goldstein Ben Hobbs Zach Merrett
Interchange Sam Durham Nic Bryan Elijah Tsatas
  Will Setterfield Matt Guelfi (sub)  

Jordan Ridley's quad injury locks in Zach Reid for only his ninth game since being drafted in 2020.

Elijah Tsatas has played his way into the pre-season team with a scintillating pre-season.

Sam Draper is not ready to play so you would expect Todd Goldstein and Nic Bryan to tag team in the ruck.

 

Fremantle Round 1 predicted team

Full Back Brennan Cox Alex Pearce Corey Wagner
Half Back Jordan Clark Luke Ryan James Aish
Centre Jeremy Sharp Hayden Young Nathan O'Driscoll
Half Forward Sam Switkowski Josh Treacy Luke Jackson
Full Forward Michael Frederick Jye Amiss Michael Walters
Followers Sean Darcy Caleb Serong Andrew Brayshaw
Interchange Jaeger O'Meara Nat Fyfe Neil Erasmus
  Matthew Johnson Sam Sturt (sub)  

Plenty of players still up in the air for Fremantle, including Luke Jackson (concussion), Brennan Cox (leg), Jye Amiss (knee) and Michael Frederick (hamstring).

Hayden Young has been super impressive through the midfield, while Nat Fyfe looks closer to his best football than we have seen in years.

 

Geelong Round 1 predicted team

Full Back Jake Koladjashnij Sam De Koning Jed Bews
Half Back Jack Henry Tom Stewart Zach Guthrie
Centre Max Holmes Tanner Bruhn Mark Blicavs
Half Forward Gryan Miers Jeremy Cameron Brad Close
Full Forward Tyson Stengle Tom Hawkins Oliver Henry
Followers Rhys Stanley Patrick Dangerfield Tom Atkins
Interchange Mitch Duncan Jyhe Clark Gary Rohan
  Brandan Parfitt Zac Tuohy (sub)  

Only Cam Guthrie (quad) will be out of their Round 1 team though injury.

Jhye Clark put his hand up for selection with 17 disposals and for clearances against Essendon

 

Gold Coast Round 1 predicted team

Full Back Charlie Ballard Sam Collins Connor Budarick
Half Back Joel Jeffrey Mac Andrew Wil Powell
Centre Brandon Ellis Matt Rowell Brayden Fiorini
Half Forward Ben Ainsworth Jack Lukosius Bailey Humphrey
Full Forward Nick Holman Ben King Malcolm Rosas
Followers Jarrod Witts Noah Anderson Touk Miller
Interchange Sam Flanders Darcy Macpherson Sean Lemmens
  Alex Davies Alex Sexton (sub)  

The Suns looked like a work in progress during pre-season as they get used to new coach Damien Hardwick.

Ben King played in the most recent practice match and should be ready to go.

Jed Walter (collarbone) is the only known injury currently.

GWS Round 1 predicted team

Full Back Jack Buckley Sam Taylor Connor Idun
Half Back Lachie Ash Harry Himmelberg Lachie Whitfield
Centre Finn Callaghan Tom Green Harry Perryman
Half Forward Toby Bedford Jake Riccardi Brent Daniels
Full Forward Callum Brown Jesse Hogan Toby Greene
Followers Kieren Briggs Josh Kelly Stephen Coniglio
Interchange Isaac Cumming Callan Ward Aaron Cadman
  Xavier O'Halloran Ryan Angwin (sub)  

Harry Perryman, Finn Callaghan and Isaac Cumming are all in doubt for Opening Round.

Darcy Jones could make his debut despite missing pre-season matches with a knee problem and tonsillitis.

 

Hawthorn Round 1 predicted team

Full Back Blake Hardwick Sam Frost James Sicily
Half Back Jarman Impey Josh Weddle Jack Scrimshaw
Centre Cam McKenzie James Worpel Karl Amon
Half Forward Dylan Moore Mabior Chol Josh Ward
Full Forward Jack Ginnivan Mitch Lewis Luke Breust
Followers Ned Reeves Jai Newcombe Conor Nash
Interchange Jack Gunston Connor Macdonald Massimo D'Ambrosio
  Finn Maginness Sam Butler (sub)  

Hawthorn will be missing three key position defensive options in James Blanck (ACL), Denver Grainger-Baras (toe) and Will McCabe (back).

Runners Will Day (foot) and Changkuoth Jiath (hamstring) will also be absent.

Cam McKenzie and Massimo D'Ambrosio put their hand up for starting 18 spots, while Sam Frost will play at full back instead of Blanck.

 

Melbourne Round 1 predicted team

Full Back Adam Tomlinson Steven May Judd McVee
Half Back Jake Bowey Jake Lever Christian Salem
Centre Trent Rivers Clayton Oliver Ed Langdon
Half Forward Alex Neal-Bullen Bailey Fritsch Jack Billings
Full Forward Kade Chandler Jacob van Rooyen Charlie Spargo
Followers Max Gawn Jack Viney Tom Sparrow
Interchange Josh Schache Bailey Laurie Blake Howes
  Caleb Windsor Koltyn Tholstrup(sub)  

Clayton Oliver is a confirmed Opening Round starter in a boost for the Demons.

The Demons team is tough to pick with Angus Brayshaw (retirement), Harrison Petty (toe), Shane McAdam (calf) and Lachie Hunter (calf) all out injured.

Kosi Pickett will miss through suspension also.

 

North Melbourne Round 1 predicted team

Full Back Aidan Corr Toby Pink Luke McDonald
Half Back Darcy Tucker Kallan Dawson Harry Sheezel
Centre Dylan Stephens George Wardlaw Bailey Scott
Half Forward Charlie Lazzaro Callum Coleman-Jones Eddie Ford
Full Forward Cam Zurhaar Nick Larkey Zac Fisher
Followers Tristan Xerri Luke Davies-Uniacke Jy Simpkin
Interchange Jaidyn Stephenson Paul Curtis Colby McKercher
  Will Phillips Tom Powell (sub)  

Jy Simpkin has entered concussion protocols but hasn't yet been ruled out for the first match.

Plenty of new talent to come into the North team and hard to tell who will be selected.

 

Port Adelaide Round 1 predicted team

Full Back Lachie Jones Esava Ratugolea Brandon Zerk-Thatcher
Half Back Miles Bergman Aliir Aliir Dan Houston
Centre Ollie Wines Jason Horne-Francis Willem Drew
Half Forward Willie Rioli Todd Marshall Ryan Burton
Full Forward Mitch Georgiades Charlie Dixon Sam Powell-Pepper
Followers Ivan Soldo Zak Butters Connor Rozee
Interchange Kane Farrell Jeremy Finlayson Travis Boak
  Jed McEntee Darcy Byrne-Jones (sub)  

Pretty much a full list for the Power to choose from.

Zac Butters was taken out of the recent practice match as a precaution but will be right for the first match.

Richmond Round 1 predicted team

Full Back Nick Vlastuin Dylan Grimes Nathan Broad
Half Back Daniel Rioli Tylar Young Jayden Short
Centre Thomson Dow Tim Taranto Jack Ross
Half Forward Shai Bolton Jacob Koschitzke Liam Baker
Full Forward Dustin Martin Noah Balta Maurice Rioli
Followers Sam Naismith Dion Prestia Jacob Hopper
Interchange Josh Gibcus Kamdyn McIntosh Marlion Pickett
  Hugo Ralphsmith Seth Campbell (sub)  

Jack Graham, Rhyan Mansell and Tom Lynch have been ruled out of the first match.

However, Dylan Grimes and Dion Prestia completed their practice match minutes after soft tissue injuries.

St Kilda Round 1 predicted team

Full Back Josh Battle Zaine Cordy Liam Stocker
Half Back Riley Bonner Callum Wilkie Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera
Centre Liam Henry Brad Crouch Mason Wood
Half Forward Mitch Owens Tim Membrey Brad Hill
Full Forward Darcy Wilson Max King Jack Higgins
Followers Rowan Marshall Jack Steele Mattaes Phillipou
Interchange Cooper Sharman Ryan Byrnes Arie Schoenmaker
  Seb Ross Hugo Garcia (sub)  
       

A few injuries worries for St Kilda with Dougal Howard, Jack Sinclair, Marcus Windhager and Dan Butler all likely to miss the first match.

Draftee Darcy Wilson is a certainty to play, while recruit Riley Bonner has made an impressive start to life as a Saint.

 

Sydney Round 1 predicted team

Full Back Robbie Fox Tom McCartin Dane Rampe
Half Back Nick Blakey Aaron Francis Jake Lloyd
Centre James Jordon James Rowbottom Justin McInerney
Half Forward Tom Papley Logan McDonald Isaac Heeney
Full Forward Joel Amartey Hayden McLean Will Hayward
Followers Brodie Grundy Chad Warner Errol Gulden
Interchange Ollie Florent Angus Sheldrick Braeden Campbell
  Sam Wicks Matt Roberts (sub)  

Experienced leaders Callum Mills and Luke Parker are both out of the early season matches.

As is new new recruit Taylor Adams.

The likes of James Jordon and Angus Sheldrick are likely to be used in midfield.

 

West Coast Round 1 predicted team

Full Back Josh Rotham Tom Barass Alex Witherden
Half Back Liam Duggan Jeremy McGovern Tom Cole
Centre Andrew Gaff Tim Kelly Jayden Hunt
Half Forward Jamie Cripps Jack Darling Noah Long
Full Forward Jack Petruccelle Oscar Allen Jake Waterman
Followers Bailey J. Williams Reuben Ginbey Elliot Yeo
Interchange Harley Reid Brady Hough Dom Sheed
  Jamaine Jones Tyler Brockman (sub)  

New ruckman Matt Flynn has suffered an injury blow, meaning Bailey Williams will do the bulk of the ruck work.

Dom Sheed is going to be touch-and-go for the first match.

Harley Reid is set to go and should be named.

Western Bulldogs Round 1 predicted team

Full Back Nick Coffield Liam Jones Bailey Dale
Half Back Caleb Daniel James O'Donnell Ed Richards
Centre Laitham Vandermeer Marcus Bontempelli Ryley Sanders
Half Forward Rhylee West Aaron Naughton James Harmes
Full Forward Cody Weightman Jamarra Ugle-Hagan Rory Lobb
Followers Tim English Adam Treloar Tom Liberatore
Interchange Bailey Williams Anthony Scott Jason Johannisen
  Lachlan Bramble Oskar Baker (sub)  

Ryley Sanders locked in a senior berth with impressive performances through pre-season.

Rory Lobb appears to have been given the early season nod over Sam Darcy.

Kieran Francis

Kieran Francis Photo

Kieran Francis is a senior editor at The Sporting News based in Melbourne, Australia. He started at Sportal.com.au before being a part of the transition to Sporting News in 2015. Just prior to the 2018 World Cup, he was appointed chief editor of Goal.com in Australia. He has now returned to The Sporting News where his passions lay in football, AFL, poker and cricket - when he is not on holiday.