EVERY AFL CLUB’S MAIN STRENGTH AND WEAKNESS AHEAD OF THE 2024 SEASONAndrew Slevison
SEN
25 Jan 2024What are the main strengths and weaknesses of each of the 18 clubs heading into the 2024 season?
Whether it be a stacked forward line, a bevy of gun youngsters, a lack of top-end quality or a paper thin defence, each club has their positives and negatives.
Strength: A new era with a new coach.Richmond enters the Adem Yze era after the curtain was officially closed on the successful Damien Hardwick years.
Yze has been a breath of fresh air since his arrival at Punt Road and is set to implement a new game style which might just equal unpredictability.
It’s an exciting time for the club to see what can be achieved in the wake of Hardwick and the three premierships.
The Tigers also boast some legitimate top-end talent led by veteran Dustin Martin, who continues to deliver at the top level.
Throw Shai Bolton, Tim Taranto and a fit Tom Lynch into the mix, plus the experience of multiple premiership players, and there remains enough quality to win games.
Weakness: Lack of key forward options.The Tigers have been unable to replace Jack Riewoldt which leaves them short when it comes to key forward options.
Tom Lynch is the colossus up forward that any team would want, but he needs to get out on the park and play consistently after an injury-riddled 2023.
If he struggles to play regularly in 2024, or fails to regain form, then it falls away quickly. The jury is out on what Jacob Koschitzke can bring to the side, while Samson Ryan is continuing to develop.
Short of Lynch, the genuine key forward options appear thin.
There is also an unknown surrounding the club’s younger players.
A large chunk of them could not break through during the premiership era and as a result don’t have the experience behind them right now.
They’ll need to step up at senior level in order to take the club forward.
https://www.sen.com.au/news/2024/01/24/every-afl-clubs-main-strength-and-weakness-ahead-of-the-2024-season/
