Following their earliest years in the AFL, players will break through the ceiling above them and shine like never before, showing signs of the star they can be.
Sometimes it's the beginning of a star in the making, other times it's an anomaly. Sometimes it's a player at the dawn of their career, other times it's a player with a handful of seasons in the bank.
Here are 10 players we predict will take their game to the next level in 2023.
8. Will Day
Another player that has threatened to break the shackles a few times like Cam Rayner is Hawks defender Will Day.
Unfortunately, the 21-year-old has been restricted to 33 games in three seasons due to injury.
He played 17 games in 2022, but Sam Mitchell couldn't find a permanent position for him, before he found his place in the back six.
Still fairly young, Day's body and skills are still developing, so the fact that he's been on the precipice of breaking out already is telling.
If he doesn't get injured, with the Hawks in a rebuild, it'll be Day time. (No apologies)
