Predicting the 10 breakout players of 2022

The 2022 season is sure to see players at each and every club show glimpses of what the future holds, with barriers being broken and the careers of future stars ignited.

Whether it's stepping into a new role, looking to back up a strong 2021 campaign or returning from injury, there is sure to be an extensive range of young names ascending into stardom next year.

Here are the 10 players we're predicting to reach new heights in 2022.

Cam Rayner 

The time is now for Cam Rayner. A luckless run of injury saw his fourth season with the Lions end before it even started.

Touted as a key figure in Brisbane's premiership hopes, the 22-year-old has shown glimpses of what's to come, and 2022 will be the year Rayner delivers.

As seen with Zac Bailey this year, greater exposure and reliance in midfield is sure to bode well for the former No.1 pick, who also boasts the ability to impact the scoreboard.

With a full pre-season under his belt, next year could see Rayner's stocks soar as the Lions look to chase that elusive fourth AFL flag.

Jack Lukosius 

The silky Suns tall has emerged as an enigma, having been played as a defender, wingman and forward in 2021 as Stuart Dew's reliable utility.

An elite user of the ball that is transforming into the mould of a key-positon player, Lukosius is sure to find a more permanent role next year that will hopefully see him and the Suns lifted from their repetition and into the next echelon.

Averaged over 20 disposals this year along with 5.82 rebounds 50s and 4.00 inside 50s per game as a standout outlet out wide for Gold Coast.

With a more refined role sure to come in 2022, Lukosius is sure to see his numbers continue to rise.

Caleb Serong 

If he isn't a star already, Caleb Serong is sure to reach the stratosphere in 2022.

The Dockers young gun has quickly emerged as a required figure in Justin Longmuir's engine room, with the ongoing absence of Nat Fyfe opening an opportunity for the 2020 Rising Star winner.

Having amassed above-average numbers for contested possessions, metres gained, ground ball gets, inside 50s and total clearances this year, Serong is sure to enter the elite bracket in just his third season.

With Adam Cerra having departed the Dockers, Serong's stocks have only grown since the end of the 2021 season, with a breakout campaign awaiting the 20-year-old.

Tom McCartin 

Perhaps flew under the radar in 2021, with next year sure to see more eyes on the Swans defender.

McCartin was a constant headache for opposition forwards this year, and next season is sure to see the emerging backman take on a more senior role under John Longmire.

A great balance of intercept marking and lock-down defending saw McCartin's prospects for the future on a steep rise, and 2022 could be the year he joins the league's top bracket of key defenders.

Tom Highmore 

Despite making his AFL debut in 2021, we're predicting Tom Highmore for an astronomical second season in the league.

The South Adelaide product joined the Saints as a mature-aged recruit through the 2020 National Draft and will be 24 years old come Round 1, having already been able to hold down the fort in defence against some of the league's best targets.

Partnering Dougal Howard down back for St Kilda, Highmore is sure to play a more senior role in 2022 following the departures of James Frawley and Jake Carlisle.

Tom Green 

It seems Tom Green is already a highly valued asset to the Giants' star-studded midfield, having been a prominent feature in their centre bounce attendance numbers.

Green will enter his third season in the AFL next year, having seen a stellar trajectory from his rookie year into 2021, with the tangent sure to continue.

Had just three of his 18 appearances last year record under 15 disposals per match, while also amassing strong tackle and clearance numbers to fight for his place in the Giants' midfield group.

With the Giants looking to secure consecutive finals finishes, Green is sure to play a major role in his club's successes for next year.

Will Day 

The promising young Hawk is another who had his 2021 season curtailed due to injury, having been limited to just the five matches for the year.

Day's 2020 campaign was enough to see what is in store for his future, adding to an exciting young backline at Waverley alongside Changkuoth Jiath, Denver Grainger-Barras, and Jack Scrimshaw.

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Should injuries be a thing of the past for Day, the 20-year-old is in line to make major strides next year before becoming a vocal leader down bac for Sam Mitchell.

Jye Caldwell 

Caldwell joined the Bombers 12 months ago hoping to deliver a strong maiden campaign at Tullamarine before injuries limited his season to just the three matches.

The former No.11 was among the best afield in his debut against the Hawks in Round 1, with the elimination final loss to the Bulldogs his only other full-length appearance for the year.

A clear pre-season and greater understanding of his role for the new year is sure to see Caldwell's next campaign reach new heights in 2022.

Despite the setbacks, there is no ruling out the 21-year-old's chances of following in the footsteps of fellow Bombers midfielders Zach Merrett, Darcy Parish and Andrew McGrath and soon reaching stardom.

Riley Collier-Dawkins 

Collier-Dawkins has been a project player for the Tigers, having waited in the wings until his third season before making his AFL debut in 2021.

The 21-year-old's patience paid off however, amassing strong numbers around the centre of the ground as a promising two-way onballer and showing his place as an heir to the Tigers' midfield.

Now entering his fourth year, Collier-Dawkins is sure to have his sights set on securing his place higher up on Damien Hardwick's midfield pecking order, with the likes of Trent Cotchin, Shane Edwards and Kane Lambert soon to be stepping aside for the next wave.

Lachlan Sholl 

The young Adelaide midfielder is one of many emerging talents coming out of West Lakes, with the Crows steadily steering their list back into finals contention.

Sholl is sure to play a major role in Matthew Nicks' premiership prospects, having already been a prominent presence on a number of occasions throughout his 27-game career.

The 21-year-old enjoyed an impressive purple patch last year where he recorded six successive games of 21 or more disposals, highlighted by a 31-possession performance in Round 4 against the Kangaroos.

With another pre-season under his belt, Sholl is sure to turn these runs of form into season-long stints, with 2022 certainly not out of the question in being his campaign to do so.