As the AFL season finally arrives it’s the only time of the year where all 18 clubs and over 700 players have everything to play for.

Whether it’s the reigning premiers looking for rare back-to-back glory, teams on the fringe of finals seeking the next step, or well-established clubs desperately avoiding a slide down the ladder, there’s an underlying threat of embarrassment and perhaps ignominy that drives clubs forward.

These factors also affect certain players.

Whether it’s the quest to avoid continued malignment from vocal AFL fans or just an internal hurdle to conquer in order to remain a best 22 player, we've identified five particular players who'll head into 2022 needing to prove something.

RELATED: Five Brownlow Medal Smokies Ahead Of Season 2022

Jack Martin (Carlton)

One of the most highly-rated junior talents seen at draft time, it’s unfortunate that Martin’s career has been riddled by injury and a lack of continuity.

Incredibly, the former mini-draft selection is now into his 9^th AFL season, yet since arriving at Carlton he’s remained inconsistent while continuing to frustrate largely owing to his untapped potential.

At his peak, Martin played all 22 games for the Suns in 2017, averaging 18.6 disposals, 6.3 marks, 2.7 tackles while adding 24 majors and 14 goal assists. At 23, he'd already proved to be an incredibly valuable high half-forward equipped with the kind of work rate that could run an opposition ragged.

At the Blues, there have simply been moments and highlights, rather than any sustainable form – he received 3 Brownlow votes in 2020 for 18 disposals, 6 inside 50s, 5 marks and 4 tackles against North Melbourne and besides a couple of other games around that disposal count, there hasn’t been a heap.

In 2022, he simply must be an offensive threat that gets more of the ball – building on his incredible 80% disposal efficiency last season and 1.4 marks inside 50. 

There’s little doubt Martin can return to his 2017 highs if he remains fit and committed to the cause.

Punters- At TopSport the Blues are paying $2.9 to play finals for the first time since 2013. 

Rory Lobb (Fremantle)

When rumours surface late in a trade period regarding a player potentially leaving their current club, and if a move doesn’t eventuate, fans can start to shift their opinions on that player.

We know the potential Lobb has always had as a 206cm key forward. His threat in the air is almost unmatched, his ability to give a chop out in the ruck is extremely handy and quite frankly, he should be performing better than he is.

A career average of 2.1 contested marks a game is unbelievable, yet Lobb’s inability to stay fit has so far ruined any chance of stardom for the West Australian in addition to any kind of reliability for his employers.

In his 13 games for Fremantle last season we finally saw elite signs – he averaged 5.6 marks per game, 2.2 marks inside 50 and kicked 20.19, all clear career-highs in scoring rates and plucking the ball in the air.

However Lobb’s now 29 and realistically should be at the peak of his powers. A move back to GWS never eventuated, but he is at a club that can make finals if all their players stay on the park. 

It’ll take strong mental application to sweep aside the events of last October but if Lobb can continue the 2021 form and play at least 18 games, Fremantle will almost be guaranteed a top-eight spot.

Punters- At TopSport the Dockers are paying $2.75 to play finals for the first time since 2015.

Bobby Hill (GWS)

Much in the same way Lobb has to perform this season, Hill trying to squeeze his way to Essendon certainly leaves him with a lot to prove at the Giants in 2022.

The 22-year-old is only 30 games into his AFL career and has cut a relatively diminutive figure in his three seasons to date, with the potential of him as a small forward has perhaps exceeded his current value.

Certainly, 2021 was one where he started to create a niche for himself. He averaged just 9 disposals and 2.8 tackles a game, kicking 14 goals in 17 matches, yet Hill was ranked sixth in the competition for goal assists per game, finishing with 17 while he had 5+ tackles on three occasions.

The impact per possession is certainly intoxicating and is the sort of asset many teams would love to own, particularly if the quantity continues to increase over time.

But for Hill to warrant further attention from other clubs and to improve his stature in the game, the former second-round pick will need to look at averaging either a goal a game, or 4-5 tackles to at least an establish a reputation one way or the other.

Punters- At TopSport the Giants are paying $15 to win the club's first-ever premiership. 

Joel Selwood (Geelong)

This one’s a little different in the sense that Selwood’s not in a position where he needs to prove anything to anyone, though perhaps 2022 is his season to justify hanging on for as long as he sees fit.

Geelong’s skipper is nothing short of a legendary figure at the Cats, heading into the season with 4 premierships, 334 games under his belt, 210 Brownlow votes and a list of accolades that would rival Chris Jericho’s “1004 holds” segment in old school WCW Nitro.

The one thing however that has eluded Selwood in his career is a Premiership as captain, having taken over the role in 2012 after the team won the previous season.

Granted, it looks unlikely, but Selwood has been such a mainstay in that Geelong midfield for so long, the time is now to prove that he can shift across to another role.

Put simply, the Cats are barely holding on with such an old list. If there’s no flag this year and no midfield development for young players, the hole only gets deeper. Make no mistake, the veteran still put up solid numbers in 2021, averaging 23 disposals, 5.3 clearances and 4.7 tackles a game.

Turning 34 this season and with his time-on-ground already down to below 75%, it’s time he used his underrated, clean ball use on the outside or on a flank and has an impact in a different role. Doing this could prolong his legendary career and help the Cats going forward.

Punters- The Cats have made the top4 over the last 3 seasons and at TopSport are paying $2.35 to make it 4-straight double chances in 2022.

Steele Sidebottom (Collingwood)

It’s an interesting situation Sidebottom finds himself in, having played nearly every game in 2021 after recovering from a serious injury.

Still just 31 years old, his name is always locked into Collingwood’s best 22 because, put simply, he’s Steele Sidebottom.

There was nothing inherently wrong with his 2021 season, he dropped below 20 disposals just twice, had at least six marks on 9 occasions and continued to play between the arcs.

It’s just that, as the Magpies continue to look at bottoming out and focusing on the youth, Sidebottom’s importance and impact on the team diminishes extremely quickly in the role he plays.

Last season, he wasn’t anywhere near as influential, averaging less disposals, tackles, rebound 50s, goals, metres gained and score involvements than any season since 2011 (full-length game numbers), his disposal efficiency was its lowest since in a full season since 2014 and for the first time since his debut season, Sidebottom didn’t poll a single Brownlow vote.

We know as a junior he once booted 10 goals in a game and perhaps a complete shift in position will have a flow-on effect for the entire club, giving someone like Caleb Poulter more of an opportunity on a wing.

Sidebottom should play as a veteran presence to guide the next generation of Magpies, but 2022 seems make-or-break for his career with how things are trending.

Punters- At TopSport the season win market has been set at 7.5 where the Magpies are concerned. 

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