On the flip side, if Hewett is able to replicate his 2022 form this season, he'll be surging up these rankings. When you add in the fact Cameron's one of the best kicks for goal (either from a set shot or on the run from open play) in the game and has a willingness to work up the ground and provide the bail out option for his defenders, he's a no-doubt top five player. The team that wins the clearance count is victorious in just over half of AFLW games, winning by a goal on average. Dunkley is a great ball user and the ultimate team man, unafraid of the dirty work -- ranking top 10 in both tackling and smothers since 2019 -- that others often shy away from. Even Luke Davies-Uniacke may eventually give it a shake, but as of right now, we are witnessing something special from Clayton Oliver, and anyone who criticises what he doesnt do, or what he could do, should take a bit of gander at what he does do. Australia Zone is committed to covering womens sport, sports analysis and gender equality. ), McKay was the best forward 12 months prior, leading the competition with 58 majors, again, from only 19 appearances. There are at least four others who play a very similar role and have stronger numbers over a greater period of time (keep reading, I'll prove it), they just don't get a fraction of the credit. Champion Data's numbers would suggest he is. Instead, I've used the last two seasons as a gauge of where a particular player is at in their career. It's also made ranking him amongst his contemporaries a near impossible task! Champion Data class Stewart as a 'general defender' but you feel 'the general' would be a far more appropriate title for him. All data entered is sent securely via SSL to our system. How he's managed to not only resurrect his career, but re-establish himself as one of the competition's premier forwards -- all during a time where he became embroiled in an off-field racism controversy -- is something that deserves a huge amount of credit. It is the Kangaroos' biggest losing margin under new coach Alastair Clarkson, after they won their first two matches, and also Melbourne's fourth 100-plus score this season. He now has back-to-back years with 50+ goals (it's crazy neither of those seasons have yielded All-Australian selection), one of only two general forwards in the game to achieve the feat. He had 25 disposals, with 18 contested possessions, 11 clearances, seven tackles, seven inside-50s and three rebound-50s. I mean, seriously; that was embarrassing. Nic Caruso-Wishart on Twitter: "The slippery conditions provided a Passwords are encrypted before being stored in our system . Through last year's injury interrupted season, Martin averaged 18 disposals and 1.3 goals per game, playing predominantly in the forward line. Zach Merrett will captain Essendon in 2023. Kick goals and win the ball. All data entered is sent securely via SSL to our system. He is, without question, the most underappreciated player in the AFL, as evidenced by the fact he failed to receive a single best-on-ground in last year's Brownlow Medal. A short history of the lowest-scoring matches in rugby league history, 'I don't buy that one bit': Next AFL CEO denies claims of a boys' club after promotion from general counsel, NRL concedes error on crucial golden point call, Doja Cat, Margot Robbie and Nicole Kidman attend Met Gala for fashion's biggest night, Clare desperately wanted to stop drinking but she couldn't make it stick. Even with three All-Australian blazers proudly hanging in his wardrobe, Macrae somehow remains criminally underrated. Zac Bailey is one of the league's best young mid-forwards. In the votes Jordan Dawson (30 touches) and Rory Laird (29 disposals) were both brilliant in the midfield, while Chayce Jones (20 possessions, 2.2) had one of his best games at the top level and it could've been even bigger had he converted more of his opportunities in front of goal. April 25, 2023. It is important to note that, of these players, Oliver is performing at an amazing clip. JACK CRISP. Imagine if he was converting even 60% of his shots! The result puts Collingwood clear on top with a 6-1 record after three straight wins, while it ends Adelaide's four-game winning run, with the Crows left to lament their inaccuracy in front of goal, having dominated long periods of the game. AFL Home Fixtures Scores. Whilst others were bigger and stringer at that point, Olivers ability to read the ball and put himself in the right spots to win the footy saw him simply beat his opponents to the right spot. In 142 AFLW games, the winner of the rebound 50 count has won just 46 times, losing by eight points on average. So what is it that makes Cameron so dangerous? Parish has transformed himself into a top tier midfielder and one of the best accumulators in the competition, averaging 32 disposals per contest since his breakout performance on Anzac Day in 2021. Josh Dunkley will play for the Lions in 2023. No doubt the first of many 'controversies' on this list. Contested footy and tackling became the skills most likely to see a team contend for a flag, and with that came the necessity for the onballers to be bigger, stronger and more durable. The rock-solid Taylor became the No. All of a sudden, my mind was constructing something which half resembled an ordered list. So there you have it. Perhaps Chad Warner. What are the two most valuable things a player can do in football? Ash Johnson and Josh Daicos both goaled, before John Noble's running goal from 50m out with 2:52 left cut the margin to one point. Ashcroft's effort likely upstaged teammate Charlie Cameron's similarly freakish goal a week earlier, while it also had a higher degree of difficulty than Daniel Wells' much-celebrated 2004 goal of the year for North Melbourne. Gary Ablett managed 46 possessions aganst Adelaide in 2008 Stephen Malaxo's accumulated 48 possessions against St.Kilda in late 1987. Even if I expect Dunkley to be challenging for the top 20 by season's end, we're basing this ranking off what we've seen thus far. I've got a little confession. The Demons kicked their highest score this season and were on track to record their biggest winning margin against North Melbourne, before the Kangaroos kicked the last three goals of the match. The 23-year-old livewire spends the majority of his time forward of centre but over the last two seasons has also proven to be a real asset in the midfield, capable of sparking his side at a stoppage or with his outside run. One of the great midfielders of the modern era and still with plenty left in the tank, despite the fact he's already amassed 260 physically-demanding games. Over the last two seasons, he has averaged 7.5 clearances per game (top five in the league), and ranks 'elite' with Champion Data in contested possession, tackles, ground ball gets and score involvements. It was evident early on that Laird was much more than a rebounding half-back, and he has flourished ever since receiving his first midfield opportunity in 2020. Technically, he's a small or general forward, but his supreme aerial ability combined with a 1980s-esque swagger means he plays so much bigger than that. There's no denying that Charlie Curnow's epic 2022 season took a little of the spotlight away from McKay but he continued to be a steady presence in the Blues' forward line. Rebound 50s do have some relevance, but only in relation to inside 50s. But the one player ranking most seemed to have an issue with was Wines being in the top 20. Darcy Parish is one of the great ball-winners in the AFL. Hard-nosed Kangaroo Ben Cunnington still has the mark for contested possessions (32), while Joel Bowden's mark of 41 uncontested possessions in 2009 will take some beating. Last season, he was the only player in the league to average eight tackles and eight clearances and ranked fifth overall for contested possessions. Walsh still has his nose in front, no doubt, but Rozee clawed back some serious ground last year, after finally being offered minutes and excelling in Port's midfield. Here's one for you; how many players have kicked 30 goals in each of the last two seasons? And with an ability to push up the ground when required, Heeney's just about the complete football player. The 20-year-old Magpies young gun also spent time off the ground in the second term with a calf issue troubling him, but played on and played his part as Collingwood surged home. He's also taken the third-most contested marks inside 50m in that period. It got us thinking about which of the other individual and team records might be attainable in the near future. 16 and am comfortable knowing who ranks ahead and behind him. I'll even answer them. If it's goals you're after, few provide as many as Fritsch. For this exercise, I'm looking at the 50 best players heading into season 2023. Izak Rankine produced a moment of magic to shrug off Brayden Maynard's tackle, evade Nick Daicos and checkside kick his side's second major. Julian Edelman (118), 4. Dangerfield's list of accomplishments are as long as anyone in the game, but he doesn't make this list (nor achieve a top 20 ranking) through legacy. I really hope the answer to all three is 'yes' and we see Fyfe back on a footy field doing what he does best. As a midfielder, he ranks elite in a host of categories, including disposals, contested possessions, ground ball gets, clearances, tackles, pressure acts and goals. But Lynch really is the ultimate, efficient key forward; mark the ball, turn around and bang it through at a higher clip than just about anyone else (last year, 70% of his shots resulted in six points). Curnow has that Jeremy Cameron-esque ability (anyone seen him yet?) As one of the great runners and line-breakers in the league, Crisp offers a totally different package to the average AFL midfielder. COLLINGWOOD has produced another trademark final-quarter charge to claim a thrilling one-point victory over Adelaide on Sunday to move into outright top spot on the ladder. Some are sure to view Lynch's ranking ahead of Curnow as rather controversial. Comben, who has a history of left-leg injuries, was hurt when he went for a mark in the opening quarter. Picture: AFL Photos, Angus Brayshaw runs with the ball in the R20 clash between Melbourne and Gold Coast on August 5, 2018. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Your email address will not be published. De Goey has the enviable quality of being as effective forward as he is in the middle and is capable of winning any game off his own boot. And who led the league in contested marks? That's why we haven't seen, and won't see, his production drop off drastically, like some of the game's other veterans. Walsh was already considered an A-grader before the end of his sophomore season, and each year he continues to elevate his game. Adelaide's desperate attempt to race the ball up the other end from the kick-in was in vain as Pies skipper Darcy Moore fittingly intercepted to clinch an epic 8.11 (59) to 7.16 (58) victory. I've referenced others on this list as difficult match-ups but Petracca is the most difficult. Send us feedback or report a mistake on this page. I don't reckon many non-Crows fans will believe some of these numbers. players with the most 100 or more reception seasons in NFL history. Carlton's dynamic forward snagged 64 goals -- crazy when you consider he was sharing the forward line with a guy who kicked a league-best 58 goals the previous season -- to not only land the Coleman Medal and stake his claim as the best young forward in the AFL, but leave me looking a total fool (yes, I floated the idea of a Curnow trade back in 2020). Mixed night for Daicos as Keays tag comesAs expected, Ben Keays lined up alongside Nick Daicos at the first bounce. There was a recognition that a kick was more than just throwing the ball on your boot and hoping for the best, and that clearance work was extremely valuable in winning the footy for the team and feeding the outside runners. PODCAST: Click here to listen to the '50 best players' special episode, embroiled in an off-field racism controversy, floated the idea of a Curnow trade back in 2020, Miller is the most difficult player to match up on, The enduring magnetism of Scott Pendlebury. The 400-Club may see others join over the next few years. But May does a whole lot more than just lock down the league's best key forwards. Last year, he was one of just 12 players in the league to average seven score involvements per game. Positives among negatives for CrowsAdelaide will be lamenting this loss, given its general dominance, inaccuracy and the final-quarter chaos. Hugh McCluggage celebrates a goal during the 2022 finals series. Daniel Pockett/Getty Images. and, at least in my mind, you've got the best defender in the competition. He has the versatility -- able to play small, tall as well as float in the backline -- and has some of the most exquisite foot skills you'll ever see. Except you aren't picking a team, you simply want the best player available. In 2022, he ranked eighth in the league for pressure acts. In the spirit of reconciliation the AFL acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. 8 and watch him put in a shift. Clutch Collingwood does it againIt's hard to explain Collingwood's final quarters, but the team's belief no matter the margin is apparent for all to see. Taylor Walker is one of the best attacking weapons in the AFL. In no way is this a knock on former Magpies coach Nathan Buckley, but Moore is perfectly suited to Craig McRae's style of play and is thriving under the new regime. Pretty similar, hey? On a team front, St Kilda set a record of 520 disposals in winning against a Fremantle team that rested 11 of its players ahead of the finals in the last round of the 2013 home and away season. The intercept possession differential explains 25 percent of the variation in margins, uncontested possessions explain 28 percent, and contested possessions explain 39 percent. Albert Perez/Getty Images. Jamarra Ugle-Hagan and Rory Lobb kicked two goals each. Toby Greene will captain the Giants in 2023. Last year, Cameron was also the league's best pressure player, laying more tackles than anyone else inside forward 50. The Crows and Magpies clash in round seven. Darcy Moore might be Collingwood's most valuable player. Daniel Carson/Getty Images. Cameron also deserves credit for his unselfishness, contributing 35 direct goal assists for his Lions teammates over the last two years. It's also worth remembering McKay is just 25 years of age! Only two teams weren't represented on the list; North Melbourne and West Coast. Picture: AFL Photos, Shane Mumford competes with Callum Sinclair in the R6 clash between GWS and Sydney on April 27, 2019. But I bet you knew that already, right?! Meanwhile, Melbourne hammered the Kangaroos by 90 points at the MCG in the other evening match, while GWS, the Brisbane Lions and Western Bulldogs all enjoyed wins earlier on Saturday. Graham Denholm/Getty Images. From this point on, each player has a legitimate claim to hold top spot. Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images. 2 for fewest one-on-one contest losses over the last five years -- but when freed up he is as damaging as just about any defender in the game. Stephen Coniglio (28 disposals, two goals) and Harry Perryman (21, three) were superb throughout for the Giants, while Xavier O'Halloran (15, two) and Finn Callaghan (26) were also influential in promising signs for the future. At various points of 2021 and early last season, Smith looked as if he was on a trajectory to becoming a top 20 player in the league. Charlie Curnow bags nine goals in Carlton's 108-point AFL win over West Coast as Melbourne thrashes Kangaroos by 90 points, Qantas leaders speak after announcingAlan Joyce's successor as chief executive, Follow our live blog for the latest from the Met Gala, Keep up with the latest ASX and business news. It all bodes well for a career-best 2023, and the bookmakers agree, installing him as the pre-season favourite for this year's Coleman. As a combination of several weighted statistics, fantasy points have an extremely unfair advantage over the single statistics, and as expected, they explain more of the variation in margins than any one stat. For me, it only strengthened his case to be there. And mind you, this was no Tigers fanatic. He could have easily added a second 'Charlie' to his resume after a remarkable 2022, where he ranked top two in disposals, contested possessions and clearances, as well as top 10 in score involvements. The 50 best players in the AFL ahead of season 2023 - ESPN Richmond was next best with three players. Dylan Burns/Getty Images. Bailey Smith (24 disposals, six clearances) made a successful return after two weeks out with a calf injury but the Bulldogs missed concussed midfielder Tom Liberatore's grunt around the ball. Sydney v GWS Sydney Chad Warner has averaged the second most disposals per game, as well as the most contested possessions per game of any of Sydney player. If this was a measure of footy IQ and on-field intelligence, Greene would be top of the list. Laird and Clayton Oliver were the only two players who averaged 15 contested and 15 uncontested possessions in 2022. Don't count him out for the Brownlow Medal, either Shai Bolton's star continues to rise in the AFL. Like Macrae, he rarely fails to hit a target inside 50m. Approximately two thirds of matches are won by the team that records more rebound 50s per opposition inside 50 than its opponent. That's a phenomenal effort for a full back! The 10 best AFL players at quarter time of the 2023 season - ESPN No joke. Jeremy Cameron celebrates after winning the 2022 AFL Grand Final. Naughton's mobility also makes him far more dangerous than the average key forward, given he can still impact the play when the ball hits the deck. The only thing that gets in the is that he never won a Brownlow otherwise he would be labeled the GOAT like Michael Jordan of the AFL. Top 20? He reads the game better than anyone else and has the skills to match. Darrian Traynor/Getty Images. Of course, a player's body of work impacts their ranking but I want to hammer home the fact this is not a legacy piece. The differential for this statistic explains 31 percent of the variation in margins. 2021 AFL League Contested Possessions Per Game Leaders Carlton spearhead Charlie Curnow has put on a marking masterclass on his way to kicking a career-high nine goals in the Blues' 108-point trouncing of West Coast in Perth. He also still happens to be one of the best players. His rise from South Barwon to Geelong is well documented but it's even more remarkable now he's become a premiership player, four-time All-Australian, club best and fairest winner and the undisputed best mid-sized defender in the game. AFL Season 2023. And if the Coleman Medal is any indicator (of course it is! Will Ashcroft put forward a goal-of-the-year contender as the Brisbane Lions sunk Fremantle's season to further depths. While his shooting for goal has at times been a little underwhelming -- he's kicked 43.61 since the beginning of 2020 -- his ball use going inside 50 is as good as it gets. The 22-year-old is yet to dip below the 28-disposal mark and has had 16+ contested possessions in each of the past four games. Rotham was finally relieved of the job on Curnow when the spearhead booted his sixth goal at the nine-minute mark of the third quarter. Last year, Parish was in a select club with only Clayton Oliver, Lachie Neale, Patrick Cripps, Touk Miller, Rory Laird and Tom Mitchell as the only players to average 13 contested and 13 uncontested possessions per game. But the Brownlow Medal fancy finished with a match-high four goal assists to make his presence felt as the Bulldogs kicked seven goals to two after half-time. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today. Picture: AFL Photos, BARRETT: Woeful West Coast entering Fitzroy territory, McRae stunned by late call, Nicks laments inaccuracy. A Above Average: Top 11% to 35% of the statistical category. Picture: AFL Photos, Fremantle players celebrate a goal during the R4 clash against GWS on April 9, 2022. Ashcroft kicked another goal from a set shot soon after that and finished with 28 mostly silky disposals. Since contested possessions were recorded, just three men have been able to record 400 contested touches in a season, and Clayton Oliver is on track to do it for a second time in 2021. They explain 55 percent of the variation in margins, slightly above the 51 percent explained by the kick differential. Melbourne v Richmond - The Doc's Autopsy - The Mongrel Punt The 50 best AFL players heading into season 2023. At his best, Fyfe is still a top 20 player in the game, but there's just so many unanswered questions surrounding the former Dockers skipper that it would be unfair to stick him there purely on legacy and his resume. Please enter the email you registered your account with. One aspect of his game he must work on is his ball use, having led the competition in turnovers last year with 6.71 per game. He was initially in the top 10, then he dropped out of the top 20. The Lions (5-2) notched a fourth-straight win, untroubled in a 17.13 (115) to 10.7 (67) Gabba cruise that plunged the Dockers to 2-5. Not too shabby, by any means. Of course, we all know he ranks in the top three for just about every ruck category, but it's the other things he does which make him a top 50 player in the league. At times he looks like a man vs. boys; good luck bringing him down as he charges forward from a contest. 25. If youd like to help achieve this, please feel free to pitch an article via email to australiazone@protonmail.com we accept submissions from anyone. He lowered his colours in Round 6 in the Grand Final rematch against Geelong. Actual Hit Rate: How often a player hits the intended target (including50/50 contests) when attempting a kick. to dominate on the lead as well as at ground level, making him a nightmare one-on-one match-up for any defender, especially when you consider only four players took more contested marks than him last year. It's a damn shame that injuries have derailed Fyfe's hall-of-fame career. CP=Contested possessions UP=Uncontested possessions CM=Contested marks MI=Marks inside 50 1%=One percenters BO=Bounces GA=Goal assist %P=Percentage of game played SU=Sub (On/Off) =subbed on =subbed off: Team Totals For KI MK HB DI GL BH HO TK RB IF CL CG FF BR CP UP CM MI 1% BO GA; Adelaide: 4389: 1642: 3335: 7724: 249: 178: 908: 1487 . How Macrae hasn't polled 16 Brownlow votes in any of the past three seasons actually defies belief. One of the more dynamic and dangerous key forwards in the competition, and yet some remain adamant that Naughton is an even better key defender. Dane Swan equalled the feat with 48 against Port Adelaide in 2008 Tony Shaw still had lots left in his tank in his 13th year.
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