But just remember this: you can't squeeze 85 players into a list of 50. Jamarra Ugle-Hagan and Rory Lobb kicked two goals each. Smith kicked just six goals in 2022 as he transitioned from the wing to a more traditional midfield role, but we mustn't forget he booted 17 the year before, proving he is very much capable of hitting the scoreboard on a far more regular basis. Greatest AFL Players of All Time. I mentioned Warner in my introduction and that no forecasting was taking place when devising this list. There's really no better way to describe Cameron, who, at this point, is practically a walking highlight reel. Bailey is definitely someone to keep an eye on in 2023 as the Lions look for a deep September run. When I shared my initial ranked list (yes, there have since been plenty of tweaks!) After a down couple of years in 2020 and 2021, some were beginning to wonder if Carlton's skipper was still the best player on his team, forget the competition! Daniel Pockett/Getty Images. The Magpies ramped that up around clearances, claiming a lopsided 16-4 final-quarter count with 4-1 at centre clearances. Like. I really don't think Hawkins gets enough credit for the level of quality he's produced over the past decade and change. Cameron is the highest-ranked non-midfielder on this list. But May does a whole lot more than just lock down the league's best key forwards. Do I need to remind you of his match-winning after-the-siren goal against the Tigers last year? >>SEE ALL THE KEY TEAM AND INDIVIDUAL RECORD-HOLDERS BELOW. Now where's that shaking my head emoji Is Rory Laird the most underrated player in the AFL? Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images. It highlights just how much of a potent attacking force he really is. However, the mark differential explains only 13 percent of the variation in margins, and the contested mark differential appears no more important than the uncontested mark differential, with each explaining just 10 percent of the variation in margins. The rock-solid Taylor became the No. Hewett posted career-best numbers across the board, ranking 11th in the league for disposals and seventh for clearances. The intercept possession differential explains 25 percent of the variation in margins, uncontested possessions explain 28 percent, and contested possessions explain 39 percent. One chapter, to which Matter of Stats editor Tony Corke contributed, explored the importance of various statistics in AFL games. Even still, he's a clear top 25 player, and only rising. 'I LOST MY MIND' McRae stunned by late call, Nicks laments inaccuracy. The undoubted king of the contested possession is undoubtedly the Swans Josh Kennedy, who has made the 400-club on three separate occasions. Dylan Burns/Getty Images. Daniel Pockett/Getty Images. Robert Cianflone/Getty Images. 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. At just 26 years of age, he already leads the league in shots at goal per game and it's safe to say he hasn't yet hit his peak. Fyfe has taken 299 contested marks in his career, which ranks 39th all-time and is the most of any non-ruck or key position player since the statistic was recorded. Dustin Martin at 75% is still one of the best players in the AFL. Furthermore, his clearance ranking plummeted from first in that same time period to seventh, averaging a mere 3.3 per game. He is without question one of the hardest-working midfielders in the competition, constantly running and spreading all over the ground to always provide his teammates with an option. What can you say about this man that hasn't already been said? Bontempelli (20 disposals) was below his scintillating best, drifting in and out of the contest as Hawthorn threatened a boilover in front of 40,119 spectators. With three games remaining in the 2021 season (plus at least one final for the Dees), Oliver sits at 327 contested touches. Picture: AFL Photos, Fremantle players celebrate a goal during the R4 clash against GWS on April 9, 2022. Stewart is the heartbeat of Geelong's backline and one of the main reasons Chris Scott's side continues to be ranked as the best defence -- it conceded just 66 points per game last season -- in the competition. Most of us would consider it a clear down year for the three-time Norm Smith medallist but if anyone else had that type of output -- admittedly, over a full season and not the nine games Martin managed -- they wouldn't just be in All-Australian general forward discussions, they'd have the blazer. The sheer volume of his disposals might not stack up with some of the game's other elite players, but I'm not docking him ranking value for that, because his impact is every bit on par. Curnow jumped onto Shannon Hurn's shoulders to take a spectacular high grab before wheeling onto his right boot to snap his eighth. Albert Perez/Getty Images. 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. Charlie Curnow was the 2022 Coleman Medal winner. More than a third of teams that have lost the handball count still managed to win the game. The Giants finished the afternoon with 41 more contested possessions than Essendon, a . But Smith's running gifts extend beyond endurance. Schoenberg averaged 27 disposals, 12 contested possessions, five tackles and five marks during the Under-18 Championships and 21 disposals, 10 contested possessions and five tackles in the SANFL . We've seen Bontempelli dominate games of football with only 20-25 touches of the Sherrin, and he still finds a way to average five clearances, inside 50s and tackles, as well as a goal assist and contested mark per game. Combine that with the fact he's the No. Hawkins' set shot kicking, particularly from long range, continues to be a hallmark of his game, and one-on-one he seems to have a physical edge over literally any defender who stands alongside him. 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. Check out the tables below to see the rest of the records that players and teams could chase. He is the fire starter for the Bulldogs and arguably the team's most valuable player, doing his best work at stoppages by feeding the ball out to some of his more highly-praised teammates. The result snapped a two-match losing streak for the Blues, who improved their win-loss record to 4-2, in addition to one draw. Greene still finished with four goals and had just as much impact further afield to gather 22 disposals. Carlton captain Patrick Cripps starred with 33 disposals, eight clearances and a goal, while Nic Newman, Adam Cerra, Blake Acres, George Hewett and Sam Walsh all racked up 30 or more possessions. 1 draft pick from 2018? That all equated to 15-5 inside 50s and a wealth of opportunity which they finally capitalised upon, albeit with only 30 seconds left. I cannot wait to see how he goes as captain! But for all Adelaide's early dominance, the Crows were left to rue inaccuracy, including a run of three missed set shots, to only hold a 22-point quarter-time lead. Just the one: Bailey. Sport, religion and family: Who is incoming AFL boss Andrew Dillon? Not at all. The news wont be welcomed by Gold Coasts Lauren Bella, who recorded the most hit-outs of the 2020 season, but sadly, there is virtually no correlation between the hit-out differential and the margin. I want to make it crystal clear that if this was a ranking of the 'most valuable' players, then Gawn is pushing for the top 10. That's not prime LeBron James' per-game averages, but Laird's numbers from an ultra impressive, yet totally underrated 2022 -- the story of his career, right? Ask anyone to list the best dozen inside midfielders in the league and I'd be shocked if Liberatore's name is mentioned. 20. + Indicates Hall of Famer, season age in parentheses. 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. His contested ball, marking, rebounding from defensive 50 and tackling numbers all continue to rise. The highest number of contested touches ever recorded comes from Patrick Dangerfield, who crashed and bashed his way to 430 from 24 games back in 2017. Twist in Blues contract saga, Saints need a King: Key takeouts from round seven. Add in four inside 50s, a couple of clearances and tackles per game and you've got yourself a very, very nice player. The average age of the players selected (at the time of publishing) is 27.3 years. But, contrary to what many believe, Laird does so much more than rack up touches. He also ranks higher than many of his fellow small forwards given his ability to be equally as damaging in the midfield when deployed there, something I believe the Giants have significantly underutilized in recent times. I've got to be honest, I was totally convinced Walker's career was finished about two or three years back. It's no surprise he ranked No. But the BEST. 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. I'm thrilled Merrett has been appointed Essendon skipper for 2023. I know what you're thinking, Bontempelli at No. When you consider Dunkley was more often than not played out of his preferred position by Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge, his output seems even more impressive. Josh Dunkley will play for the Lions in 2023. Something else which was glossed over was the fact he played four games fewer than Curnow and still only lost out on the Coleman Medal by four goals. Callum Mills is one of the most versatile midfielders in the AFL. Stream every game of the 2023 AFL season live and ad free. 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. Youngsters Jake Soligo (24 disposals and seven score involvements) and Riley Thilthorpe (seven marks including six contested) were excellent contributors, while Nick Murray continued to emerge as a reliable key back alongside Tom Doedee (14 intercept possessions). Like Macrae, he rarely fails to hit a target inside 50m. The 31-year-old is a six-time All-Australian, two-time club best and fairest, premiership captain and later this year should play game No. Was it premature? 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. Tom Liberatore and dad Tony ahead of 2022's Retro Round. No surprise, he got it. Franklin will still burn you on the lead as well as at ground level and is more than capable of winning any game off his own boot. His finishing rarely lets him down, either. Michael Willson/Getty Images. 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. With such impressive numbers, you could certainly make the case Hewett deserves to be higher on the list. However, considering the advantage fantasy points possess, their superiority over kicks is not very significant. Darrian Traynor/Getty Images. "You're crazy," he snapped, while furiously tapping away at his keyboard in search of stats that would substantiate his argument. 25. Riewoldt has also moved into second place all-time behind Matthew Richardson for most games with at least four contested marks. Passwords are encrypted before being stored in our system (we cannot see what . Quinn Rooney/Getty Images. I'm convinced that if Parish's numbers were even just 10% lower he'd receive far less (unjust) criticism. Daniel Pockett/Getty Images. Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images. Required fields are marked *. Curnow has that Jeremy Cameron-esque ability (anyone seen him yet?) Eventually, I settled with him at No. Not too shabby, by any means.
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