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. With respect to the dynamic Toby Greene, Taylor is proving to be the most valuable Giant. Great goalkicking midfielders and/or productive high half-forwards are like gold dust and the Lions have one of the best in the business with Bailey. If that's you, please get familiar with him! And nor should there be. The key players for all eight AFL finals sides - ABC Albert Perez/GETTY IMAGES. We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we live, learn, and work. Amixture of bewilderment and sheer disgust was plastered on the face of an ESPN colleague after I had casually noted Richmond livewire Shai Bolton was not a top three player in the AFL. He also possesses elite acceleration and top speed, allowing him to break lines for the Bulldogs and launch attacking thrusts. Collingwood players fume at the non free kick awarded after this hit on Nathan Murphy, before Jordan de Goey is pinged for a contentious deliberate call. Bolton is the ultimate match-winner and his elusiveness, speed, skill and the fact he's also a constant aerial threat make him an impossible match-up, either in the midfield or when he pushes into the forward-line. 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. His contested ball, marking, rebounding from defensive 50 and tackling numbers all continue to rise. He's never had trouble hitting the scoreboard -- his goal tally has reached double figures in nine of the last 10 seasons -- something which gives him an edge over some of the league's other midfielders. Not too shabby, by any means. 3-ranked for metres gained, has an off-the-charts footy IQ and an unmatched appetite for the contest (how can you not love watching him play!) That was never more evident in 2018, when he broke Patrick Dangerfield's home-and-away record for most contested possessions in a season with 388. WATCH: Will Warner be a top three player in 18 months' time? 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. Will Ashcroft put forward a goal-of-the-year contender as the Brisbane Lions sunk Fremantle's season to further depths. Curnow has that Jeremy Cameron-esque ability (anyone seen him yet?) He regathered in mid-air and while under pressure put the ball to the outside of his right foot and somehow squeaked through a goal from the tightest of angles. If you find yourself at a Dockers game this season, just lock your eyes on No. But I promise you there's not many! Teams that won the hit-out count have, in fact, lost the game more often than theyve won. 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. Zach Merrett will captain Essendon in 2023. Emails will NOT be used for the sending of unsolicited, spam or promotional materials. Andrew Brayshaw enjoyed a breakout season in 2022. In the process of finding AFLWs most important statistics, the first challenge is to determine how importance should be calculated. Parker's career arc has been relatively flat, but that's not a knock on him, rather it highlights his consistency over the journey. We question, we discuss, we wonder, and, most enjoyably, we debate; doing so as if our lives are at stake. That all equated to 15-5 inside 50s and a wealth of opportunity which they finally capitalised upon, albeit with only 30 seconds left. 2 in the league for score involvements last season, behind only Tom Hawkins). 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. 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. Patrick Cripps shows off his 2022 Brownlow Medal. Lynch. Over the past 24 months, Petracca has averaged 28 disposals, 12 combined clearances and inside 50s, 500m gained and a goal per game. There's also no projection here. I've referenced others on this list as difficult match-ups but Petracca is the most difficult. He's a sneaky great ball user, too. Fritsch booted six goals in that 2021 Grand Final triumph over the Bulldogs, the most by any player in the 'Big Dance' since Darren Jarman in 1997. You could almost copy and paste the Macrae entry right here and just change the name references to Merrett, another highly underrated and super consistent midfielder who doesn't get the recognition he deserves. The youngest player in the entire list was Chad Warner (21), the oldest was Lance Franklin (36). Bayley Fritsch rarely plays a game without kicking a goal. For this exercise, I'm looking at the 50 best players heading into season 2023. Dangerfield also had 388 contested that season. 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. In 2022, he ranked eighth in the league for pressure acts. Send us feedback or report a mistake on this page. Jerry Rice (151), 2. Champion Data's numbers would suggest he is. 2022 AFL League Total Contested Possessions Leaders (Minimum 5 Games Played) Rank: Player: Team Games: Total: 1: Clayton Oliver: Melbourne: 23: 409: 2: Lachie Neale: Brisbane: 25: 400: 3: Touk Miller: Gold Coast: 22: 334: 4: . No doubt the first of many 'controversies' on this list. Intercepting defenders have become crucial in recent years, but the record for most intercept possessions is now a decade old, with another former Kangaroo, Scott Thompson, doing so 24 times. Your email address will not be published. The most notable of those was inside 50s, where he finished the season with the second-most in the league. Champion Data has trawled through its data to make an "advanced stats AFLW all-stars team". Last year, Cameron was also the league's best pressure player, laying more tackles than anyone else inside forward 50. Jack Macrae is one of the best ball-winners in the AFL. But the dynamic Pie has developed into a far more settled and consistent player -- last year's preliminary final against Sydney notwithstanding -- over the last two 18 months. 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. Overall, the team that gathers more possessions wins 7 in 10 matches. But Smith's running gifts extend beyond endurance. Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images. Josh Dunkley will play for the Lions in 2023. 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. . in Neale. Comben, who has a history of left-leg injuries, was hurt when he went for a mark in the opening quarter. Clayton Oliver is well and truly on the way to making this category his own. 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. AFL 2023: What are the roots of the Tigers' struggles in 2023? Last year, only Tom Hawkins, Christian Petracca and Jeremy Cameron averaged more score involvements per game, while nobody launched a higher percentage of their team's scores than Walker. Luke Parker is the heart and soul of the Swans. Anderson always seems to lift in the clutch moments, playing his best footy late in games. I had absolutely no hesitation in making that declaration following Petracca's 2021 Grand Final heroics. He defended the most leads in the competition (80) yet conceded a mark just 56% of the time, the third lowest rate of anyone. AFL Draft the 10 most underrated prospects - ESPN You guessed it, I'm a skeptic of the ruck position. And would I be surprised if he's once again a consensus top five player by season's end. Michael Willson/Getty Images, Club: Western BulldogsPosition: Mid-forward. If he's able to mesh that 2021 goalkicking form with his 2022 production, then just like it was with Martin, few will argue Petracca's not No. In fact, it seems that the type of mark is less important than its location. That in itself highlights just how exceptional the young Docker was in 2022, providing a much-needed spark in a year where former skipper Nat Fyfe just couldn't get on the park. Tom Liberatore and dad Tony ahead of 2022's Retro Round. I really hope the answer to all three is 'yes' and we see Fyfe back on a footy field doing what he does best. Brownlow medallist Tom Mitchell set the standard for most disposals in 2018 when he famously ran around without a tagger to gather the ball 54 times against Collingwood. 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. It seemed everyone had already crowned him the next well, insert literally any AFL legend! Actual Hit Rate: How often a player hits the intended target (including50/50 contests) when attempting a kick. There aren't many players with more potential than Jordan De Goey. He also ranked 13th in 2022 for score involvements, the eighth-highest rated midfielder in the category. Michael Willson/Getty Images. However, it is possible to give the tackle count some relevance. The ESPN Footy Podcast boys discuss who didn't make Jake's Top 50 AFL players. Player TM Years # GM Ave. Robert Harvey: SK: 1988-2008: 9656: 383: 25.21: Simon Black: BL: 1998-2013: 7580: 322: 23.54: Scott . On Monday mornings at ESPN Australia headquarters, football debates and hypotheticals provide as much energy as the 9:30 a.m. coffee run. 1 intercept man in the league, averaging 9.5 per game (the next best had 8.5), and took more marks than any other defender. Ruby Schleicher, Collingwood - intercept possessions. The loss comes ahead of a difficult month that includes away games to Geelong and the Western Bulldogs and the visits of St Kilda and Brisbane, but there were plenty of positives for the Crows which shouldnt be lost in the final result. Now how many have done that and averaged 17 or more disposals per game? Playing for a team that have not been part of finals, Cripps missed out on topping the mark by just 13 contested touches in 2018, and possesses the second-highest average of any player in the top ten, with 17.59 contested possessions per game. Jack Crisp is an elite line-breaker and midfield runner. His masterpiece performance might well have been his effort on Sydney spearhead Lance Franklin in their qualifying final, holding him to just two kicks and no score, albeit in a loss. The tense contest continued in the third, with the Magpies resolute amid pressure with Adelaide winning the inside 50s 17-9. Add in four inside 50s, a couple of clearances and tackles per game and you've got yourself a very, very nice player. On average, the winning team has received 17 free kicks and given away 16 hardly a significant difference. Midfielders and mid-forwards made up 64% of the list, followed by key forwards at 16%. Tom Lynch is one of more underrated forwards in the league. Picture: AFL Photos, Fremantle players celebrate a goal during the R4 clash against GWS on April 9, 2022. No surprise he ranked No. 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. Dylan Burns/Getty Images. Which teams fared the best? Contested possessions: 13.2 (9th) Inside 50s: 6.2 (2nd) Clearances: 6.7 (11th) AFL Player Rating points: 16.4 (8th) v West Coast, Round 1, 2023 Disposals: 32 (8th) Contested possessions: 19 (=2nd) Inside 50s: 7 (10th) Clearances: 10 (2nd) AFL Player Rating points: 24.2 (3rd) Statistics: Champion Data IT'S GREATER THAN JUST A SEAT AT THE GAME He's well and truly over the hump, having played 358 games, but I bet there's not a single person who will disagree with the smooth-moving Pendlebury making the top 50. The Swans' dashing halfback Ollie Florent was a curious match-up on Greene for much of the contest and was mostly able to nullify the Giants' dangerman near goal. In tight, he's equally as effective, able to win clearances and set up attacking thrusts from stoppages. Ladies and gentleman, the best player in the AFL! Jack Steele high-fives Saints fans at Marvel Stadium. Crazy, I know. contested touches, still play that game with the missus sometimes ! AFL Club West Coast Other Teams Golden State Warriors . 2-ranked interceptor, No. Here he is! Taylor Walker is one of the best attacking weapons in the AFL. Comben was hospitalised with a suspected broken leg. 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. Required fields are marked *. With 425 in 2016, 423 in 2012, and 410 in 2013, Kennedy made an art form of winning the hard ball and dishing off to a teammate. I've got to be honest, I was totally convinced Walker's career was finished about two or three years back. 3-ranked player in the league for pressure acts (26.8 per game). That average of 2.7 per outing ranks him fourth in the league. All data entered is sent securely via SSL to our system. Tackles per opposition possession is a much more useful metric, as it takes the number of tackling opportunities into account, albeit crudely. 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. Cameron is the highest-ranked non-midfielder on this list. What's more impressive is that in no way whatsoever does he appear to be slowing down, playing more minutes than anyone else in the competition last year en route to another premiership. Second in the AFL for contested possessions (average 15.9 a game) behind Clayton Oliver, and second in the league in centre clearances (behind Dylan Shiel), there is no doubting Neale's quality . Boy, was I wrong. AFL news 2023: Round 7 Report Card, highlights, grades, analysis, every The Rozee vs. Sam Walsh debate raged on during the pair's debut season, but by the end of year three the consensus seemed to be that Carlton's top pick was the clear-cut superior selection. By the numbers: Cripps' magic milestone - Carlton Football Club This service may include material from Agence France-Presse (AFP), APTN, Reuters, AAP, CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced. Watch the best highlights from an eventful round. Michael Willson/Getty Images. From lock-down midfielder to one of the game's ultra elite, it's been an incredible rise for Miller over the last two years. The 10 best AFL players at quarter time of the 2023 season - ESPN Skip to main content Skip to navigation > Search You have come to the Philippines Edition, for other ESPN editions, click here. That game? One other interesting note (and I don't think this counts as a spoiler), Dunkley is the only player on this list who will play at a new club in 2023. I'd be shocked if he wasn't universally considered a top 50 player until the day he hangs up the boots for good. Franklin is an undoubted member of the AFL's post-2000 Mount Rushmore and continues to prove that he can never, ever be written off. Sub Rhett Bazzo was then sent to Curnow, but it was Hurn's brief cameo on the spearhead that created the biggest highlight. Among all players who have played at least 50 AFL games Kennedy ranks fourth all-time in average clearances and average contested possessions. The slippery conditions provided a truly scrappy contest - but one player wasn't fumbling that day. It holds him in good stead if he is to play exclusively as a forward in 2023, and I have no doubt he can still provide valuable midfield support to the younger brigade, when required. Collingwood booted three goals to one in the final term, rallying after Chayce Jones extended the home side's lead to 22 points early in the last. There might not be a better mid-sized marking threat in the entire league than sticky-hands Heeney, who can pluck the ball when in a pack or take it on the lead at full tilt. Whilst Kennedys three 400+ contested possession seasons reign supreme, the chase from Oliver is well and truly on. It was the Hawks' (1-5) fourth straight loss, leaving them anchored to the bottom of the ladder. 1. AFL Report Card, Round 6 2021: AFL analysis, every club graded, best Bailey is definitely someone to keep an eye on in 2023 as the Lions look for a deep September run. Now where's that shaking my head emoji Is Rory Laird the most underrated player in the AFL? 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. I know what you're thinking, Bontempelli at No. Dylan Burns/Getty Images. Some might even go so far as to say he's one of the most underrated players going around (yep, I'm one of them). Riewoldt has also moved into second place all-time behind Matthew Richardson for most games with at least four contested marks. AFL 2023 round 7 LIVE updates: St Kilda Saints v Port Adelaide Power No surprise he had the fourth-most kicks of anyone last year, as well as the most rebound 50s. He has also averaged the most centre clearances per game of any Sydney player per game so far in season 2023. He averages six tackles per game for his career and last season ranked fourth in the league for pressure acts. All-Star stats team: Shock leaders, lone Lion makes the cut - AFLW Cameron Spencer/Getty Images. The long-time Collingwood skipper, who stood down from his post this off-season, is one of the most revered and respected figures in the league. Matt Roberts/Getty Images. 7? Albert Perez/Getty Images. Of the new breed coming through the ranks, Sam Walsh is the best 22-and-under player in this category, with 214 to date in 2021, whilst Ports Willem Drew is next best at 179. 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. He looks a certain future skipper of the Dockers and I don't think anyone would be surprised if he's pushing for the top 15 come season's end. Stewart is also used as a distributor and attack launcher for the Cats, averaging a shade under 24 disposals, 18 kicks and six rebound 50s per game since the beginning of 2021. He was held goalless just once and was a multiple goal kicker on 14 occasions. 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. I expect him to hit the ground running in 2023 and quickly get back to his best. 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. Popular young livewire Arthur Jones kicked the sealer his first AFL goal to spark celebrations in the final few minutes. One aspect of Crisp's game that generally goes unnoticed is his elite pressure. There were some big moments with Crows captain Dawson's huge contested ball leading to Luke Pedlar's goal on the counter, while ex-skipper Rory Sloane's deadlock tackle helped open up a 16-point three-quarter time lead. The Giants' (3-4) key forward Jesse Hogan finished with two majors against the Swans' returning key defender Tom McCartin. Scary stuff. The Crows and Magpies clash in round seven. Melbourne v Richmond - The Doc's Autopsy - The Mongrel Punt Curnow started the match with undersized Eagles defender Josh Rotham for company, and the Carlton star burst out of the blocks with three contested marks and two goals in the first quarter.
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