We talk and talk about some of the best in the game, like Gary Ablett and Lance Franklin. And in recent times, we have talked a lot about which of the AFL’s stars are overrated.
Over the past month, people in the media have placed the likes of Nic Naitanui and Aaron Sandilands in this category.
But what about the unsung heroes? The players that are brilliant at what they do, but for a mix of reasons don’t get the credit they deserve.
I have compiled a shortlist of the most underrated players in the competition.
Joel Patfull – Brisbane Lions
The Lions’ best and fairest winner of the past two years simply never gets the kudos he has earned. Patfull is a sturdy and ever-reliable defender who, with Daniel Merrett, leads the young Lions backline.
Brodie Smith – Adelaide
The young Crow could walk down any Melbourne street and nobody would know who he was. In South Australia, he’s a big name. A high draft pick in the 2010 draft, he has played 60 games to date.
He is capable of using his run and carry to attack dangerously from defence, a player who is incredibly valuable to the Crows, but remains relatively unknown away from home.
Matt de Boer – Fremantle
Quite ironic that he has been omitted from the Dockers clash against West Coast this weekend. But ask any Fremantle supporter, they’d have him in their best 22. He is a brilliant tackler and stopper who can sacrifice his own game to go head-to-head with an opponent.
Not known for his polish, but a valuable part of the Fremantle side who too probably deserves a little more credit than he gets.
Eric Mackenzie – West Coast
If you ask me, he’s one of the best backmen going around. But again, a lot of people probably haven’t heard of him. He was deservedly awarded with an All-Australian nomination in 2013.
Tries and tries all day, and I’d say one of the Eagles’ first to be picked if they were playing in a grand final tomorrow.
Colin Garland – Melbourne
Was he lucky to make the list? Well, maybe. But his side currently miss him in a big way. Garland is primarily a defender, but has shown he can be thrown forward when needed, and his influence up forward has made an impact in the past.
Justin Westhoff – Port Adelaide
This time last year he was probably the most underrated in the game, but since then more and more have come to realise just what he does. He works hard, covers the whole ground, can play back or forward, and when he does play in attack, he kicks goals.
Took a while to really come on, but he has now, and we are seeing him in his prime.
Only six players, but if I had to pick the six most underrated going around at the moment, this is the ones I would have.
Interestingly, four of them are primarily defenders. Does this suggest anything about how we perhaps give the defenders less acknowledgement than they deserve?
BigAl
Guest
So true !
aydosv
Roar Rookie
Luke Ball - Collingwood.
Michael huston
Guest
I don't think any Hawthorn players should be on this list if you've watched any Hawks games commentated by Bruce McAvaney. A Hawks player only needs to touch the ball and it's commentated like some kind of wizardry was being performed.
jim
Guest
Luke Breust, Tendai Mzungu, James Gwilt
J.T.Delacroix
Guest
Simpson of Carlton. There are many others obviously, but he's under rated.
Tim Holt
Roar Guru
but when is he talked up as he star he is- in the prelim last year against us, every one talked up the loss chappy was for the cats, but enright was the crucial one. A bit like us this year, with ppl talking up what a loss buddy is, but to alot of hawks fans, guerras retirement was the bigger loss
Michael huston
Guest
Yeah he's brilliant as the loose man in defense but he's fantastic in contests. His spoils and work rate are terrific. I think he's under-rated because hes been one of our most consistent, reliable players yet hes only in his second season.
dave
Guest
Tendai Mzungu for Freo
macca
Guest
The thing about "feelings" is that they influence the way oyu watch the game, you think Rampe turns the ball over all the time so everytime he does it stands out in you memory and validates your thoughts - although it may not actually be happneing when you look at the stats. 78% efficiency is failry high.
Dalgety Carrington
Guest
Although wasn't he playing loose man in defence (or plus 1) for that Freo game? Always think the loose man in defence looks much better than they really are. It galls that Lake got the Norm Smith for basically playing loose man in defence, devalues the medal a little for me.
Cat
Roar Guru
Rampe had 25 disposals against Melbourne in round 6. For season 2014 Rampe is going at 77.9% effective disposal rate and averaging 2 clangers per game.
TomC
Roar Guru
Absolutely not. Don't recall him getting 25 possessions in a game, but I stand to be corrected. He was excellent against Fremantle a couple of weeks ago. Amongst Sydney's best. EDIT: 22 touches against Freo. I suppose that's close enough to 25. I live blogged that game and I honestly cannot recall one turnover.
macca
Guest
Not sure a 5 time All Australian, twice club B&F (in premiership years), triple premiership winnner can be called under-rated Tim.
Cat
Roar Guru
Enright is definitely rated, true superstar.
Dalgety Carrington
Guest
In no way is Enright underrated. Always talked up, especially by Geelong, who rate him as the best small defender (ever I think they say).
Scott Anderson
Guest
Totally agree with Jonas. Can play tall or small (for example has been known to shut down Taylor Walker and Eddie Betts at different times, cant get much more versatile than that), and as you said rarely gets beaten. He's also tough as nails, you can just about hear his hits from the stands. He also uses the ball well, if he could just maybe get a little bit more of it that'd be handy, but thats really just me picking at straws.
Tim Holt
Roar Guru
If I was listing Cats players- Enright- to me , he is the best and most complete defender in the AFL. He can play on smalls/mids, and I am sure bigs if needed. In my mind, he would be a perfect match for Buddy Franklin. Plus, he is very effective in the midfield- great player, that is rarely talked up
Cat
Roar Guru
Speaking only of Geelong: Tom Lonergan is way underrated, barely ever gets mentioned when people talk great defenders, yet takes the oppositions #1 forward almost every game and very rarely gets beaten.
Dalgety Carrington
Guest
Isn't it by definition that once a player makes an underrated list (or an overrated list for that matter) they are "rated" (or not rated) and therefore no longer "underrated" (or "overrated")? Seriously though, I do find the terms "underrated" and "overrated" to be based on such subjective and vague criteria as to be meaningless. They tend to be a way of someone making a statement that seemingly has meaning and thought, but doesn't really have those at all. Not to criticise this article per se, as I understand it's really a bit of fun and everyone loves a list. But I'm always wary of when a so called "expert" starts throwing around these terms, as I suspect they might be trying to give some added significance to their own opinion. Why not just say "I wouldn't have Sandilands in my side because of x or y", rather than hide under some vague notion of "ratedness"?
Winston
Guest
I have watched every game, including (either last one or the one before) when he got like 25 touches or something? The feeling I get every time he gets the ball is he will give it straight to the opposition's best forward standing unmarked in front of goal. Doesn't anyone else get that feeling about him?