With Luke Breust, Luke Dahlhaus and Dustin Martin in contention for a spot in the All-Australian forward six, there won’t be a spot for two of Port Adelaide’s best small forwards.
Both Robbie Gray and Chad Wingard have had milestone years, reaching 100 games and 50 games respectively. The pair are crucial players for the Power.
Wingard’s only poor game this season was on the weekend, compounded by Jay Schulz giving him a kick to the head as he flew to try and take a massive mark. Wingard was stretchered off and subbed out of the game with concussion and only five touches.
Round 10 against Hawthorn, Round 8 against Fremantle and Round 2 against Adelaide have been Chad Wingard’s best games this season thus far. Against Hawthorn Wingard kicked the goal of the week and executed the “handball of the year” according to Channel Seven commentator Brian Taylor. He finished the game with three goals.
The 2013 John Cahill medalist sparked the Power in their clash with Fremantle kicking three third term goals. Wingard had the chance to kick five goals but couldn’t capitalise, particularly after taking a mark of the year nominee.
Wingard also delivered in Adelaide Oval’s first showdown kicking four goals.
Robbie Gray is clearly back to full fitness after suffering an ACL injury early in the 2012 season. It was a long road back for the 26-year-old.
In 2011 Gray was one of Port Adelaide’s best players during a dismal season for his club. Gray, as a midfielder, was the Power’s leading goal kicker in 2011 with 32. This year Gray is on track to beat his 2011 tally, having already kicked 17 majors. Gray is averaging 23 disposals and is equal fourth for goal assists in the competition.
Gray’s best game this season came against the West Coast Eagles in Round 5. In a tough contest at Pattersons Stadium, Gray led the power for the whole game, finishing with two goals and 24 disposals. The 100-gamer has had two 30-possession hauls against GWS and Fremantle. Most of his possessions against Fremantle were in the final quarter.
His season best performance for goals was in the Power’s triple-digit thumping of Brisbane in Round 4, where he kicked four himself.
Chad Wingard is certainly a big game player, has freakish skills and certainly a lot of x-factor. The 21-year-old is arguably in the top ten players of competition when on song, lethal in both the air and on the ground. But if the All-Australian team was chosen tomorrow, Robbie Gray would be selected.
Likely to currently be in the top three of Port’s best and fairest, Gray is a versatile player who carries a lot of value.
The stats do the talking when choosing out of Gray and Wingard. Gray averages eight more disposals than Wingard, however Wingard has kicked four more goals than Gray this season. Gray also can play both inside and outside the contest whereas Wingard stays more outside. Gray is third at his club for contested possessions behind Ollie Wines and Travis Boak. Gray also averages five more uncontested possessions than Chad Wingard.
It should be remembered that Gray accumulates more disposals as he spends more time in the midfield compared to the 2013 All Australian.
It may only be halfway through the season but Chad Wingard and Robbie Gray would have certainly caught the eye of All-Australian selectors.
Llpp
Guest
Both should definitely be in the team...Gray deserves it...he has had a magnificent year to date in the midfield and up forward...chad has been given more of a high forward role this season so far, hence less possessions but he is a game changer...Robbie has been a game changer too, both have done spectacular things, both have been solid and both have a knack of bobbing up at crucial moments...just because they both play for the same team, is no reason to leave one out... Wingard is incredible.
MFairPlay
Roar Guru
Thank you, LeCras is one of my favourite players to watch in the AFL.
Gecko
Guest
I forgot to say thanks for the article Ben. Got us all thinking about small forwards. Ps. Lucky Ballantyne, Le Cras and Walters have all had serious injuries this year. Otherwise you'd have the West Australians on your case.
Michael huston
Guest
No Luke Parker?
Cameron Rose
Expert
I think Tex has started too late to be truly considered for an AA spot, but I've loved the way he's been moving. Disposal was very sloppy in the first couple of games as he got the rust out, but he's been a commanding presence already.
Barneythecrab
Guest
Would you swap Hawkins, Reiwoltd or Shultz for Walker if he continues with his form from the Gold Coast game? I would die to his ability around the field and not just up forwards.
MFairPlay
Roar Guru
Wingard himself; Second Showdown of last year. I did say "arguably."
Gecko
Guest
Wingard "is arguably in the top ten players of competition when on song". That's a stretch. Since when have games been won or lost by small forwards? Top 40 probably, and Breust would be top 30, but most of the top 40 positions would be taken by midfielders and tall forwards. Club best and fairest counts tell us this.
Barneythecrab
Guest
Gray for sure. Is an absolute gun and always playing hard footy. Wingard is good but very soft around the ball and there's probably 5 players you would put in there before him
hardnut
Guest
What planet are you on? I follow AFL avidly but happen to live in the rest of the world where it is religion. The FIFA World Cup is bigger than the Olympics. Even in the USA, soccer is taking over at the grassroots level. The only part of the world in which you will find temporary refuge is in South Asia.
hardnut
Guest
Um, two Geelong players in the front 6? Of course, they were fantastic against Sydney last weekend, weren't they...?
Cameron Rose
Expert
Robbie Gray definitely, especially as selectors like to have a quasi-midfielder or sometimes genuine midfielder on one of the flanks. Gray on one half-forward flank would be a certainty if the side was named right now. Bruest in a forward pocket would be another. An AA forward six might look something like: HF - Robbie Gray, Nick Riewoldt, Steve Johnson FF - Luke Bruest, Jay Schulz, Tom Hawkins
Radelaide
Guest
Robbie Gray has been in all Australian form but he has been doing from the midfield too, where Wingard has been very good for periods in the forward line.
Gyfox
Guest
Crashy, you know very well that the All Australian team is the best players in Australia & doesn't have to play anyone else to prove it. Unlike the socceroos, who have to play the other side of the world to justify their existence. And the fact of soccer being the so-called "World Game" was shown for what it really is when News.com had an amusing article today about how ignorant Americans are about it all. If soccer hadn't made it in the USA by now it is never going to be a world game!
Tim Holt
Roar Guru
You can never tell with the AA selection committee for it is obvious they have favs and agendas meaning rarely the best is picked. But on the topic of a small forward I think this table is a good guide with it appear Bruest being head and shoulders above any one else. You would think Wingard would get in, and then maybe they go a defensive option meaning Gray misses out Combined goals and goal assists for 2014 1 Luke Breust 45 2 Jack Gunston 37 3 Jack Riewoldt 36 4 Tom Hawkins 35 5 Jay Schulz 34 6 Lance Franklin 32 7 Jarryd Roughead 31 8 Nick Riewoldt 30 9 Tom Lynch 30 10 Josh Kennedy 29 11 Chad Wingard 29 12 Matthew Pavlich 29 13 Gary Ablett 29 14 Lindsay Thomas 28 15 Jamie Elliott 27 16 Eddie Betts 27 17 Brandon Matera 25 18 Stewart Crameri 22 19 Jeremy Cameron 21 20 Josh Jenkins 20
johno
Guest
Given the history of AA selections they will pick someone else, probably Motlop ... seriously look who's on the AA panel Andrew Demetriou (chairman - bound to be replaced my Gillon "Windswept and Interesting" Mclachlan), Kevin Bartlett, Luke Darcy, Mark Evans, Danny Frawley, Glen Jakovich, Cameron Ling and Mark Ricciuto
Boris
Guest
Wingard has played poorly a numer of times, gray has been significantly better than Wingard
Crashy
Guest
What fixture does the Australian team play when it is chosen? Is it the international rules games or another opponent?