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When I was asked to be involved in compiling The Roar‘s Top 50 AFL players, initially there was some trepidation.
Whenever you make a list based on personal preferences, you leave yourself wide open to criticism. I know there will be more people disagree – and vocally do so – than there will be those who more quietly agree.
But, it’s not even week one of the season yet, and by September my list will be long forgotten. So I thought, why not.
The Roar‘s top 50 AFL players – 1-10
But naming a top 50, do you go on best 50 from last season, best 50 based on their careers, or best 50 including both those things, plus, ranking some players on potential. I decided to factor in all three, but as it is the AFL’s Top 50 now, a lot of my selections were based on 2014 form.
Yesterday, Cam went through the Roar’s top 10. Seven of my own top 10 made it. My other three – I say inexplicably – missed out. My numbers 11, 12 and 15 found a place in the top 10 in their place.
11. Patrick Dangerfield (Adelaide)
While he didn’t have a career season in 2014, I am a little mystified that Dangerfield couldn’t crack the top 10. I had him at six and stand by that ranking.
Some of his numbers were down in 2014, but he’s still one of those players you just love to watch, with dazzling speed and acceleration. And his numbers still stacked up well – leading his club in several categories and in Brownlow votes.
The bottom line too is that when Dangerfield is on, so are the Crows.
Patrick Dangerfield makes number 11 on the list. (Photo: James Elsby/AFL Media)
12. Robbie Gray (Port Adelaide)
I had Gray at 13 but would not have been shocked nor disappointed if he found a spot in the top 10 after what can only be described as a career year in 2014. Like Danger, when Gray fired in 2014, the Power usually got home.
He averaged 25 disposals a game, kicked 42 goals and led the AFL for goal assists with 33. The one reason I didn’t put him in the top 10 was that he has at times been hot and cold.
With a consistent year, I’ll be the first one to admit I was wrong and put him in the top 10 in 2016.
13. Tom Hawkins (Geelong)
Ok, I admit I went a little wide with the Tomahawk. I think having Mitch Clark as another target in the Cats’ forward line will give Hawkins the opportunity to have a great season, but while his kicking for goal has improved significantly, I couldn’t find a lofty spot for him in my 50 based on 2014.
14. Tom Rockliff (Brisbane)
I know that sometimes players who are just above average, can look like stars on the stats sheets particularly when they play in struggling teams.
Glance at Rockliff’s numbers from 2014 and he looks like a gun, with a staggering 589 possessions at an average of 31 per game. But there is more to Rockliff, he’s tough, can obviously find the ball in traffic, and has a great footy brain.
I only had him at 20, but I can easily see why Cameron had him in his top 10.
15.Matt Priddis (West Coast)
Yes I do know that this is the Brownlow Medal winner, and he has ended up higher than I had him, but only just. I had Priddis at 17.
You can’t knock his effort and he is a vital cog in the Eagles’ line-up, but does he deserve to be any higher than 15? I say not, and I can’t argue that there are at least 14 better players in the AFL.
Matt Priddis will take to the field for the first time as a Brownlow Medalist this year. (Photo: Daniel Carson/AFL Media)
16.Jobe Watson (Essendon)
Maybe he just got a little lost as I was trying to forget all about anything Essendon from the past couple of years. I dropped Jobe in at 40, in reality I should have put him about 20 places higher, but, like players, we all make mistakes.
His past two seasons have been a little shy of the brilliant 2012, but the facts are his stats are still very good and when Jobe fires, the Bombers are extremely hard to beat.
17. Luke Parker (Sydney)
Well I have to admit this was one I was surprised about. I had Parker at eight and, contrary to what some may think, it’s not because I am based in Sydney and see plenty of the Swans.
The kid is a star, and was among the Swans’ best throughout 2014. I know Kennedy gets the wraps, but Parker is his equal, if not – based on 2014 – just ahead, which was where I put him.
Great to watch, and as far as I’m concerned, everyone will agree by the years’ end that he’s a top 10 player.
18. Jordan Lewis (Hawthorn)
I know Jordan Lewis is one of those types of players who unless you follow Hawthorn, you really don’t like him. I’m the same, but credit where it is due, he was one of, if not the leading light in the premiership winning team.
He’s tough, he’s smart, can play several roles, and while Luke Hodge, Jarryd Roughhead, Sam Mitchell, Cyril Rioli, Shaun Burgoyne and others get the headlines, Lewis is the real star.
I cannot believe he’s not in the top 10. Stunned even. I had him at five so you can imagine how shocked I was to discover some of my colleagues couldn’t find a spot for him in their top 45. Wow.
19. Dayne Beams (Brisbane)
I know Cameron had Beams at six but personally I had him outside my top 30.
Sure he’s clever, skillful, can do it going both ways, but in what was a poor season for the Lions, I didn’t see him as a standout too often.
At his best, sure top 10, but I just think we don’t see enough of it.
Dayne Beams was the Lions’ big signing, but the whole team is looking much better rounded for 2015. (Photo: Jason O’Brien/AFL Media)
20. Rory Sloane (Adelaide)
For me he’s still a little way off top 10 quality, but Rory Sloane is one of the game’s elite.
He’s ferocious both with and without the ball. A tenacious defender who averaged 6.7 tackles a game last season to go with his 24 weekly touches. I had Sloane at 19. I can live with 20.
Well that’s my bit, numbers 11-20.
Some of my selections ended up higher than I expected, some lower, and the occasional one, I happened to get right. Overall, not many complaints, except one. I still can’t believe my number 22 pick, Shane Mumford, could not figure in the top 50 of three of our judges, and managed number 48 on the other’s list.
I know GWS can be hard to watch at times, but you need to look closer at the big fella everyone!
Anyway, I’m sure someone will probably take swing at me for my picks over the next three days too.
As will some of you readers no doubt.
Here’s the top 20 so far:
1.Gary Ablett (Gold Coast)
2.Nathan Fyfe (Fremantle)
3.Lance Franklin (Sydney)
4.Scott Pendlebury (Collingwood)
5.Joel Selwood (Geelong)
6.Josh Kennedy (Sydney)
7.Luke Hodge (Hawthorn)
8.Travis Boak (Port Adelaide)
9.Jarryd Roughead (Hawthorn)
10.Dyson Heppell (Essendon)
11.Patrick Dangerfield (Adelaide)
12.Robbie Gray (Port Adelaide)
13.Tom Hawkins (Geelong)
14.Tom Rockliff (Brisbane)
15.Matt Priddis (West Coast)
16.Jobe Watson (Essendon)
17.Luke Parker (Sydney)
18.Jordan Lewis (Hawthorn)
19.Dayne Beams (Brisbane)
20.Rory Sloane (Adelaide)
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