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My AFL Leaders team consists of the best 22 players from the leadership groups of all 18 clubs for the 2018 season.
It has been an interesting exercise and in some ways challenging to fit them all in.
The 2018 AFL Leaders
B: Alex Rance (Richmond Tigers), Michael Hurley (Essendon Bombers), Nick Smith (Sydney Swans)
HB: Dane Rampe (Sydney Swans), Robbie Tarrant (North Melbourne Kangaroos), Dylan Roberton (St Kilda Saints)
C: Andrew Gaff (West Coast Eagles), Matt Crouch (Adelaide Crows), Isaac Smith (Hawthorn Hawks)
HF: Luke Parker (Sydney Swans), Tom Lynch (Gold Coast Suns), Tom Rockliff (Port Adelaide Power)
F: Steele Sidebottom (Collingwood Magpies), Joe Daniher (Essendon Bombers), Shaun Higgins (North Melbourne Kangaroos)
Foll: Jarrod Witts (Gold Coast Suns), Josh Kelly (Greater Western Sydney Giants), Zach Merrett (Essendon Bombers)
Int: Nat Fyfe (Fremantle Dockers), Rory Sloane (Adelaide Crows), Marcus Bontempelli (Western Bulldogs Bulldogs), Taylor Adams (Collingwood Magpies)
Back line
The back six are exceptional. Alex Rance was the All Australian captain last season, while Dylan Roberton was a part of the All Australian squad of 40 last season. Nick Smith and Dane Rampe play their roles for the Swans with no fuss, and Rampe in particular has the flexibility of being able to play on a small and a tall opposition forward. Robbie Tarrant and Michael Hurley are normally responsible for the opposition’s key forwards.
Midfield
Andrew Gaff and Isaac Smith fit onto the magnet board because they are the best two players who ply their trade on the wing. I understand that there are better midfielders than them, but they are the best fit on the wing. Matt Crouch had the most possessions of any player in the AFL last season.
(Daniel Carson/AFL Media/Getty Images)
Forward line
The forwards all have natural ability. Joe Daniher and Tom Lynch are probably up there with the best key forwards in the competition and they both have youth on their side.
Luke Parker is someone who goes under the radar – he was the leading tackler for the Swans last season. Shaun Higgins is just about the best player for the Kangaroos and has the capacity to push up to the midfield, as does Tom Rockliff, who has fitted straight into the Power leadership group without playing a game for the club.
Steele Sidebottom played as a forward as a junior and should play there quite a bit for the Magpies this season.
Followers
I regard Jarrod Witts highly – he has worked hard to be the number one ruckman for the Suns. Josh Kelly and Zach Merrett are two players who should appear on the Brownlow leaderboard this season – they don’t waste a possession; both of them use the footy well and rarely turn the ball over.
Interchange bench
All four interchange players could fit into any midfield in the competition. They are all quality players who have a lot of composure when they dispose of the footy.
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