Now that we’ve had five rounds, it’s becoming clearer which young players are making their mark on the competition.
I’ve picked my top five, although it’s an issue I intend to revisit as the season goes on.
Generally, I’ve looked at players who could be part of an under-23 team, regardless of games played (for example, mature-aged draftees can also be included).
This gives a better guide than the best first-year player or the best player under 21 as the Rising Star award does, because most of the players who fit that profile tend to be inconsistent and extremely inexperienced.
What I’m looking for here rather than simply raw talent is the young player who has had the biggest impact on their team so far in 2018. Let’s have a look at the initial group of players.
5. Riley Bonner – Port Adelaide
I’ve been a fan of Bonner since he was drafted, and while it’s been a frustrating wait for him to fulfil his potential, he’s certainly done that at the beginning of this year.
Like teammate Darcy Byrne-Jones, who came from nowhere to establish himself in Port’s best team two years ago, Bonner reads the play well, and his raking left boot has allowed him to launch plenty of scoring chains off half-back.
With Jasper Pittard’s injury, Bonner has taken the chance to establish himself as an excellent rebounding defender. Stats-wise he’s averaging 21 disposals, five marks, and four rebound 50s, and he’s also ranked 11th in total metres gained. He’s already got a Rising Star nomination in the bank for his first-round, 31-disposal performance against Fremantle.
(AAP Image/Mark Brake)
4. Brayden Fiorini – Gold Coast
In a Gold Coast team that badly needs some x-factor, Fiorini is a shining light. He’s been consistent, classy and creative playing as a wingman, averaging 21 disposals, five marks, three tackles and three clearances and inside 50s per game.
He apparently worked hard on his defensive game in the offseason and is reaping the rewards. One area he does need to improve is his disposal efficiency – he’s ranked 16th in the competition for total turnovers.
(AAP Image/Julian Smith)
3. Jeremy Finlayson – Greater Western Sydney
Finlayson has been nothing short of excellent. He played only one game last year, his third on the GWS list, but already looks to have cemented his spot in the team after playing all six games to start the year.
With injuries affecting GWS’s defensive stocks, Finlayson has come in and looked right at home, averaging 20 disposals, four marks, two tackles and five rebound 50s.
Emphasising his impact is the fact he’s ranked third in total rebound 50s, 17th in total intercepts and 20th in metres gained in the competition – pretty impressive numbers for a player who has played seven games. Experienced defenders Matt Buntine and Adam Kennedy, both on the comeback from injury, will find it difficult to displace Finlayson.
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2. Tom Doedee – Adelaide
The Crows sprung a massive surprise when they took Doedee with pick 17 in the 2015 draft, but it seems to have been an astute decision. In his third year on the list he’s stepped into Jake Lever’s large shoes and hasn’t missed a beat.
He made his debut in Round 1 and looks to be going from strength to strength. Just take a look at his numbers: 19.5 disposals, seven marks, two tackles and four rebound 50s. He’s also ranked 16th in total marks, tenth in total intercepts and, perhaps most remarkably, eighth in the competition for effective disposal percentage.
He’s already been rewarded with the Round 2 Rising Star nomination, and at this stage he looks like a worthy winner of the award.
(AAP Image/Sam Wundke)
1. Tom Phillips – Collingwood
At 22, after 30 games, and entering his third season on the list, Phillips seems to be hitting his straps – and not a moment too soon for Collingwood’s midfield.
In his six games this year, Phillips is averaging 28 disposals, five marks, three tackles and two clearances – that’s an improvement of six possessions. Competition-wide he’s also ranked 18th and 20th respectively for total uncontested possessions and disposals per game.
His pace and decision-making have seen him become an important part of what is generally a one-paced Pies midfield, and he’s quickly establishing himself as arguably the best young player in the game.
Honourable mentions
Hugh McLuggage, Jaiydn Stephenson, Harry Morrison and Alex Pearce.
Redbacks fan
Guest
Both have proven to be very good at reading the play intercept marking and are both average kicks. Where Lever has the advantage is that I think he should develop into a key defender in time which will make him the more valuable player. The advantage Deodee has is that he is significantly faster than Lever and seems to hold his position better in marking contests which makes him better at defending mid sized forwards. As the role that Lever was, and Doedee now is playing is as a 3rd or 4th defender, I agree that Deodee is the better fit in the Adelaide backline at the moment.
Kane
Guest
Who's Kurt? I need to compare my club to your club because YOU are always the first to have to have a negative comment about Carlton which is fine because that's your perogative. We will compare AFL flags than shall we. Carlton 1 compared to your 2 clubs 1. I really couldn't care less what you think about Carlton anymore because you're laughable really and now it seems that most other people on this site are thinking exactly the same way.
User
Roar Rookie
Well done don you revert once again to tantrum status, that is your want but a girlfriend may help with your frustration levels.
User
Roar Rookie
Always had low expectations when it came to getting a intelligent response from you in regards to football, glad you value not surprising people.
Don Freo
Guest
Doesn't alter the fact that he is a beautiful kick. You guys see one error and define a player's career by it. That's dumb.
Don Freo
Guest
Read my previous comment. You don't need my approval to lower your expectations.
Macca
Guest
What you expect is irrelevant- if he kicked 10 and had 50 possessions but the blues lost you would apparently still think it wasn't a break out performance. All this line of thinking does is once again demonstrate your intellectual limitations.
Mattyb
Guest
TTF,stand on your own two feet mate,make a comment that doesn't rely on others. This is a sports website not a joke like Bigfooty,you seem a long way from home.
User
Roar Rookie
A couple of his turnovers became goals for wce, in tight games those mistakes are critical.
Kane
Guest
I actually think Doedee is better suited for you blokes then Lever was, he looks the goods.
Kane
Guest
Who's Kurt? Ok then we will compare AFL flags. 1 to Carlton to your 1 combined from your 2 clubs. And I need to compare Carlton to Footscray because YOU are a Footscray supporter and YOU keep bagging Carlton as a "club" but yet the "clubs" that YOU support and are supposedly a member of are a long, long way behind in history and success. So why wouldn't I bring up the clubs that YOU follow when YOU are having a crack at the club that I support. I'm going to ask you a question here Mattyb which I don't expect to be answered. WHY DO YOU GET SO DEFENSIVE (or ignore) WHEN YOU GET QUESTIONS OR REPLIES ABOUT YOUR OWN CLUBS HAPPENINGS? I am and so is pretty much everyone else on this site is happy to respond to a question whether it be negative or positive about their own club after commenting about another club but when a question comes back at you about who you support it's almost like we're expecting a harrassment claim to come through. And to answer and to as your question about "why do I compare Carlton to Footscray players" (which mind you I have never done because I respect every player that has played the game) I will reply with a question. WHY DO YOU HAVE TO YOU HAVE TO COMMENT NEGATIVELY ON EVERYTHING CARLTON? Are you an ex player maybe that just wasn't good enough to make it that holds a grudge? I put the questions in capital letters in case you didn't understand.
User
Roar Rookie
Do I have to break it down further for you don? 3 goals indicates a break even game with Pearce. If he had gotten four goals+ ppl would say he won the match up. As I was highly complimentary of Pearce a fact you have bypassed to again blame umpiring I am again feeling empathy for you and your inability to construct decent points.
Don Freo
Guest
He is a beautiful kick. Make things up, why don't you.
Don Freo
Guest
If you are happy with 3 goals as Kennedy's new normal, good on you.
User
Roar Rookie
I'm not dismissing Pearce game or how well he played just it was a break even performance as both players played their role, goals are the measure of a fwd and jk got his avg, Pearce executed some beautiful spoils. Both played their role and broke even in my opinion
Jonboy
Guest
6x6 prior to Sunday he kicked 16 in the last three clashes against Freo .
User
Roar Rookie
Jonboy he kicked three goals which is his career avg, His role is to kick goals which he did do there was no winner or loser in that match up
Jonboy
Guest
Considering eagles had way more inside fifty's and the ball spent most of the second term in there i think Pearce was the winner. JK did say he was beaten overall on the day.
User
Roar Rookie
I agree, my statement is ultimately there wasn't a winner or loser in the jk v Pearce match up they broke even. In other games Pearce has clearly been the dominant player in his match ups.
dontknowmuchaboutfootball
Guest
He has shanked a couple of kicks but is otherwise top shelf. Has negated some of the comps best forwards (only gave 2 to JK; the third was Hamling's) but also knows how to take the game on. Check the highlights of the games against Essendon and the Bulldogs to see just two instances where he won the ball from repeated efforts, took off between traffic and delivered the ball forward with a quality kick which in both cases directly led to goals.