With six weeks to go in the season, here are the AFL’s top 99 Meta-Player Of The Year contenders, as recognised by a range of evaluators.
For each player,I’ve listed point totals, as well as the number of games where they were recognised by at least 80 per cent of my sources (‘Prominent’ performances) and by 90 per cent of sources (‘Dominant’ performances), which are used as the tie-breakers between matching point totals.
Is it possible that a ruckman could win the Brownlow? Max Gawn has taken the lead over dormant superstar Nat Fyfe (who is ineligible in any case) in the Meta-Player race.
Following Round 17, when Gawn had his most influential game, he has reached the pinnacle of not just my list but many others as well. He and Fyfe are the only players who have excelled in over half of their games (Fyfe having only played in 13 games so far).
Behind those two sit ball-Hawk Tom Mitchell, young Blue Patrick Cripps, and 2017 Brownlow winner Dustin Martin. Other notable players include the second outstanding ruckman this season, Brodie Grundy of Collingwood (sixth), superstar Lance Franklin in ninth, despite having missed three games early in the season, and 2016 Brownlow winner Patrick Dangerfield in 17th.
(By the way, both Martin and Dangerfield were also the Meta-Player of the Year in 2017 and 2016, respectively.)
Patrick Dangerfield (AAP Image/Julian Smith)
Coleman Medal favourite Ben Brown is in 18th, newly minted 2012 Brownlow winner Trent Cotchin sits right behind him in 19th, and two-time MVP Gary Ablett now holds 32nd place.
The first Gold Coast players to show up on this list are Touk Miller and Tom Lynch, all the way down in 92nd and 93rd places. For comparison, every other team has at least three players above them on this list.
It begets the question – is it a lack of talent showing up, or does their lack of success lead to a lack of recognition? I would argue the former, since Carlton has been demonstrably less successful this year, yet those two Suns are looking up not only at Cripps in third, but also Kade Simpson and Charlie Curnow, with Ed Curnow right behind them as well.
| Round 17 Leaderboard | Player | Club | Points total | D(90%) | P(80%) |
| 1 | Max Gawn | MEL | 349 | 1 | 9 |
| 2 | Nat Fyfe | FRE | 344 | 4 | 7 |
| 3 | Tom Mitchell | HAW | 323 | 0 | 7 |
| 4 | Patrick Cripps | CAR | 311 | 3 | 5 |
| 5 | Dustin Martin | RCH | 288 | 3 | 4 |
| 6 | Brodie Grundy | COL | 277 | 3 | 5 |
| 7 | Clayton Oliver | MEL | 273 | 2 | 5 |
| 8 | Shaun Higgins | NM | 271 | 3 | 5 |
| 9 | Lance Franklin | SYD | 258 | 2 | 5 |
| 10 | Andrew Gaff | WC | 252 | 1 | 5 |
| 11 | Jack Macrae | WB | 246 | 2 | 3 |
| 12 | Joel Selwood | GEL | 231 | 1 | 3 |
| 13 | Steele Sidebottom | COL | 231 | 0 | 3 |
| 14 | Dayne Beams | BL | 229 | 1 | 4 |
| 15 | Jesse Hogan | MEL | 218 | 1 | 5 |
| 16 | Rory Laird | ADE | 217 | 0 | 3 |
| 17 | Patrick Dangerfield | GEL | 214 | 2 | 5 |
| 18 | Ben Brown | NM | 209 | 1 | 4 |
| 19 | Trent Cotchin | RCH | 208 | 3 | 5 |
| 20 | James Sicily | HAW | 208 | 0 | 2 |
| 21 | Robbie Gray | PA | 207 | 1 | 3 |
| 22 | Jack Darling | WC | 206 | 1 | 3 |
| 23 | Stephen Coniglio | GWS | 203 | 2 | 2 |
| 24 | Scott Pendlebury | COL | 198 | 1 | 4 |
| 25 | Dyson Heppell | ESS | 197 | 0 | 2 |
| 26 | Josh P Kennedy | SYD | 194 | 2 | 3 |
| 27 | Ben Cunnington | NM | 191 | 2 | 3 |
| 28 | Callan Ward | GWS | 188 | 3 | 3 |
| 29 | Shannon Hurn | WC | 187 | 0 | 2 |
| 30 | Elliot Yeo | WC | 185 | 1 | 3 |
| 31 | Jack Steven | STK | 183 | 2 | 3 |
| 32 | Gary Ablett | GEL | 180 | 2 | 3 |
| 33 | Jordan deGoey | COL | 180 | 1 | 2 |
| 34 | Dayne Zorko | BL | 178 | 2 | 3 |
| 35 | Alex Rance | RCH | 177 | 1 | 1 |
| 36 | Luke Breust | HW | 175 | 2 | 2 |
| 37 | Lachie Whitfield | GWS | 175 | 1 | 2 |
| 38 | Lachie Neale | FRE | 171 | 1 | 2 |
| 39 | Adam Treloar | COL | 168 | 1 | 2 |
| 40 | Ollie Wines | PA | 165 | 0 | 1 |
| 41 | Jake Lloyd | SYD | 163 | 1 | 2 |
| 42 | Jeremy McGovern | WC | 161 | 2 | 3 |
| 43 | Zach Merrett | ESS | 160 | 1 | 3 |
| 44 | Tom Phillips | COL | 160 | 1 | 2 |
| 45 | Shane Edwards | RCH | 158 | 1 | 4 |
| 46 | Tom McDonald | MEL | 157 | 2 | 4 |
| 47 | Harris Andrews | BL | 152 | 1 | 2 |
| 48 | Josh Caddy | RCH | 152 | 2 | 2 |
| 49 | Kane Lambert | RCH | 151 | 1 | 3 |
| 50 | Luke Parker | SYD | 151 | 2 | 2 |
| 51 | Stefan Martin | BL | 151 | 0 | 2 |
| 52 | Marc Bontempelli | WB | 150 | 0 | 2 |
| 53 | Isaac Heeney | SYD | 149 | 1 | 1 |
| 54 | Tom Stewart | GEL | 146 | 0 | 2 |
| 54 | Kade Simpson | CAR | 146 | 0 | 2 |
| 56 | Jack Redden | WC | 140 | 1 | 2 |
| 57 | Jaeger O’Meara | HAW | 137 | 0 | 2 |
| 58 | Angus Brayshaw | MEL | 136 | 0 | 2 |
| 59 | Mitch Duncan | GEL | 134 | 1 | 2 |
| 59 | Devon Smith | ESS | 134 | 1 | 2 |
| 61 | Charlie Curnow | CAR | 130 | 2 | 2 |
| 62 | Callum Sinclair | SYD | 130 | 0 | 1 |
| 63 | Justin Westhoff | PA | 129 | 0 | 2 |
| 64 | Bryce Gibbs | ADE | 128 | 0 | 2 |
| 64 | Tim Kelly | GEL | 128 | 0 | 2 |
| 66 | Jeremy Cameron | GWS | 126 | 1 | 2 |
| 67 | Jack Gunston | HAW | 125 | 0 | 1 |
| 68 | Josh Kelly | GWS | 123 | 2 | 2 |
| 69 | Isaac Smith | HAW | 120 | 1 | 1 |
| 70 | Jack Riewoldt | RCH | 119 | 1 | 1 |
| 71 | Paul Seedsman | ADE | 118 | 0 | 2 |
| 72 | Sam Menegola | GEL | 117 | 0 | 2 |
| 73 | Lachie Hunter | WB | 117 | 0 | 1 |
| 74 | Jarrad Waite | NM | 112 | 2 | 2 |
| 75 | Seb Ross | STK | 111 | 1 | 2 |
| 76 | Jeremy Howe | COL | 110 | 0 | 1 |
| 77 | Jade Gresham | STK | 109 | 1 | 3 |
| 78 | Tom Hawkins | GEL | 108 | 0 | 1 |
| 78 | Toby McLean | WB | 108 | 0 | 1 |
| 80 | Dylan Shiel | GWS | 107 | 0 | 0 |
| 81 | Chad Wingard | PA | 106 | 0 | 0 |
| 82 | Michael Walters | FE | 104 | 0 | 1 |
| 83 | Michael Hurley | ESS | 103 | 0 | 1 |
| 84 | Nic Naitanui | WC | 102 | 0 | 0 |
| 85 | Ben Ronke | SYD | 99 | 1 | 2 |
| 86 | Jack Ziebell | NM | 99 | 1 | 1 |
| 86 | Liam Shiels | HAW | 99 | 1 | 1 |
| 88 | Nick Vlastuin | RCH | 94 | 0 | 1 |
| 89 | Scott Thompson | MEL | 91 | 1 | 1 |
| 89 | Cale Hooker | ESS | 91 | 1 | 1 |
| 91 | Jared Polec | PA | 91 | 0 | 1 |
| 92 | Touk Miller | GC | 91 | 0 | 0 |
| 93 | Tom Lynch | GC | 90 | 1 | 1 |
| 94 | David Mundy | FRE | 89 | 1 | 1 |
| 94 | Ed Curnow | CAR | 89 | 1 | 1 |
| 96 | Ben Jacobs | NM | 88 | 0 | 1 |
| 97 | Taylor Walker | ADE | 84 | 0 | 0 |
| 97 | Jimmy Webster | STK | 84 | 0 | 0 |
| 99 | Tom Jonas | PA | 83 | 1 | 1 |
JamesH
Roar Guru
Yeah, there are a few Bombers that have been underrated in this process. Merrett behind Ablett and Steven? Smith behind O'Meara and Redden? Hooker at 89?!?!? I suppose it all gets a bit speculative outside the top 20, which is a solid list in itself.
Gordon P Smith
Roar Guru
That opens up an interesting line of thinking that I also track: if you add up all the points for all the players on each team so far this year, here's the ranking so far as of R17: Melbourne - 1978 Collingwood - 1967 Richmond - 1907 West Coast - 1868 Geelong - 1780 Sydney - 1763 Hawthorn - 1705 North - 1703 GWS - 1691 Adelaide - 1585 Port - 1572 Brisbane - 1563 Fremantle - 1524 Essendon - 1466 Western BD - 1301 St Kilda - 1242 Carlton - 1219 Gold Coast - 1020 It's not terribly out of line with the ladder, but it wiggles in curious places. Brisbane's been floating near 12th most of the season, more so over the last six or eight weeks (they were 16th after R10 and 13th after R14). Melbourne was as low as 13th in April, but jumped from 11th (R6) to 6th (R8) to 2nd (R14) and took first two weeks ago. Geelong has several players up over 100 points but not nearly as many in that mid-range; eyeballing the list, I'd guess maybe 4-5 Cats would show up in the next 100 players (Menzel, Tuohy, Blicavs, Parfitt, Stanley). On the other hand (and injuries have helped this greatly), the Giants would probably have 13 players in that next 100, maybe 120 names. Normally, you wouldn't think of Delidio, Haynes, Greene, Hopper, Patton and Shaw as "second tier" players, but this season they've had second tier numbers just from playing time alone. It can be a deceptive list when you have players out for awhile; that's why I'm amazed Buddy's still in the top ten. even missing three games.
Gordon P Smith
Roar Guru
Thanks very much, Slane - you said it better than I could have myself! Peter, I did gloss over the list because it's pretty long - besides some smaller sites from different areas (trying to balance that Vic-centric tendency), I tag the Age, the Roar, AFL.com, and a host of other sites including the various fantasy scoring sites like Supercoach to get some of the stat-hounds credited as well. My biggest concern, less than the prejudice for certain clubs, is the prejudice to recognize midfielders over all other positions. So I'll admit I do try to seek out polls that are less mid-biased and occasionally recognize defenders, for example.
Doctor Rotcod
Guest
It's interesting that Richmond,Eagles,Melbourne and Collingwood have seven players each in the top 99,Sydney and Port and GWS have 6,but Geelong have 8.Why haven't they won more games? Their best three players are Dangerfield,Selwood and Ablett. Doesn't the team gel around them very well?
The Brazilian
Roar Rookie
And Geelong's midfield? The Mighty Ducks!
User
Roar Rookie
Agree there Don, hurn has been wce best this year and due to where he plays won't get the praise he deserves, at least most ate saying he should be aa capt this year.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
You don't award Brownlow votes on averages. They are awarded to the best players in games. Statistical averages are pointless in this conversation.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Gaff is no 'outside' middielder. He's my tip for the Brownlow too...even though Shannon Hurn has been WC's best. Umps don't understand footy well enough to reward Hurn.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
I'm there too. Spot on, Peppsy.
Slane
Guest
I don’t expect Gawn or Grundy to win a Brownlow at all. I just think the umpires tend to give votes to players right in front of their eyes. It's hard to miss a massive bald bloke with a Ned Kelly beard getting contested possessions. Actually Dean Cox's 2011 is pretty similar statistically to Gawn this year. Cox finished 10th in the Brownlow that year but didn't place in the Coaches Award, which Gawn now leads.
User
Roar Rookie
I said His cp where up, aswell as continuing his more renowned game, he is scoring goals, having higher goal assists and clearances, he is also playing in a team that has won 12 games where he has consistently been referred to as wce best midfielder in those wins, as it is a midfield medal I'm happy to stand by my view he will win the brownlow this year, you're a funny guy ;) check your ability to read next time.
AB
Guest
This is hysterical Mattician, maybe you need to check to stats. Gaffs averages this year CP:8.9 UP:21.2
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Thanks Slane. It has produced a pretty solid list.
User
Roar Rookie
Did dean cox win a brownlow? The greatest ruck of the afl era. You're expecting gawn or Grundy to buck a trend that gas been in place since when was wynd medal? 1992. I would sat gaff is in the umpire eye enough to get votes considering he is playing a more inside-outside role this season, having a higher number of clearances, cp, goal assists and goal to go with his high running handball receive game.
Cat
Roar Guru
An outside midfielder that averaged more CP than UP ... that is surely a new definition.
Cat
Roar Guru
There are dozens and dozens of elite mids. You might be lucky to count a handful of full forwards who fit that bill.
Slane
Guest
This article is one in a long series. The author goes into more detail about what is happening in earlier articles. Basically he analyzes all media outlets in the country and collates the 'best on ground' mentions. Naturally there will be inherit bias towards clubs that the media love to talk about. If you are aware of these biases, it can actually be a pretty powerful tool.
Slane
Guest
Priddis was a very good inside mid with wild blond hair. Exactly the type of player that catches the umpires eye.
Slane
Guest
What are the cut-off numbers for being an outside midfielder? If he isn't a very good outside mid who wins a little bit of his own ball then he must be a terrible inside mid who recieves a lot of handballs. Seems like you have another strange definition that is keeping us from agreeing. Since you are so ontop of the statistics maybe you could tell me when the last time a player averaging 21 uncontested possessions and 9 contested possessions won the brownlow? Dusty: UP: 14.4 CP: 14.5 Danger: UP: 16.1 CP: 16.2 Fyfe: UP: 11.3 CP: 17.8 Priddis: UP: 13.5 CP: 15 Ablett: UP: 15.8 CP: 14.9 Mitchell: UP: 14.2 CP: 12.9 Cotchin: UP: 14.9 CP: 12.9 Watson: UP: 15.3 CP: 14.4 For Gaff to win the Brownlow the umpires would have to dramatically change what they are looking for in a vote getter. That isn't impossible, just pretty unlikely. Especially when we have Gawn/Grundy revolutionizing the ruck position right in front of the umpires eyes.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Slane, I give you Matt Priddis, Brownlow medalist 2014.