There are three weeks of bye rounds, so it’s a good time to assess who is in the top five for the best and fairest for the six teams in the third of the three bye rounds: the Brisbane Lions, Collingwood Magpies, Fremantle Dockers, Hawthorn Hawks, Melbourne Demons and North Melbourne Kangaroos.

Brisbane Lions

5. Charlie Cameron

Has averaged the second most goals of any crumber in the AFL after Round 13, with an average of 2.38 goals per game, with Toby Greene the only crumber averaging more goals than Charlie Cameron. The way in which Cameron goes about it is infectious and he looks like he brings an energy to the group.

4. Zac Bailey

Has averaged the third most score involvements of any Lions player with an average of 5.85 score involvements per game, featuring in all 13 games. Along with that he has averaged the third most goals of any Lions player with an average of 2.08 goals per game.

3. Daniel Rich

Has averaged the fourth most metres gained of any player in the AFL with an average of 579.15 metres gained per game. Despite playing on a half back flank he has averaged the sixth most inside 50s of any Lions player with an average of 3.46 inside 50s per game and has featured in all 13 games.

He would’ve been in the conversation for a mid-season AFL All Australian team.

2. Hugh McCluggage

Has had the second most votes of any Lions player in the coaches’ votes with a total of 41, despite missing one of 13 games in Round 11 through injury. He has averaged the second most score involvements of any Lions player with an average of 6.33 score involvements per game.

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Along with that, he has averaged the third most contested possessions of any Lions player with an average of 9.17 contested possessions per game. He also works hard without the ball, with the second highest average tackles of any Lions player with an average of 5.25 tackles per game.

1. Lachie Neale

He has been one of the best players in the competition. He would definitely be in most mid-season AFL All Australian teams. He has averaged the third most disposals of any player in the AFL with an average of 32.38 disposals per game.

He has featured in all 13 games and has averaged the most contested possession of any player in the AFL with an average of 16.46 contested possessions per game.

Collingwood Magpies

5. Taylor Adams

Has averaged the second most contested possessions of any Magpies player with an average of 10.42 contested possessions per game. He missed Round 4 due to a HS protocol, which was the only game the Eagles have won in season 2022.

He has averaged the second most score involvements of any Magpies player with an average of 5.83 score involvements per game, in 12 games. He is one of the four members of the leadership group and leads by example.

4. Jordan De Goey

De Goey has averaged the most score involvements of any Magpies player with an average of 6.58 score involvements per game. He missed Round 4 due to suspension, which was the only game that the Eagles won in season 2022.

Despite missing a game, he has the second most votes of any Magpies player in the coaches’ votes with 31. Fly has mentioned De Goey’s influence on the group often. He has averaged the sixth most disposals of any Magpies player with an average of 21.50 disposals per game; he has usually influenced the game most time he has a disposal.

He has averaged the third most inside 50s of any Magpies player with an average of 4.25 inside 50s per game and a goal a game.

3. Scott Pendlebury

Pendelbury led from the front; he has been extremely influential playing on a half back flank and at times in the midfield. He has averaged the sixth most intercepts of any Magpies player with an average of 5.67 intercepts per game.

A lot of his influence on games can’t be substantiated by statistics as his leadership and footy IQ can’t be measured.

2. Nick Daicos

Should win the AFL Rising Star.

Despite being in his first season of AFL footy, he leads by example. He has featured in all 13 games and has averaged the third most metres gained of any Magpies player with an average of 373.31 metres gained per game. He takes the game on playing on a half back flank and his youthful exuberance is infectious.

1. Jack Crisp

Has led from the front. He has averaged the most disposals of any Magpies player with an average of 26.54 disposals per game. Along with that, he has averaged the third most contested possession of any Magpies player with an average of 9.85 contested possessions per game.

He would be in my mid-season AFL All Australian team.

Fremantle Dockers

5. Brennan Cox

Cox has featured in 12 of 13 games and the game he didn’t play due to a HS protocol in Round 2, the Dockers lost to the Saints. He has averaged the third most intercepts of any Dockers player with an average of 6.17 intercepts per game.

Along with that, he has averaged the second most contested marks of any Dockers player with an average of 1.58 contested marks per game.

4. Caleb Serong

May have only featured in 11 of 13 games, but he has averaged the second most contested possessions of any Dockers player with an average of 12.00 contested possessions per game. He also works hard without the ball as he has averaged the second most tackles of any Dockers player with an average 5.55 tackles per game.

He has averaged a respectable 5.00 score involvements per game. Also, he has averaged the third most inside 50s of any Dockers player with an average of 4.09 inside 50s per game. He has been consistent!

3. Will Brodie

Brodie has been a revelation for the Dockers. He has been arguably the recruit of the year as he came from the Suns. He has averaged the second most disposals of any Dockers player with an average of 27.31 disposals per game.

He has averaged the 12th most contested possessions of any player in the AFL after Round 13, with an average of 13.00 contested possessions per game.

Brodie also works hard without the ball as he has averaged the third most tackles of any Dockers player with an average 4.92 tackles per game. Along with that he has played all 13 games and averaged the second most scoreboard involvements of any Dockers player, with an average of 5.77 score involvements per game!

2. Blake Acres

Has been in some mid-season AFL All Australian teams on the wing. He has featured in 12 of 13 games as he missed a game due to a HS Protocol. He has averaged the most metres gained of any Dockers player with an average of 447.25 metres gained per game.

Along with that, he has averaged the second most inside 50s of any Dockers player with an average of 4.25 inside 50s per game.

1. Andrew Brayshaw

He’s probably going to win the Brownlow Medal in season 2022 if he continues on with the form that he has displayed. He leads by example.

He has averaged the eighth most disposals of any player in the AFL with an average of 31.08 disposals per game; most of the time he gets a disposal he uses the ball constructively. He also works hard without the ball with an average of 6.08 tackles per game.

Hawthorn Hawks

5. Dylan Moore

Moore has the equal most score involvements of any Hawks player with 75 score involvements in 13 games, which is the same amount as Luke Breust!

Remarkably, he has kicked the third most goals of any Hawks player, with 19 goals. He has also averaged the fifth most metres gained of any Hawks player with an average of 334.08 metres gained per game.

4. Mitchell Lewis

May have only featured in nine of 13 games, but he has performed extremely well, with an average of 3.00 goals per game. He has kicked 27 goals, five more than the next best Hawks player. He has averaged the most score involvements of any Hawks player with an average of 6.67 score involvements per game.

He has been a bit of a barometer for the Hawks as the four games that they’ve won he has played in!

3. Tom Mitchell

Doesn’t have to get over 30 disposals a game to have an impact on the game anymore, with Sam Mitchell changing the way the former Brownlow Medallist goes about his work. He has the equal eighth most contested possessions in the AFL with 157 contested possessions, the same number as Patrick Cripps, which is a fair amount, despite Cripps playing one fewer game than Mitchell, prior to Round 14.

He has also worked hard without the ball with the third highest average tackles of any Hawks player with an average of 4.50 tackles per game.

2. James Sicily

Has had the most intercepts of any player in the AFL after Round 13 with a total of 114 intercepts! He has averaged the most metres gained of any Hawks player with an average of 573.69 metres gained per game, which is over 100 metres more than the next best.

As well as that, he has averaged the second most disposals of any Hawks player with an average of 23.15 disposals per game.

1. Jai Newcombe

Newcombe has been pivotal to the Hawks team as he brings energy and youthful exuberance that can’t be measured. He averaged a respectable 5.54 score involvements and the third most disposals of any Hawks player with an average of 21.54 disposals per game.

As well as that, he has averaged the second most metres gained of any Hawks player with an average of 460.15 per game. He works hard without the ball as he has had the most tackles of any Hawks player with 68 tackles and has featured in all 13 games. If the AFL All Australian squad was named now, he would be in contention.

Melbourne Demons

5. Steven May

Would sneak into the top five of the Demons’ best and fairest as he has averaged the second most contested marks of any Demons player with an average of 1.36 contested marks per game in 11 games. Along with that, he has averaged the second most intercepts of any Melbourne player with an average of 6.55 intercepts per game.

4. Angus Brayshaw

He has averaged the most intercepts of any Demons player with an average of 7.23 intercepts per game. Along with that, he has averaged the fourth most metres gained of any Demons player with an average of 395.85 metres gained per game. He has relished his new role on the half back flank as he has been a revelation in that role.

3. Max Gawn

Gawn has battled manfully in the ruck. He has averaged the fourth most contested possessions of any Demons player with an average of 11.00 contested possessions per game! Remarkably, he has averaged the third most score involvements of any Demons player with an average of 5.77 score involvements per game. He would be in most mid-season AFL All Australian teams.

2. Christian Petracca

Has had the most score involvements of any player in the AFL with 107 contested possessions in 13 games! He would probably have been selected in the mid-season AFL All Australian team because of the impact he has on games.

He has averaged the second most contested possessions of any Demons player with an average of 12.00 contested possession per game!

1. Clayton Oliver

He has averaged the most disposals of any player in the AFL with an average of 34.46 disposals per game! Along with that he has averaged the second most contested possessions with an average of 16.31 contested possessions.

He has also worked hard without the footy, as he has averaged the third most tackles of any Demons player with an average of 4.23 tackles per game and has featured in all 13 games. He could be in contention for the Brownlow Medal if he continues playing the way he has after 13 games in season 2022.

North Melbourne Kangaroos

5. Cameron Zurhaar

He has averaged the most score involvements of any Kangaroos player with an average of 4.90 score involvements per game! He has averaged the second most goals of any Kangaroos player with an average of 1.50 goals per game.

4. Todd Goldstein

He has featured in all 13 games for the Kangaroos and has the fifth most hit-outs of any player in the AFL with 313 hit-outs thus far in season 2022. He has averaged the third most contested marks of any Kangaroos player with an average 1.08 contested marks per game.

He brings leadership to a team that’s in serious need of it, and his endeavour never wavers.

3. Luke McDonald

Has averaged the second most metres gained of any Kangaroos player with an average of 442.08 metres gained per game. He also works hard defensively as he has averaged the third most intercepts of any Kangaroos player with an average of 5.15 intercepts per game.

2. Luke Davies-Uniacke

Davies-Uniacke has averaged the most contested possessions of any Kangaroos player with an average of 10.42 contested possessions per game. He has averaged the fourth most metres gained of any Kangaroos player with an average of 359.00 metres gained per game.

The only game he missed was the game where the Kangaroos were thrashed by the Lions in Round 3. He missed the game through injury.

1. Jy Simpkin

Simpkin has averaged the most disposals of any Kangaroos player with an average of 24.83 disposals per game, in the 12 games that he has featured in, as he missed Round 9 due to injury. He has also averaged the second most contested possessions of any Kangaroos player with an average of 9.92 contested possessions per game.

He works hard without the ball as he has averaged the third most tackles of any Kangaroos player with an average of 4.17 tackles per game.