Opinion
The first three rounds of the AFL have been enormously entertaining, with Collingwood sitting atop the ladder while the reigning premiers, Geelong, remain winless.
Here is who is performing best for your club early in this 2023 AFL campaign.
Early Standout: Josh Rachele
At just 19, young Josh Rachele is cementing himself as a key part of the Adelaide Crows’ future.
Rachele is in the top 15 for goals in the competition and is a spark plug for the Crows in crucial moments. His speed allows for piercing entries inside 50 to utilise the Crows’ athletic forwards, making him an immediate standout for Adelaide.
Honourable mentions: Rory Laird, Jordan Dawson.
Early Standout: Josh Dunkley
Former Bulldog Josh Dunkley has been tremendous for the Lions midfield in the early stages of the 2023 season, ranking top 10 in tackles and contested possessions per game.
Dunkley’s superb roving ability sees him ranked tenth in the AFL for clearances, as he, Lachie Neale and Will Ashcroft headline a new look Lions midfield.
Honourable mentions: Lachie Neale, Harris Andrews.
Early Standout: Patrick Cripps
Fresh off a 2022 Brownlow Medal, Patrick Cripps is leading his club to a formidable start to the season, as they remain unbeaten through three rounds and sit 3rd on the AFL ladder.
A case of early season leather poisoning has taken over Cripps, as he is averaging 31 touches a game, with a 42-disposal performance in round 3 against GWS.
His ability to get his hands dirty leaves him second in contested possessions, and Cripps is reminding us why he is one of the best players in the competition right now.
Honourable mentions: Sam Docherty, Adam Saad.
(Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)
Early Standout: Nick Daicos
Nick Daicos won himself the AFL Rising Star Award after an exceptional first season in 2022. Six months on and Daicos has only gotten better, already being mentioned as a potential Brownlow contender in 2023.
His demeanour on the field allows him to control the ground when he has possession. He can create immaculate plays and scoring opportunities with his composure and pacing.
Collingwood are currently top of the table, and with Nick Daicos being second in disposals in the comp and first in effective disposals, expect them to keep their impeccable form.
Honourable mentions: Jordan De Goey, Josh Daicos.
Early Standout: Will Setterfield
The Bombers are currently 3rd in the competition in total goals scored on 46, and Will Setterfield is a huge contributor to that number.
Setterfield’s athleticism and his skilful forward entries have been a big part of the team so far. His unselfishness places him 5th in score involvements among the competition and will help boost Essendon’s winning percentage this year.
Honourable mentions: Darcy Parish, Zach Merrett.
Early Standout: Luke Ryan
An underwhelming beginning to the season sees Fremantle with only one win, however key defender Luke Ryan has been a solid role player for the Dockers.
Ryan is a dominant presence in the back half averaging 28 touches and ten marks. His kicking ability is sublime, with accuracy that places him top three in effective disposals in the AFL.
As the season continues, Ryan and Fremantle should make a push for September and bring in more winning performances.
Honourable mentions: Brennan Cox, Caleb Serong.
Early Standout: Jeremy Cameron
Jeremy Cameron remains the best part of a reigning premiership team that have started the season 0-3.
Slotting 11 goals through the first three games, no one in the competition looks more confident and comfortable taking a set shot than Cameron.
His ability to play a higher forward role is providing the Cats more marking prowess is allowing Geelong to remain a top 10 scoring side despite no wins.
Simply put, Jeremy Cameron is dominating the AFL.
Honourable mentions: Tom Stewart, Patrick Dangerfield.
Blake Acres of the Blues marks the ball against Jeremy Cameron of the Cats. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)
Early Standout: Jarrod Witts
Witts is quickly establishing himself as a superstar big in a competition stacked of dominant ruckmen.
The role of a ruckman is an unglamourous one, but Jarrod Witts displays a masterclass with 40 hitouts per game this year, while being surrounded by a top tier midfield group.
Standing at a mighty 209 centimetres, Witts’ amazing ability to create clearances for the Suns grants the club to sit second in the competition in total clearances.
The Suns could slither their way into a finals position in 2023 If Witts is to retain his elite early form.
Honourable mentions: Touk Miller, Matt Rowell.
Early Standout: Tom Green
Young Tom Green had a breakout season in 2022, with his attack of the footy and creating opportunities for himself making him a threat for the Giants.
With Tim Taranto and Jacob Hopper having moved in the offseason, Green has taken a more prominent role on ball next to Josh Kelly.
Averaging 33 disposals rounds with 73% efficiency, he has an innate ability to find the hard ball gets and set up a skilful GWS forward line for scoring.
If the Giants can clean up their scoring percentage from a high number of inside 50s, Tom Green’s effective ball usage can help GWS remain consistent this year.
Honourable mentions: Josh Kelly, Toby Greene.
Early Standout: James Sicily
As a huge presence in the Hawthorn back six, James Sicily has been massive for his side in the first three rounds.
Based on the 18 marks he took in their first win of the season, it is clear that if the ball flies towards James Sicily, he will mark it.
As a deep defender who has the capacity to hold his own against the best forwards across the competition, Sicily plays his role to perfection.
Despite the Hawks’ slow start to their 2023 campaign, the All-Australian remains an extremely skilful leader, with numbers of 28 disposals and 13 marks a game.
Honourable mentions: Will Day, Dylan Moore.
Early Standout: Clayton Oliver
Clayton Oliver has become an important element of Melbourne for years and remained an extremely crucial role in the club’s 2021 Premiership year.
Oliver has come with an intensity this season keeping his side a top tier team in the AFL. With averages of seven tackles a game this year he is getting the best tackling numbers of his career.
There is no doubt that Oliver has some of the cleanest hands in the competition, with the ability to clear the ball out of contested possessions, making him an asset for a premiership calibre squad.
Honourable mentions: Kysaiah Pickett, Christian Petracca.
Early Standout: Luke Davies-Uniacke
Finishing bottom of the ladder in 2021 and 2022, an unprecedented start to 2023 has North Melbourne at 2-1 under the coaching of Alastair Clarkson in his return to the club.
At the heart of this elite start, Luke Davies-Uniacke. A phenomenal beginning to the 2023 campaign has him as one of the top players in the competition right now.
31 disposals a game, 10 clearances a game, 1st in contested possessions and in 2nd in effective disposals per game.
With these absurd numbers, LDU is putting the competition on notice that he is a force to be reckoned with.
Honourable mentions: Harry Sheezel, Nick Larkey.
Early Standout: Connor Rozee
At 23, Rozee’s dual role across his career as a quick on baller with an inside poise allows him to slot an occasional goal for the Power and remain vital for the side.
As the club’s best player for that year in 2022 he won the coveted John Cahill medal.
Rozee has continued to be a standout for his side, bringing excitement and class to create big time plays in big time moments.
Three goals in three games has cemented him as a sparkplug for Port, and as they push for a top 8 finish in 2023, Rozee hopes to continue his fine form.
Honourable mentions: Sam Powell-Pepper, Charlie Dixon.
Early Standout: Tim Taranto
The Tigers’ newly acquired midfielder has made his presence felt early their first few games, with roughly 30 touches a game out of the centre.
The former Giant played as a dual midfield and forward threat but is yet to have a significant impact on the scoreboard for Richmond. His strength to create entries inside for the key forwards makes him a standout for the Tigers so far.
Taranto’s ground ball pressure builds for a strengthened level of intensity that forces opposition errors, allowing the Tigers to pounce and create goal scoring chances.
Honourable mentions: Toby Nankervis, Liam Baker.
Early Standout: Jack Sinclair
Sinclair’s role has been a presence off the backline for the Saints, and now is a key element on the side that now sits 3-0 and 2nd on the ladder.
Sinclair’s running ability is on another level. He has the skilfulness to carry the footy down the corridor after intercept marks and hit a lead out front, as the Saints forwards become dangerous when they get down the field quickly.
Sinclair is having an outstanding start on the halfback flank for St Kilda, and as long as he continues his fine form the Saints should continue to play great footy.
Honourable mentions: Mason Wood, Brad Crouch.
Early Standout: Callum Mills
A strong start for the Swans sees a fair spread of the ball across their midfield group. Callum Mills remains a great player among this side’s elite start to the year.
Acting as a leader for a relatively young side, Mills sees himself dominating around the contest and creating touches that are clean and contribute to the team’s winning ways.
Mills and his impeccable leadership as an experienced midfielder can help the Swans hopefully find more finals success on the back of an impressive 2022 campaign as runner ups.
Honourable mentions: Errol Gulden, Chad Warner.
Early Standout: Reuben Ginbey
The West Coast Eagles may have struck gold in the 2023 draft, having picked up a versatile defender in Reuben Ginbey.
An impressive round 3 showing meant Ginbey received a Rising Star nomination.
Reuben Ginbey of the Eagles. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)
He has performed to the best of his ability and brings an added sense of intensity and heart to a struggling Eagles side.
Ginbey currently leads the competition in tackles. He retains a winning mindset and is making his presence felt on the footy field with hard hits.
Honourable mentions: Tim Kelly, Shannon Hurn.
Early Standout: Marcus Bontempelli
A drop between 2021 and 2022 meant Marcus Bontempelli was set for redemption in 2023, and boy has he delivered so far.
His touches are not at as high, but with a smooth and one of the more accurate kicking motion in the comp, his usage remains top tier.
His center bounce clearances and deliveries to his tall forwards is nothing short of impressive.
A dangerous midfield of Treloar and Macrae, being led by Marcus Bontempelli, means a slow start for the Bulldogs this year could easily turn around as the competition goes forward.
Honourable mentions: Adam Treloar, Tom Liberatore.
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