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 in the six teams with the bye for the first of the three bye rounds: the Carlton Blues, Essendon Bombers, GWS Giants, Port Adelaide Power, Richmond Tigers and St Kilda Saints.

Carlton Blues

5. Jacob Weitering has averaged the third most intercepts of any Blues player after Round 11 with 6.36 intercepts per game. That stat would have been higher if not for being subbed out of the Blues’ Round 11 game with a shoulder injury after amassing just two disposals in that game. Due to Oscar McDonald and Mitch McGovern being out through injury for the majority of season 2022, he was the only experienced quality key defender available to play in the Blues’ back six.

4. Charlie Curnow is the leading goal kicker in the AFL after Round 11 with 37 goals. He has averaged the most score involvements of any Blues player with an average of 7.82 score involvements per game. That stat also equates to him having the equal sixth highest average score involvements of any player in the AFL, along with Darcy Parish. He has been a pivotal part of the Blues’ structure as Harry McKay has been injured for the last three rounds.

3. Sam Walsh came back from his pre-season injury earlier than it was predicted, so he only missed one game. He has averaged the most disposals of any Blues player per game with an average of 32.30 disposals per game. Along with that, he has averaged an impressive 7.20 score involvements per game. He is a team-first player as he is happy to play wherever the coach wants him to.

(Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

2. Sam Docherty has the most metres gained of any Blues player with an average of 470.73 metres gained per game. He has averaged the third most disposals of any Blues player with an average of 28.09 disposals per game. He has often been in their best players. His story of coming back to AFL footy and possibly being an All Australian after having cancer has been the highlight of season 2022.

1. Patrick Cripps is one of the Brownlow Medal favourites in the AFL. Averaging the second most score involvements of any Blues player and ninth overall with an average of 7.70 score involvements per game in the ten games he has played is pretty impressive. As far as his leadership qualities go, he has been top notch under the guidance of new Blues coach Michael Voss.

Essendon Bombers

5. Jye Caldwell has averaged the most tackles of any Bombers player with an average of 4.10 tackles per game. He has averaged the third most score involvements of any Bombers player with an average of 6.40 score involvements per game. He missed the Bombers’ game against the Tigers in Round 10 due to a shoulder injury.

4. Zach Merrett has only had one disappointing performance in the eight games that he has featured in, which came in Round 9 when he amassed just 14 disposals. In all of the other seven games that he has featured in, he has been one of the Bombers’ best players with a low of 27 disposals coming in Round 11.

3. Peter Wright has kicked more than double the number of goals of any other Bombers players with 25 goals, as the next best is Nic Martin with 12 goals. He has been their only viable key forward in season 2022.

(Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

2. Nic Martin kicked five goals in Round 1 of season 2022, when he was a shining light in an 11-goal loss to the Cats. He missed Round 2 due to health and safety protocol. Despite season 2022 being his first season of AFL, he has averaged the second most score involvements of any Bombers player with an average of 6.60 score involvements per game. Along with that, he has averaged the fifth most disposals of any Bombers player per game with an average of 21.40 disposals per game.

1. Darcy Parish has averaged the most disposals of any player in the AFL with an average of 35.00 disposals per game. He has also averaged the equal sixth highest score involvements in the AFL with an average of 7.82 score involvements per game, which is the same average as Charlie Curnow. He is a player that has led from the front, despite being heavily scrutinised by the media at times.

GWS Giants

5. Tim Taranto may have only featured in nine of the 11 games, but he has averaged the second most disposals per game of any Giants player with an average of 26.89 disposals per game. He has also averaged the third most tackles of any Giants players per game with an average of 4.78 tackles per game. He has averaged a respectable 5.67 score involvements per game.

4. Stephen Coniglio has played all 11 games. Despite only having averaged 22.64 disposals per game, he has averaged the equal most score involvements of any Giants play with an average of 7.00 score involvements per game, the same average as Toby Greene. Coniglio has averaged the most tackles of any Giants player per game with an average 5.00 tackles per game. He has relished his move to the midfield from a half forward flank in Round 10 and Round 11, which was a move made by the Giants new interim coach Mark McVeigh.

3. Tom Green has averaged the third most disposals of any Giants player with an average of 26.00 disposals per game and has featured in all games. He has averaged the fourth most tackles of any Giants player with an average of 4.73 tackles per game. He has averaged a respectable 5.64 score involvements per game.

(Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

2. Sam Taylor has worked extremely hard for the Giants after 11 games. He has averaged the second most intercepts of any player in the AFL with an average of 9.36 intercepts per game. He has also averaged the fourth most contested marks of any Giants player with an average of 1.27 contested marks per game. He has been the Giants’ main key defender as Phil Davis has only featured in two games due to a hamstring injury.

1. Josh Kelly has featured in all 11 games in season 2022 and has averaged the most disposals of any Giants player with an average of 29.18 disposals per game. He has averaged the third highest score involvements per game of any Giants player with an average of 6.36 score involvements per game. Along with that, Kelly has worked hard defensively with the second highest average tackles of any Giants player with an average of 4.82 tackles per game. He has averaged the most inside 50s of any Giants player with an average of 4.73 inside 50s per game. He has only had less than 21 disposals on one occasion and less than three tackles two times and has led from the front in a tough period for the Giants.

Port Adelaide Power

5. Connor Rozee has averaged 20.00 disposals per game and has featured in all 11 games. Averaging the second most score involvements of any Power player with an average of 5.73 score involvements per game is a pretty impressive stat. Since Round 5 he has amassed at least 21 disposals. Some of the Power’s improvement can be attributed to him improving too.

4. Karl Amon has performed reasonably well for the Power. He has featured all 11 games and averaged the fourth most disposals of any Power player with an average of 22.55 disposals per game. He has averaged the second most metres gained of any Power player with an average 483.45 metres gained per game. Despite being an outside player, he has averaged the third most tackles of any Power player with an average of 4.55 tackles per game.

(Photo by James Elsby/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

3. Dan Houston has been a pivotal part of the Power team in season 2022. He can play in the back six or on the wing. He has averaged the third most disposals of any Power player with an average of 23.91 disposals per game. He has averaged 403.36 metres gained. His versatility has been extremely valuable as has his willingness to take the game on. Despite playing on the wing at times, he has averaged 7.18 intercepts per game – the second most intercepts on average of any Power player.

2. Travis Boak has been amongst the Power’s best players in seven out of 11 games. He has averaged the most disposals of any Power player with an average of 27.64 disposals per game. He has also averaged the second most tackles of any Power player with 4.82 tackles per game. Most importantly he has averaged the most score involvements of any Power player with an average 6.00 score involvements per game. Along with that he has averaged the most contested possessions per game with an average of 12.27 contested possessions per game.

1. Ollie Wines has only had less than 27 disposals in two out of the ten games that he has featured in. In Round 4 he only had seven disposals as he was subbed out due to nausea. Despite that, he has averaged 4.20 tackles per game and 5.30 score involvements per game. It’s remarkable that he has averaged the second most contested possessions of any Power player with an average of 11.90 contested possessions per game.

Richmond Tigers

5. Toby Nankervis has averaged the ninth most hit-outs in the AFL with an average of 26.27 hit-outs per game. That’s more than Max Gawn. Remarkably, Nankervis has had the most tackles of any Tigers player after 11 games with 47 tackles. He has also hit the scoreboard, as he has kicked five goals.

4. Daniel Rioli has relished his role of playing on a half back flank. He has averaged 19.73 disposals per game. Along with that, he has averaged the third highest disposal efficiency percentage of any Tigers player with an average of 84.79 per cent disposal efficiency per game. He averages the third most metres gained of any Tigers player with an average of 396.27 metres gained per game.

3. Tom Lynch averages the second most goals of any player in the AFL with an average of 3.10 goals per game. He did miss Round 11 due to injury. He has averaged the third most score involvements of any Tigers player per game with an average of 6.90 score involvements per game. He is a player that the Tigers rely on heavily as he is one of the best key forwards in the AFL.

(Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

2. Shai Bolton has kicked the equal second most goals of any Tigers player with 21 goals in 11 games. He has averaged the second highest score involvements of any Tigers player with 7.45 score involvements per game. At his best he is a game changer. There’s no disputing he is a match winner, but he just needs to be slightly more consistent.

1. Jayden Short has averaged the most metres gained of any player in the AFL after Round 11 with an average of 647.64 metres gained per game. He has averaged the most disposals of any Tigers player with an average of 27.09 disposals per game. He has averaged 5.00 score involvements per game. He has played in the back six, but has moved to the midfield in recent times, where he has thrived.

St Kilda Saints

5. Bradley Hill has averaged the second most metres gained of any Saints player with an average of 422.82 metres per game. Despite playing on a half back flank, on the wing and on a half forward flank he has still averaged 5.00 score involvements per game. His run and carry has been instinctive, which has led to him being back to his best in season 2022.

4. Max King has kicked the equal second most goals of any player in the AFL with 32 goals in 11 games. He has averaged the most score involvements of any Saints player with an average 6.36 score involvements per game. He is one of three players in the AFL that has kicked at least a goal in every game. The other two are Mabior Chol of the Suns and Harry McKay of the Blues. If he had kicked straighter then he would be the leading goal kicker in the AFL after Round 11 as he has kicked 32 goals, just five less than Charlie Curnow. Despite that, he has kicked the most behinds in the AFL with 22, which is why he is only fourth in the Saints’ best and fairest after Round 11. The missed opportunities to kick a goal can result in the team being deflated, so he needs to improve that.

(Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

3. Jack Steele may have played nine out of 11 games, but he made a massive impact in the games that he did play. He led from the front as he averaged the fifth most tackles of any player in the AFL with an average of 6.22 tackles per game. He has had at least three tackles in every game that he has featured in. He has only had less than 27 disposals in two out of the nine games he played. He has averaged the most contested possessions of any Saints player with an average of 12.11 contested possessions per game.

2. Brad Crouch has been extremely consistent, featuring in all 11 games. He hasn’t had fewer than 23 disposals. He has averaged the most disposals of any Saints player with an average of 27.82 disposals per game. He has averaged 12.00 contested possessions per game. He has averaged 5.64 score involvements per game. He has averaged the third most tackles of any player in the AFL with an average of 6.55 tackles per game. He has only had less than five tackles in one game.

1. Jack Sinclair has averaged the third highest disposals of any Saints player with an average of 27.73 disposals per game. Despite playing in the midfield at times, he has averaged the third most intercepts with an average of 6.00 intercepts per game. Averaging the tenth most metres gained in the AFL with an average of 539.55 per game is pretty impressive. He has accumulated the most coaches votes of any Saints player after Round 11 with a total of 31 votes.