We have arrived at the final phase of my top 50, with the top 25 players of the 2019 season named today. Sorry it didn’t go up yesterday like planned, things just got in the way.
If you didn’t see who made the spots of 50-26, click on the link below to see who you’ve missed, otherwise you can scroll down to see the final 25 players.
25. Bradley Hill (Fremantle/St. Kilda) 2018 Top 50 Ranking: N/A 2019 Games: 22 2019 Goals: 6
He’ll be a big loss to Fremantle in 2020, and their loss is St. Kilda’s gain, as the Saints will have him for the next five years. Whether or not he’s worth the money that the Saints have offered – which is roughly around $900,000 a season – remains to be seen. His 2019 was something to behold though, averaging a career-high 25.1 disposals per game, showcasing his run and carry to maximum effect. He also averaged 4.3 inside 50s, 3.7 marks and 2.7 rebound 50s per game as well in 2019. 24. Brad Crouch (Adelaide) 2018 Top 50 Ranking: N/A 2019 Games: 22 2019 Goals: 11
After failing to play a game due to injury in 2018, it was a big year from Brad Crouch, who took home his first club best and fairest at Adelaide. In a year where the Crows were very inconsistent and were branded a mess at times, Crouch was one of a rare few that found himself consistent across all 22 games, averaging 30.2 disposals, 5.3 clearances, 5.1 tackles and 3.9 inside 50s per game. 23. Adam Treloar (Collingwood) 2018 Top 50 Ranking: N/A 2019 Games: 24 2019 Goals: 10
He has had a knack for finding the football for a while now, but it feels like Adam Treloar just keeps on finding a way to improve his game. This year saw him lead the league in disposals after 23 rounds and eventually went on to average a career-best 32.9 disposals per game. He has had moments throughout the year where he hasn’t been effective with his disposals, but this is still a very good feat. Also averaged six clearances, 4.9 tackles, four inside 50s and four marks per game this year. 22. Jarrod Witts (Gold Coast) 2018 Top 50 Ranking: N/A 2019 Games: 22 2019 Goals: 3
This is going to be a left-field choice, and many might not agree with me at Jarrod Witts being this high but hear me out. In a team that lost 18 games in a row - yes they were that bad – Jarrod Witts was one of a rare shining spots on that Suns team. No one has recorded over 1000 hitouts in a home and away season until now. Witts is the only man to have done that. He was the runaway winner in the Gold Coast’s best and fairest for a reason, he’s just about in the same bracket as Gawn and Grundy. 21. Jack Darling (West Coast) 2018 Top 50 Ranking: 24 2019 Games: 24 2019 Goals: 59
Last year we saw Jack Darling in career-best form before injury halted his momentum mid-year. This year, after a full year, Jack Darling is in the peak of his powers, breaking through for a big year that saw him earn All-Australian honours for the first time in his career. Darling kicked a personal best 59.18 across all 24 games, whilst averaging 12 disposals, 4.7 marks and 2.7 tackles per game. 20. Michael Walters (Fremantle) 2018 Top 50 Ranking: N/A 2019 Games: 22 2019 Goals: 40
After a couple of seasons that were hampered with injury, we saw Michael Walters return to his best footy in 2019. He reached the 40-goal mark for the third time in his career, kicking 40.17, whilst averaging 21.8 disposals, 3.7 clearances, 3.5 tackles and 3.9 inside 50s per game, highlighting his ability to play up the ground as well. He was rightly rewarded for his great year with a spot at half forward in the All-Australian team, as well as finishing in the top two in Fremantle’s best and fairest. 19. Scott Pendlebury (Collingwood) 2018 Top 50 Ranking: N/A 2019 Games: 24 2019 Goals: 12
He has been arguably the most consistent player from this decade. Year after year, Scott Pendlebury delivered top-tier football and season 2019 was no different. He averaged 27.3 disposals, 4.3 marks, 4.7 tackles, five inside 50s and 4.3 clearances per game this year and was named in the All Australian team for the sixth time in his career. As a matter of fact, that’s six All Australians between 2010-19. Was 16 votes away from getting a sixth Copeland Trophy as well. 18. Dion Prestia (Richmond) 2018 Top 50 Ranking: N/A 2019 Games: 25 2019 Goals: 7
It was only a few years ago Richmond gave up pick six to land a player that, whilst promising, had struggled to get on the park for the Gold Coast over the previous couple of seasons. Fast track to today and that decision has been one of a few that has payed off handsomely. Dion Prestia is now a two-time premiership player and now a Jack Dyer Medallist as the Tigers’ best and fairest. Averaged 27.4 disposals, 5.9 clearances, 4.9 tackles and 4.9 inside 50s per game this season 17. Jeremy McGovern (West Coast) 2018 Top 50 Ranking: 5 2019 Games: 23 2019 Goals: 1
People will say he was exposed a few times towards the end of the season, but if you ask me, I think this was still a very good season from one of the best key defenders in the game. He led the league in intercept possessions and was second in the competition for intercept marks. Also add to the fact that he made the All-Australian team for the fourth consecutive year, then it’s apparent that he still amongst the top two or three key backs in the league. Averaged 14.9 disposals, 7.1 marks and 3.9 rebound 50s per game this year. 16. Elliot Yeo (West Coast) 2018 Top 50 Ranking: 13 2019 Games: 23 2019 Goals: 11
I’m a huge fan of what Elliot Yeo does in the middle and this year saw him average career-highs in both tackling and clearances en route to a second All-Australian in three years. Yeo averaged 23.7 disposals per game this year for the Eagles as well as 7.3 tackles, 5.5 inside 50s and 6.3 clearances per game this year. Stiff not to win his third-straight Eagles’ best and fairest, but can stake his claim as one of the game’s most complete midfielders. 15. Ben Brown (North Melbourne) 2018 Top 50 Ranking: 22 2019 Games: 22 2019 Goals: 64
This is the third year in a row that Ben Brown has kicked over 60 goals in a season, yet he’s still chasing his first All-Australian spot. Brown kicked 64.34 across all 22 games for North Melbourne this year, and whilst you might want to jot down his 10-goal performance against Port late in the year as the reason why he finished behind Jeremy Cameron for the Coleman Medal, but he was only held goal less in three of his 22 games this year. Deserves a spot in the top 20. 14. Charlie Cameron (Brisbane) 2018 Top 50 Ranking: N/A 2019 Games: 24 2019 Goals: 57
Charlie was in fine touch last year before injury mid-year ruled him out for the rest of 2018. He showed everyone in 2019 that he is and probably will be the premier small forward for the next few years. 57.32 in all 24 games for the Brisbane Lions this year saw him get a spot in the All-Australian spot for the first time in his career. Averaged 12.3 disposals, 3.4 marks, two tackles and 2.4 inside 50s per game. 13. Dylan Grimes (Richmond) 2018 Top 50 Ranking: 33 2019 Games: 24 2019 Goals: 0
There is no doubt that he was one of Richmond’s most important pieces this year. When Alex Rance went down at the start of the year with that knee injury, the club turned to Dylan Grimes to keep the defence sound. That is exactly what he did all year long. Stats won’t read too much, averaged 12.9 disposals and 5.4 marks per game. But his ability to stop either tall or small forwards were vital all throughout the Tigers’ premiership campaign. 12. Jack Macrae (Western Bulldogs) 2018 Top 50 Ranking: 20 2019 Games: 23 2019 Goals: 5
Jack Macrae took his game to greater lengths last year, but this was the year that everyone started to notice how good he really is. Macrae averaged 33.3 disposals, 4.4 marks, 5.2 tackles, 4.2 inside 50s and 5.1 clearances per game for the Bulldogs in a year that saw him name an All-Australian for the first time in his career. The scary thing is that he finds the footy consistently and he is just beginning to reach his prime at 25 years old. 11. Harris Andrews (Brisbane) 2018 Top 50 Ranking: 38 2019 Games: 21 2019 Goals: 0
This was the year that we truly saw Harris Andrews emerge as one of the elite key defenders of the competition. He was hardly beat in one-on-ones and when you thought he wasn’t able to make an impact on a contest, he was able to stretch his arms out and get the spoil in. Andrews was named an All-Australian for the first time in his career and averaged 12.8 disposals, 5.5 marks and 2.5 rebound 50s per game in 21 matches this year. 10. Max Gawn (Melbourne) 2018 Top 50 Ranking: 1 2019 Games: 21 2019 Goals: 7
His start to 2019 wasn’t the greatest, but by the end of the season, he was producing the kind of football that we all know Max Gawn has been capable of the past few years. Took home Melbourne’s best and fairest alongside Clayton Oliver and was named an All-Australian for the third time. Wasn’t his greatest year overall, but still averaged 39.5 hitouts per game, along with 17.7 disposals, 4.9 marks, 4.9 clearances and 3.9 inside 50s per game. 9. Jeremy Cameron (GWS) 2018 Top 50 Ranking: N/A 2019 Games: 24 2019 Goals: 76 Jeremy Cameron showed flashes of what he can produce for quite some time, but this was a complete year from him. He took home the Coleman Medal for the first time and becomes GWS’ first-ever Coleman Medal winner in the process, kicking 76.50 across 24 games. Also averaged 16 disposals, 6.5 marks and 3.3 inside 50s per game, showcasing his ability to work up the ground as well as be the focal point up forward. 8. Patrick Dangerfield (Geelong) 2018 Top 50 Ranking: 18 2019 Games: 24 2019 Goals: 27
I don’t think that this was Patrick Dangerfield’s best year. Sure he won their best and fairest and was named in the All-Australian team again, but I think he lacked impact in a few moments throughout the year, where the Cats probably needed him. The numbers are still good enough for him to be a top-10 player though: 27.1 disposals, five marks, 4.3 tackles, 5.9 inside 50s, 5.8 clearances and was good for a goal per game.
7. Tim Kelly (Geelong/West Coast) 2018 Top 50 Ranking: 49 2019 Games: 25 2019 Goals: 24
Gee whiz, West Coast’s midfield brigade next year has just got a whole lot better. Not that it needed to be, but the addition of Tim Kelly should surely propel the Eagles back to the top four in 2020. Kelly averaged 25.4 disposals, 4.2 tackles, 4.4 inside 50s and 5.9 clearances per game. On top of that, he nearly averaged a goal per game in 2019. He is such a damaging user of the football and to have him along with the likes of Shuey, Gaff and Yeo next year is bloody scary. 6. Lachie Neale (Brisbane) 2018 Top 50 Ranking: 29 2019 Games: 24 2019 Goals: 12
It’s taken a few years, but it’s so pleasing to see Lachie Neale get some well-deserved respect from the media. His first year in Brisbane was phenomenal, watching him take the reins in the middle as the Lions surged into a top-four spot by the end of the home and away season. A first-time All-Australian in 2019, Neale averaged 30.9 disposals, 4.1 marks, 7.9 clearances, 3.7 tackles and 3.5 inside 50s per game. 5. Marcus Bontempelli (Western Bulldogs) 2018 Top 50 Ranking: N/A 2019 Games: 23 2019 Goals: 15
He’s faced a couple of rocky seasons since the 2016 flag, but Marcus Bontempelli is reaching the peak of his powers. Season 2019 saw the Bont average career-highs in disposals (26.3 per game), clearances (six per game) and inside 50s (5.3 per game). Was named in the All-Australian side for the second time in his career and won his third Charles Sutton Medal in his six seasons as a Bulldog. He’ll be in amongst the discussion as the greatest Bulldog of all time before his time is done. 4. Patrick Cripps (Carlton) 2018 Top 50 Ranking: 4 2019 Games: 20 2019 Goals: 13
Whilst we’re hot on greatest players for their respective clubs, can Patrick Cripps be in the discussion as one of the greatest Blues of all time when it is all said and done? At 24 years of age, he is almost single-handedly carrying Carlton’s on-ball brigade and has been for a few years now. He became a three-time best and fairest winner this year – the youngest player to ever do that at Carlton. Averaged 28 disposals, 8.5 clearances, 6.1 tackles and 3.1 inside 50s per game. 3. Nat Fyfe (Fremantle) 2018 Top 50 Ranking: N/A 2019 Games: 20 2019 Goals: 16
Season 2019 was Nat Fyfe at his best, securing his second Brownlow Medal. Is it better than his 2015 year? That’ll be a topic of discussion for another day, but the stats won’t argue how good his year has been – 29.1 disposals, 4.8 marks, 7.5 clearances, 4.7 inside 50s and 3.9 tackles per game from Fyfe this year in a season that saw the Dockers rely on him heavily through a midfield that could use one or two more big names in there. 2. Dustin Martin (Richmond) 2018 Top 50 Ranking:11 2019 Games: 23 2019 Goals: 32
I might get called out for this, because Dusty was arguably the man of the Finals series. But I remember his start to the year wasn’t exactly the greatest, he also missed a couple of games throughout the season, which is why he just missed out on number one. But much like the rest of Richmond, his back-half of the year was where we saw his best footy. Averaged 26.1 disposals, 4.2 clearances, 5.6 inside 50s and 4.1 marks per game and kicked 32 goals – 12 of those coming from his three finals games. 1. Brodie Grundy (Collingwood) 2018 Top 50 Ranking: 2 2019 Games: 24 2019 Goals: 7
I thought this man deserved the recognition of being the number one player this year. He was consistent across all 24 games for Collingwood and his work around the ground is just about unmatched compared to other ruckmen – sans Max Gawn. Brodie Grundy took the mantle of the league’s number one ruck in a year that saw him average 42.6 hitouts, 21.3 disposals and 6.1 clearances per game – all three of those are career-highs. He also averaged 4.3 tackles, 4.3 marks and 2.1 inside 50s per game.