My Top Six Most Important Players for Each Team, Part One
I have formulated my top six most important players for the Blues, Bombers and Bulldogs for the 2018 season. A player must have participated in a minimum of ten games to be considered.
Blues
1- Patrick Cripps- Universally regarded as the Blues best player. Named in the All Australian squad of 40.
2- Charlie Curnow- Imperative to the structure of the Blues; he would be regarded as one of the best centre half forwards if he was in a better team.
3- Marc Murphy- The Blues are a better team with him in it. He leads from the front. The Blues improved for the most part when he returned from injury.
4- Kade Simpson- A leader of the footy club, never stops trying.
5- Ed Curnow- Often plays as a tagger, Ed Curnow is an important part of the Blues leadership group.
6- Zac Fisher- One of the more underrated players in the Blues best twenty-two. Has a lot of potential to become a solid player for the Blues, one for the future.
Honourable Mention- Harry Mckay- Should have been in the team much earlier in the season; I am bewildered as to why it took Brendon Bolton so long to pick him in the side; he took the pressure off Charlie Curnow.
Bombers
1- Michael Hurley- It was an injustice that he wasn’t included in the All Australian squad of 40. Hurley is an extremely important part of the Bombers structure.
2- Devon Smith- Plays an important role for the Bombers on the half forward flank. Smith managed to break the record for tackles in the AFL since the stat has been recorded.
3- Dyson Heppell- Captain and leader of the footy club, every possession he gets is valuable.
4- David Zaharakis- The Bombers missed him when he was out injured. Zaharakis may not be the highest disposal accumulator, but he is pivotal to the Bombers system that they play.
5- Zach Merrett- An important part of the midfield, a good solid player.
6- Tom Bellchambers- An integral aspect on the way in which the Bombers function as he averaged over thirty hit outs per game.
Honourable Mention- Andrew Mcgrath- An important player as he is capable of playing a number of roles, Mcgrath averaged just under twenty touches a game.
Bulldogs
1- Jack Macrae- His performance in round 23 is symptomatic of how indispensable he is to the Bulldogs team and why he was named in the All Australian squad of 40.
2- Marcus Bontempelli- Capable of going forward and kicking a goal, may not be the best player in the team from a disposal perspective, but makes every possession count.
3- Lachie Hunter- An outstanding player for the Bulldogs. Hunter averaged nearly thirty possessions.
4- Caleb Daniel- Averaged twenty-one possessions a game. He created a lot of run for the Bulldogs.
5- Jason Johannisen- Created a lot of run off half back, an important part of the Bulldogs team.
6- Jackson Trengove- Capable of playing multiple roles for the team. Showed that he can be a more than serviceable option in the ruck.
Honourable Mention- Toby Mclean- One of two Bulldogs that managed to play every game this season. Often goes under the radar, has the ability to play in the midfield or on the half forward flank.