AFL Underrated Players- Jigsaw Puzzle (AFL Home Away Season 2020- In a Nutshell)
Imagine a starting 18 team of players with one player from every AFL team who should be more highly rated by the media and the experts. Stop imagining it as this hypothetical team could come to fruition. It’s actually a compliment for a player to be considered to be underrated as they go about the role quietly, with humility and no fuss!
There are two Captains for the purpose of this exercise; Tom Rockliff and Jarryd Lyons
AFL Underrated Players- Jigsaw Puzzle (Season 2020)- Team by Team:
Adelaide Crows: Luke Brown
Brisbane Lions: Jarryd Lyons (Co-Captain)
Carlton: Harry McKay
Collingwood: Jack Crisp
Essendon: Darcy Parish
Fremantle: Matt Taberner
Geelong: Mitch Duncan
Gold Coast: Sam Collins
Greater Western Sydney: Lachie Whitfield
Hawthorn: James Cousins
Melbourne Demons: Ed Langdon
North Melbourne: Robbie Tarrant
Port Adelaide: Tom Rockliff (Co-Captain)
Richmond: Kane Lambert
St Kilda: Jack Billings
Sydney Swans: Tom Papley
Western Bulldogs: Tim English
West Coast: Liam Duggan
AFL Underrated Players- Jigsaw Starting 18 (Season 2020)- Who wins?
B: Jack Crisp (Collingwood), Sam Collins (Gold Coast), Luke Brown (Adelaide Crows)
HB: Liam Duggan (West Coast), Robbie Tarrant (North Melbourne), Lachie Whitfield (GWS)
C: Jack Billings (St Kilda), Tom Rockliff (Port Adelaide- Co-Captain), Ed Langdon (Melbourne Demons)
HF: Kane Lambert (Richmond), Matt Taberner (Fremantle), Mitch Duncan (Geelong)
FF: James Cousins (Hawthorn), Harry McKay (Carlton), Tom Papley (Sydney Swans)
Foll: Tim English (Western Bulldogs), Jarryd Lyons (Brisbane Lions- Co-Captain), Darcy Parish (Essendon)
Backs
Jack Crisp was a player that played his role for Collingwood every game. Unfortunately, he didn’t get the recognition that he deserved which was at least to be selected in the All Australian squad of 40 for AFL Season 2020.
Sam Collins was the best full back in the competition. He didn’t get the recognition that he deserved, because he played in a team that didn’t make the finals; Gold Coast.
Luke Brown had a good Season for the Adelaide Crows as he finished third in their best and fairest. He played in the back pocket.
Half-backs
Liam Duggan should have been chosen in the AFL All Australian squad of 40 at the very least.
Robbie Tarrant was a player that should be considered North Melbourne’s most important player as he was a pivotal part of their team.
Lachie Whitfield had an outstanding Season in 2020; it was disappointing he wasn’t chosen in the All Australian squad of 40.
Centres
Jack Billings was an extremely important player for St Kilda in AFL Season 2020.
Tom Rockliff had a great Season; he managed to bounce back from being dropped to be one of the most important players for Port Adelaide.
Ed Langdon was an extremely important part of the Melbourne Demons team, playing on the wing.
Half-forwards
Kane Lambert missed just one game for the Season in 2020. He doesn’t have to have many disposals to influence a game.
Matt Taberner may have been in the All Australian starting 22, had he played in a team that was further up the ladder. The only game of the 16 that he played that he failed to kick a goal in was when Fremantle defeated the Melbourne Demons in Round 16. He was a pivotal part of Fremantle’s structure.
Mitch Duncan was a player that played his role for Geelong in all the games that he played.
Forwards
James Cousins played six games for Hawthorn. He had the capability to play multiple roles. He should have played more games, but it’s inevitable that he will in AFL Season 2021 as he is a good player that’s extremely versatile.
Harry McKay only failed to kick a goal in two of the 13 games that he featured in. He was an extremely integral part of Carlton’s structure in AFL Season 2020.
Tom Papley can consider himself unlucky not to have been one of the 22 players selected in the AFL Season 2020 All Australian team.
Followers
Tim English was a pivotal part of the Western Bulldogs team in AFL Season 2020.
Jarryd Lyons leads by example. He was extremely consistent in AFL Season 2020 and can consider himself unlucky not to have been chosen in the All Australian squad of 40.
Darcy Parish was one of Essendon’s most important players in what was a disappointing Season for the club. He played all 17 games and averaged slightly under 20 disposals a game. He is a player that doesn’t need much of the ball to influence the game.