Jordan Lewis believes the AFL’s rule changes will have a tangible impact on how valuable certain positions are.
We’ve seen so far this year that one-on-one contests between key forwards and defenders are more prominent given the speed of ball movement and Lewis believes this will affect how clubs contract players.
“I think the value and pecking order has changed in terms of contracts,” the Hawthorn premiership midfielder told SEN Breakfast.
“I think if you can get a genuine one-on-one defender that provides offensive threat, I think they nearly sit at the top of the tree.
“I think they’re becoming the most important players with what we’ve seen with the rule changes so far.
Stay up to date with all the latest news from SEN. Sign up HERE.
“Then I think forwards because once again they’re closer to goal, but they’re in one-on-one contests a lot more.
“If you can get a forward that wins those more often than not, then you’re going to kick a bigger score.
“And midfielders for me, they probably sit third.”
Richmond recently re-signed rising defender Noah Balta to a two-year extension, while the likes of Collingwood, Carlton and Brisbane locked away Darcy Moore, Jacob Weitering and Harris Andrews last year.