With the bye rounds now upon us, we have decided to take a few deep breaths and look back at some of the clubs and their players to date.
Carlton, Essendon, GWS, Port Adelaide, Richmond and St Kilda all have the bye this weekend and with that we’ve dived into those six clubs and assessed a number of different categories.
In our consideration is: who is leading the best and fairest and the other top contenders, the biggest surprise, the players who need a big second half of the year and the players we aren’t talking about enough.
See the Blues, Bombers, Giants, Power, Tigers and Saints below:
Best and Fairest leader
Patrick Cripps
Despite missing essentially two games and having a quiet recent few weeks, Patrick Cripps would still comfortably be leading Carlton’s best and fairest.
His blistering start to the season would probably see him leading the Brownlow Medal as the skipper put the club on his back.
Cripps has averaged 27.5 disposals, 7.5 clearances and five tackles per game (including the Suns game where he was subbed out in the first quarter), but he has also kicked a career high 15 goals.
Top contenders
Charlie Curnow has been as good as any player in the competition over the last month of the season, averaging 4.5 goals and 9.5 score involvements per game. He currently leads the Coleman Medal.
Midfield recruit George Hewett has been ultra consistent this season and if not for missing two games, he could be pushing Cripps up the top of the leaderboard. He has been everything the Blues hoped for and more when they got him from the Swans as a free agent.
Jacob Weitering’s reliability (pre-injury) and Sam Docherty’s seasons will also see them right up there in Carlton’s B&F voting to this point.
Biggest surprise
The midfield dominance
Contest domination and clearance effectiveness were clearly the two areas Michael Voss wanted to immediately stamp on the Blues when he arrived at the club.
Adding Adam Cerra and Hewett, coupled with Cripps returning to 2019 MVP-level form has supercharged Carlton’s midfield this season and these factors combined have given the club a weapon few teams have.
Add in Matt Kennedy’s continued breakout from the back-end of last year and you have yourself a reliable core. So reliable in fact that it allows Carlton to be more creative with Sam Walsh.
Sam Walsh, who carried the Blues’ on-ball setup last year, has started forward and played more of a role around the ground this season.
Aside from ruckman Marc Pittonet, Carlton’s midfield core has also stayed healthy, the only part of their squad to do so. They will need to continue to lean heavily on it going forward.
They are ranked first in the AFL for disposals and contested differential and second for clearance differential.
Players that need a big second half of the year
A lot will rest on the shoulders of Lewis Young who is now Carlton’s only healthy key defender (aside from mid-season draftee Sam Durdin). With Weitering, Mitch McGovern, Oscar McDonald and Luke Parks on the shelf long term, can the young former Bulldog hold his own?
Caleb Marchbank will be a big part of the defensive puzzle as well and the Blues will be desperate for him to build match fitness in the VFL and quickly return at AFL level.
The same could be said for Brodie Kemp who will likely get an opportunity at AFL level to fill a hole in the coming weeks, despite middling VFL form.
Players we’re not talking about enough
Carlton has been one of the stories of the season and their players have mostly been rightly credited.
Matthew Kennedy has been one of the breakout players of the season and become a key cog for the Blues, while Zac Fisher’s emergence across half-forward as one of the best kicks in the competition has been incredibly important.
Lochie O’Brien’s improvement from player delisted six months ago to a regular in the best 22 and an effective wingman is certainly worth mentioning.
His ability to run hard both ways all game coupled with his excellent left foot kicking have seen O’Brien’s role grow in this Carlton side.
Nic Negrepontis
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Best and Fairest leader
Darcy Parish
Darcy Parish has taken his stellar 2021 campaign this year, averaging 35 touches and putting himself well in the frame to win his first best and fairest award later in the year.
While he has come under some criticism for over-possessing the ball, the sheer amount of footy he’s winning at the moment is hard to ignore.
He finished second last season but is destined to go one better in 2022 if his current form continues.
Top contenders
Zach Merrett, who won the Crichton Medal last year, is well in the frame to make it back to back.
He is averaging 30.5 touches per game, but has missed three to date.
Besides that, could first-year player Nic Martin be a shock contender?
He has burst onto the scene and been a key part of this Essendon line-up in a short space of time.
Biggest surprise
Martin comes from nowhere
Nic Martin was one of the latest players to be added onto Essendon’s list, only sealing a spot following the club’s first pre-season game against the Western Bulldogs back in February.
Since then, he’s impressed so much that he’s well in the frame for Rising Star contention as well as the overall Essendon best and fairest.
Martin kicked five goals on debut against Geelong and hasn’t looked back, averaging 21 touches and a goal a game.
He was plucked from relative obscurity having played just 25 games in the WAFL for Subiaco.
Players that need a big second half of the year
Sam Draper
Coming into the year, Sam Draper was seen as one of the most promising emerging ruckmen in the competition.
At the halfway mark of the year, he’s only shown glimpses and has gone missing in a large portion of matches.
He still remains a work in progress and while he is only a developing player, he will be looking for improvement in the second half of Essendon’s campaign.
Players we’re not talking about enough
Jye Caldwell
While Jye Caldwell has had a couple of quieter weeks of late, his importance to the side can’t be overstated and he should be happy with the majority of his work so far this season.
Coming off a 2021 season ruined by injury, the 21-year-old has played all bar one game this season and shown why he’s so highly rated internally.
As Essendon look to improve from their lowly 16th position on the ladder, look for him to improve and win a bit more ball.
Laurence Rosen
Best and Fairest leader
Josh Kelly
Josh Kelly has again been one of GWS’ very best players.
He has so far backed up his superb 2021 club champion campaign and is yet again the Giants’ most prolific midfielder.
The classy on-baller, who was named co-captain prior to the 2022 season, is averaging 29.2 disposals, just 0.3 behind his All-Australian season of 2017.
The 27-year-old is already a two-time Kevin Sheedy Medallist and is showing no signs of slowing down as he chases an unprecedented third.
Top contenders
If Kelly is not leading the count by this point of the season, then third-year midfielder Tom Green certainly will be.
The former top-10 pick has taken his game to the next level in 2022 and is doing everything in his power to enter the top echelon of inside midfielders, evidenced by the fact he sits fifth in the league for contested possessions.
Sam Taylor has been a model of consistency in defence after finishing fifth last season while Harry Perryman has been performing strongly.
That pair would be in the mix alongside Isaac Cumming is starring as a rebounding defender and joint-skipper Stephen Coniglio has found form in recent weeks.
Biggest surprise
Poor start leads to Leon Cameron’s exit
When the season kicked off, not many would have expected the Giants to be under the care of an interim coach.
But that is exactly the case with Mark McVeigh in the caretaker role after Leon Cameron decided to step down in his ninth season.
The Giants were coming off a finals berth last year and were expected to contend again given they did so well while battling numerous injuries.
Their drop-off was alarming and it led to Cameron’s exit with their record a paltry 2-7 upon his departure.
From an individual point of view, Green’s ascent might have taken a few by surprise given he is now regarded as a top-liner by many.
Ruckman Braydon Preuss, when available, has performed above expectations.
Players that need a big second half of the year
Lachie Whitfield
Lachie Whitfield has been well below his best this season, prior to missing the past two matches with an ankle injury.
He has been averaging 21 disposals, which has been his lowest return since 2016, and he has lacked his usual quality.
The Giants are a much better team when Whitfield is up and running and McVeigh will be hoping he can get him back to his best in the second half of the year.
Players we’re not talking about enough
Isaac Cumming
The 23-year-old is flying under the radar in 2022.
He tops the club for rebounds 50s by a considerable margin, has the most metres gained, is averaging the fourth most disposals at the club and has a very tidy disposal efficiency of 83 per cent.
Cumming has become a dependable player who begins most of the Giants’ forward forays from defence.
Andrew Slevison
Best and Fairest leader
Dan Houston
While it’s been an up and down year for Port Adelaide, Dan Houston has been a persistent performer.
Houston, who inked a five-year contract extension in March, continues to improve year-on-year averaging career-high numbers in disposals (23.9), marks (seven) and inside 50s (3.5).
With 111 games under his belt, the 25-year-old is entering the prime of his career with his elite kicking and decision making a hallmark of his game.
Houston has been damaging across half-back and up the ground on a wing. He’s also leading the club for intercepts and uncontested possessions.
Top contenders
Ryan Burton is enjoying his best season since joining the Power from Hawthorn at the end of 2018.
The 25-year-old defender has recorded more rebounds and metres gained than any other Power player this year and is also ranked sixth for total rebounds across the competition.
Burton, who notched his 100th game this year, is averaging career-best numbers in disposals (20.6) and rebounds (6.5).
Veteran Power champion Travis Boak just keeps on keeping on.
Boak remains a key member of Port Adelaide’s midfield in the twilight of his career, averaging 27.6 touches and a club-high 7.1 clearances a game.
Biggest surprise
The way Todd Marshall has toiled
Todd Marshall has performed admirably in Charlie Dixon’s absence.
Marshall is leading Port Adelaide’s goalkicking with 20 majors and is set to break his career-high tally of 24 set last season.
The 198cm tall has been Port’s focal point in attack along with Mitch Georgiades and has also spent time in the ruck.
Marshall has shown promise through his career, but is now starting to string consistent performances together.
He’s kicked five goals on two occasions against Adelaide and West Coast this year.
Players that need a big second half of the year
Charlie Dixon
It’s fair to say the Power have missed Dixon’s presence inside forward 50.
After losing their opening five games, Port Adelaide is back in the finals mix thank to winning five of their next six matches.
If the Power are to make the eight, Dixon needs a big second half of the year.
The 2020 All-Australian kicked two goals in his AFL return against Essendon last week.
Players we’re not talking about enough
Willem Drew
Willem Drew is putting together another solid season on the back of his breakout year in 2021.
The Power midfielder leads the club for tackles while averaging 18.4 touches and a tick under four clearances per match.
Drew, an underrated player at Alberton, played all 24 matches last year and has featured in every game so far in 2022.
His form was rewarded with a two-year contract extension in March.
Alex Zaia
Best and Fairest leader
Jayden Short
The 2020 Jack Dyer Medallist is putting together another fine season.
While he remains a weapon across half-back for Richmond, Jayden Short has added midfield power to his repertoire.
He is averaging a career-high 27 disposals and a tick under five inside 50s in 2022 and has been the club’s most consistent player across 11 games.
Not only does Short lead the Tigers for kicks, he is well clear in that very stats category competition-wide. He also leads the league for metres gained.
Short has been in Richmond’s best handful of few players in nine of 11 games.
Top contenders
Shai Bolton’s best games have been extraordinary and there’s no doubt there will be votes coming his way from the Richmond coaching staff.
Although he can still have quiet patches, his consistency has improved this season from last year’s fourth-placed finish and he has taken the mantle from Dustin Martin as the club’s most dangerous player.
Co-captain Toby Nankervis has been a warrior in the ruck and is putting together his best season so far, while Tom Lynch is in Coleman Medal contention.
Liam Baker, who finished equal second last year, has been a consistent performer, as has Daniel Rioli off half-back, while former skipper Trent Cotchin and dependable defender Nathan Broad have been solid.
Richmond’s best and fairest is generally an open affair.
Biggest surprise
How Daniel Rioli has taken to his new role
While he showed good signs across half-back late last season, Dan Rioli has taken his game to another level in 2022.
He is playing with a renewed confidence and is averaging a career-best 19.7 disposals and 3.5 rebound 50s.
Many would not have forecast he would be this good and he has gone a long way to replacing Bachar Houli, although there is some work to do to reach that output.
He has taken to the role with class, poise and hard running and looks like he has been back there for 100 games or more.
Players that need a big second half of the year
Dion Prestia is one of Richmond’s most important players, but has often battled soft tissue injuries.
When he is up and running, the Tigers’ midfield is simply so much better than it is without him. He has been in and out this year, but has put together a block of games (aside from Round 8 when he missed with illness) which should hold him in good stead for the back half of the year.
It might be a little unfair, but Dustin Martin also needs to rediscover something near his best if the Tigers are to genuinely contend this year. He has shown glimpses since his return and simply might be saving his best for the second half of the campaign.
Shane Edwards, who is approaching his 300th game, has been below his best of late. He found touch against Essendon in the Dreamtime game and his first half against Sydney last Friday night was outstanding. The Tigers need more of that.
Players we’re not talking about enough
Josh Gibcus
The No.9 draft pick has been superb in his first season to date.
Josh Gibcus is yet to be nominated for the Rising Star, meaning his name has not been mentioned as much as it should have been.
Richmond fans are enamoured by the young defender, as is the club’s coaching staff, and the rest of the footy industry is now starting to take notice.
This kid will be a star.
Andrew Slevison
Best and Fairest leader
Jack Sinclair
After a breakout 2021 campaign, Jack Sinclair has elevated his game to a whole new level.
The 27-year-old rebounding defender is having an outstanding season across half-back for the Saints, bolting into All-Australian contention.
Sinclair has also spent time through the midfield, adding to St Kilda’s on-ball options.
The in-form Saint’s numbers make for impressive reading, averaging 27.7 disposals, 4.7 rebounds and 549 metres gained per game.
After finishing second in last year’s best and fairest, Sinclair is well on his way to going one better in 2022.
Top contenders
Callum Wilkie has been a revelation down back for the Saints.
Selected in the 2019 rookie draft, Wilkie has taken several scalps this season and like Sinclair is in the All-Australian conversation.
The reliable Saint is one of the best one-on-one defenders in the competition.
Jade Gresham is having a great season following two injury-interrupted years while Brad Crouch has been prolific through the midfield.
Veteran Paddy Ryder is having a huge impact in the ruck, as is Max King inside forward 50.
King is equal-second in the Coleman Medal on 32 goals.
Biggest suprise
Daniel McKenzie’s form
Unsung Saint Daniel McKenzie is a much-improved player.
The wingman has cemented his spot in the side with his two-way running a key link between defence and attack.
McKenzie is averaging career-best numbers in disposals (17.1) and inside 50s (2.4) and performs a selfless role for the team.
Players that need a big second half of the year
It’s been a stop-start year so far for Jack Billings.
Billings has work to do to win back his place in the side after he was dropped just two games into his return from separate hamstring injuries.
The 26-year-old, who signed a four-year deal last September, was axed after a quiet 12-dispoal game against Adelaide and replaced by youngster Mitch Owens.
With St Kilda’s strength in depth better than previous years, Billings is longer a guaranteed walk-up start, as is forward Dan Butler.
Butler has kicked just five goals in eight AFL appearances this season and went goalless four games in a row before injuring his Achilles.
The ex-Tiger is pushing for a senior recall after kicking five goals on the VFL last weekend.
Players we’re not talking about enough
Seb Ross
Seb Ross is another Saint going under the radar.
The 29-year-old can be a maligned figure at times, but his line-breaking performances through the midfield have repaid the faith shown in him by the club.
Ross, an experienced campaigner with 171 games under his belt, inked a two-year contract extension last October.
Alex Zaia
Next week we will feature: Adelaide, Geelong, Gold Coast, Sydney, West Coast and Western Bulldogs.
The following week will be: Brisbane, Collingwood, Fremantle, Hawthorn, Melbourne and North Melbourne.