2008 Brownlow Medallist Adam Cooney has named the five players he believes will be the best in the competition come the end of 2023.
However, in a list featuring four midfielders and a forward, the former Bulldog and Bomber admits he has snubbed the defenders.
Cooney told SEN’s The Run Home: “I made a little shortlist of defenders that could possibly be in there but I didn’t (select). I had (Tom Stewart In there, I had Steve May, who’s probably the best two-way key defender, I had Brayden Maynard in it as well, I just love the way he goes about his footy.
“I think Nick Daicos… at half back he had a stellar season (last year), and James Sicily was the other one who could be one of the best players in the competition by the end of 2023.”
Check out Cooney’s predicted best players come the end of the 2023 season below.
5. Shai Bolton (Richmond, 24-years-old)
“He’s a guy who doesn’t have to have 30 or 35 disposals to absolutely torch an opposition. He can have 15, and he might even kick two goals but he’ll take a hanger, a couple of big tackles and give a few (goals) off.
“He can kick 2.3 and be the best player on the ground from 15 disposals. He is electric and I love what he’s doing with his career.”
4. Patrick Cripps (Carlton, 27)
“It’s all about his body and fitness with Paddy. If he stays fit then he could be the no.1 player in the competition by the end of the season, we know how good he is.
3. Christian Petracca (Melbourne, 27)
“He had a great year but it wasn’t unbelievable, and it could have been unbelievable if he finished some of his work up forward.
“If he turns that around, what he can do in the midfield and how powerful he is when he goes forward, if he just works out his kicking he could go to another level, which would be unbelievable.
2. Marcus Bontempelli (Western Bulldogs, 27)
I’ve had faith in this guy for a very long time, I’ve picked him in every pre-season prediction to win the Brownlow for the last three or four years, and he should get there in 2023, Marcus Bontempelli.
There’s nothing stopping him at all… (maybe) his kicking for goal, but I admire the way he plays his footy, he’s an unbelievable leader, a pretty measured guy too, one of the nicest characters you’ll meet and hopefully wins a Brownlow in 2023.
1. Jeremy Cameron (Geelong, 29)
“Who I had as the best player in the competition in 2022, being mentored by some of the greats down in the Cattery… Jeremy Cameron.