Brownlow Medallist Adam Cooney has named his top seven match-winners in the AFL.
The seven Cooney named aren’t necessarily his best overall players, but those he believes can win a game off their own boot when they’re flying.
After having trouble narrowing his list down to just seven, Cooney named several apologies who just missed out on being named.
“I’ve got some apologies before I bring my seven up,” Cooney said.
“I’d like to say sorry to Isaac Heeney, Clayton Oliver, Max Gawn, Tom Papley and Charlie Cameron – who all didn’t make my top seven but could easily be in there.
“It is a cracker, it’s tough to go past this seven.”
Check out Cooney’s top seven match-winners below.
7 – Marcus Bontempelli (Western Bulldogs)
“At seven is my former teammate and midfield maestro Marcus Bontempelli,” Cooney told Sportsday SA.
“He is a dual-threat, he can go forward, if he can just sort his goalkicking out.
“The only reason he’s not higher is because he doesn’t kick enough goals.”
6 – Shai Bolton (Richmond)
“At number six and could go to a new level in 2023 is Shai Bolton.
“He is a star of the game and verging on the top 10 overall in the AFL.
“He’ll crack it this year, he can win games off his own boot.”
5 – Christian Petracca (Melbourne)
“At five is Christian Petracca, talk about dual threats, he can finish in front of goal.
“He can get it 30 or 35 times then go forward and kick goals, he’s very tough to match up on.”
4 – Jordan De Goey (Collingwood)
“At number four, which may be controversial as he’s in front of Petracca is Jordan De Goey.
“I just think that he has every attribute to tear the game and the competition apart.
“If his body holds up … I think he’s one of the best players in the competition.
“Midfield or forward, he’s equally as dangerous.”
3 – Tom Hawkins (Geelong)
“This guy is like a fine wine, he just gets better and better with age.
“It’s Tom Hawkins, I don’t know how he still does it, he’s probably nearly my age I think, he’s 35.
“He trains just about every session still, he has a foot problem at the moment but if I’m searching for a full forward to kick the footy to and it’s a one-on-one, he just about beats everyone in the competition inside 50.”
2 – Charlie Curnow (Carlton)
“Two is Charlie Curnow, king Charles, he is just a freak.
“The way that he’s come back from his knee injury is nothing short of a miracle, I had fears he’d start playing like me after my knee injuries.
“He’s just a matchwinner.”
1 – Jeremy Cameron (Geelong)
“Number one is the best player in the competition for me, certainly last year and he could be this year.
“Alongside Tom Hawkins in the forward line is this man, Jeremy Cameron.
“He’s super fit, I love the way he plays his footy, he dominates time trials, pushes up the ground, loses his opponent, then pushes back.
“He’s capable of going to centre bounces as well, he is the best player in the game and a match-winner.
“He’s my number one.”