ELITE MIDFIELDERS 2013

[Hamshamiltonhocking]

I'm going to assume that, statistically, each team MIGHT have one elite midfielder, and a couple of lucky teams might have two. So, quite arbitrarily, I'm going to restrict the number of 'Elite' midfielders in the AFL to twenty. At this stage of 2013, who might those twenty be? Now, obviously, I have not seen every game, so must rely often on reports of good form. That said, here's twenty who seem to be 'Elite' in 2013:
Adelaide: Dangerfield
Carlton: Murphy, Judd
Collingwood: Pendlebury, Swan
Essendon: Watson, Stanton, Goddard, Heppell
Fremantle: Barlow
Geelong: Selwood, Bartel, Johnson
GWS:
Hawthorn: Mitchell, Hodge
Melbourne:
North: Swallow
Port Adelaide: Boak
Richmond: Cotchin
St Kilda:
Sydney: Kennedy, Jack
West Coast:
Western Bulldogs:

Not surprisingly, the teams that are currently well-placed have had more midfielders at the elite level than have the strugglers. I'm certain to have overlooked some players, but, remember, before anyone can be included on this list, some one has to be excluded.

 

[KissKiss]

Is Ablett above Elite then?

 

[Danair]

Dyson Heppell is good but far from elite, you are missing quite a few better midfielders than him (Ablett, Deledio, O'Keefe, McVeigh, Thompson, Sloane, Mundy, Fyfe, Griffen, Boyd etc.)

 

[ize_]

Ablett stiff.

 

[Capitano_Cotch]

Stanton better than Deledio?

Really?

 

[Bomberblitzer]

Zaka is elite. Heppell not quite.

 

[Hamshamiltonhocking]

Correct about Ablett! What an oversight! Him in, Heppell out.

 

[blaze036]

You do realize we have 18 teams now?

And Heppell? Stanton? Barlow?

Good but not best 20 in the comp

 

[WCEbrody]

If you're including Heppel and Barlow then Scott Selwood should easily be on that list... Actually should probably be on it anyway.

 

[drummond2fevola]

Try again OP

 

[Richo83]

I I'm certain to have overlooked some players, but, remember, before anyone can be included on this list, some one has to be excluded.

Boak, Heppell and Stanton aren't elite. Heppell may one day become elite, but not now. Swallow is close to being elite, but he's not there yet.

 

[Hamshamiltonhocking]

Don't forget: It's about how they are going THIS year, not any previous reputation.

 

[Bomberblitzer]

Stanton better than Deledio?

Really?

I agree that Lids probably deserves to be there, but Deledio hasn't quite shown that he can break a tag this year, whilst Stanton cops one every week and still averages 25 touches a game.

 

[Danair]

Don't forget: It's about how they are going THIS year, not any previous reputation.

If that's the case why no Hannebery?(granted he had a quite game on the weekend)

 

[Capitano_Cotch]

I agree that Lids probably deserves to be there, but Deledio hasn't quite shown that he can break a tag this year, whilst Stanton cops one every week and still averages 25 touches a game.

I rate Stanton highly.

But he is not elite.

Deledio has only really had 1 bad game this year (Geelong) and seemed to break Cornes' tag quite comfortably on Saturday.

Much more damaging than Stanton in my opinion.

 

[Happy Mastenator]

Bartel is not an elite midfielder this year. So much wrong with this list.

 

[Bomberblitzer]

I rate Stanton highly.

But he is not elite.

Deledio has only really had 1 bad game this year (Geelong) and seemed to break Cornes' tag quite comfortably on Saturday.

Much more damaging than Stanton in my opinion.

Very different players. Stanton is a gut runner with one of the best tanks in the comp. Doesn't really kick too many goals like Lids does, but his run is very, very important to our otherwise slow or top heavy midfield (excluding Zaka).

He is an elite runner and has good disposal, but not quite the full package.

 

[Hamshamiltonhocking]

I have seen several Richmond games this year, and also several Essendon games. Obviously I support neither team, but my observation is that Stanton had played better for Essendon this year than Delidio has for Richmond. (For example, Delidio did not seem to play well against either Collingwood or Geelong.

 

[matty lloyd the champ]

I rate Stanton highly.

But he is not elite.

Deledio has only really had 1 bad game this year (Geelong) and seemed to break Cornes' tag quite comfortably on Saturday.

Much more damaging than Stanton in my opinion.

I'd rate them the same.

His game against Freo was pretty ordinary as well. Crowley shut him down pretty well.

 

[Igloo]

Lack of Griffen disappoints me.

Brad Scott knows the score:

Scott praised Ryan Griffen, whose 34 possessions were 14 more than any teammate, describing him as a genuine superstar who would rank in the 10 best players in the competition. ''I think he's just about the most dynamic midfielder in the game,'' Scott said. ''The Bulldogs must be frustrated, because we all talk about great players like [Patrick] Dangerfield, Griffen's well and truly in their category if not beyond. We had a really hard time curtailing his influence

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/eagle-eye-on-daws-haul-20130511-2jff0.html

 

[Mordecai]

Ryan Griffen should be in there for the Dogs.

 

[BEEG]

Heppel is not but Zaka is and i would say Sidebottom from what he has done this year

Griffin,Priddis just a couple you have missed

Its a bu$$shit word anyway

 

[matty lloyd the champ]

Fyfe should be there as well. Bartel, Heppell and Goddard should be taken off the list.

Bartel hasn't even been playing midfield this year.

 

[timskul]

Ade: Dangerfield
Bris:
Carl: Murphy
Coll: Pendlebury, Swan
Ess: Watson, Goddard, Stanton
Frem: Fyfe
Geel: Selwood
GC: Ablett
Haw: Mitchell, Hodge
Mel:
North: Swallow
Port: Boak
Rich: Cotchin, Deledio
STK:
Syd: Jack, McVeigh
WCE: S.Selwood
WB: Griffen

Tough to narrow down past a standout 12-15

 

[DontArgue4]

I'd rate them the same.

His game against Freo was pretty ordinary as well. Crowley shut him down pretty well.

deledio got 20 touches and also went to mundy and absolutely DISMANTLED him, stanton is no where near the footballer deledio is, not before, not now, not ever