Mike Sheahan's Top 50 2013 - with thoughts

[Barry_Badrinath]

So it's based on the fact that Cotchin is a captain, get's more media attention and plays for Richmond which is a big AFL Club?

Is that why he is ranked 7th and Redden isn't ranked at all?

I'm not saying Redden is better then Cotchin but he is a lot closer then someone like Dustin Martin for crying out loud.

But is he closer than 2013 model Dustin Martin?

Mike obviously doesn't think so.

 

[LeverPuller]

Over the top how, Cowboy?

Anyway, I don't think it's necessarily a bad thing Dees fans bringing it up, it's just really myopic.

He's been an absolute shining light in what has been a terrible team. Seriously. I rate him as a genuine A-grader after his 2012, but he gets absolutely no plaudits at all because the rest of the team are so garbage. Chunk is a great guy too, but doesn't even get Richo-like plaudits of being a great player in an awful side; he just gets ignored and underrated.

 

[Belltower]

If all 18 coaches lined every AFL player up against the wall and had the 1st pick, all 18 would pick Buddy.

Wrong, woosha would pick ablett, why? we need elite midfielders more than we need a forward.

 

[Hollow Knight]

Still giggling at the bloke who said that disposal is an issue for Rich. *snortle*

 

[Firebat]

N Jones deserves to be in there.

I guess these lists are supposed to create discussion, and they're working lol

Crawford is taking the piss haha, and that fella that had Birch in the top 10 is having a larf

 

[Hollow Knight]

He's been an absolute shining light in what has been a terrible team. Seriously. I rate him as a genuine A-grader after his 2012, but he gets absolutely no plaudits at all because the rest of the team are so garbage. Chunk is a great guy too, but doesn't even get Richo-like plaudits of being a great player in an awful side; he just gets ignored and underrated.

Simon Black was a shining light in our poor teams from 2005-2011, hasn't cracked a nomination in that time. What hope would Nathan Jones have in light of that?

The media have been incredibly biased towards dominant sides in these things in the last few years.

The overrepresentation of Collingwood and Geelong players in the All-Australian teams in the last few years have been clear evidence of that. If they went back and used the same mindset on the 2001-2004 All-Australian teams, it would be pretty much all Brisbane and Port Adelaide players.

Cameron Mooney, Harry O'Brien and Nick Maxwell wouldn't get AA nominations playing for bottom 8 sides, no way in the world.

 

[Boxhead_31]

So many people having a go at Mike's list in this thread but only one person has put forward their own list and no one has put forward a list with pick's and justifications for their picks.

Until you do how about stop saying Mike is useless lost his marbles etc until you have put forward your own list and justifications.

 

[Astro_]

Surprised Matthew Boyd isn't on the list.

The guy will smash out another excellent season again.

Guess it depends on who you play for.

 

[CowboyFromHell]

Simon Black was a shining light in our poor teams from 2005-2011, hasn't cracked a nomination in that time. What hope would Nathan Jones have in light of that?

The media have been incredibly biased towards dominant in these things in the last few years.

The overrepresentation of Collingwood and Geelong players in the All-Australian teams in the last few years have been clear evidence of that. If they went back and used the same mindset on the 2001-2004 All-Australian teams, it would be pretty much all Brisbane and Port Adelaide players.

It's a fair point. I guess as Melbourne fans you would like to see one of your own in there and Jones is the only player who fits the bill. As Striker mentioned he has been a shining light for us over the last couple of years but there are still plenty of players who missed out as well.

 

[carnthemlions]

I should have been more clear, I don't rate his kicking skills, but, hawthorn do have some of the best field kicks in the comp

You don't rate his kicking skills?
Whose kicking skills DO you rate then?

 

[Danair]

Two players not on this list but will be in his end of year one, David Mundy and Lewis Jetta.

 

[the harry]

So by what metric other than the Brownlow, which everyone knows is flawed.
Kennedy's stats support that he was the best inside mid in the comp last year, and B&F in a premiership side is a much better

Frankly I dont care either way what order they are listed in, but to suggest Watson is certainly ahead of other names mentioned is crazy.

B&Fs are more flawed than the Brownlow for the simple reason that there would be 10+ different ways that B&fs are calculated throughout the 18 clubs.

 

[Dwight Schrute]

It's harder to win the Brownlow when you have O'Keefe, McVeigh, Jetta, Goodes & co taking votes off you.

When your only player to take votes off you is Brett Stanton, you know the Brownlow isn't the ultimate indicator.

It's easier to win a brownlow in a top 4 team.

 

[Byron_Clanger]

No Eagles in the top or bottom 10, niceeee, and Taylor Walker? DAFUQ?

 

[Rod Stroker]

Rich is clearly our most damaging midfielder now and is tagged accordingly. Your perceptions will catch up on the same 18 month time lag as the rest of Victoria.

I don't live in Victoria.

If Rich is clearly your most damaging midfielder now then I'm even less worried about Brisbane.

 

[Hollow Knight]

It's easier to win a brownlow in a top 4 team.

Yeah, Akermanis, Black, Buckley, Cousins and Goodes managed to win Brownlows in grand final sides. My gut feel is that the "vote pinching" and "playing in a good side" issues seem to balance each other out.

 

[Dollhouse#40]

seriously.. how does Boyd not make it. Yes, the team won't surprise to many, but the guy had the most disposals in the league last year, and was one of our few consistent performers.. Going off this pre-season he won't be much different in 2013, so how the shit does he not make it??

Also, Gibbs will be top 30 come end of year, and how Goodes is ranked top 15 I dont even know, there is so much wrong with this list.

 

[Belnakor]

On the plus side he didn't have NikNat as Number 1.

 

[Woodie99]

Here we go, again.
He says that he picks the players he thinks will be best in 2013 yet he consistently refers to their 2012 efforts in his justification of their ranking. But the Herald Sun website claim, "While Mike’s pre-season list is picked on potential, his end-of-year Top 50 is ranked according to who had the most influence in the 2012 season."


Hilarious.

But he does his job, he gets us talking. Here's the top 10 so far. Top 50 ain't working yet. If you want a more credible top 50, visit my Twitter page for I'm counting my favourite Top 50 Pokemon. 50 - Zubat (cause of how awesome he trolled us), 49 - Houndoom, 48 - Hippowdon, 47 - Rapidash, 46 - Aggron.

Oh yeah, Mike Sheahan's list, forgot...

5 & 6 are the wrong way round, Kennedy is 5 & Selwood is 6

 

[Hollow Knight]

If Rich is clearly your most damaging midfielder now then I'm even less worried about Brisbane.

If you don't see Rich as our most damaging midfielder then I am completely dismissive of your knowledge (and therefore assessment) of Brisbane.

Highest ranked midfielder in our B&F (2nd overall) despite the fact he missed a couple of games and was generally the first mid tagged each week.

Also tied for our highest amount of Brownlow votes.

Honestly, anyone who says Black is still our best midfielder is just invested in old cliches rather than evidence.

 

[RobertRichter]

It's easier to win a brownlow in a top 4 team.

2 of the last 3 Brownlow winners have come from non Top 4 sides.

If you have less players polling off you, it is easier to win a Brownlow.

It is generally the case in non top 4 sides.

If you look at the history of the Brownlow Medal since it started, more winners have come from non finals sides than final ones.

 

[LouisCK]

Might seem a bit biased but if he has key forwards such as Taylor walker at 9 and Hawkins at 17, Petrie at 28, but can't even find room for a 24 year old dual Coleman medallist over superstars such as Bryce Gibbs the old man needs to retire immediately and have a good hard look at himself. Riewoldt better than all players mentioned IMO. Swan should be easily top 10 as well.

Jack should definitely be there I agree. Mitch Clark is an interesting one too, off his 2012 form and talent there's no reason not to have him in the top 50, but due to his injurybeing uite serious I guess its fair to say that 2013 might not be as good for him.

 

[CowboyFromHell]

Jack should definitely be there I agree. Mitch Clark is an interesting one too, off his 2012 form and talent there's no reason not to have him in the top 50, but due to his injurybeing uite serious I guess its fair to say that 2013 might not be as good for him.

Not surprised at all to see Clark miss out. If he comes back from his injury well and regains some of that 2012 form then he might be a chance but, until then, if Jack Riewoldt can't crack the list then Mitch Clark shouldn't either.

 

[Richo83]

• • • 
      Alex Fasolo
      Collingwood

Token hun Collingwood selection? I'd see Smedts and Prestia are better prospects.

It's interesting, because when someone suggests that Cotchin is elite, there's always a few who suggest that we need to wait. The media is clearly not waiting. I don't have a problem with Watson being that low, but Walker seems a bit too high. So does Beams, who seems on the level of Murphy. I also think Selwood is way too high. Sure, he's a gun, but I'd rate Murphy ahead of Selwood, and I don't think he's that much better than his brother, who is ranked 29th. At the least, I would rate the likes of Swan and Murphy ahead of Selwood. Selwood is probably still in the top 15 or so, but sixth? Not sure.

I think Sloane is a little too high. I think he's a good player, but I think he's at the level of guys like Redden and Robinson who are probably outside the list. Petrie is highly questionable, at and without Riewoldt, makes little sense. I think he's valuing Bartel on past performances, which is odd given he's trying to predict the future. Rich is odd, he's on equal footing with a number of other draftees in his year like Grimes and Ward yet he's the one who gets picked. I think there will be players who surpass Thomas, who benefits from the team he's in. He's good, but I think he's stagnated and has probably found his level. Lastly, Sewell is fairly lucky. If it's going on performance, I don't see him as a top 50 player, he's I think not as good as Boyd and Sewell's kicking can be hit and miss. In terms of future, I see him either stagnating or regressing as the younger hawks brigade improves. For a list which is looking forward, Sewell seems an odd choice. He's ahead of Enright who has clearly been a better player, and speaking of players living off past glories, Enright is lucky too.

 

[Dwight Schrute]

If you look at the history of the Brownlow Medal since it started, more winners have come from non finals sides than final ones.

In the last 20 years only three players have won the brownlow outside the top 8 compared to 15 players from top 4 teams.