The top 30 Croweaters in the AFL: The rise and rise of Collingwood ruckman Brodie Grundy
More than 100 South Australians will play in the AFL this season but who are the cream of the crop? Advertiser.com.au’s Andrew Capel looks over the list and rates his Top 30.
Andrew Capel
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BRODIE Grundy’s rise from late football starter and draft-day slider to All-Australian ruckman is one of football’s great stories.
The 203cm powerhouse, who grew up wanting to be an NBA basketballer, might have been lost to football had former Crow and North Adelaide premiership captain Darel Hart not had a late change of heart and picked him in his State under-16 football team.
After the final under-16 trial game at Noarlunga Oval in 2009, Hart had decided to leave the talented but very raw ruckman out of his 25-man squad to contest the national championships in Sydney.
But as he was walking down the grandstand stairways with his team picked on his whiteboard, Hart second-guessed himself.
“By the time I had reached the bottom I changed my mind,’’ he said.
“I often laugh about that now because who knows what path Brodie would have taken if the team had stayed the same.
“Brodie was playing only about his seventh game of football and his skills weren’t great because he was a basketballer who hadn’t played much footy.
“But for a ruckman he was super-competitive, which I loved, and we thought having a giant ruckman in our team late in the competition when everyone is tired might work to our advantage.’’
Grundy didn’t look back.
He starred in the championships to earn selection in the AIS-AFL Academy squad and was rated by then State under-18 coach Brenton Phillips as a sure-fire top-10 pick at the 2012 draft.
The 203cm giant surprisingly slipped to No. 18 where Collingwood gratefully pounced.
Six years later, at age 24, Grundy earned All-Australian selection alongside fellow ruckman, Melbourne’s Max Gawn, and is arguably the best big man in the game.
He is the most impressive South Australian on an AFL list this year.
But who is next line?
With the AFL premiership season just over two weeks away, The Advertiser has picked its top 30 Croweaters for 2019.
AFL analyst Champion Data has listed 101 players — which amounts to 12 per cent of the competition — as qualifying, under its State-of-Origin guidelines, as being South Australians this season.
Victoria has 438 players — 54 per cent of the competition — and Western Australia 106 (13 per cent).
To qualify for The Advertiser rankings, a player must have been born in SA.
This includes Crow Eddie Betts, who was born Port Lincoln but drafted to Carlton from Victorian TAC Cup side Calder Cannons.
But it excludes Darwin-born Hawthorn great Shaun Burgoyne, who was drafted by Port Adelaide from its SANFL side, and GWS defensive ace Phil Davis, who was drafted by the Crows from North Adelaide but was born in Canberra.
The top 30 is based on past performance and potential.
THE TOP 30
1. BRODIE GRUNDY
Collingwood
(From Sturt)
Powerful All-Australian ruckman scored the most SuperCoach points last year with 2870 at an average of 130.5. His main attribute as a ruckman is his ability to get around the ground, ranking No. 1 as a ruckman for disposals (20.2), contested possessions (12.2), clearances (5.3) and tackles (5). Won the Magpies’ Copeland Trophy in a grand final year. Given ruckmen aren’t supposed to hit their peak until their late 20s, Grundy’s potential is scary.
2. RORY LAIRD
Adelaide
(From West Adelaide)
Champion Data describes him as the Tom Mitchell of defenders because of his ability to win so much of the ball. A 2011 rookie list pick-up, Laird is a dual All-Australian whose incredible rise was recognised with him winning his first Malcolm Blight Medal as Crows club champion last year. Only teammate Matt Crouch (32.7) and Brownlow Medallist Mitchell (35.5) have averaged more disposals than Laird (30.7) since 2017.
3. SHANNON HURN
West Coast
(From Central District)
Illustrated his excellent leadership qualities by captaining the Eagles to a shock premiership last year. A superb, long kick from the backline, Hurn has been rated in the elite category for kick rating in seven of the eight years Champion Data has been keeping the statistic. He also is an elite intercept mark (2.6 a game) and averaged 21.2 disposals and eight marks last season in an All-Australian campaign.
4. LACHIE NEALE
Brisbane
(From Glenelg)
Former Docker has moved to Brisbane after 135 games in seven years under Ross Lyon. Neale is only short at 177cm but he a midfield ball magnet who won two Doig Medals (best and fairests) at Fremantle in 2016 and 2018. Has averaged 29.6 disposals in the past four years. A stoppage king, he last year averaged 15 contested possessions and seven clearances, highlighting his ability to win the ball in traffic.
5. EDDIE BETTS
Adelaide
(From Calder Cannons, Vic)
At age 32 the brilliant small goalsneak is in his twilight years but has enjoyed a strong summer which he says has him feeling 21 again. After an injury-riddled 2018 campaign that netted only 29 goals in 18 games, Betts backed up his sentiments on the field in the JLT clash against Port Adelaide on Saturday by bagging four goals. Former Blue has kicked 273 goals for the Crows in 111 games and led their goalkicking in four of his five years at the club.
6. BRYCE GIBBS
Adelaide
(From Glenelg)
Former Blues star had a solid rather than spectacular first year at Adelaide where the club — on the back of a succession of injuries — slumped from grand finalist to 12th. Midfielder finished fourth in club champion voting behind runaway winner Laird, averaging 25.9 disposals and leading the club in kicks (354), inside 50s (99) and centre clearances (45). With more support around him this year, can expect to make an even bigger impact.
7. SAM JACOBS
Adelaide
(From Woodville-West Torrens)
Ruck ironman battled a back injury after being hurt against Port Adelaide in round eight last year and it clearly weighed him down as his average SuperCoach points fell from 97 in 2017 to 84. But, in typical fashion, Jacobs courageously played out the season under duress, not missing a game. Incredibly, he has played 179 of the Crows’ past 183 matches, illustrating his consistency and warrior-like status.
8. BRODIE SMITH
Adelaide
(From Woodville-West Torrens)
Brilliant, rebounding half-back flanker played just two AFL games last year — in rounds 20 and 21 — after returning from nearly a year on the sidelines following a knee reconstruction.
The 2014 All-Australian was strong in his return, averaging 21.5 disposals, and has gained 515m a game since 2016 — ranked No. 1 in the competition. There is no reason why he cannot recapture his best form this season.
9. CHAD WINGARD
Hawthorn
(From Sturt)
Dual All-Australian was controversially traded from Port Adelaide to the Hawks after a modest 2018 campaign and an end-of-season conversation with coach Ken Hinkley that didn't go well for him, with questions about his work ethic. Has the talent and goal sense to turn a game in a blink of an eye but battled a calf injury last season and has suffered a recurrence of the injury this year, which has left him in serious doubt for round one.
10. TOM JONAS
Port Adelaide
(From Norwood)
Lockdown defender’s amazing rise from battling rookie-list player to Power co-captain is one of the AFL’s feel-good stories. Jonas had the best season of his career last year, finishing joint runner-up with his new co-captain Ollie Wines in club champion voting, despite missing four games through injury. Once purely a defensive specialist, Jonas averaged career highs in disposals (16.7), marks (7.8), and intercept possessions (8.4).
11. SHANE EDWARDS
Richmond
(From North Adelaide)
All-Australian last year and Richmond premiership player in 2017, forward/midfielder wins his share of the ball (average 19.3 disposals last season) and uses it to great effect. He is not a big goalkicker but led the AFL for score assists last season, averaging two a game, and is an elite kick. Is terrific at ground level, ranking second in the league for forward half crumbs and sixth for groundball-gets.
12. WAYNE MILERA
Adelaide
(From Central District)
At 21 and with 43 games under his belt, Milera is far from the finished product. But Crows teammate Josh Jenkins says the player drafted as a midfielder/forward could become “the best half-back in the game’’. “I’m biased because I get to see him every day but Milera could be anything,’’ Jenkins said after the athletic, dashing Milera moved to half-back last year and averaged 19.4 disposals. “He is unbelievable, the real deal.’’
13. JUSTIN WESTHOFF
Port Adelaide
(From Central District)
Like a good wine, Westhoff gets better with age. The oldest player on Port’s list won his first John Cahill Medal as Power club champion last year at age 32. The 200cm Power cult figure usually started on a wing and then roamed all over the ground, including the ruck. He averaged 20 disposals and five marks while kicking 24 goals. Coach Ken Hinkley says he is so durable that he could do a Dustin Fletcher and play until he is 40.
14. ORAZIO FANTASIA
Essendon
(From Norwood)
The lightning-quick medium forward’s importance to the Bombers is reflected in the club’s win-loss record. He missed nine games last year through injury and Essendon won just 33 per cent of them. When he played, Essendon’s strike rate was 69 per cent. He turns games with his pace, brilliant goal sense and clever ball use. He won the ball 88 per cent of the time it was kicked to him on a lead last year.
15. JACK REDDEN
West Coast
(From Glenelg)
Former Lion became a premiership player in his third year at West Coast, enjoying a stellar finals campaign where he finished third in the Gary Ayres Award for the best player of the 2018 finals. With 17 votes, only Collingwood’s Steele Sidebottom (23) and Taylor Adams (18) polled more. The industrious midfielder averaged a career-high 25 disposals and 5.5 score involvements.
16. JARED POLEC
North Melbourne
(From Woodville-West Torrens)
Flying wingman averaged 25 disposals to finish fifth in the Power’s club champion award and then took the big money on offer from North Melbourne ($3.5m over five years) to move over the border. A hard-running, left-footer, Polec — who resurrected his career at Port after three injury-riddled years at Brisbane — had a career-year in 2018, being the only wingman to rank as elite for metres gained (491), contested possessions (8.6) and clearances (2.6).
17. HAMISH HARTLETT
Port Adelaide
(From West Adelaide)
One-time midfielder Hartlett rated the start to his 2018 campaign as the best of his 10-year career as he excelled as a playmaking half-back. But his season lasted just five rounds after he ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in an innocuous training incident. Before his injury, Hartlett was averaging career-highs in kicks (14.2) and marks (7.8). He is close to resuming and believes he can recapture his best in the back half.
18. BRAD EBERT
Port Adelaide
(From Port Magpies)
Consistent midfielder’s numbers dropped considerably last year, falling from an average of 24.7 disposals in 2017 to 20.5. Was given a few run-with roles which he performed admirably but finished a disappointing 11th in club champion voting. Ebert has been successfully trialled as a forward this pre-season, using his strong hands, accurate kick and tackling prowess to great effect. Expect to see him there for most of the year.
19. PAUL PUOPOLO
Hawthorn
(Norwood)
Small forward is not a big disposal winner but the impact he makes with his inside-50 pressure is enormous. Triple Hawks premiership player is in the twilight of his career at 31 but still plays a critical role for Alastair Clarkson’s side. Has kicked 171 goals in 168 games and ranked No. 1 for forward 50 pressure points last season. In the past four years Hawthorn has scored 300 points from turnovers forced from his pressure acts — ranked 2 in the league.
20. AARON FRANCIS
Essendon
(From West Adelaide)
The 2015 No. 6 draft pick took time off for mental health reasons last year but finished the season strongly, ranking second in the competition for intercept marks (2) and fourth for intercept possessions (6.1) in the five games he played. Reads the play superbly in defence and has a great pair of hands. A good decision-maker who has the potential to be an All-Australian defender.
21. HEATH GRUNDY
Sydney
(From Norwood)
Veteran key defender, 32, has been a mainstay in a strong Sydney team which has made the finals for nine consecutive years. Took time off for mental health reasons last year but finished the season out and didn’t regress on the field, averaging 17 disposals and six marks. Since 2014, he has defended the third most one-one-ones of any player, winning 40 per cent — ranked No. 1 of the top 50 contest players in this period.
22. SCOTT LYCETT
Port Adelaide
(From Port Magpies)
West Coast premiership ruckman joined the Power as a restricted free agent after a career-season in which he played 25 games and led the ruck in the Eagles' stunning finals campaign in place of the injured Nic Naitanui. Clearances (2.8 a game) were his strong point while he averaged 12 disposals. Should get the chance to flourish at his new club which plans to use him as its lead ruckman with sidekick Paddy Ryder employed primarily as a forward.
23. RYAN BURTON
Port Adelaide
(From North Adelaide)
Surprisingly traded to the Power because of how highly the Hawks rated Chad Wingard. Burton overcame career-threatening leg injuries as a teenager to finish runner-up in the 2017 AFL Rising Star award. Was drafted as a forward but played his best football at Hawthorn as a playmaking defender because of his good ball use, finishing fourth in the 2017 best and fairest. Has been exposed one-on-one defensively and could see some midfield action at Port.
24. WILL HAYWARD
Sydney
(From North Adelaide)
A natural goalkicker with strong hands, Hayward ranked second at the Swans in goals last year with 28 behind superstar Lance Franklin (57). He is a class act but needs to win more of the ball. He averaged a modest 12 disposals and four marks in 23 games. At 20, Hayward has a big upside with his key attribute being that good things happen when the ball is in his hands.
25. DARCY FOGARTY
Adelaide
(From Glenelg)
Encouraging debut season where he played 10 of the first 16 rounds after being selected at pick 12 at the 2017 national draft. Is more of an impact player rather than a big disposal winner but he is big and strong and shows enormous potential as a key forward and big-bodied midfielder. Is an elite kick at goal — booting nine in his debut year — who can also play in defence, giving him great versatility.
26. LUKE BROWN
Adelaide
(From Norwood)
Loved by the Crows where he is an integral part of their back six, Brown sails under the radar as a small defender but rarely has his colours lowered. Defensively minded, he did not concede more than two goals a game to any opponent last season. He also averaged 15 disposals — one up on his career average — and recorded an elite kicking efficiency of 80.8 per cent.
27. JACK LUKOSIUS
Gold Coast
(From Woodville-West Torrens)
Likened to St Kilda great Nick Riewoldt, key forward Lukosius — the No. 2 draft pick last year — is 195cm and extremely athletic, giving him the ability to play all over the ground. He last year took the most marks at an under-18 national championships (31) since Jon Patton in 2011. Is an elite kick with a great attitude and while he might take time to find his feet at AFL level — like most key position players — he is a rare talent who should play round one.
28. IZAK RANKINE
Gold Coast
(From West Adelaide)
One of the three South Australians selected in the top five of last year’s AFL draft (No. 3 overall), the small forward/midfielder excitement machine had been expected to make the biggest first year impact until ripping a hamstring in the Suns’ final pre-season game, which will sideline him for the early rounds. A dual All-Australian under-18 player, he was Champion Data’s top-ranked draft prospect for this season.
29. CONNOR ROZEE
Port Adelaide
(From North Adelaide)
Utility won the best player at the AFL under-16 championships three years ago and was drafted at No. 5 last year after playing a starring role across half-back in North Adelaide’s stunning league finals campaign, which saw it break a 27-year premiership drought. Rozee, who will evolve into a midfielder, doesn’t win a heap of the ball yet but he makes things happen when he gets it. Possesses a brilliant sidestep and should play in round one.
30. CALEB DANIEL
Western Bulldogs
(South Adelaide)
Dogs 2016 premiership small forward was trialled in defence late last season, lifting his average disposals as a forward from 19 to 25 as a backman. An excellent decision maker, he was equal-fifth in the club champion award and finished with the 12th-best disposal retention rate (74.8 per cent) of the top-100 disposal winners. Only measures 168cm but his ability to weave in and out of traffic and deliver with precision is a great strength..
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