Mark Robinson names his top 50 players after the 2023 season

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The midfield-forwards who kick goals and create scores make up the bulk of the top 10 in the post-season Top 50.

That’s not a surprise.

They are the matchwinners, the bums-on-seats footballers who often are the separators between winning and losing.

What won’t be a surprise is Marcus Bontempelli is the No. 1 player in the competition.

The Western Bulldogs skipper won his fifth best and fairest last week and the annual question – Is he the greatest ever Bulldog? – is becoming a lot easier to answer.

“Absolutely it is,’’ Bulldogs great Brad Johnson said.

“He’ll end up equalling if not bettering Scott West with the amount of best-and-fairests he’ll win.

“He’ll probably get eight All-Australians. What has he got now? Five? And he’ll have a chance to be captain of the All-Australian team in that period of time, and perhaps another flag depending on how they go and who they retain.

“So, his career now and if he adds other layers to it, he will be the No.1 player to ever wear the colours. Absolutely.’’

SCROLL DOWN TO SEE ROBBO’S POST-SEASON TOP 50

Marcus Bontempelli is the No.1 player in the game, according to Mark Robinson. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos

Johnson, who coach Terry Wallace once described as the best pound-for-player he coached, said Bontempelli’s calmness as a player and captain was the quality he most admired.

“From a footballing point of view he can do it all, he’s complete, but he’s also calm,’’ Johnson said. “He’s calm with his decision-making, he’s calm with his teammate on the field, he’s got strong leadership which his teammates respond to, so that’s the most impressive thing to me.’’

All Australian skipper Toby Greene is No.2 ahead of Collingwood’s midfield playmakers, Nick Daicos and Jordan De Goey.

At 182cm, Greene plays pseudo key forward and his 66 goals capped his best season of football. His transformation from “enfant terrible’’ to hugely admired All Australian skipper was one of the stories of the season.

Daicos is the ultimate linkman who wins the ball and runs to receive and create. He missed seven weeks and returned with 28 and 29 disposals in the preliminary final and grand final. His vision, combined with the cleanest of ball skills, is what makes him special.

De Goey is the big mover. When he’s on the fly at stoppages, he makes the rest of the world appear slow, and he kicks big goals in big games. He’s an irresistible presence on the footy field.

Carlton star Charlie Curnow has fallen down the list. Picture: Michael Klein.

Midfielders Christian Petracca, Zak Butters and the most improved player in the game, Sydney’s Errol Gulden, round out the midfield gold.

Carlton’s Charlie Curnow was a difficult choice. He was named No.1 player in the pre-season and for a time there he had a good grasp on that mantle. But three so-so finals hurt his standing. Not that being No.8 is a slap in the face, but a better September would’ve had him closer to No.1 than No.10.

Two key defenders close out the top 10. Sam Taylor might surprise some who don’t watch Giants games, but there’s leading commentators who believe he’s the best key defender since Alex Rance and Tom Stewart.

Newbies include Noah Anderson, Jordan Dawson, Nick Blakey, Tom Green, Caleb Serong, Dan Houston, Jai Newcombe, Josh Daicos, Kyle Langford, and Isaac Quaynor.

The post-season Top 50 is based solely on the performances in 2023, and not on their total careers.

Originally published as Mark Robinson names his top 50 players after the 2023 season