Adam Treloar in all-Australian, best-and-fairest frame amid staggering 2024 statistics

He doesn’t generate the fanfare of captain Marcus Bontempelli — or even Tom Liberatore. But as SCOTT GULLAN writes, Adam Treloar is on track to achieve two 13-year firsts in a season which has confirmed him among the game’s elite midfielders.

If you’ve noticed how every time you switch on a Western Bulldogs game Adam Treloar seems to have the ball, don’t worry you’re not watching a replay.

No other player in the competition is averaging as many possessions as the Dogs midfielder with his 32.5 per game ranked No. 1 in the AFL.

He is also ranked No. 3 in uncontested possessions with a career-high 19.2 per game, fourth in ground ball gets (career-high 10.0) and is also in the top 20 in the league for clearances (average 6.0) and score involvements (6.9).

Those sorts of numbers at the halfway mark of the season scream all-Australian candidacy and best and fairest leader.

Interestingly, in his 13-year career Treloar hasn’t achieved either of those things.

He has three all-Australian nominations (2016, 2017, 2019), a second place in the 2015 GWS Giants best and fairest and second (2016) and third (2017) in Collingwood’s best player award.

Adam Treloar is one of the highest-rated midfielders in the AFL this year. Picture: Morgan Hancock/Getty Images

Last year he finished sixth in the Western Bulldogs best and fairest after averaging 29.3 disposals per game which ranked him No. 6 in the competition.

So all of this begs the question, is Adam Treloar underrated or undervalued?

“I think so and it’s probably more about the players he has got around him,” former St Kilda captain, now Western Bulldogs assistant midfield coach, Jarryn Geary says.

“Most go to Bont (Marcus Bontempelli) which is obviously warranted and Libba (Tom Liberatore) is obviously another one who over the last few years for a long time has been a high quality player.

“Ads does slip under the radar a bit, definitely not internally, we value him as much as we value those other guys and I think he would be happy to continue being under the radar as long as he keeps putting up strong performances.”

Geary’s appreciation for Treloar’s work has been enhanced since he arrived at the Whitten Oval this year.

“He sets a high standard, that is something I have noticed and been so impressed with him,” he explains.

“He really sets a high standard for himself and is really critical of his own performance when he doesn’t perform well, he puts his hand up and owns up when he hasn’t had his best outing which hasn’t been too often this year.

“I played against him but when you are more up close you get a greater appreciation. I’ve always had great respect for him as a player obviously but I certainly have another level of respect for him, seeing him every day up close.

“From the pre-season when he walked in, I’m super impressed at the way he goes about it. He has got some confidence in his body at the moment and been playing really good footy for us.”

Coaches love the little things and there is a defensive side to Treloar’s game in 2024 which Geary knows many wouldn’t notice.

“That’s the one thing I have been impressed with and I probably didn’t have this appreciation of him about how well he does on the defensive game as well,” he says.

“People look at his numbers and think he gets a lot of the ball and generally when you get a lot of the ball you’re not necessarily able to put a lot of pressure on.

“He certainly does that for us as well, his defensive stuff particularly around the ball in the contest is very impressive.

“He just has a great appetite for the contest, to work and clearly has got some power in his legs.

“Just his ability to react as well, he is so quick to know we are going to win the ball and get in positions to receive it or if they are going to win the ball he is so quick to react and get in their face or chase down and tackle. His reaction and ability to read the game is at a high level.

“His work rate is certainly something that is underestimated externally.”

Treloar enjoys a goal with Sam Darcy and Ed Richards. Picture: Michael Klein

Treloar’s messy divorce from Collingwood at the end of 2020 is something he still doesn’t like talking about. It hurt him and will no doubt add more motivation to his performance in a prime-time Friday night showdown against his former club.

If it does still rankle him you wouldn’t know says Geary who is impressed how Treloar, 31, handles what is thrown at him including being away from his family for a majority of the football season.

Treloar’s partner, netball star Kim Ravaillion, and daughter Georgie live in Brisbane where she is the Queensland Firebirds captain.

“That would be very hard and you always ask him how he is going, how do you deal with that situation but it’s not something he drags around with him,” Geary says.

“At the club he is up and about and bubbly, always in there working and trying to improve everyone and himself. It would be a difficult situation to be in but he finds a way to be able to balance both of those things with his football, it’s very impressive.”

Originally published as Adam Treloar in all-Australian, best-and-fairest frame amid staggering 2024 statistics