Every AFL player has his worth, some more than others come finals time, Herald Sun chief footy writer Mark Robinson reports
EVERY player is equal — but some are more equal than others.
Mark Robinson
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EVERY player is equal — but some are more equal than others.
It’s why they get paid $700,000 not $300,00. It’s why they get tagged when others roam free.
It’s why they are in leadership groups and not skulking at the back.
It’s why they are applauded when they play with authority and castigated when their performances are limp.
Football is a team game, yet the importance of individuals is never underestimated.
Have chosen eight players from the top eight teams — as we write — and while some of them are their team’s best player, others are not, but their contribution over the next two, three, five matches will help determine their team’s outcome.
Top of the pops is Geelong’s Steve Johnson.
He’s in the wars, Johnson. Been caught up off the ball (North Melbourne, Fremantle), has a hot spot in the foot and in a moon boot, but there’s strong hopes he’ll play the first final.
To fuel marginal panic, his past two games have been among his three worst games of the season.
The Cats can’t win it without a dedicated Steve Johnson. That doesn’t mean on a given day, but at some stage, be a qualifying final or a preliminary final, they’ll need his difference.
The faith is there, but he can’t have any slip ups — with the mind or the body.
At Hawthorn, Brad Sewell is intriguing.
After a complicated season, where he has the fewest games since his debut in 2004, it’s difficult to assess if he readily commands a starting 18 position.
He missed first 10 games with a hamstring injury, played seven games, and then left the North Melbourne game with yet another tear.
He returns on Saturday night against the Cats and his season’s on a knife’s edge.
His stuttering season has meant Sewell’s disposals, contested possessions, tackles and clearances are all down on last year’s returns.
The doomsayers say he is slow and the Hawks can’t afford to add another plodder to the midfield.
The smarter ones know that finals are not shootouts and the games can be won and lost at the coalface, where Sewell has staked his reputation.
A fit Sewell means Luke Hodge can play back, Will Langford can play a run-with role if needed and a starting midfield of David Hale, Jordan Lewis, Sam Mitchell and Sewell gives the Hawks an experienced first line of defence and attack.
Port Adelaide’s Chad Wingard played against Carlton last night and let’s hope he’s out of his slumber.
If not, it won’t be the first time this season we’ve asked: Where art thou Chad?
Has had the second-biggest drop in rankings at the club from last season — has dropped 24 points — and from Rounds 14-21 is averaging just 70 points.
Has kicked five goals in his past eight matches and not had more than 17 possessions in those games, arguably playing more forward than forward-midfield.
Let’s be frank, Wingard turns games, Wingard wins games. He kicked a crucial goal late against Gold Coast in the slush and needs more of those decisive moments.
North Melbourne’s Drew Petrie couldn’t buy confidence at the confidence store up until Round 9.
Had kicked seven goals by that stage and now has 37, which includes two bags each of four and five, one of which was against Hawthorn in Round 16.
Brent Harvey missing puts greater significance on Petrie’s output.
Ben Brown has helped, Aaron Black is hit and miss, meaning Petrie has to be monstrous.
The Kangaroos can win it all, they have a game that disturbs all teams and Petrie is central to it.
When they win Petrie averages 88 ranking points. When they lose it’s just a mediocre 58.
Adelaide’s Patrick Dangerfield has become a ‘’home’’ and ‘’away’’ player, in that he dominates at home and dominates less away. The ranking points spell it out: 117 to 91.
The Crows play North Melbourne in Hobart today. The Crows need to win. Dangerfield has to play out of his skin. And if the Crows are going to do anything in September, if they make it, Dangerfield has to do it again and again.
Chris Mayne was Luke Breust before Luke Breust was the new Chris Mayne.
But in 2014, Mayne couldn’t get a kick out of a vodka Red Bull. Seriously, is there a player who has dropped away as much as the Fremantle forward?
In 2012, he kicked 39-7. In 2013, it was 37-12. This year, it is 10.9.
Yes, his ferocity and tackling is first rate, and despite having Michael Walters and Hayden Ballantyne to play with, he needs to hit the scoreboard in September. Two goals a game and he could be the difference.
Daniel Hannebery might be the best midfielder at Sydney, in that he wins his own ball and runs and carries it. Missed Rounds 14-19 because of injury, which included the Hawthorn loss, and there would be no-one more happier than coach John Longmire.
We know Hannebery’s mettle. He’s tough, brave and was a smidgen off being a Norm Smith medallist in 2012. In essence, he’s a big-time player.
In just about every facet of his game, he’s returning career-high averages this season. September looms large.
Essendon plays Gold Coast today and without Dyson Heppell, the spotlight rears its ugly head above Brendon Goddard.
His form has plunged since Round 14, reaching a low last week when the Bombers couldn’t find a position to play him.
It ended up being as a forward, but Goddard looked so out of synch, the commentary suggested he was injured. Ouch.
A lack of accountability has been highlighted, he is averaging just 1.8 tackles a game for the past seven games, his inside 50s have halved and his pace is a concern, not so much his running, but the quick feet movement required around contests. He’s become a watcher and not a doer.
He prides himself on leadership and it’s time for just that.
Originally published as Every AFL player has his worth, some more than others come finals time, Herald Sun chief footy writer Mark Robinson reports
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