Robbo’s Top 50: The unluckiest players to miss out revealed

Robbo answers your questions on his Top 50 and explains why some players missed out, including a Demons forward. See all the close calls and replay his live Q&A here.

There was no room for Harry McKay, Jordan Dawson or Zach Merrett in the Top 50.

There was more feedback at having Marcus Bontempelli at No.38 than there was about any player who missed the end-of-season Top 50.

People close to Bontempelli said in no uncertain terms that I had rocks in my head.

Despite arguing Bont played with injuries this year, that he missed the All-Australian team, that he was not in the first 20 names in the AFL coaches award, which was made up of mainly midfielders, still did not sway opinion.

Bontempelli, a former No.1 player on this list, is among the top handful of players in the competition. But not this season. That’s why he was No.38.

Ollie Wines was stiff to miss out on the Top 50. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Several good players missed the Top 50 cut.

The most unlucky were Geelong’s Mitch Duncan and Sydney’s Tom Papley.

Duncan was prolific across half-back and wing, while Papley missed the first six matches of the season, then warmed into his work, and was strong in form at the end.

Brownlow medallist Ollie Wines was equally stiff, his second half of the season much better than his – and Port’s – first half.

The unlucky players:

Ollie Wines

Peter Wright

Lance Franklin

Aaron Naughton

Tom Papley

Harry McKay

Ben McKay

Jordan Dawson

Jack Steele

Max King

Alex Pearce

Harry Himmelberg

Noah Anderson

Callum Wilkie

Zach Merrett

Originally published as Robbo’s Top 50: The unluckiest players to miss out revealed