Super Rankings: Shane Edwards the No.1 player for Round 11
YOU usually need a TV replay to appreciate Shane Edwards’ brilliance, but it was there for all to see on Saturday night. He tops Mark Robinson and Sam Landsberger’s list of the best 20 players in Round 11. Who else made the cut?
Superrankings
Don't miss out on the headlines from Superrankings. Followed categories will be added to My News.
GARY Ablett is known as the little master.
And Shane Edwards is the master of little things. In fact, they are so little former coach Terry Wallace noted you need the benefit of television replays to fully appreciate the art of Edwards.
On Saturday night there was a flick kick to Josh Caddy and, with Bomber players swarming him, a look-away handball to Dan Butler. Both created Richmond goals.
TOP 20: ROBBO AND SAM’S BEST PLAYERS OF ROUND 11
SUPER RANKINGS: CHAMPION DATA’S SEASON LIST
Edwards finished the match with two goals, three goal assists and 12 score involvements. His brings teammates into easy situations and he was the best player in the Dreamtime blockbuster by some distance.
That made him a relatively easy selection as No. 1 in this week’s Super Rankings. Perhaps it is time to stop referring to Edwards as perennially underrated and start rating him for what he is — one of the AFL’s smartest footballers.
The master of little things shaded the little master, who surely completed the set of polling Brownlow votes against all 18 clubs on Saturday. Ablett’s performance against his old Gold Coast Suns was another reminder to never write off a true champion.
Collingwood’s Tom Phillips has now recorded more than 30 disposals six times this season and has 102 touches and five goals in the past three weeks. Doesn’t that sum up the improvement of the Magpies? And Shaun Higgins’ career-best 38 disposals was probably headed for 45 until Mitch Robinson floored the North Melbourne star.
Perhaps a first All-Australian guernsey is on the way for last year’s Kangaroos best-and-fairest winner.
SUPER RANKINGS: SEE ROBBO AND SAM’S FULL LIST HERE
Originally published as Super Rankings: Shane Edwards the No.1 player for Round 11