Every AFL club’s true A-graders according to Mick McGuane
Shai Bolton or Rhylee West? Will Ashcroft or Harry Sheezel? And has Carlton made a critical list blunder? MICK McGUANE reveals his list of the AFL’s true A-grade talent.
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There are 66 A-grade players plying their trade across the 18 clubs this season, Mick McGuane writes.
Exactly half of those players spend most of their time as midfielders, and two-thirds of the A-grade talent belongs to the current top eight sides.
Only five ruckmen and a dozen other key position players make the cut, with GWS and Gold Coast the only sides to boast an A-grade tall at both ends of the ground.
It means some big names with multiple All-Australian blazers in their wardrobe miss out, but there’s plenty of time left in the season to reclaim a spot within the game’s elite ranks.
Here is a club by club breakdown of Mick McGuane’s best of the best:
ADELAIDE
Jordan Dawson, Izak Rankine, Riley Thilthorpe
Dawson can have a high impact in all three parts of the ground, Rankine might be the best on-the-move stoppage player in the game and Thilthorpe is an aerobic beast who could potentially snag his first Coleman Medal this season.
Josh Worrell is getting close to joining that trio, as is his defensive partner Max Michalanney, while Alex Neal-Bullen plays his high half-forward role better than just about anybody. Josh Rachele has creative forward nous and is hitting the scoreboard – he also has a claim.
BRISBANE
Harris Andrews, Will Ashcroft, Zac Bailey, Josh Dunkley, Hugh McCluggage, Lachie Neale, Dayne Zorko
The reigning premiers are blessed with top-end talent across the ground. Zorko, at 36, has been able to sustain his impact off halfback enough to hold his place, while rivals shouldn’t underestimate Zac Bailey’s talent.
Dunkley, is externally underrated but is the crucial defensive cog in the Lions’ midfield which allows their other ball-winning trio to shine. Charlie Cameron would be close but his conversion (11.15 for the season) has let him down so far.
CARLTON
Patrick Cripps, Jacob Weitering
The dual Brownlow medallist still stands a rung above his other midfield peers despite George Hewett having a superb year, and the key is the Blues’ far superior retention rate when he kicks inside 50.
That damage level with the ball is the big issue that prevents George Hewett, Adam Cerra and Sam Walsh from joining him on the list.
Tom De Koning narrowly misses out, and his standing could also benefit from sharing the ball more by hand rather than dump-kicking out of stoppage.
COLLINGWOOD
Darcy Cameron, Jack Crisp, Josh Daicos, Nick Daicos, Jamie Elliott, Darcy Moore, Steele Sidebottom
Top of the ladder and with the equal-second most A-graders alongside Brisbane, the Magpies have been blessed by the Daicos brothers who were the first two picked on this list.
The combination of Josh Daicos and Dan Houston off halfback has helped their fellow defenders focus on clamping down behind the ball, and once he’s properly settled, Houston no doubt has the quality to reach this list.
Jack Crisp is the most unheralded of these seven players, and has been for too long. He can play as an inside or outside mid or across halfback, and does his job with minimal fuss and remarkable durability.
Gawn and Xerri are the only ruckmen ahead of Cameron, who has been crucial for the Pies by getting to the right spots behind the ball to take intercept marks.
ESSENDON
Zach Merrett
The Essendon skipper is the lone Bomber on this list as his leadership of the club continues to go through the roof.
Merrett has been selfless this season in trying to create an adjustment for the Bombers by going forward, or setting up behind the footy as a counterattacking midfielder. He has kicked 8.8 and his tackling efforts have also been impactful.
Nic Martin is one of the game’s elite runners and was next in line to make the cut, but still needs to address flaws in his disposal; a similar drawback hurts Andrew McGrath, who rarely concedes goals to the game’s premier small forwards but has hurt the team by turning the ball over by foot when coming out of the backline.
FREMANTLE
Andrew Brayshaw, Luke Jackson*, Caleb Serong, Hayden Young
Serong is one of the best extractors from stoppage in the game, and Brayshaw complements him beautifully as an elite two-way midfielder who can lay tackles in transition.
Now sadly out for the season, Young will be missed for his ability to deliver the ball to targets inside 50 and kick goals on the run.
Jackson is selected on the proviso it is as a ruckman. The Dockers’ midfield feeds off his energy and intent, and the club must make the decision to go with him as their No. 1 over Sean Darcy.
Shai Bolton can separate a game with his skill set, but he is yet to reach a level this season where he can be considered in this bracket.
GEELONG
Jeremy Cameron, Patrick Dangerfield, Ollie Dempsey, Max Holmes, Bailey Smith
Smith and Holmes are outstanding two-way players who gain more territory with their run and carry than any other midfield duo in the competition.
Cameron picks himself, as does the evergreen Dangerfield, and the pair are helping Shannon Neale elevate his game to become an emerging key forward of the competition.
No one is playing the specialist winger role better than Dempsey is at this moment, while Shaun Mannagh and Gryan Miers are on the fringes of this list. Injuries have got in the way of Tom Stewart and Jack Henry so far but we all know how good they can be.
GOLD COAST
Noah Anderson, Sam Collins, Ben King, Ben Long, Matt Rowell
Collins is a rock-solid pillar of the Suns’ defence who can mark the footy when needed. It’s his presence that has allowed Mac Andrew and Joel Jeffrey to do what they do.
King’s return of 31.12 places him among the elite key forwards, while his low-profile medium sized forward Long has lifted his output to great heights, averaging two goals and three inside 50s per game.
Anderson and Rowell complement each other really well, but I’d love to see them both hit the scoreboard more with just five goals between them so far. Halfback recruits Daniel Rioli and John Noble were difficult to leave out.
GWS GIANTS
Lachie Ash, Tom Green, Toby Greene, Jesse Hogan, Sam Taylor, Lachie Whitfield
Ash and Whitfield have been so consistent that clubs are finding it difficult to isolate one and shut them down coming out of defence.
Taylor’s aerial judgement is outstanding and I love his preparedness to take intercept marks.
Greene has had a few off-games, but continues to play with immense pride and competitiveness, and in his 250th game he proved the difference against Carlton.
The Giants have a strong second-tier under these six players including Jack Buckley and Connor Idun down back, Finn Callaghan and the injured Josh Kelly. I can also see Darcy Jones getting there in time, especially in the important role he plays.
HAWTHORN
Will Day, Jai Newcombe, James Sicily
Newcombe is a great story as the only mid-season draft pick to make this list. His kicking is understated – he generates great depth and accuracy with his forward entries.
Sam Mitchell insists he isn’t hurt, but Sicily does appear to be playing under some duress and his want to stay out there is admirable.
Will Day, despite being injured will become an elite player of the competition. His versatility is a strength.
Karl Amon warrants a conversation with the way he is playing between the arcs, while Josh Weddle and defensive recruit Josh Battle isn’t far away. Nor is Nick Watson, who is trying to master an incredibly difficult role that is sometimes starved of opportunities.
MELBOURNE
Max Gawn, Christian Petracca, Kysaiah Pickett
Petracca’s investment in the Dees and his care this season is really clear. He has a competitive drive that separates the best from the rest. Hitting the scoreboard with 11.11 for the season is a something he can build on.
The captain has been exceptional, with his past month of footy off the charts. His tap work has been super effective, and if he can tidy up his goalkicking – watch out, as it will only add another layer to his lofty standards.
Pickett has found real freedom with his game, as a natural forward (with 18 goals this season) who makes his presence felt when he’s played up and around the ball as a midfielder.
Clayton Oliver and Jack Viney don’t get there, while injuries haven’t allowed Steven May and Jake Lever to reach those heights. The Dees love the ball in Jake Bowey’s hands, and he’s getting close.
NORTH MELBOURNE
Paul Curtis, Tristan Xerri
Xerri is a much improved ruckman and competitive beast that plays with great intent. He’s the Roos’ highest tackler, having laid 18 more than the next best in Luke Parker.
Getting in ahead of Cam Zurhaar or Nick Larkey is Curtis, who I think is pound-for-pound one of the smartest and hardest medium-sized forwards to play on in the competition.
The three-match suspension did him a disservice, but it hasn’t fazed him and he immediately went back to what he was doing well in his first game back.
Harry Sheezel has no trouble finding the ball but hasn’t inflicted the level of damage necessary to reach these ranks just yet. He is a good player though. Luke Davies-Uniacke and George Wardlaw are also not far off – these are the players who can lift the Kangaroos in the second half of the year.
PORT ADELAIDE
Zak Butters, Jason Horne-Francis, Connor Rozee
The spiritual leader of this team, Butters has returned from injury to quickly get back to his best, deft by hand and foot with great vision out of stoppage.
Rozee has been reinvigorated by his move to halfback and has found a good balance between defence and offence, while the much-maligned Horne-Francis is a no-brainer to make this list in my view.
He’s dynamic and can turn a game in the space of 10 minutes at his absolute best.
Aliir Aliir is close as he is often the subject of heavy opposition planning, while Miles Bergman and Mitch Georgiades appear on course to reach this level.
RICHMOND
Nick Vlastuin
The triple premiership defender reads the game so well, and after he intercepts he is precise with his ball use – he directs the traffic in front of him, and can kick low and flat to get the ball through the air quickly to an attacking teammate in space.
Tim Taranto is honest, dour and tough, and at his absolute best would get him into the conversation, but his field kicking is questionable – the same with Jacob Hopper.
I like what I’ve been seeing from Seth Campbell, who has returned 17.9 in a rebuilding team as a small forward. Tom Lynch and Jayden Short are also high-quality players at their best but haven’t performed to warrant A-grade status just yet.
ST KILDA
Jack Sinclair, Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera, Callum Wilkie
When the Saints get their two best kicks and Devon makers up around the ball, it’s like they are robbing Peter to pay Paul in some ways, but the desire to do it is understandable.
Both Sinclair and Wanganeen-Milera have been tremendous, while interceptor Callum Wilkie would be a major focus of opposition analysis.
Jack Macrae has been a strong inside midfielder at his new club, Rowan Marshall sits just outside the top five ruckmen with De Koning, and Cooper Sharman is showing signs he could find a perch among the game’s best marking forwards.
SYDNEY
Errol Gulden, Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner
The Swans badly miss Gulden, who is still a month away. They would also hope for Tom Papley and Callum Mills to shake off injury-ruined starts to the season to produce elite level output.
Isaac Heeney and Chad Warner have been the only real top-line contributors for last year’s grand finalists – I have enjoyed watching Matt Roberts develop, but he has been marked harshly with his approach at the contest sometimes, as has Nick Blakey.
James Jordon has claimed some significant scalps this year in his tagging role. Tom McCartin can elevate his game if he is allowed to settle in defence after being thrown from end to end.
WEST COAST
Nil
In a sign of where the Eagles are at, it is difficult to mount a case for any player.
Jeremy McGovern, who is facing challenges with concussion, would have been an A-grade intercepting defender this season with a clean bill of health.
Tiger recruits Liam Baker and Jack Graham are working hard in the midfield but not in the elite category, while Harley Reid and Elijah Hewett have the upside but certainly are not there yet.
Reigning All-Australian forward Jake Waterman was shy of the mark before his season-ending injury, while Liam Ryan has been reinvigorated by his midfield minutes and is one to watch.
WESTERN BULLDOGS
Marcus Bontempelli, Bailey Dale, Sam Darcy, Tim English, Matthew Kennedy, Tom Liberatore, Ed Richards, Rhylee West
The Bulldogs are playing their best football since the 2021 grand final year, and the difference could be down to the three surprises on this list: English, Kennedy and West.
English has reinstated himself among the game’s best big men by getting around the ground to inflict damage whenever he is faced with a less mobile opponent. Only Gawn has had more score involvements and no ruckman has had more goal assists.
Kennedy’s stoppage work alongside Liberatore and Richards in his first season has been exceptional, and he has finished beautifully with 14.4. On what he has produced so far this year he can’t be left out of this company.
The hardworking and super competitive West will be in the All-Australian squad conversations for his elite ground-level work, and also rarely lets himself be outmarked by bigger opponents. He kicks goals as well.
Originally published as Every AFL club’s true A-graders according to Mick McGuane
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