Footy Fans Survey 2018: Dusty No.1, but fans not sold on Brownlow favourite Tom Mitchell
TOM Mitchell is the raging favourite to win the Brownlow Medal, but he’d be nowhere near it if the fans were voting. Plus who is the game’s toughest player and the year’s best recruit? FOOTY FANS SURVEY RESULTS
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RAGING Brownlow Medal favourite Tom Mitchell is not among the best six players in the league, according to the Herald Sun Footy Fans survey.
Mitchell was today crunched into $1.80 favourite with the TAB to take out the AFL’s top individual award after his 10th 40-plus possession game of the year.
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But clearly fans still have some doubts over how much impact the Hawthorn ball magnet has on games.
Mitchell, 25, attracted only 6 per cent of the best player vote, putting the record-breaking ball-winner in seventh place in the annual poll.
Richmond superstar Dustin Martin has been unable to repeat last year’s Brownlow-winning heroics, but still took out the No.1 spot with 21 per cent of the vote.
Geelong match winner Patrick Dangerfield (16 per cent) was in second place, while gun Melbourne ruckman Max Gawn (13 per cent) has surged up the pecking order to share third place with injured Docker Nat Fyfe.
Dangerfield was voted a clear No.1 in last year’s survey with a whopping 60 per cent of the vote but the Cats’ superstar has come back to the pack as he spends more time forward.
Injury-marred Swans’ spearhead Lance Franklin (12 per cent) and brilliant young Carlton onballer Patrick Cripps (8 per cent) were recognised ahead of Mitchell.
Once again, the AFL’s defenders were snubbed. All-Australian captain and Richmond superstar Alex Rance came in eighth with only 3 per cent of the vote.
Inside Hawthorn, key people are adamant the move to part with pick No.14 for Mitchell at the end of 2016 was an excellent trade move as Mitchell tracks towards back-to-back best and fairest awards.
And coach Alastair Clarkson believes Mitchell’s game has become more well-rounded in his second season at Waverley.
“I just look at the contribution and the role he is expected to play and he does that remarkably consistently,” Clarkson said.
“He is very, very proud in the way that he goes about it and he sets himself really, really high standards and he is building partnerships with our ruckmen and fellow midfielders.
“But it’s important he doesn’t have exposure to just the middle of the ground … so he went forward a couple of times and he did so last week against Carlton and kicked a couple of goals.
“So that is pleasing too, and that means they (opposition) have got to keep an eye on him in the front half too, which is good for the overall development of the side.”
Mitchell has booted five goals in the past three games to help the Hawks notch percentage-boosting wins over the Blues and Dockers, keeping their finals hopes alive.
And after the Round 12 bye, Mitchel’s average disposals have shot up from average 34 to 40 per game, while his kick rating has surged from -7.1 to +6.8 per cent.
According to Champion Data, Mitchell’s metres gained (450m to 492m) and tackles (5.8 to 6.6) have also improved over the past two months.
Slick midfielders Josh Kelly (Greater Western Sydney) and Shaun Higgins (North Melbourne) rounded out the top 10.
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INSPIRATIONAL Geelong captain Joel Selwood has been crowned the AFL’s toughest player for the second year running.
Selwood received 31 per cent of the vote in the Herald Sun Footy Fans survey, almost double Brisbane veteran Luke Hodge (17 per cent).
Brisbane triple premiership forward Jon Brown said Selwood deserved the honour.
“Selwood and Hodge are always tough to split but you probably give the nod to Joel just because he plays around the ball a lot more,” Brown said.
Greater Western Sydney captain Callan ward, nicknamed “Cement Head”, polled third (15 per cent).
“I do love the way Cal goes about his footy, because I think he is tough in a lot of areas,” Brown said.
“I think he is physically and mentally tough to do what he has done to help build GWS and when you think about the knee he copped in the (2016) preliminary final against Western Bulldogs, it probably cost them a shot at a flag that year.”
Brisbane fullback Harris Andrews did not poll in the top seven, but Brown said the gutsy defender would soon be recognised as one of the AFL’s toughest.
Andrews suffered bleeding on the brain when he was collected high in a marking contest by GWS forward Jeremy Cameron in Round 14.
“I played with him and as soon as he arrived at the Lions I thought ‘this kid is as tough as nails,” Brown said.
“The question was not on his courage it was more around what position he was going to play and he has settled in defence, but early on he was a bit like a baby giraffe”.
FANS BACK DONS’ RECRUITING NOUS
IT’S Devon Smith’s attack on the ball that has Essendon coach John Worsfold smiling.
And the football public has been similarly impressed by the Essendon pressure king, crowning him recruit of the year in the Herald Sun Footy Fans Survey.
But it’s the Bombers who are the big winners after landing the one-time Giant ahead of other suitors including Carlton and Geelong.
Worsfold said Smith had “a passion to put the intensity on in terms of the contest”.
“It’s as good as I’ve seen,” Worsfold said.
“He accelerates into a contest constantly, even if he’s not going to win the ball, he accelerates in to pressure the opposition as well as pretty much anyone I’ve coached.
“He’s bringing something to our squad that the boys are embracing and he’s loving it and it adds to the overall team performance.”
One in three fans said Smith was the best value recruit of 2018, with Luke Hodge second at 21 per cent for the impact he has made at Brisbane after his shock move from Hawthorn (and retirement).
Adelaide secured Bryce Gibbs from Carlton and 11 per cent of fans reckon he’s been the best value.
Gary Ablett’s season is continuing to build and while 7 per cent of fans currently rate him as the recruit of the year, if he wins the Cats a final, that number would surely swell.
Fans also believe Smith’s teammate Adam Saad (ex-Suns) was a steal, with 5 per cent rating him as the best pick-up of 2018.
—Eliza Sewell
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