Robbo’s Top 50: Mark Robinson names his Top 50 AFL players for season 2017

WINNING Collingwood’s best-and-fairest wasn’t enough to earn Steele Sidebottom a spot in Mark Robinson’s Top 50. Find out why, have your say. REPLAY CHAT + VOTE ON EVERY PLAYER

Best art work for Robbo Top 50 1

RICHMOND has two players in the top three, three in the top 20 and four in the top 25, but it will be the fifth Tiger who will raise the most eyebrows.

At No. 50 is Kane Lambert.

It is the most difficult selection in the Top 50 because up to 40 players make genuine claims for that final position.

Lambert, the 25-year-old mature-age, rookie-list recruit, who was elevated to the senior list in 2016, is the Top 50’s quietest achiever.

JOIN THE LIVE Q&A WITH ROBBO FROM 11.30AM AND SCROLL DOWN TO SEE THE FULL TOP 50

EXPRESSIONS: THE EMOJI THAT SUMS UP YOUR CLUB’S TRADE PERIOD

GROW UP: MICK MALTHOUSE SAYS ‘GO HOME’ FACTOR NO EXCUSE

PLEASE STAY, JACK: WATTS’ HEARTBREAKING RESPONSE TO YOUNG FAN

The run-with on-baller who wins his own footy, however, is well recognised at Tigerland.

He finished third in the Jack Dyer Medal behind Dustin Martin and Alex Rance which means he finished higher than captain Trent Cotchin (fourth), Shaun Grigg (sixth) and Jack Riewoldt (seventh).

Always, there are wonderful stories about the premiership players.

Lambert’s is special.

Every so often a player delivers a season that blows your mind. This was Dusty’s season.

Former Tigers assistant coach Mark Williams told Trade Radio this month how Lambert helped find the confidence to play at senior level after many rollicking performances in the VFL through 2015 and 2016.

“I told Kane Lambert he was meek and mild in the seniors but like (Gary) Ablett in the Twos,” Williams said.

“We sign off our messages now with ‘I am Ablett’.”

It is a ripping revelation.

In 2017, Lambert was ranked second among mid-forwards for score assists and third for pressure points.

Jack Riewoldt was the key man allowing Richmond’s mosquito fleet to prosper. Picture: AFL Media/Getty Images

Joe Daniher of the Bombers

Riewoldt earns the No. 25 ranking because of his performance as the sole key forward in the Tigers’ team.

Often double-teamed, Riewoldt competed relentlessly in air and finished the season ranked No. 2 for marks inside-50, as well as kicking 54.37 which earned him sixth spot on the AFL goalkicking table.

The captain is No. 17, his lofty position coming after two stellar finals and a solid Grand Final.

Dustin Martin is this year’s No. 1 and Patrick Dangerfield is No. 2 — and it is a flip of the coin with those two matchwinners — and again, Martin’s final series, and the Norm Smith and Brownlow medals tipped it in his favour.

Martin’s season will be hailed as one of the best ever from a midfielder. The greatest of all time, Leigh Matthews, said as much, although Matthews was unable to rank himself.

Martin had 744 disposals and kicked 37.29 from his 25 games this year. In 1977, Matthews had 658 disposals and kicked 91.57 in 24 games.

The eras are incomparable, but those two players share several qualities: power, brilliance and an extraordinary ability to evade the opposition’s tacklers, more so Martin in today’s high-octane pressure game.

Sydney’s Josh Kennedy is at No. 6 after a remarkable season. He was fourth in the Brownlow Medal, he missed All Australian selection and was fourth in the Bob Skilton Medal behind Luke Parker, Lance Franklin and Jake Lloyd.

I might’ve over ranked him, or others have underplayed him. But to lead his team from 0-6 to finals in his first year as captain, and not have a drop in his own production, was terrific from the skipper.

Franklin (No. 4) and West Coast’s Josh Kennedy (No. 9) are the top two forwards, while the young bolters were Hawthorn’s Tom Mitchell (No. 7) and Greater Western Sydney’s Josh Kelly (No. 5).

Clayton Oliver, Ollie Wines, Jake Lever, Mitch Duncan, Elliott Yeo, Ben Brown and Jeremy Howe also are among the Top 50 debutantes.

Oliver, 20, won the Demons’ best and fairest and he figures to have a stunning career ahead of him.

The unlucky players included Steele Sidebottom, who won the Copeland Trophy, Michael Hibberd from Melbourne, Steven May from the Gold Coast and Tom Scully and Phil Davis from the Giants

ROBBO’S TOP 50

Vote for whether you agree or not