Mark Robinson’s Top 50Mark Robinson
Herald Sun
March 11, 2020Dustin Martin has the mantle as the sport’s most influential player — bookmarked by two premierships, a Brownlow Medal and dual Norm Smiths — but this season Bomtempelli, by his performance, will have his hand stretched to take the mantle.
The final position in the Top 10 goes to Richmond’s Tom Lynch. He’s $5 for the Coleman Medal. He kicked 63 goals in 2019 after gaining fitness in the first half of the season and it’s not improbable he could kick as many as 80 goals this season.
Pre-season Top 50s are all about what we know and how we think the season will play out. It’s why St Kilda’s Rowan Marshall (No.26) makes the list, and Melbourne’s Christian Petracca (No.49), Bulldog Aaron Naughton (No.34) and Lion Hugh McCluggage (No.44) are also tipped to become major players in their team’s performances.
Always the question is who came in at No.51. Take your pick: Jade Gresham, Brad Hill, Mark Blicavs,
Bachar Houli, Jeremy Howe, Luke Parker, Phil Davis, Steele Sidebottom, Robbie Tarrant, Robbie Gray,
Nick Vlastuin, Isaac Heeney, Andrew Gaff, Josh Kennedy (WC), Dylan Shiel, Zach Merrett or Brad Crouch.
1. Marcus Bontempelli
2. Dustin MartinROBBO SAYS: Might have to eat my top 50 if the Tigers win another flag because Martin saves his best for finals. Not predicting he will drop his standards, am predicting Bont lifts his.
The Numbers say: Martin was the only midfield-forward to rate elite for disposals, clearances, score involvements and goals last season.
3. Nathan Fyfe
4. Patrick Cripps
5. Patrick Dangerfield
6. Brodie Grundy
7. Max Gawn
8. Tom LynchROBBO SAYS: Kicked 63 goals after enduring a bung knee for the first 10 games last year. Now fully fit. Scary. My Coleman Medal favorite for 2020
The Numbers say: Lynch recorded a total of 56 contested marks last season – ranked No.1 in the competition.
9. Lachie Whitfield
10. Lachie Neale
11. Lance Franklin
12. Scott Pendlebury
13. Elliot Yeo
14. Josh Kelly
15. Tim Kelly
16. Stephen Coniglio
17. Jack Macrae
18. Jeremy McGovern
19. Jack RiewoldtROBBO SAYS: Smart, selfless and stood up on GF day. Can't ask for more than that. One coach said the leadership of Martin and Riewoldt was evident in opposition meetings.
The Numbers say: Riewoldt ranks fourth for score involvements (7.0) and equal-fifth for goals (2.5) across the past three seasons.
20. Tom Mitchell
21. Jeremy Cameron
22. James Sicily
23. Michael Walters
24. Dion PrestiaROBBO SAYS: Runaway Tigers best-and-fairest winner who BT has nicknamed the Human Meatball. Good nickname. And a very good midfielder who seems to make the right decisions.
The Numbers say: Prestia rated above average for clearances last season – winning 48 more than any teammate.
25. Clayton Oliver
26. Rowan Marshall
27. Luke Shuey
28. Dayne Zorko
29. Tom Hawkins
30. Nick Naitanui
31. Dylan GrimesROBBO SAYS: A wine connoisseur, Grimes started his career as a cask of Moscato and is now a '72 Grange. Will plump for the best forward every week - tall or small.
The Numbers say: Since 2017, Grimes has won 39% of his defensive one-on-one contests – ranked fourth of the top-50 players to have defended a contest.
32. Trent CotchinROBBO SAYS: Captain of the best team who leads by example. Plays a selfless role, which has enveloped all of his team. Maybe the best defensive midfielder in the competition, a la former Cat Joel Corey.
The Numbers say: Since 2017, Cotchin ranks 28th in the competition for total clearances.
33. Ben Brown
34. Aaron Naughton
35. Charlie Cameron
36. Harris Andrews
37. Jack Darling
38. Shaun Higgins
39. Jordan De Goey
40. Toby Greene
41. Zac Williams
42. Tom Stewart
43. Rory Sloane
44. Hugh McCluggage
45. Ben Cunnington
46. Adam Treloar
47. Nick Haynes
48. Dane Rampe
49. Christian Petracca
50. Josh Duckley
https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/expert-opinion/mark-robinson/mark-robinsons-top-50-marcus-bontempelli-set-to-join-western-bulldogs-greats/news-story/e428d424fcca29b5512a8d1c17ef372d
