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CD regards these players elite as we head into the 2022 season
There are surprises aplenty in Champion Data’s list of elite players heading into the 2022 season.
Several big names failed to make the list including reigning Brownlow Medallist Ollie Wines, Carlton star Sam Walsh, St Kilda skipper Jack Steele, Melbourne premiership captain Max Gawn and Geelong gun Patrick Dangerfield.
Four All-Australians were also not rated in the elite category – Demons defender Steven May, Essendon ball-magnet Zach Merrett, Sydney forward Tom Papley and Carlton spearhead Harry McKay.
Brownlow Medallist Gerard Healy is in complete agreement with Champion Data’s assessment of McKay – last year’s Coleman Medallist.
“I couldn’t agree more with Champion Data on this,” Healy told Sportsday.
“I think Harry McKay is a long way from being elite. He has got miles to improve in many aspects of the game.
“If you want to be an elite player, you have to be good in all facets of the game and probably have something that you’re nearly the best at.
“He’s elite in accuracy, but he’s not elite in winning the ball.”
The Western Bulldogs have seven players in the elite bracket – the most of any club – while reigning premiers Melbourne have just three.
To be classified as elite by Champion Data, you must have played at least 10 games and rank in the top 10 per cent of your position.
Adelaide (3)
Elite: Jordan Dawson (general defender), Taylor Walker (key forward), Paul Seedsman (wing)
Brisbane Lions (5)
Elite: Daniel Rich (general defender), Lincoln McCarthy (general forward), Harris Andrews (key defender), Dayne Zorko (midfielder), Hugh McCluggage (wing)
Carlton (3)
Elite: Adam Saad (general defender), Zac Williams (general defender), Jacob Weitering (key defender)
Collingwood (4)
Elite: Jack Crisp (general defender), Jamie Elliott (general forward), Darcy Moore (key defender), Brodie Grundy (ruck)
Essendon (3)
Elite: Nick Hind (general defender), Darcy Parish (midfielder), Jake Stringer (mid-forward)
Fremantle (2)
Elite: Sam Switkowski (general forward), Sean Darcy (ruck)
Geelong Cats (3)
Elite: Tom Stewart (general defender), Tom Hawkins (key forward), Sam Menegola (wing)
Gold Coast Suns (1)
Elite: Touk Miller (midfielder)
GWS Giants (1)
Elite: Toby Greene (general forward)
Hawthorn (4)
Elite: Jack Scrimshaw (general defender), Luke Breust (general defender), Dylan Moore (general forward), Chad Wingard (mid-forward)
Melbourne (3)
Elite: Jake Lever (key defender), Clayton Oliver (midfielder), Christian Petracca (midfielder)
North Melbourne (1)
Elite: Aaron Hall (general defender)
Port Adelaide (6)
Elite: Zak Butters (general forward), Robbie Gray (general forward), Aliir Aliir (key defender), Jeremy Finlayson (key forward), Charlie Dixon (key forward), Karl Amon (wing)
Richmond (1)
Elite: Dustin Martin (mid-forward)
St Kilda (1)
Elite: Jack Sinclair (general defender)
Sydney Swans (3)
Elite: Isaac Heeney (general forward), Lance Franklin (key forward), Tom Hickey (ruck)
West Coast Eagles (2)
Elite: Liam Ryan (general forward), Nic Naitanui (ruck)
Western Bulldogs (7)
Elite: Bailey Dale (general defender), Caleb Daniel (general defender), Marcus Bontempelli (midfielder), Tom Liberatore (midfielder), Jack Macrae (midfielder), Adam Treloar (mid-forward), Bailey Smith (wing)
There are surprises aplenty in Champion Data’s list of elite players heading into the 2022 season.
Several big names failed to make the list including reigning Brownlow Medallist Ollie Wines, Carlton star Sam Walsh, St Kilda skipper Jack Steele, Melbourne premiership captain Max Gawn and Geelong gun Patrick Dangerfield.
Four All-Australians were also not rated in the elite category – Demons defender Steven May, Essendon ball-magnet Zach Merrett, Sydney forward Tom Papley and Carlton spearhead Harry McKay.
Brownlow Medallist Gerard Healy is in complete agreement with Champion Data’s assessment of McKay – last year’s Coleman Medallist.
“I couldn’t agree more with Champion Data on this,” Healy told Sportsday.
“I think Harry McKay is a long way from being elite. He has got miles to improve in many aspects of the game.
“If you want to be an elite player, you have to be good in all facets of the game and probably have something that you’re nearly the best at.
“He’s elite in accuracy, but he’s not elite in winning the ball.”
The Western Bulldogs have seven players in the elite bracket – the most of any club – while reigning premiers Melbourne have just three.
To be classified as elite by Champion Data, you must have played at least 10 games and rank in the top 10 per cent of your position.
Adelaide (3)
Elite: Jordan Dawson (general defender), Taylor Walker (key forward), Paul Seedsman (wing)
Brisbane Lions (5)
Elite: Daniel Rich (general defender), Lincoln McCarthy (general forward), Harris Andrews (key defender), Dayne Zorko (midfielder), Hugh McCluggage (wing)
Carlton (3)
Elite: Adam Saad (general defender), Zac Williams (general defender), Jacob Weitering (key defender)
Collingwood (4)
Elite: Jack Crisp (general defender), Jamie Elliott (general forward), Darcy Moore (key defender), Brodie Grundy (ruck)
Essendon (3)
Elite: Nick Hind (general defender), Darcy Parish (midfielder), Jake Stringer (mid-forward)
Fremantle (2)
Elite: Sam Switkowski (general forward), Sean Darcy (ruck)
Geelong Cats (3)
Elite: Tom Stewart (general defender), Tom Hawkins (key forward), Sam Menegola (wing)
Gold Coast Suns (1)
Elite: Touk Miller (midfielder)
GWS Giants (1)
Elite: Toby Greene (general forward)
Hawthorn (4)
Elite: Jack Scrimshaw (general defender), Luke Breust (general defender), Dylan Moore (general forward), Chad Wingard (mid-forward)
Melbourne (3)
Elite: Jake Lever (key defender), Clayton Oliver (midfielder), Christian Petracca (midfielder)
North Melbourne (1)
Elite: Aaron Hall (general defender)
Port Adelaide (6)
Elite: Zak Butters (general forward), Robbie Gray (general forward), Aliir Aliir (key defender), Jeremy Finlayson (key forward), Charlie Dixon (key forward), Karl Amon (wing)
Richmond (1)
Elite: Dustin Martin (mid-forward)
St Kilda (1)
Elite: Jack Sinclair (general defender)
Sydney Swans (3)
Elite: Isaac Heeney (general forward), Lance Franklin (key forward), Tom Hickey (ruck)
West Coast Eagles (2)
Elite: Liam Ryan (general forward), Nic Naitanui (ruck)
Western Bulldogs (7)
Elite: Bailey Dale (general defender), Caleb Daniel (general defender), Marcus Bontempelli (midfielder), Tom Liberatore (midfielder), Jack Macrae (midfielder), Adam Treloar (mid-forward), Bailey Smith (wing)
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