Face facts, Ablett just too good

Gold Coast captain Gary Ablett reclaims top billing from Hawthorn superstar Lance Franklin, who has dropped to fourth spot in Mike's Top 50. Picture: Adam Head Source: The Courier-Mail

IS THE worth of a great player diminished in a team sport simply because he plays for a lowly team, as some would have you believe of Gary Ablett?

The cynics argue the Gold Coast champion is pretty much allowed to do as he pleases by the better teams because those teams know they are vastly superior overall.

They say it doesn't matter as much if he has 40-plus possessions, the result in most cases is a foregone conclusion.

I say that's nonsense.

It seems to me every team that has a player good enough to run with Ablett assigns that player to the little bloke; he simply burns them off as the game unfolds.

Consider the following stats from 2012 and then find a fault in the Ablett package.

He finished sixth in the Brownlow in a team that won three games, he led his club in the following categories: long kicks, short kicks, handballs given, handballs received, tackles, inside-50s, rebounds from defensive 50, hardball gets and looseball gets.

He was equal-third for contested marks, too.

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If there was a category for ground covered in a game, I suspect he would have won that one, too.

Even his famous father would have to nod in appreciation of such a comprehensive list.

Gary Ablett Jr is the most complete player in the game.

It was the view of a massive percentage of the player group of 2012, it is the assessment of so many neutral supporters and me in my annual task picking the top 50 players in the AFL in order.

The argument that he should be downgraded because his team is down the bottom is simplistic, fatuous, disrespectful.

Is Bobby Skilton's exalted status in the game diminished by the fact he won more Brownlows (three) than he played finals (one)?

The same question can be asked of Kevin Murray, who played finals in just two of his 18 seasons with Fitzroy, yet won nine club best and fairest awards and represented Victoria 24 times. Another all-time great.

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Ablett Jr plays a different game to his father, yet both will be remembered as legends of the game.

The younger Ablett has been voted by his peers the most valuable player in the game four times - at two clubs.

His father, widely regarded as the most talented player ever, won the award once. Wayne Carey, the best player I have seen, won the MVP twice.

Enough. Surely the debate is won.

Picture: George Salpigtidis Source: Herald Sun

Collingwood's Scott Pendlebury comes in second.

He is a superb player, deceptively tall at 191cm, not a speedster yet rarely run down, possessed of huge endurance and resilience, and he has an outstanding work ethic - he led Collingwood for tackles last year despite missing four games.

He has finished top three in Collingwood's best-and-fairest in five of the past six years.

TOMORROW: BLOG LIVE WITH MIKE FROM 11.30AM AEDT

I have elevated Patrick Dangerfield to third spot.

While it's death by a thousand cuts with Ablett and Pendlebury, Dangerfield can turn a game in five minutes.

They say his teammates call him "Raging Bull''; what the rest of us know is he was born to wear Mark Ricciuto's No.32 guernsey.

He is about to turn 23, he has played 89 games and kicked 94 goals, he is the most dynamic midfielder in the game, a reminder of the young Chris Judd at West Coast.

Picture: Klein Michael Source: Herald Sun

I have pushed Buddy Franklin down from No 1 12 months ago to No 4.

He remains the most exciting player in the game, yet the flaws remain.

He isn't strong overhead and no one with any level of interest in football needs to be told about his kicking for goal.

He booted 69.64 from 19 games last year, including 3.4 in the Grand Final. Remove the 13 he kicked in the picnic against North Melbourne in Launceston in Round 10 - OK, give him five, his next best return last year - and it's an average of just better than three a game.

What was encouraging was a one-grab pack mark against the Western Bulldogs in the recent NAB Cup game and a significant reduction in the bend in his run-up when kicking for goal.

Franklin is followed by four high-quality midfielders - Josh Kennedy, Joel Selwood, Trent Cotchin and Jobe Watson - who could have come in any order.

Cotchin might end up being the best of them because of his dash, but, for the moment, Selwood's record is amazing, while Kennedy and Watson are blue-collar men with energy, strength, nous and impact.

Scott Barbour/Getty Images) Source: Getty Images

The second punt in my top 10 - Dangerfield might be seen as a gamble at No 3 - is his Adelaide teammate, Taylor Walker.

He is a natural key forward who reminds me a little of the young Tony Lockett.

He is a superb athlete for a man of such imposing dimensions - 192cm, 100kg - has nice hands and is a thumping kick. Accurate, too (63.35 last year).

He kicked four or more goals in 11 of his 19 games. He thrived under Brenton Sanderson, although a couple of lapses of discipline cost him five games to suspension.

At 22 (23 late in April), the sky is the limit for him.

There's a school of thought he will suffer from the departure of Kurt Tippett, with more opposition pressure coming his way.

His ability to cover ground and score from up to 60m will solve that potential problem.

CLICK HERE TO SEE MIKE'S FULL TOP 50 AND HAVE YOUR SAY

Dayne Beams rounds off the top 10. His development - on and off the field - in the past couple of years is extraordinary.

Best-and-fairest in 2012, a member of the leadership group in 2013. Wow. That's what a wild young man can do when he realises he has both rare talent and a rare opportunity

As always, lots of good players miss a berth in the 50.

Jordan Lewis is desperately unlucky, but how many midfielders can you have before the list becomes unbalanced? I have 30.

Picture: George Salpigtidis Source: Herald Sun

Lewis Jetta also was in until the final scan. He is a gamebreaker who was the leading goalkicker for the premiership team last year. Spots in the 50 don't come easy; he needs to back up again this year.

Then there's Matthew Boyd and James Kelly and Eddie Betts and Michael Hurley ...

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Hurley ankle scare

Michael Hurley fights for the ball during the Round 2 NAB Cup match at Wangaratta. Source: Getty Images

ESSENSON is confident Michael Hurley will play in the season-opener against Adelaide despite the star forward wearing a moonboot to protect an injured ankle.

Hurley sustained the injury in the Bombers' easy win against Greater Western Sydney in Canberra on Friday.

The Bombers have this weekend off before their March 22 clash with the Crows.

While Hurley climbed onto the stage in his moonboot at the club's family day today, teammate Brent Stanton said he had assured the club he would be ready.

"It's a lot more precautionary than probably what you can see from the outside," Stanton said.

"He's confident, so is the doctor and so are the coaches.

"He's come in this morning - he's done extensive rehab over the last couple of days.

"But he's reassured us that it's just a general rolled ankle and he's going to be right to go in two weeks' time against Adelaide."

Stanton said the Bombers were content with their preparation after the 91-point thrashing of GWS, despite the Giants managing just three scoring shots in the the second half.

"GWS still had a very good crack at us and we were able to withstand it," Stanton said.

"We played the way we wanted to play - we were pretty happy with that.

"But we've still got a long way in terms of where we want to get to in our defensive structures."

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Essendon season preview

2013 preview: The arrival of Brendon Goddard won't be enough to push the Bombers into the top eight, says Fox Footy expert Brad Johnson.

Essendon coach James Hird has plenty on his mind. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun

Can Essendon overcome the off-field distractions to feature in the finals in 2013?

The cliche "pre-season from hell" doesn't even begin to describe what the Bombers have been through.

The supplements scandal has been discussed in detail elsewhere, suffice to say it can't be easy to concentrate on playing footy when the club is in the middle of multiple investigations that could drag coaches and players before interrogators at any moment.

With all the other news around the club, Essendon's dramatic form slump last season has largely been forgotten.

Essendon won eight of its first nine games in 2012 - then three of their next 13.

Individual players suffered huge form reversals - Brent Stanton and Stewart Crameri were highlighted, but they weren't alone - injuries struck and the Bombers even forgot how to kick, going from one of the highest kicking effiency ranking teams to second last ahead of only GWS.

Exclusive video: Watch Fox Footy expert Brad Johnson answer the hard questions about the Bombers in the video player above

So where does all that leave the Bombers entering 2013?

In terms of personnel, not a lot has changed although the one arrival is significant - former Saint Brendon Goddard.

Goddard can fill two desperate needs at Windy Hill - pinpoint kicking and offer some help for Jobe Watson in the middle of the ground.

As good as Jobe is - and he is very, very good - he has been left to do it all on his own for far too long.

Check out our top Essendon SuperCoach picks here

The other significant addition to the list is boom father-son recruit Joe Daniher, but don't expect too much of him this season.

The fate of the Bombers in 2013 is again likely to come down to the same names we have been talking about for years.

Picture gallery: Essendon family day

Will Paddy Ryder become the consistently dominant ruckman he has threatened to become? Will Michael Hurley take the competition by the scruff of the neck? Can David Myers, Jake Melksham and Tom Bellchambers go from promising to outstanding?

We are likely to have a lot more answers about Essendon - on and off the field - in the next few months. Watch this space.

Check out our previous team previews here:

Adelaide - Tippett leaves huge hole

Brisbane - Fate rests on Browny's shoulders

Carlton - Mick the messiah

Collingwood - good but not good enough

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Jurrah target in 'bid for revenge'

Former AFL footballer Liam Jurrah arrives at the Alice Springs court house for his assault trial. Picture: Justin Brierty Source: adelaidenow

FORMER AFL star Liam Jurrah's lawyer has claimed the delisted Melbourne player was singled out over a wild brawl between feuding families because of his status within the community.

Jurrah, 24, has denied he armed himself with a deadly weapon and bludgeoned his cousin during a brawl between two feuding family groups at the Little Sisters town camp, on the outskirts of Alice Springs, in March last year.

Jurrah, who was still living in Melbourne and a listed Demons player at the time, has pleaded not guilty in the Northern Territory Supreme Court to unlawfully causing serious harm to his cousin, Basil Jurrah.

Prosecutor Stephen Robson told the jury yesterday there had been ongoing ill-will between the groups leading up to the confrontation, in which Jurrah allegedly joined other men in attacking the group living at the camp.

Mr Robson said Jurrah had been involved in two bouts of fighting at the camp, the first when he allegedly struck a woman and a man in the head before fleeing when police were called.

Jurrah allegedly returned later, and with another man, Christopher Walker, chased Basil Jurrah to the rear of a house, where he was struck with weapons then repeatedly hit while on the ground.

Fallen AFL star Liam Jurrah has gone on trial in Alice Springs over a violent assault at a town camp

"The accused and Christopher Walker chased Basil Jurrah into the rear yard ... and used weapons to strike Basil Jurrah about the head and body," Mr Robson said.

The court heard Basil Jurrah suffered a fracture to the top of his skull, fractures to his eye socket and nose and four lacerations to his scalp.

Jurrah's lawyer, Jon Tippett, QC, told the jury witness accounts of his client's actions were unreliable because the incident happened at night and many were drunk.

"There were two groups of people and they don't like one another very much and there was one person in this court who stood head and shoulders above all of them," he said.

Mr Tippett said many of the witnesses bore a grudge towards Jurrah and his family and a way to exact revenge would be to "bring him down".

AFL footballer Liam Jurrah arrives the Alice Springs court house for the first day of his trial Picture: Justin Brierty

However, Mr Robson claimed Jurrah had lied to police the next day by telling them he was an innocent bystander.

Mr Robson said witnesses had given varying descriptions of the weapon allegedly carried by Jurrah, who was delisted by Melbourne last year and now lives in Adelaide.

"The Crown cannot say with precision the exact kind of weapon the accused used in the assault on Basil Jurrah ... but it is of the kind that was capable of inflicting the injuries that were sustained," Mr Robson said.

The trial, before Chief Justice Trevor Riley, is expected to run for six days.

AFL footballer Liam Jurrah prepares to enter the Alice Springs court house with lawyer John McBride Picture: Justin Brierty

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Every AFL free agent

Jobe Watson will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. Picture: Michael Klein Source: Herald Sun

IT WAS only last October that Hawthorn played the compensation selection jackpot and came up empty.

In the space of days Clinton Young and Tom Murphy walked out under free agency and all Hawthorn had to show was a useless third-round draft pick (No.66).

"It is like we've been pick-pocketed and somebody has put an old $2 scratchy ticket back in our pocket," said football manager Mark Evans.

"I don't know if anyone could look you in the eye and say this is a just system."

Five months on and the picture isn't looking any rosier for 2012's beaten Grand Finalists.

Not only do the Hawks have their six best players out of contract in the next two seasons - five under free agency - there is no guarantee even a scratchy ticket would be available if those players left.

As the Herald Sun revealed last month, the rules for the second season of free agency are not yet set for this October's meat market.

Scroll down to see every free agent at your club this year

Some list managers want compensation watered down so the best pick in return would be the last selection of the first round - selection 27 in last year's national draft.

Free agency compo in the gun

Some want compensation abolished altogether, including the AFLPA which reasons that it is too messy.

Currie in a hurry for Round 1

The AFL's official list of free agents will come out later this month, but the Herald Sun today assembles its own unofficial list of restricted and unrestricted free agents.

Love your work, but where's Jack

It is worth noting that of the 10 free agents who departed last year, four were restricted (eight or nine years of service) and six unrestricted (10 or more years at one club).

Face facts, Ablett just too good

Yet no club matched a bid for a restricted free agent, with Hawthorn also conceding it would be almost no chance to match an outlandish offer for Lance Franklin this year.

If Hawthorn can secure the big four this year, next season Jarryd Roughead becomes a free agent with Cyril Rioli also out of contract.

Of Hawthorn's free agents this year, captain Luke Hodge and former captain Sam Mitchell are clearly staying put.

But neither of them will come cheap, which puts even more pressure on the negotiations with Lance Franklin and Jordan Lewis.

Hawthorn can offer Franklin a deal up above $900,000 a season, but will a contender emerge to try to prize Lewis away?

He offers the entire package: leadership, big-game performance, the ability to play inside and outside, and only turns 27 in April.

If Hawthorn can secure the big four this year, next season Jarryd Roughead becomes a free agent with Cyril Rioli also out of contract.

Rioli isn't a free agent by then, but consider the clamour to secure him.

Welcome to the brave new world of free agency.

No wonder president Andrew Newbold has hit out at the list allowances of Sydney and GWS in recent weeks: he has done the sums and will be aware of the magnitude of the challenge ahead.

Free agency - the year one experience

St Kilda
LOST: Brendon Goddard (restricted) to Essendon
COMPO: Pick 13

Adelaide
LOST: Chris Knights (unrestricted) to Richmond
COMPO: Nothing

West Coast
LOST: Quinten Lynch (unrestricted) to Collingwood
COMPO: Pick 62

Port Adelaide
LOST: Danyle Pearce (restricted) to Fremantle and Troy Chaplin (restricted) to Richmond
COMPO: Picks 30 and 31

Geelong
LOST: Shannon Byrnes (unrestricted) to Melbourne
COMPO: Nothing

Melbourne
LOST: Jared Rivers (unrestricted) to Geelong and Brent Moloney (restricted) to Brisbane Lions
COMPO: Pick 49

Hawthorn
LOST: Tom Murphy (unrestricted) to Gold Coast and Clinton Young (unrestricted) to Collingwood
COMPO: Pick 66

RISKY BUSINESS
Jon Ralph and Michael Warner assess the free-agency landscape at your club this year

ADELAIDE
Jason Porplyzia, 28, unrestricted
Brent Reilly, 29, unrestricted
Ben Rutten, 29, unrestricted
Nathan van Berlo, 26, unrestricted
Graham Johncock, 30, unrestricted

EXPOSURE: Keeps losing players - Phil Davis, Kurt Tippett and Nathan Bock - and can't afford to have another one depart. Skipper Van Berlo won't be leaving, but Victorian clubs close to a flag would love a wildcard like Johncock, Porplyzia or defender Reilly.

BRISBANE LIONS
Simon Black, 33, unrestricted
Jonathan Brown, 31, unrestricted
Joel Patfull, 28, unrestricted

EXPOSURE: Brisbane's exposure to free agency is limited given a young list with several loyal superstars _ Black and Brown aren't going anywhere. Daniel Merrett is locked away until 2016.

CARLTON
Eddie Betts, 26, restricted
Andrew Carrazzo, 29, restricted
Heath Scotland, 32, unrestricted

EXPOSURE: Betts is a star but seems happy. So is likely captain Carrazzo, with Scotland on one-year deals. The big challenge comes next year with Marc Murphy out. Last year the Blues tucked away Jarrad Waite and Andrew Walker. In a good spot.

Collingwood v Carlton. MCG. eddie betts and ben reid, Source: Herald Sun

COLLINGWOOD
Alan Didak, 30, unrestricted
Ben Johnson, 31, unrestricted
Nick Maxwell, 29, unrestricted
Dale Thomas, 25, restricted

EXPOSURE: Dids says he will retire after this year, while Dale Thomas is content to wait until mid-year. Like Travis Cloke before him, you figure he will play hard ball but has the intention of staying. Harry O'Brien is out next year.

ESSENDON
Dustin Fletcher, 38, unrestricted
David Hille, 31, unrestricted
Nathan Lovett-Murray, 30, unrestricted
Jobe Watson, 28, unrestricted
Jason Winderlich, 28, unrestricted

EXPOSURE: Not too many difficulties for Essendon apart from satisfying captain Watson. Potential free agents Brent Stanton and Paddy Ryder signed last year.

FREMANTLE
Michael Johnson, 28, restricted

EXPOSURE: Fremantle's issues will come next year, with a clutch of players out of contract including Aaron Sandilands, Matthew Pavlich, Paul Duffield, David Mundy and Luke McPharlin.

GEELONG
Paul Chapman, 31, unrestricted
Joel Corey, 31, unrestricted
Corey Enright, 31, unrestricted
Mathew Stokes, 28, unrestricted
Josh Hunt, 30, unrestricted

EXPOSURE: The Cats are masters at keeping their stars. Tom Hawkins signed for three years in 2010, with Andrew Mackie and Tom Lonergan also committing long-term last year. Jimmy Bartel is locked away until 2015, James Kelly until next year, and Steve Johnson also signed on again last year. Stokes is the only free agent who would attract rival interest and would likely be unrestricted given he wouldn't be in the top ten highest-paid players.

Paul Chapman says he is in a wonderful place injury-wise for the first time in four seasons. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun

HAWTHORN
Max Bailey, 26, unrestricted
Xavier Ellis, 25, unrestricted
Lance Franklin, 26, restricted
Luke Hodge, 28, unrestricted
Sam Mitchell, 30, unrestricted
Michael Osborne, 30, unrestricted
Jordan Lewis, 26, restricted

EXPOSURE: Danger signs for Hawthorn, which not only has its best player out of contract, but arguably four of its best six players as free agents. Hodge and Mitchell will stay, but Jordan Lewis is out too. Someone would offer him $700K plus to move given his leadership and grunt. Roughead is out next year, as is Cyril Rioli. Birchall and Sewell are out in 2015.

Hawthorn midfielder Jordan Lewis is looking forward to Brian Lake bolstering the Hawk's backline. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun

MELBOURNE
Aaron Davey, 29, restricted
Colin Sylvia, 27, unrestricted

EXPOSURE: The Demons lost Brent Moloney and Jared Rivers last year, and while it was probably the right decision to let them go given the club's age profile, they just can't afford to let Sylvia go too. Nate Jones is signed until 2015, with Mark Jamar also committing last year.

NORTH MELBOURNE
Michael Firrito, 29, unrestricted
Brent Harvey, 34, unrestricted
Scott McMahon, 26, unrestricted
Drew Petrie, 30, unrestricted

EXPOSURE: Daniel Wells has recently committed to a new deal and Drew Petrie has spoken of his determination to sign again. Daniel Swallow has re-signed, with Leigh Adams out next year.

PORT ADELAIDE
Alipate Carlile, 30, restricted
Kane Cornes, 30, unrestricted

EXPOSURE: Not too many issues for the Power, who lost both Danyle Pearce and Troy Chaplin to free agency last year but traded in Angus Monfries. Dom Cassisi has signed until next year.

RICHMOND
Daniel Jackson, 26, unrestricted
Luke McGuane, 26, unrestricted
Chris Newman, unrestricted
Shane Tuck, 31, unrestricted
Matt White, 25, restricted

EXPOSURE: Richmond has contract concerns this year with Dustin Martin, Jack Riewoldt and Trent Cotchin all out, but the free agency picture is brighter. Newman is a one-club player and the rest wouldn't attract rival interest. Deledio signed for five years in 2012, with Nathan Foley signing for three seasons.

Richmond midfielder Dustin Martin had a difficult year on and off the field. Picture: Michael Klein Source: Herald Sun

ST KILDA
Jason Blake, 31, unrestricted
Lenny Hayes, 33, unrestricted
Justin Koschitzke, 30, unrestricted
Stephen Milne, 33, unrestricted
Nick Dal Santo, 29, unrestricted

EXPOSURE: The Saints cleared salary cap room when Goddard departed, so should have enough folding stuff to secure Dal Santo, who comes up after signing for three years in mid-2010. Skipper Nick Riewoldt last year signed a one-year extension, so comes out next year.

SYDNEY SWANS
Jude Bolton, 32, unrestricted

EXPOSURE: Not a care in world. Adam Goodes, Ryan O'Keefe and Josh Kennedy have just extended their deals, Jarrad McVeigh signed a three-year deal last year, and Ted Richards and Lewis Roberts Thomson signed for an extra season in December.

WEST COAST
Dean Cox, 31, unrestricted
Andrew Embley, 31, unrestricted
Darren Glass, 30, unrestricted
Mark LeCras, 26, restricted
Mark Nicoski, 29, unrestricted
Adam Selwood, 28, unrestricted
Beau Waters, 26, unrestricted

EXPOSURE: Plenty of big names out. Rivals would pay the world for LeCras but Cox, Embley and Glass are going nowhere. Sam Butler, Shannon Hurn and Daniel Kerr have another year.

Eagle Mark LeCras comes off for a break during the NAB Cup. Picture: Daniel Wilkins Source: The Sunday Times

WESTERN BULLDOGS
Adam Cooney, 27, restricted
Daniel Cross, 29, unrestricted
Daniel Giansiracusa, 31, unrestricted
Dale Morris, 30, restricted

EXPOSURE: No issues for the Dogs, who were smart in trading off Brian Lake a year short of free agency last year when well aware they would have got little compensation for him had he left. Cooney has 10 years service but given he signed a three-year deal after seven seasons, he is still a restricted free agent. Ryan Griffen signed a three-year deal at the start of last year.

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Johnson weighs up LARS surgery

Sydney defender Alex Johnson will consider LARS surgery on his injured right knee. Picture: Getty Source: Getty Images

SYDNEY Swans premiership star Alex Johnson's season is not over with the key defender strongly considering the radical LARS surgery on his injured knee.

The 21-year-old tall spoke publicly for the first time last night, saying will head home to Melbourne today to discuss his surgery options with family.

If Johnson chooses the traditional anterior cruciate ligament replacement surgery he will not play again this season.

However, if  he takes the LARS option -- a procedure in which synthetic fibres are used rather than a muscle graft to reconstruct his torn ACL -- then Johnson could be back playing in 12 weeks.

Johnson went down in the first quarter of the Swans' NAB Cup pre-season win over the Gold Coast at Blacktown Sportspark on Saturday, rolling over his left knee when trying to push off it and change direction.

He said he was flattened when told by Swans chief medico doctor Nathan Gibbs he had completely torn the ACL in his left knee.

"It's obviously pretty flattening. I've had a pretty good pre-season and to come to two weeks out from round one and then do my ACL is really disappointing for me and I think the coaches are a bit disappointed as well,'' Johnson said.

"Disappointing allround I guess.

"It was just a real simple change of directions. I planted my left foot and my knee sort of splayed out a little bit. At the time I heard a snap so I knew I'd done something serious.

"I'd never had any problems with my knee so I wasn't sure what it was or how long it would hurt for. It hurt initially, but 30 seconds later it felt fine.

"A bit later in the rooms I thought I feel good. I'm a chance to play the second half here. The doctor took one look at it and said you've done your ACL.''

The 45-gamer has already sought out LARS poster boy Nick Malceski and former teammate Campbell Heath  now at Port Adelaide to hear about their own experiences with LARS.

With the Swans a strong chance of defending their 2012 premiership this season, the radical surgery option would allow him to get back on the field in as little as 12 weeks.

A traditional knee reconstruction in which the ruptured ACL would be replaced by a hamstring graft would kill-off Johnson's chances of playing again this season.

Malceski, who kicked the fairytale decisive goal in the Swans grand final triumph over Hawthorn, has had the operation twice on his right knee, first in 2008 and again in 2011.

Johnson will make a decision in the next seven days.

"Now I'm just weighing up the options,'' Johnson said. "It's been a pretty hectic few days since it happened, and I've given it a bit of thought, but I think just getting down to Melbourne, getting out of Sydney, getting out of the footy club, spending time with Mum and Dad and the family and friends will get my mind off it.

"It will give me a good chance to make the right decision for myself and the footy club.''

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Love your work, but where's Jack

Richmond star Jack Riewoldt missed the cut in Mike Sheahan's Top 50 list. Source: Getty Images

Like many in our football-obsessed city I have long been an avid reader of your Top 50 AFL players, in fact dating back to 1990 when Stephen Kernahan pipped Jason Dunstall and Greg Williams for your inaugural No.1.

Sitting alongside you during your arduous compilation of the list has allowed me to realise just how diligent you are when rating the young men who make our weekends more enjoyable.

Naturally, given it is such a subjective exercise, there can never be a definitive list and the general consensus would suggest you do better than most could hope (otherwise, it wouldn't still be running).

SUBSCRIBER EXCLUSIVE: CLICK HERE TO SEE MIKE'S FULL LIST PLUS EXCLUSIVE FOX FOOTY VIDEO AND RATE EVERY PLAYER

But as is always the case with a complimentary build-up there must come the obligatory whack, and mine is what in the heck did Jack Riewoldt do for you exclude him from your Top 50?

We are talking about the 2012 Coleman medallist, someone who was proficient enough at his craft to boot more goals than Travis Cloke, Buddy Franklin, Tom Hawkins, Matthew Pavlich and Taylor Walker.

Free agency compo in the gun

Yet that crew all rated not in your top 50 but in your top 20 players in the following order: Franklin (4th) Walker (9th) Cloke (12th) Hawkins (17th) and Pavlich (19th).

Every 2013 free agent listed

Maybe you based it on the fact the Riewoldt could only finish ninth in his club's best-and-fairest, yet that argument becomes void given Cloke had the same finish at Collingwood.

Currie in a hurry for Round 1

Or maybe you just don't rate the cousin of Nick that highly. And given your Top 50 is based on who you think will be the best 50 players in 2013, as distinct who were the best in 2012, then you clearly don't think Riewoldt is in for much of a season.

I beg to differ given his 2012 season, while far from his maximum output, was achieved on the back of a severely restricted pre-season because of injury.

This pre-season has seen him moving freely, even if he has developed a strange penchant for wanting to give the ball off when he is in position to score.

Or maybe, and I think this must be the real reason, you haven't been too impressed with "Jumping Jack's'' desire to become involved in ridiculous arguments with umpires in games that mean nothing.

No doubt the Richmond hierarchy has been in his ear to stop wasting his breath on no-win situations and to save it for repeat efforts.

But isn't everyone allowed a weakness? And wasn't it Matthew Richardson who was once criticised for the same before becoming the competition's most loved player?

Best wishes, Ando

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Currie in a hurry for Round 1

North Melbourne 'back-up' ruckman Daniel Currie is pushing for selection in Round 1. Picture: Getty Source: Getty Images

HE was drafted by North Melbourne as a backup for the backup.

But after peeling off yet another extraordinary set of statistics against Geelong on Saturday, North Melbourne's 201cm ruckman Daniel Currie has surely become a Round 1 lock.

Champion Data statistics show the former Sydney ruckman is being shaded only by West Coast's Dean Cox as the ruckman of the NAB Cup.

Ultimate SuperCoach Formguide

Currie boasted just five NAB Cup games as a Swan before a year at SANFL club North Adelaide, yet when Hamish McIntosh was traded to Geelong the Roos swept in.

They took him at pick 56 in the draft, ruining Adelaide's plans to use him as their own back-up after the departure of Kurt Tippett.

Free agency comp in the gun

Now after three consecutive eye-catching performances he has the statistics to match, pushing himself ahead of Todd Goldstein and Majak Daw.

Every 2013 free agent listed

Currie's 19 hitouts to advantage ranks second in the competition behind only six-time All-Australian Cox.

Of the players to average more than 20 ruck contests per game in the NAB Cup, Currie wins the hitout more often than any other ruckman at 67 per cent.

Love your work, but where's Jack

In AFL football, hitouts to advantage are the cream, allowing your midfielders to stream away from the contest or release another teammate into space.

He also has 21 disposals, 13 contested possessions and five clearances in his 175 minutes of football, clear vindication of Brad Scott's decision to play no. 1 ruckman Goldstein to the VFL last weekend.

Daw filled the highlights reel again against Geelong given his overhead marking, but Currie got the job done around the ground, albeit against former Olympic aspirant Mark Blicavs.

Scott is now having to placate three ruckman given the media interest the battle has created, but to have three legitimate contenders is a massive plus for the re-signed coach.

North Adelaide coach Josh Francou said yesterday Currie had a massive upside and was more than a beanpole who excelled in the centre square.

"He has been outstanding. He can go forward and kick goals and his strength is his ability to direct the ball off hands to his midfielders. I would love to be a midfielder roving to him,'' the former Port Adelaide star said.

"I don't know how close Adelaide was to picking him but I hear Collingwood were talking about him too. He is a 201cm athletic bloke who can run, can catch it and has a big leap, and that's hard to come  by.

"He came off Sydney list with a foot and achillles injury, and what he brought us was outstanding. He brought another level of professionalism to our group and on-field he was outstanding too. He has had to put on a bit of beef and he's put on five or six kilograms, and I am not surprised how well he's gone.''

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Free agency compo in the gun

Hawthorn midfielder Jordan Lewis was one of seven Hawthorn free agents up for grabs this year, but has just signed a long-term contract. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun

HAWTHORN would not be compensated for the loss of Lance "Buddy" Franklin under proposed changes to the AFL's free agency rules.

But the Hawks yesterday struck a blow against would-be raiders, signing star midfielder Jordan Lewis to a long-term deal.

Lewis was one of seven Hawthorn free agents up for grabs this year, but the Herald Sun can reveal he is now off limits.

The AFL last night confirmed it had asked clubs for submissions to a review of free agency, including the compensation model.

Some key figures believe compensation should be scrapped to simplify the system.

The AFL Players' Association said yesterday that compensating clubs with draft picks was not in the "spirit of free agency".

The players' union said clubs that lose a free agent were able to clear salary cap room, allowing them to pursue other free agents.

Leading player manager Marty Pask, who oversaw Brian Lake's move from the Western Bulldogs to Hawthorn last year, supports a compensation-free system.

Every 2013 free agent listed

Pask has argued clubs such as St Kilda, which received pick No.13 for Brendon Goddard last year, were reluctant to chase their own free agents because it would have diluted their compensation selection.

Love your work, but where's Jack

He said he believed the system stopped as many as 12 free agents from finding a new club last year.

The biggest free agents this year include Franklin, Jobe Watson, Dale Thomas, Colin Sylvia and Mark LeCras.

Currie in a hurry for Round 1

AFLPA general manager of player relations, Ian Prendergast, said yesterday: "Overall, the feedback we've received on how free agency operated in its first year has been very positive."

"But we did see some confusion around how the compensation model works," Prendergast said.

"This led to a number of clubs getting frustrated about not knowing their compensation position during the free-agency period or disgruntled about the pick they received for losing a free agent.

"In our view, it would be easier to scrap compensation all together. We also think this is more in line with the spirit of free agency.

"These players have provided great service to their clubs for over eight years.

"If they are within the top 10 paid players, the club has the opportunity to retain the player by matching the offer."

AFL spokesman Patrick Keane said: "We have sent out provisional dates (for free agency) but if there is an overwhelming mood (from clubs) that can change.

"We have asked clubs for feedback across the whole process."
 

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Forward options aplenty for Giants

GWS Giants forward Jonathon Patton says the club boasts a number of avenues to goal. Picture: Gregg Porteous Source: The Daily Telegraph

GWS Giants power forward Jonathon Patton believes his job will be much easier this year because of the growing number of avenues to goal his club will have in their second season.

The Giants' midfield has been transformed into a double-edged weapon this pre-season with midfielders, including No. 1 national draft pick Lachie Whitfield, also spending regular time in the club's forward line, sharpening their attack.

Ahead of the Giants' final pre-season hit-out against St Kilda at Blacktown International Sportspark on Saturday, Patton and Giants' leading goal-kicker Jeremy Cameron said the forward line's development and the impressive marking ability of their centre ball-winners will make them much harder to handle up forward in 2013.

"I've only played a few games this year, but it feels a lot easier, a lot different than when I was playing last year,'' Patton said.

"A lot of that is due to my fitness. Now that all the midfielders have got another pre-season into them, there's going to be a lot more different avenues to kicking goals.''

The club's forward line has also been given added venom by the return of Patton at full flight after he struggled to recover from knee surgery in 2012 which left Cameron as the club's only major goal kicker with 29 majors.

The club has also been bolstered with new depth in their forward line with the emergence of work horse centre-half forward Adam Tomlinson, the recruitment of former Carlton veteran tall Bret Thornton and the key positional switch of moving Irishman Setanta O'hAilpin up forward from the defence.

It gives GWS five tall targets along with goal-kicking ruckman Jonathan Giles, small forward options led by Dom Tyson and the presence of star midfielders to kick goals this season.

With the number of interchanges allowed clubs to be restricted to 80 per match from 2014, AFL coaches have resorted to giving midfielders a rest in the forward line or backline to catch their breath rather than have a spell on the bench.

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