WE RANK TOP 20 GDFL PLAYERS THIS SEASON
GDFL’S BEST OF THE BEST IN 2017 Addy football writer ALEX TIGANI ranks the top 20 GDFL players so far this season
(Inverleigh)
Position: Forward Games: 13 Goals: 98
Times in best: 8 The powerful Hawk is a prolific goalkicker and should reach the century this weekend against Geelong West. Often finds Dalton Grundell for the assist and averages 20-plus disposals against the top sides. 2. JACK BRAUMAN (Bannockburn)
Position: Midfielder Games: 14 Goals: 13 TIB: 12 Brauman’s form is so strong he may become Bannockburn’s first Whitley Medal winner in 30 years. A tenacious inside midfielder who has been the Tigers’ best player four weeks running. 3. CAM ADDIE (Bell Post Hill)
Position: Defender Games: 12 Goals: 1 TIB: 6 The best defender in the league, holding Kennedy-Hunt to three goals earlier in the season. Named captain of GDFL interleague side and Bell Post Hill’s greatest side. 4. KIERAN FULTON (Bannockburn)
Position: Forward/ruck Games: 13 Goals: 49 TIB: 5 Since ruckman Ben Stretton has been added to Bannockburn’s side, Fulton has averaged 4.8 goals a game up forward. A strong mark, he kicked three goals for the interleague with a concussion and is still just 21 years old. 5. REECE HOLWELL (Thomson) Position: Midfielder Games: 14 Goals: 14 TIB: 8 Thomson’s playing coach has been likened to Joel Selwood for his ruthless endeavours at each contest. Has unfortunately slipped out of the top three as he’s recovering from a sickening knock in Round 12, where he still managed 32 disposals that day. 6. ADRIAN FANTELLA (Bell Post Hill)
Position: Midfielder Games: 14 Goals: 7 TIB: 5 Easily the most underrated midfielder in the league. Finds plenty of the ball on account of his endurance and speed. Aiming for a seventh flag in eight years and has the footy smarts to help his side achieve this goal. 7. DALTON GRUNDELL (Inverleigh)
Position: Forward Games: 13 Goals: 24 TIB: 9 Learnt his craft alongside top forwards Barry O’Toole (2015), Paul Carson (2016) and now KennedyHunt. His drive off half forward has been potent in the absence of the injured Casey Meehan. 8. JAYDEN ETTRIDGE (Bell Post Hill)
Position: Forward/midfielder Games: 13 Goals: 57 TIB: 7 Considered a Whitley Medal contender as recently as a month ago – now he has been playing more in the midfield. Had an impact at interleague level. Although accurate, 22 of his goals were against Belmont (13) and Winchelsea. 9. BLAKE HUTCHINSON (Inverleigh)
Position: Midfielder. Games: 11 Goals: 8 TIB: 7 Only player to enter this list with an injury-interrupted season. He is the X-factor for the Hawks against top sides. Won the Geoff Hill trophy against Bell Post Hill, then collected 14 disposals in the third quarter against Bannockburn. 10. JAMES CHANDLER (North Geelong)
Position: Midfielder Games: 12 Goals: 16 TIB: 8 Took over as interim Magpie coach late last year, now free to roam the midfield and kick goals. A shoe-in for the team of the year. 11. TIM BARTON (Bell Post Hill)
Position: Defender Games: 13 Goals: 6 TIB: 5 The 2016 grand final medallist, currently playing his best season in a 150-game career and one of 12 interleague heroes from this season to make this list. 12. JASON TOM (Bannockburn) Position: Forward Games: 13 Goals: 51 TIB: 4 A healthy 51 goals so far, now he needs a premiership after a career full of grand final defeats at Geelong Amateur (2010-11), Leopold (2014) and Bannockburn (2016). 13. MIKE BEST (Inverleigh)
Position: Midfielder/defender Games: 14 Goals: 8 TIB: 6 Tennis ace using his on-court agility in the GDFL. Won the Darryl Jones Medal for best player in the interleague. Often plays fetch to himself by handballing over his opponent. Only first-year GDFL player to feature on the list. 14. JOSH COLE (Bannockburn) Position: Defender Games: 13 Goals: 0 TIB: 7 Very underrated, according to his captain Brad Watts. Was absent last round against Kennedy-Hunt. Can’t help but wonder if he could have made the difference. 15. BRAYDEN MITCHELL (Geelong West) Position: Midfielder/forward Games: 13 Goals: 36 TIB: 5 Second-year recruit who has kicked 14 goals in his past three games. One of the most reliable marks in the league and only 20 years of age. 16. SHANE LYMER (Bell Post Hill) Position: Defender Games: 13 Goals: 0 TIB: 3 Aiming to feature in his 10th straight grand final since Bell Post Hill played Thomson in the 2008 decider. Goes straight from cricket finals at Bell Park to Round 1. Edges out Luke Parker. 17. RENN LOVITT (Bell Post Hill)
Position: Ruckman Games: 14 Goals: 5 TIB: 2 We need a ruckman in this list. Here’s one with three flags, ags, interleague representation ion and a club best-and-fairest. Probably robably edged Hawk James Huybens ybens in the contests earlier this month. 18. JUSTIN WHITE (Geelong West) Position: Midfielder Games: 13 Goals: 7 TIB: 5 Returns from a season at Thomson, a toss of the coin between him and teammate Paddy Dwyer – both dynamic ball winners at Geelong West. Recently played his is 200th game. 19. ASH BROWN (East Geelong)
Position: Forward Games: 13 Goals: 39 TIB: 7 Hard to tell how he would perform in a finals side but he did enough at interleague level. A strong mark with entertaining views of his teammates and opponents. 20. TANE RABBAS (Bell Post Hill)
Position: Midfielder Games: 13 Goals: 13 TIB: 3 I would like to squeeze another 20 players into the list. Rabbas fills the youth bracket. Finds plenty of the ball whether on the wing or inside mid. May even join the Bell Post Hill premiership club. NOTE: It was hard to cut an initial list of 72 down to a top 20. Stars of recent years such as Matt Tyquin (Bannockburn), David Holzfeind (Bell Post Hill), Nathan Mayes (Inverleigh) and Jackson Macleod (Thomson) were excluded given they have missed much of the season with injury.jy