Gerard Healy has named who he believes will be the best player in the AFL in 2023.
Kane Cornes on Tuesday named the 10 players who he believes could be the best player in the AFL in 2023.
Responding to Cornes on SEN’s Sportsday, the 1988 Brownlow Medallist picked out Western Bulldogs captain Marcus Bontempelli.
“If you had to ask me who would be the best player in the competition next year, I’m going for Marcus Bontempelli,” Healy told SEN’s Sportsday.
“I think the Bont, he was almost the best player in the competition this year, but he also had to deal with lots of injury issues.
“He didn’t win his club best and fairest, he didn’t make All-Australian side, but his impact was still enormous even though he didn’t have as much of the ball.
“I would have said Clayton Oliver was the best player in the competition this year. I think most of the awards got it pretty well right.
“Christian Petracca, he had 65 shots at goal, he kicked 19 goals. If Petracca kicks 30 goals, he probably will shoot straight past them.”
Healy disagreed with Cornes’ assertation that goal kicking midfielders are the only players who can be deemed the best in the competition, saying ruckmen have had a strong resurgence in the last five years.
“Nic Naitanui was the best player in the competition in 2020 I reckon and I reckon Brodie Grundy and Max Gawn went head to head for a few years in 2018 and 2019,” he said.
“I think ruckmen can get there. I look at Tim English, I reckon English was stiff not to be All-Australian this year, not enough games to warrant it, but he’s coming in leaps and bounds around the ground and just has to tidy up his ruck craft.”
Cornes disagreed with Healy regarding Naitanui in 2020.
“Naitanui was rated as the best player, I didn’t think he was the best player,” Cornes said.
“10 possessions and two marks and no goals a game, it’s not going to cut it for me.
“I understand the hit-outs and how dangerous he was at centre bounces, but I think there was better that season.”
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