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2022 Best-and-fairests: A club-by-club preview of favourites and contenders

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Jackson BarrettThe West Australian
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There are clear-cut favourites for best-and-fairests like Andrew Brayshaw and Jack Sinclair, but it's harder to pick elsewhere.
Camera IconThere are clear-cut favourites for best-and-fairests like Andrew Brayshaw and Jack Sinclair, but it's harder to pick elsewhere. Credit: The West Australian Sport

At the pointy end of the season, attention for some turns to the bright lights of September. But for others, it’s the bright lights of club best-and-fairest functions that are their next assignments.

Here’s who the favourite and the challengers are for the best-and-fairest at your club:

Adelaide Crows

In a dim year for the Crows, Rory Laird has been the shining light. The small defender turned bustling midfielder has become a tackling machine and held their engine room together. He’s the second-leading disposal winner and the second-leading tackler in the league and is ranked elite for clearances.

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PERTH, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 07: Rory Laird of the Crows kicks the ball during the 2022 AFL Round 21 match between the West Coast Eagles and the Adelaide Crows at Optus Stadium on August 7, 2022 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Carson/AFL Photos)
Camera IconRory Laird has been the Crows’ best midfielder this season. Credit: Daniel Carson/AFL Photos

There’s daylight back from him, but Jordan Dawson has had a strong year across half-back and sometimes on a wing in his first season in his home State and Taylor Walker is a chance to finish with a 50-goal season.

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Brisbane Lions

Lachie Neale could be set for his second Brownlow Medal this season, but Hugh McCluggage is sniffing around for a best-and-fairest as well. He’s added a strong inside game to his package this year but is still damaging on a wing.

Cam Rayner’s second half of the season feels like a real break-out. Charlie Cameron has kicked nearly 50 goals too.

Carlton Blues

Captain Patrick Cripps is the front-runner here. He’s missed just one game and averages nearly 28 disposals and seven-and-a-half clearances a game.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 16: Patrick Cripps of the Blues celebrates during the 2022 AFL Round 14 match between the Richmond Tigers and the Carlton Blues at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on June 16, 2022 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos)
Camera IconCripps’ tribunal reprieve could ensure he wins Carlton’s best and fairest this year. Credit: Michael Willson/AFL Photos

But the Blues also boast the Coleman Medal leader in Charlie Curnow and two gun rebounders in Sam Docherty and Adam Saad who will be jostling for spots as small defenders in the All-Australian side. Docherty would be a remarkable story, but Saad’s past two months have been exceptional.

Collingwood Magpies

Could first-year player Nick Daicos win the Copeland Trophy? It’s hard to mount a case against it. He’s been pivotal in changing the way they play their footy and finally copped a well-warranted and long-overdue tag on Sunday — testament to his importance.

Jack Crisp is another super valuable asset spending large stints in midfield as well as his role off half-back, while Darcy Moore has been a defensive pillar again.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 09: Nick Daicos of the Magpies enters the field during the 2022 AFL Round 17 match between the Collingwood Magpies and the North Melbourne Kangaroos at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on July 09, 2022 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos)
Camera IconDaicos is a short-priced favourite for the rising star award, and could win Collingwood’s best and fairest too. Credit: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos

Essendon Bombers

A career-best season for Mason Redman has taken him from fringe defender to genuine best-and-fairest fancy. He’s found himself a nice role with influence going both ways.

Zach Merrett is probably the best of the rest here. His midfield buddy Darcy Parish is racking up medals just as quick as he is disposals, but how will the coaches look upon his actual impact? Peter Wright has also had his best ever year in holding the forward line together.

Fremantle Dockers

Andrew Brayshaw looks set to win his first Doig Medal having been around the mark in recent seasons and is in Brownlow calculations too.

Brennan Cox has had an underrated year and a run of lock-down jobs will be looked on favourably, while recruit Will Brodie could feature prominently as well. Caleb Serong and Alex Pearce could be around the mark, while last year’s winner Sean Darcy has been solid without having an outstanding season.

Geelong Cats

Jeremy Cameron is probably the most valuable player in the competition right now and could kick himself to a Coleman Medal on Saturday. Mark Blicavs has held their ruck department together and his ultimate swingman status makes him a real best-and-fairest sort of player.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 25: Jeremy Cameron of the Cats celebrates a goal during the 2022 AFL Round 15 match between the Geelong Cats and the Richmond Tigers at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on June 25, 2022 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
Camera IconCameron has kicked a swag of goals, but it’s his influence up the ground that really matters. Credit: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos/AFL Photos via Getty Images

After busting his way into their all-star midfield this year, Tom Atkins could be an outside chance, while it could be that his month-long suspension is all that stops Tom Stewart winning it.

Gold Coast Suns

Touk Miller is a genuine superstar right now, but his biggest threat could be Noah Anderson, who continued to grow this season.

Mabior Chol has been one of the recruits of the year and had kicked a goal in every game until a fortnight ago while pinch-hitting in the ruck and re-shaping their forward-line. Jarrod Witts also leads the league for hit-outs and leads all rucks for clearances.

Greater Western Sydney

West Australian-born defender Sam Taylor might be the best of a pretty average crop. Stephen Coniglio and Harry Himmelberg turned their seasons around after Mark McVeigh gave them more responsibility but that’s likely to be too late.

Likewise, Toby Greene will make a late charge after missing the first six games of the year. It could also fall to Josh Kelly who hasn’t been incredible by his standards, but ranks above average for disposals (27 per game), kicks, marks and tackles.

Hawthorn Hawks

James Sicily has returned from injury to be the Hawks’ most important player this year. That was laid bare when they took a punt on rolling him through the midfield on Sunday and were cut to pieces defensively to the point where they had to throw him back.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 14: Tom J. Lynch of the Tigers competes with James Sicily of the Hawks during the round 22 AFL match between the Richmond Tigers and the Hawthorn Hawks at Melbourne Cricket Ground on August 14, 2022 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images via AFL Photos)
Camera IconSicily was thrown down back to counter the red-hot Tom Lynch on Sunday and kept him goalless in the final term after eight to three-quarter time. Credit: Darrian Traynor/via AFL Photos

Mid-season draft success story Jai Newcombe has had another strong year in midfield and Dylan Moore would have been long odds at the start of the year, but is in the reckoning now after emerging as a really nice pressure forward with a few strings to his bow.

Melbourne Demons

The best clearance player in the game is Clayton Oliver at the moment, but Christian Petracca’s willingness to play wherever they need him — be it forward or in the middle, and have an influence in both spots — is a huge asset.

Steven May has been brilliant too and is likely to be the All-Australian full-back. Jack Viney has stood up in their biggest games, while Angus Brayshaw’s new role has been important too.

North Melbourne

Luke Davies-Uniacke. Then daylight.

This guy is one of the most exciting midfield prospects in the game and will poll heavily from the past six weeks. He’s big, explosive and clean under heat.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 16: Jy Simpkin (left) and Luke Davies-Uniacke of the Kangaroos celebrate during the 2022 AFL Round 18 match between the North Melbourne Kangaroos and the Richmond Tigers at Marvel Stadium on July 16, 2022 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
Camera IconDavies-Uniacke is one thing North fans have been able to get excited about this year. Credit: Michael Willson/AFL Photos/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Cameron Zurhaar and Jy Simpkin have done some good things, as has Ben McKay, but it’s hard to see anyone catching LDU.

Port Adelaide

Jeremy Finlayson hasn’t been spoken about much among the recruits of the year, but was brought over as a depth forward and has become arguably their most important player as solo ruck.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 14: Connor Rozee of the Power runs with the ball during the round 22 AFL match between the Essendon Bombers and the Port Adelaide Power at Marvel Stadium on August 14, 2022 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)
Camera IconConnor Rozee is hunting his first best and fairest, but could he be beaten by an unlikely teammate? Credit: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

Connor Rozee started slowly but worked into a very good year and Dan Houston has been important for their surge too, especially once they started playing with some more freedom later in the year. Travis Boak always polls well, as will Ollie Wines.

Richmond Tigers

This is one of the more even fields across the league. Shai Bolton has defied footy’s graveyard shift as a high half-forward to become a high-impact star.

Liam Baker has become Damien Hardwick’s Mr Fix-It. He’s essentially a half-back but has an impressive midfield record late in big games and has been used forward. Dion Prestia has enjoyed a very good season too, but missing four games will hurt. Toby Nankervis has played every game and been strong in the ruck in his first year as co-captain, while Tom Lynch will finish top five in the Coleman.

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 06: Shai Bolton of the Tigers of the Tigers celebrates a goal during the round 21 AFL match between the Port Adelaide Power and the Richmond Tigers at Adelaide Oval on August 06, 2022 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Mark Brake/Getty Images)
Camera IconWest Australian Shai Bolton is flying at Richmond, despite a tough role. Credit: Mark Brake/Getty Images

St Kilda Saints

Jack Sinclair has had a very, very good season. With no Nick Coffield and no Hunter Clark for large parts he has had an exceptional year off half-back, to the point where they don’t use Brad Hill there anymore.

In no shock, it will probably be a Jack that wins it. Jack Steele missed a few with a sore shoulder but will be around the mark and candidates aren’t lining up at the Saints. Rowan Marshall and Callum Wilkie have done some nice things but Sinclair will be very hard to beat.

Sydney Swans

Callum Mills has had a hell of a year, but the lure of Chad Warner is strong and we know he’s John Longmire’s favourite. Mills has been excellent by foot and averages more than six tackles a game but Warner’s impact on contests through the middle and rolling forward has been immense.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JULY 23: Chad Warner of the Swans celebrates kicking a goal during the round 19 AFL match between the Sydney Swans and the Adelaide Crows at Sydney Cricket Ground on July 23, 2022 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Brett Hemmings/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)
Camera IconThis way to a best and fairest? Credit: Brett Hemmings/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

Three-time winner Luke Parker also has a case to be made and Paddy McCartin has added more to their back-line than they ever could have hoped for.

West Coast Eagles

This will almost certainly go to Tom Barrass. He’s the only Eagle in the same postcode as the All-Australian team and has saved their blushes time after time. He averages nearly four intercept marks a game and takes the best forward every week.

Jack Redden might be the only other player with a real chance, while Shannon Hurn has naturally seen plenty of the footy too.

Western Bulldogs

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 13: Marcus Bontempelli of the Bulldogs marks the ball during the round 22 AFL match between the Western Bulldogs and the Greater Western Sydney Giants at Marvel Stadium on August 13, 2022 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)
Camera IconBontempelli could be set to lead the Bulldogs into another finals campaign. Credit: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

Marcus Bontempelli just did Bont things again this season. He averages 23 disposals, more than five clearances and a goal a game.

Amid their glut of midfield stars, Tom Liberatore is essential to how they function. Tim English looked like a world-beater for a while but has been a bit up and down, while Bailey Dale’s searing kicks have made him a really damaging prospect.

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