Top 10 AFL Players Of 2011 So Far | Thebigtip

The 2011 AFL regular season is halfway done and people are writing up their mid-season report cards, but another point of debate is who has been the best player so far this year.

Here's my list of the season's top ten players, which I'm sure will attract some criticism. If that's the case, let me know who you'd have in or out of the top 10 and why.


10. Jobe Watson (Essendon)
The Bombers captain had been having an excellent season until he tweaked his hamstring in Round 8 against Brisbane. Watson has removed the clangers from his game and has become quite lethal with his right boot, actually kicking 13 goals for Essendon this year. He averages 28 touches a game and provides real leadership for his side.

9. Nat Fyfe (Fremantle)
The young Docker has emerged as a premium AFL player this year and it's incredible to think he's only a second-year player. Fyfe has a sensational mark and raw ability to find the footy. He's averaging an impressive 26 disposals per game (he's got the tenth most disposals in the AFL this season), plus he has kicked 10 goals this season. Fyfe seems to be able to play all over the field and is tough to match up on making him a very useful footballer.

8. Dean Cox (West Coast)
The big Eagle has been the best ruckman in 2011 and this comes after a few injury-troubled years. Cox has the most hit-outs in the AFL this season with 377 which shows the advantage he gives his onballers. As well, 'Big Cox' has the fourth most contested marks in the AFL this season with 27 grabs, and a lot of those have come in his defensive 50 helping out his backline.

7. Lance Franklin (Hawthorn)
'Buddy' Franklin hasn't been at his stellar best during 2011 and probably won't hit 100 goals this season, but he's still been very, very good. Franklin leads the AFL goalscoring charts with 42 majors and has had an unbelievable 82 scoring shots. That's a direct result of his 50 marks inside 50 so far this season, which is an AFL best. He is a major danger inside 50 and that's why he's so good.

6. James Kelly (Geelong)
'Pops' Kelly has stepped up to a new level in Gary Ablett's absence and has arguably been Geelong's best player in 2011. The Cats have a fairly even spread of talent this season (which means there's only one in my top 10) and while Kelly's return of an average of 24 disposals per game isn't amazing, it's his tough work which makes him a star. It may surprise many that Kelly has the fourth-most tackles in the AFL this season. One thing, though, is he probably needs to work on his disposal efficiency.

5. Marc Murphy (Carlton)
The 2005 number one draft pick has found his career-best form in 2011 and become a genuinely top-class midfielder. Murphy has the second most disposals in the league this season, while he also has the sixth most contested possessions which shows where his game has really picked up. He's also kicked 11 goals which is what top midfielders do.

4. Gary Ablett Jnr (Gold Coast)
Ablett may have moved from last year's preliminary finalists to this year's likely wooden spooners, but he's still producing outstanding footy and averaging over 30 touches a game. The Suns skipper has worked hard at clearances and has won 158 contested possessions, the eighth best in the AFL this season. Ablett also has provided 55 inside 50s which is phenomenal in a weak side. His leadership has been questioned at times, but he's one who leads by example.

3. Dale Thomas (Collingwood)
St Kilda coach Ross Lyon made a big statement when he said Thomas was the best player in the AFL. To be fair, he said it the week before the Saints were due to meet the Magpies, so it may not have been totally his honest opinion. However, Thomas has had a sensational season, producing fantastic attacking footy with crucial goals, alongside excellent defensive play which is so crucial in the modern day game. He's got magic, but he works hard too, which makes him a genuine superstar.

2. Chris Judd (Carlton)
The Blues skipper is having a wonderful season and many pundits believe he's probably leading the Brownlow Medal race. His individual performance in the Round 6 win in Sydney was outstanding. He's re-modelled his game at Carlton in the past few years and the fact he has the fifth most contested possessions in the AFL in 2011 and is in the top tacklers is evidence of that. Judd also has the sixth most disposals in the AFL this season. The only negative aspect of his season has been his inaccuracy in front of goal.

1. Scott Pendlebury (Collingwood)
Collingwood's smooth-moving midfielder has well and truly graduated to top-tier status and his consistent performances so far in 2011 make him the league's best. Pendlebury has the 12th most disposals in the AFL this season, but he's also in the top 20 tacklers too, showing he's an all-round star. The composed 23-year-old also has provided 53 inside 50s which shows his attacking danger, particularly when his effective disposal percentage is almost at the 80 per cent figure. Add to that Pendlebury has the class to stand up when needed and we shouldn't forget the goal that wasn't against Geelong in the top-of-the-table clash.