Opinion Best Wingmen since 2000

[Wiggle Room]

Who are the best genuine wingmen (or at least played significant time there) since 2000? Feel as if it is a forgotten position to history but interested in peoples thoughts of some of the best in the modern era.

 

[Mr Meow]

Embley, Duncan and Isaac Smith

7

Isaac Smith

Age

37

Ht

188cm

Wt

83kg

Pos.

M/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

21.3

5star

K

13.0

5star

HB

8.4

5star

M

5.5

5star

T

2.9

4star

CL

1.7

4star

D

19.4

4star

K

11.1

4star

HB

8.3

4star

M

3.8

4star

T

2.5

3star

CL

1.3

4star

D

19.2

5star

K

10.6

4star

HB

8.6

5star

M

7.6

5star

T

2.0

4star

CL

0.6

3star

were very good. Sidebottom and Crisp too, but they probably spent more time in other positions than the first 3 I listed. Nigel Lappin was elite but like Gulden, more of a hybrid wingman/midfielder. McCluggage before the move to midfield was a top notch wingman. Likewise Josh Daicos

7

Josh Daicos

Age

27

Ht

178cm

Wt

77kg

Pos.

D/M

Career

Season

Last 5

D

15.6

4star

K

8.3

3star

HB

7.3

5star

M

3.3

3star

T

3.6

5star

MG

230.5

4star

D

16.2

4star

K

9.2

4star

HB

7.0

4star

M

3.3

3star

T

3.5

4star

MG

230.5

4star

D

13.8

4star

K

7.6

3star

HB

6.2

4star

M

3.2

4star

T

4.2

5star

before moving to defence.

Goddard could be the best but he just about fits the definition of a utility better.

 

[Freomaniac]

Who are the best genuine wingmen (or at least played significant time there) since 2000? Feel as if it is a forgotten position to history but interested in peoples thoughts of some of the best in the modern era.

Andrew McCleod Obviously.... He did play a fair bit of games on a half back flank.

But yeah was dangerous on a wing.

I am gonna be a bit biased as I am a dockers fan. But Stephen Hill was good. His Younger Brother Brad hill was decent. He got 3 premiership medals at Hawthorn very early in his career. Still playing good footy at the saints.

 

[kane249]

Andrew Gaff

3

Andrew Gaff

Age

33

Ht

184cm

Wt

83kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

26.6

5star

K

15.9

5star

HB

10.7

5star

M

4.8

5star

T

2.0

4star

CL

2.5

4star

D

24.5

5star

K

15.6

5star

HB

8.9

4star

M

5.4

5star

T

2.0

3star

CL

2.5

4star

D

11.2

3star

K

8.0

3star

HB

3.2

3star

M

3.2

4star

T

0.6

3star

CL

0.6

3star

under rated at his peak

Ran all day and racked it up on the wing with good disposal

 

[garlic munchers]

Andrew Gaff under rated at his peak

Ran all day and racked it up on the wing with good disposal

Good player, but bit of a jaw dropper to claim him in the best wingman of the last 26 years.

 

[kane249]

Good player, but bit of a jaw dropper to claim him in the best wingman of the last 26 years.

Made All-Australian twice as a wingman, like I said under rated for what he did

Reputation tarnished a bit by the incident and latter part of his career where he got converted into an inside mid which wasn't his best role.

 

[Mr Meow]

Made All-Australian twice as a wingman, like I said under rated for what he did

Reputation tarnished a bit by the incident and latter part of his career where he got converted into an inside mid which wasn't his best role.

One of those hybrid players. 2.8 and 3.6 clearance averages those seasons, so arguably not a pure wingman but still an outside midfielder. Still a worthy nomination, but some others spent less time at stoppages.

 

[Grrr]

Andrew McCleod Obviously.... He did play a fair bit of games on a half back flank.

But yeah was dangerous on a wing.

I am gonna be a bit biased as I am a dockers fan. But Stephen Hill was good. His Younger Brother Brad hill was decent. He got 3 premiership medals at Hawthorn very early in his career. Still playing good footy at the saints.

Stephen Hill was a proper star wingman for a while, great to watch in full flight. Then he got Ross Lyoned, where defensive efforts were more important than natural flair.

 

[joe444]

Kouta circa 2000 and 2001
Riccardi

McLeod not really a wingman.

Brissy fans: does Lappin count as a wingman? If so, put him in.

 

[Purple Suit]

Stephen Hill was a proper star wingman for a while, great to watch in full flight. Then he got Ross Lyoned, where defensive efforts were more important than natural flair.

So was / is his brother, Bradley Hill.

 

[Boxhead_31]

Richo almost won a Brownlow as a winger

 

[Arr0w]

Most of the better modern day wingmen now play other roles, J Daicos, McCluggage to name a couple, similar to Gaff but played most of his career on a wing

Goodwin and Lappin would be right in contention even though the started prior to 2000.

If picking one, Sidebottom

Best wingmen i saw, Greig, Matera, Bradley

 

[Upgrayedd]

Personally. Issac Smith


I also have Stephen Hill

32

Stephen Hill

Age

36

Ht

183cm

Wt

82kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

19.5

5star

K

11.7

4star

HB

7.8

5star

M

3.0

3star

T

2.9

4star

MG

223.5

3star

D

13.5

3star

K

8.8

4star

HB

4.8

3star

M

4.8

4star

T

0.8

1star

MG

223.5

3star

D

11.2

3star

K

5.4

2star

HB

5.8

4star

M

2.2

3star

T

2.8

5star

when fit and Andrew Gaff

3

Andrew Gaff

Age

33

Ht

184cm

Wt

83kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

26.6

5star

K

15.9

5star

HB

10.7

5star

M

4.8

5star

T

2.0

4star

CL

2.5

4star

D

24.5

5star

K

15.6

5star

HB

8.9

4star

M

5.4

5star

T

2.0

3star

CL

2.5

4star

D

11.2

3star

K

8.0

3star

HB

3.2

3star

M

3.2

4star

T

0.6

3star

CL

0.6

3star

I also have Simon Goodwin

Simon Goodwin

Age

49

Ht

185cm

Wt

86kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

20.9

5star

K

12.1

4star

HB

8.8

5star

M

4.0

4star

T

2.5

4star

No current season stats available

D

9.4

3star

K

7.2

3star

HB

2.2

2star

M

3.0

3star

T

2.2

4star

who I havent seen been mentioned yet, Andrew Emberly

 

[Upgrayedd]

Most of the better modern day wingmen now play other roles, J Daicos, McCluggage to name a couple, similar to Gaff but played most of his career on a wing

Goodwin and Lappin would be right in contention even though the started prior to 2000.

If picking one, Sidebottom

Best wingmen i saw, Greig, Matera, Bradley

Oh you got to Goodwin before me


But yeah a modern one position wing player doesn't really exist. They usually rotate. I have McCluggage and that former essendon rookie we have as the best *pure" wing players today.

Goodes is another one that he was absolutely excellent anywhere he went and was a top 5 in any position Sydney wanted to slot him in

 

[Gysberts2Bate]

The winger position in 2026 is fundamentally different to what it was in 2000. The title 'winger' itself is almost becoming increasingly redundant or unfit for purpose, and it's misleading people who haven't updated their understanding of what kind of impact/role the winger is meant to play in modern footy, and what kinds of players are suited to it.

 

[tiger_tough]

Richo

 

[Grrr]

Most of the better modern day wingmen now play other roles, J Daicos, McCluggage to name a couple, similar to Gaff but played most of his career on a wing

Goodwin and Lappin would be right in contention even though the started prior to 2000.

If picking one, Sidebottom

Best wingmen i saw, Greig, Matera, Bradley

Robbie Flower would sit in that company pretty well.

 

[Grrr]

Personally. Issac Smith


I also have Stephen Hill when fit and Andrew Gaff

I also have Simon Goodwin who I havent seen been mentioned yet, Andrew Emberly

As a classic wingman in the last 15 years or so, I'd go with Smith as well.

Personally, probably pick Hill in full flight, but for career as a specialist wingman agree with Smith.

 

[The Feeder Club]

Matera is the best i have seen. If Gulden ever gets fit he'll be the best winger this century as he has that same game breaking efficiency Matera had. S Hill is a good shout on pure talent but we never saw the best of him for long enough, hopefullly Gulden doesn’t go the same way

 

[Arr0w]

Robbie Flower would sit in that company pretty well.

Recollection of Flower's early seasons are a bit vague, but yes, sits comfortably in any era

 

[Arr0w]

Richo

Makes you wonder what he could have achieved if he played there for longer

 

[tiger_tough]

Makes you wonder what he could have achieved if he played there for longer

And in a team that wasn't absolute dogshit for 90% of his career....

 

[EagleMan87]

The winger position in 2026 is fundamentally different to what it was in 2000. The title 'winger' itself is almost becoming increasingly redundant or unfit for purpose, and it's misleading people who haven't updated their understanding of what kind of impact/role the winger is meant to play in modern footy, and what kinds of players are suited to it.

And fundamentally different from team to team as well.

 

[SSSSSS]

The role of a wingman has changed a lot over the years but I felt like Izzy Smith would have dominated the role in any era. A true classic wingman.

Quick, ran all day and had a booming left foot kick. What more could you want from a wingman?

 

[Robroy22]

You said from 2000 on but I have a few from before that. Robbie Flower would have shone in any company in any era. So too John Greening who pretty quickly moved into the centre after a year on the wing first.

The 1990 Pies had three great wingers in Millane, Wright and when he was allowed to play there Gavin Brown. All three were dominant players in that era.

And from my boyhood days, Thorald Merrett was a delight to watch.