Blue and Silver
Brownlow Medallist
Warning: Long Post
As I sweltered in my shoebox apartment trying to sleep last night a method of ranking players came to me.
First of all, it is subjective, based on my opinion, but also attempts to utilise some quantification.
We will begin with the basic premise. All players in this system can be ranked on a scale of 1 to 10. I will describe what each ranking means below. In order to assess a players ranking their entire years performances should be assessed and each game ranked on the same scale, with the average denoting their total value. I could, and potentially will assess the 2015 list over the summer, but for right now I will lay the groundwork.
10 - Superstar
This player is truly exceptional. They are a game breaker who impacts a contest across the whole game, although may be more prominent in some bursts then others. They can be said to be the difference between winning and losing, and make the players around them look even better. In a game you would award a rank of 10 for a true game-winning performance or for an ultra-dominant display (say a G Ablett 40 touch, 3 goal game or a J Kennedy 11 goal, 4 goal assist game or even a complete shutdown and dominance by a backman).
9 - Elite
This player is in the utmost echelon of performance and produces a consistently high standard of football. They might not be the sole reason for a victory, but their contribution was invaluable and other teams go out of their way to try and impede their game. In a game you would award a rank of 9 for a player who produced a high impact across the contest and played a large role in their team's success/performance (30+ touches game of a high quality, bag of goals, complete control by a backman).
8 - Very Good
This player produces some really good football and is definitely worth taking note of. They are at the general high level of play and are often a key reason for success. They are not necessarily irreplaceable, but their impact is a loss and they are always right up for re-inclusion. In a game you would award a rank of 8 for a high level game which made a significant contribution to team success (High 20's disposals or even a 30+ game where the touches were less effective, 4-6 goals depending on impact, a definitive win by a backman).
7 - Good
This player wins their position, adds to the efforts of the team and is considered a best 22 player. They are not as consistent across a game, or the season as players above them and will have patches of excellent form broken by down games. In a game they might be an able contributor and part of success consistently, or potentially they might have a purple patch which proves vital but otherwise quiet (mid 20's-low 20's, 3-5 goals varying on impact, a valuable game from a backman, but they might concede some).
6 - Contributor
This player is above average, winning their contests more often than not and adding something of value to the team. They are not necessarily going to be a significant factor most games, but their contribution is valued and they fulfill a spot. They might be a dour defender, a run-with midfielder or an inconsistent forward. In a game they will add something to the team, but they tend to be described as "role players" (20~ disposals, maybe higher but poor quality ones, 1-3 goals, beat their man in defence but didn't offer much rebound or conceded goals but offered rebound).
5 - Handy
This player has some AFL-level attributes and will occasionally deliver some very good form, but also plays some nothing games. Rarely the difference between teams, this player has some impact but it is not significant. They are probably on the fringe of the 22. In a game their contribution will be inconsistent across the duration and while it might be a net-positive this is not guaranteed (teens disposals, 1-3 goals but little other contribution, break-even or worse in defence).
4 - Foot Soldier
This player give you something, maybe they occasionally kick a goal from nothing, or lay a great tackle, but mostly their contribution is miss-able. They generally don't add much to your side on gameday and get beat by better players regularly. If they get an opportunity they can nail some of the basics, but they aren't great at making the opportunity happen. In a game they are pretty unnoticed, often whipping boys for fans (low teens disposals, 0-2 goals with little overall contribution, a general loss in defence, potentially quite bad against elite opposition).
3 - Body
This player fills a spot on the team and aren't an immediate liability. They get involved, cause pressure and try. Potentially they have some other impact across the contest in a few solid plays. In a game they don't make you feel safe, but you don't necessarily cringe either (10~ disposals, 0-2 goals with basically no contribution, lose their position in defence, but maybe kill a few balls).
2 - Liability
This player hurts your side by being out there, whether they be leaving their man free regularly, not chasing, missing tackles, making very basic skill errors so on. Their impact is negative across the whole contest, you don't want them in the side. In a game you watch them involved in plays through your fingers, they turn it over frequently, or fail to effectively implement team strategies (Sub 10 touches or a colossally bad series of disposals, 0 effective scoreboard impact, comprehensivey beat, not necessarily by good players)
1 - Coach Killer
This players performance is so rancid that their inclusion puts the coaches neck on the line. Their contribution is toxic, completely damaging team efforts and causing unceasing damage. They would be better off not taking the field. In a game they either never touch it, turn it over the few times they do or so completely bollocks up structures as to be liable for multiple goals against (0 touches, no scoreboard impact at all, complete liability in defence, leaking numerous goals).
NOTE: Goals typically mean goals contributed (goals and goal assists)
As I sweltered in my shoebox apartment trying to sleep last night a method of ranking players came to me.
First of all, it is subjective, based on my opinion, but also attempts to utilise some quantification.
We will begin with the basic premise. All players in this system can be ranked on a scale of 1 to 10. I will describe what each ranking means below. In order to assess a players ranking their entire years performances should be assessed and each game ranked on the same scale, with the average denoting their total value. I could, and potentially will assess the 2015 list over the summer, but for right now I will lay the groundwork.
10 - Superstar
This player is truly exceptional. They are a game breaker who impacts a contest across the whole game, although may be more prominent in some bursts then others. They can be said to be the difference between winning and losing, and make the players around them look even better. In a game you would award a rank of 10 for a true game-winning performance or for an ultra-dominant display (say a G Ablett 40 touch, 3 goal game or a J Kennedy 11 goal, 4 goal assist game or even a complete shutdown and dominance by a backman).
9 - Elite
This player is in the utmost echelon of performance and produces a consistently high standard of football. They might not be the sole reason for a victory, but their contribution was invaluable and other teams go out of their way to try and impede their game. In a game you would award a rank of 9 for a player who produced a high impact across the contest and played a large role in their team's success/performance (30+ touches game of a high quality, bag of goals, complete control by a backman).
8 - Very Good
This player produces some really good football and is definitely worth taking note of. They are at the general high level of play and are often a key reason for success. They are not necessarily irreplaceable, but their impact is a loss and they are always right up for re-inclusion. In a game you would award a rank of 8 for a high level game which made a significant contribution to team success (High 20's disposals or even a 30+ game where the touches were less effective, 4-6 goals depending on impact, a definitive win by a backman).
7 - Good
This player wins their position, adds to the efforts of the team and is considered a best 22 player. They are not as consistent across a game, or the season as players above them and will have patches of excellent form broken by down games. In a game they might be an able contributor and part of success consistently, or potentially they might have a purple patch which proves vital but otherwise quiet (mid 20's-low 20's, 3-5 goals varying on impact, a valuable game from a backman, but they might concede some).
6 - Contributor
This player is above average, winning their contests more often than not and adding something of value to the team. They are not necessarily going to be a significant factor most games, but their contribution is valued and they fulfill a spot. They might be a dour defender, a run-with midfielder or an inconsistent forward. In a game they will add something to the team, but they tend to be described as "role players" (20~ disposals, maybe higher but poor quality ones, 1-3 goals, beat their man in defence but didn't offer much rebound or conceded goals but offered rebound).
5 - Handy
This player has some AFL-level attributes and will occasionally deliver some very good form, but also plays some nothing games. Rarely the difference between teams, this player has some impact but it is not significant. They are probably on the fringe of the 22. In a game their contribution will be inconsistent across the duration and while it might be a net-positive this is not guaranteed (teens disposals, 1-3 goals but little other contribution, break-even or worse in defence).
4 - Foot Soldier
This player give you something, maybe they occasionally kick a goal from nothing, or lay a great tackle, but mostly their contribution is miss-able. They generally don't add much to your side on gameday and get beat by better players regularly. If they get an opportunity they can nail some of the basics, but they aren't great at making the opportunity happen. In a game they are pretty unnoticed, often whipping boys for fans (low teens disposals, 0-2 goals with little overall contribution, a general loss in defence, potentially quite bad against elite opposition).
3 - Body
This player fills a spot on the team and aren't an immediate liability. They get involved, cause pressure and try. Potentially they have some other impact across the contest in a few solid plays. In a game they don't make you feel safe, but you don't necessarily cringe either (10~ disposals, 0-2 goals with basically no contribution, lose their position in defence, but maybe kill a few balls).
2 - Liability
This player hurts your side by being out there, whether they be leaving their man free regularly, not chasing, missing tackles, making very basic skill errors so on. Their impact is negative across the whole contest, you don't want them in the side. In a game you watch them involved in plays through your fingers, they turn it over frequently, or fail to effectively implement team strategies (Sub 10 touches or a colossally bad series of disposals, 0 effective scoreboard impact, comprehensivey beat, not necessarily by good players)
1 - Coach Killer
This players performance is so rancid that their inclusion puts the coaches neck on the line. Their contribution is toxic, completely damaging team efforts and causing unceasing damage. They would be better off not taking the field. In a game they either never touch it, turn it over the few times they do or so completely bollocks up structures as to be liable for multiple goals against (0 touches, no scoreboard impact at all, complete liability in defence, leaking numerous goals).
NOTE: Goals typically mean goals contributed (goals and goal assists)
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