Who's the best? Gazing into the crystal ball for AFL's best-and-fairest

The home-and-away season is done and the clubs are turning their focus to finals, if they're lucky, and deciding their year's best-and-fairest.  

The first three cub champions have been decided in the past few days – Zach Merrett at Essendon, Jack Steven at St Kilda and last night Tom Lynch at Gold Coast.

For the rest, DEM PANOPOULOS predicts your team's top five.

Adelaide (Malcolm Blight Medal) – Rory Sloane

PREDICTED ADELAIDE B&F TOP 5
1.R.Sloane  2.D.Talia 3.E.Betts 4.J.Jenkins 5.M.Crouch

No surprises here for the Crows, with Rory Sloane expected to become just the sixth Crow to win multiple best-and-fairests. Sloane had a career-best season in 2016, averaging 25.5 disposals, seven tackles and five clearances a game, which should see him finish high up in the Brownlow as well (even though he was suspended). There were question marks as to whether he would stand up in the absence of Dangerfield, and he well and truly delivered. Daniel Talia will be a close second, having transformed his game to match the style of Richmond’s Alex Rance, becoming a more confident, offensive-minded full-back.

Brisbane (Merrett-Murray Medal) – Dayne Zorko

PREDICTED BRISBANE B&F TOP 5
1.D.Zorko 2.M.Robinson  3.R.Bastinac 4.T.Rockliff  5.S.Mayes

Again, this one is as clear as day. Dayne Zorko was Brisbane’s best player by a mile, averaging 23.5 disposals and 6.4 tackles a game, while winning the club’s goal-kicking award from the midfield. The 27-year-old has always been a solid player for the Lions, but he stood up in his fifth season at senior level, delivering when far too many of his teammates were caught napping. He was one of four players to win the award in 2015, but he’ll be the sole winner in 2016, ahead of Mitch Robinson and Ryan Bastinac, who had a solid first season at the club.

 Carlton (John Nicholls Medal) – Sam Docherty

PREDICTED CARLTON B&F TOP 5
1.S.Docherty  2.P.Cripps 3.K.Simpson  4.B.Gibbs  5.E.Curnow

At the start of the season, many identified Sam Docherty as the player most likely to have a breakout season, and they were proven right. In his third season at Carlton, Docherty was a huge presence in defence, averaging nearly 26 disposals and eight marks a game. The 22-year-old left Brisbane early in his career, and it has proven to be a fantastic move for the Blues, who are indebted to Docherty for a few of his performances this season. He’ll finish ever so slightly ahead of Patrick Cripps, who also had a stunning season. It wouldn’t surprise to see the two tie for the best-and-fairest.

Collingwood (Copeland Trophy) – Adam Treloar

PREDICTED COLLINGWOOD B&F TOP 5
1.A.Treloar  2.B.Grundy  3.S.Pendlebury 4.S.Sidebottom 5.J.Howe

Clubs always hope for new players to have an impact immediately, and Adam Treloar may be the perfect example of that school of thought. He was superb in a disappointing season at the Magpies, carving up the opposition through the midfield. For all the criticism about his defensive work, he averaged more than six tackles a game and always moved the game forward, which is his role in the team. Treloar’s decision to choose Collingwood over Richmond looks a good one at the moment. Brodie Grundy had a stunning second half of the season, and will have shot ahead of his captain in the best-and-fairest.

Fremantle (Doig Medal) – Lachie Neale

PREDICTED FREMANTLE B&F TOP 5
1.L.Neale  2.M.Walters  3.S.Hill 4.L.Spurr  5.D.Mundy

Much like Zorko at Brisbane, Lachie Neale was the one shining light for his team in a terrible season. The 23-year-old collected 30+ possessions in 16 matches, breaking the 40-possession barrier five times. He ranked third in the competition for clearances, first for disposals, first for effective disposals and first for contested possessions, all of which should have won him a spot in the All-Australian team. Neale was clearly Fremantle’s best player, and the rest should look to him as inspiration for 2017. 

Geelong (Carji Greeves Medal) – Patrick Dangerfield

PREDICTED GEELONG B&F TOP 5
1.P.Dangerfield 2.J.Selwood 3.M.Duncan 4.C.Enright  5.Z.Smith

Winning the Brownlow, or being the red-hot favourite for it, doesn’t necessarily guarantee a player their club’s best-and-fairest. But when your name is Patrick Dangerfield and you dominated almost every game you played, that exception doesn’t exist. Dangerfield was brilliant in a lot of games this year, and even though he was well held in the back half of the season, he will have done enough to win this award, having won Adelaide’s last year. Mitch Duncan is the bolter. Chris Scott will have a loved the sharp increase in his tackle numbers as well as his consistency in sending the ball inside-50.

GWS (Kevin Sheedy Medal) – Toby Greene

PREDICTED GWS B&F TOP 5
1.T.Greene 2.S.Coniglio 3.T.Scully  4.Z.Williams  5.C.Ward

There are a couple of clubs who could have any of 10 players win their best-and-fairest, and GWS is certainly one of them. Greene seems a good choice, after being shifted to the half-forward flank by the coaching staff and delivering in spades. Already he would be at the front of the minds of coaches due to his willingness to change position, but to kick 39 goals, average 21 disposals a game, while also ranking third in the competition for goal assists and inside-50s was simply phenomenal. It was an outstanding effort by Greene, who will squeeze out the impressive duo of Coniglio and Scully.

Hawthorn (Peter Crimmins Medal) – Shaun Burgoyne

PREDICTED HAWTHORN B&F TOP 5
1.S.Burgoyne 2.S.Mitchell 3.C.Rioli  4.J.Lewis  5.J.Gunston

Much like GWS, the Hawks’ best-and-fairest award could be won by any of at least eight players, which is testimony to the well-spread quality of the team. There was a lot of talk about four Hawthorn players potentially leaving the club, but 33-year-old Burgoyne was in such good form that it never seemed a plausible move from the Hawks. He had an enormous impact on games, and his tackling was unbelievable this season, and he deserves the award. Mitchell will likely finish second, while Cyril Rioli produced his most consistent season.

Melbourne (Keith "Bluey" Truscott Medal) – Max Gawn

PREDICTED MELBOURNE B&F TOP 5
1.M.Gawn 2.J.Viney 3.J.Watts  4.N.Jones  5.T.McDonald

It can’t be anyone else. Max Gawn was clearly the best ruckman in the competition, and staying fit and healthy throughout the season certainly helped. He put an injury-riddled past behind him to dominate all that stood before him, and he should clearly win Melbourne’s best-and-fairest award. Viney will finish second, as he is the type of player  coaches absolutely love. Jack Watts also deserves some love, having kicked 38 goals for the season and averaging 16 disposals.

North Melbourne (Syd Barker Medal) – Robbie Tarrant

PREDICTED NORTH MELBOURNE B&F TOP 5
1.R.Tarrant 2.S.Gibson 3.B.Harvey  4.J.Ziebell  5.B.Brown

North Melbourne had a lot of solid contributors during 2016, but it’s hard to think of anyone more deserving of the best-and-fairest award than Robbie Tarrant. He has put behind him a shocking run with injuries to become a key part of the Kangaroos’ defence, and his 2016 was far better than an already impressive 2015 season. Sam Gibson’s consistency on the outside was good for the club, and he is as reliable as they come, from an availability perspective. Harvey will finish top three after a great year, but it’s hard to see him finishing higher.

Port Adelaide (John Cahill Medal) – Robbie Gray

PREDICTED PORT ADELAIDE B&F TOP 5
1.R.Gray 2.O.Wines 3.J.Pittard  4.J.Trengove  5.A.Young

Robbie Gray could well be the most underrated “elite” player in the competition. He finished the year, averaging 26 disposals and kicking 25 goals in 19 matches this season, and was extraordinarily unlucky to miss out on selection in the All-Australian squad. This would make it a hat-trick of best-and-fairest awards for Gray, but Ollie Wines will go very close, given he played every game. Young, Pittard and Trengove were all very good in patches this season, and should make up the top five.

Richmond (Jack Dyer Medal) – Alex Rance

PREDICTED RICHMOND B&F TOP 5
1.A.Rance 2.D.Martin 3.T.Cotchin  4.S.Grigg  5.S.Lloyd

This is clearly a two-horse race as well, and Rance just gets the nod due to his consistent heroic displays in defence. Martin will finish in the upper part of the Brownlow, but one has to wonder just how badly the Tigers would have done if Rance wasn’t playing. Two Jack Dyer medals and three All-Australian selections in a row would be a just reward for his fine efforts. Cotchin had his best year since 2012, but unfortunately for Richmond fans, it dropped off a lot after the top three.

 Sydney (Bob Skilton Medal) – Luke Parker

PREDICTED SY DNEYB&F TOP 5
1.L.Parker 2.J.P Kennedy 3.D.Rampe  4.D.Hannebery  5.H.Grundy

The Swans had a lot of standout players this season, which was a key reason to them finishing first. Luke Parker should win his second best-and-fairest award, having had a clear career-best season and dominating in the midfield. The 23-year-old is an elite player and would perhaps be on par with Patrick Dangerfield if he played at a Victorian club. After a bit of a slow start to the season, Josh P Kennedy had an incredible year.

 West Coast (John Worsfold Medal) – Luke Shuey

PREDICTED WEST COAST B&F TOP 5
1.L.Shuey 2.J.J Kennedy 3.J.McGovern 4.M.Priddis 5.A.Gaff

Luke Shuey has been flying under the radar for a while, but a consistent season in which he produced high-level performances should be enough for him to win his first best-and-fairest. He had the biggest impact on the team of any midfielder, and this influence is why he is ranked just ahead of Kennedy and McGovern, who also had elite seasons. This is one where the Eagles could have a tie on their hands, given how well the top three played.

Western Bulldogs (Charles Sutton Medal) – Marcus Bontempelli

PREDICTED WESTERN BULLDOGS B&F TOP 5
1.M.Bontempelli 2.M.Boyd 3.C.Daniel 4.D.Morris  5.L.Hunter

Three years into his career and it looks as though Marcus Bontempelli will win his first best-and-fariest award. He played both in the midfield and up forward, averaging nearly 25 disposals and a goal a game. It was his influence, however, that makes him the favourite for the award. Standing up as a leader of the club, he delivered consistently, and won a couple of games for the team, and earned a surprise All Australian selection. Forget the speculation surrounding Matt Boyd’s future, he deserves to finish high and earn another contract. Caleb Daniel has been fantastic in just his second season at the club as well.