THE Sydney Swans are furious at a former AFL coach who has been slinging mud at star player Lance Franklin in a renegade attack.Heeney: Swans can find a way without Buddy,Lance Franklin and Dan Hannebery. Will be a star if he can direct his anger more efficiently.The much-maligned terrier improved his kicking tremendously to become an all-round quality mid. There is simply no other player capable of his athletic feats, whilst gliding across the field and courageously throwing his body at the ball.Averaged almost a goal a game, more contested marks than any other midfielder, and finished top 20 in a Coaches’ Award that strongly rewards games played.Carried his side to victory in a momentous second-half against Melbourne, in one of the decade’s great full-forward performances. Kicked five against the flow in the preliminary final loss.Is big Maxy the best ruckman since Dean Cox? Also solid defensively, Short had an exceptional year.A stunning first half year of the year, sparked by a midfield move early on, before a quiet second half as Port’s season deteriorated.

Although bursts of pace or goals were rarities, he was very efficient with his disposal.A poor finals series does not override a stunning season, ranking top 10 for both goals and goal assists. A mixture of hard work, dynamism, and the AFL’s best two-sided kick.The match winning genius once again performed brilliantly in the only final he was at full fitness, even nailing an impossible goal from the boundary. No other player his size roamed the field with such class and precision, whether in front of goal or rebounding off half-back. Only dropped from last year because of impressive 2017 finals performances he didn’t get the opportunity to replicate.Clearly the best player in the competition over the first 13 rounds, Fyfe was at his scintillating best before succumbing to injury. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images).Also applied relentless pressure on the rare occasions he didn’t win the ball himself.
Highlights included two game-breaking goals in round two vs Geelong, laying ten tackles with a bung shoulder in the semi-final and, of course, the Brownlow Medal.Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? THE Sydney Swans have not ruled out taking legal action against Grant Thomas after the former AFL coach persisted with his “potentially libellous” attack on Lance Franklin. Combined the defensive accountability he has always had with a new-found ability to intercept and rebound from the defensive 50. I would doubt any other player improved his side’s fortunes more than Higgo, as the Kangas midfield relied enormously on his ability to turn a stoppage win into an inside 50 mark.May not always get 30 disposals, but has the inside grunt, agility, poise and goalkicking nous to well and truly make up for it.An impeccable finals series before the grand final, but you can’t help being tagged. Supercoach Price: $479,300 Supercoach Profile. Erratic and clanger-prone at times, but his power and dynamism were vital to West Coast’s success in 2018. This is my top 50 for 2018, with comparisons made to a 2017 top 50 article I did for Footy Almanac. Even missing the finals is probably rot also? What separates him from other great tap ruckman is his ability to clunk a big contested mark, so crucial both in defence and up forward.Would be number one if he’d kicked the winning goal in the dying seconds against Geelong.Tom Mitchell of the Hawks poses with the 2018 Brownlow Medal. Kicked an impressive 31 goals from midfield, but had minimal impact from rounds 5-16 (almost half the season), making it too many quiet games for the top 10.If you received bonus points for playing with an injury, Buddy would no doubt be number one. Richmond senior and rookie-listed players who were not selected to play in the AFL side were eligible to play for the team alongside a small squad of VFL-only listed players. His kicking continues to amaze, simply never mistiming a pass.Scott Pendlebury of the Magpies. Leading the competition in metres gained, Short’s drilled his way through the opposition with his long kicking, which was perfect for Richmond’s counter-attacking game style. Was just an OK year before that, but it’s the big stage that really matters.One of the moves of the year, becoming a full-time forward who kicked 53 goals. His ability to swivel out of danger or fend off an opponent is unmatched amongst small forwards, and we all know Breust does not miss.A controversial selection, only playing 15 games, but he would’ve been close to number one if he’d played all season. Versatility was valuable, as he simply takes every opportunity at either end in one, clean grab.Isaac Heeney. Leagues 2020 SCS Premier League: R17 PFs [Goodie's Guns v Jibrangers] & [FLYING HORSES v Beasts FC]
(Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images).THE Sydney Swans have not ruled out taking legal action against Grant Thomas after the former AFL coach persisted with his “potentially libellous” attack on Lance Franklin.Thomas, who is building a reputation as one of the game’s most outspoken voices on social media, tweeted “gossip” surrounding the reasons behind the star forward’s absence from the Sydney team from rounds six to eight.The former St Kilda mentor questioned whether Franklin, who the Swans reported was forced out with a bruised heel, and midfielder Dan Hannebery — who was sidelined during the same period with a hamstring injury — had been punished for off-field indiscretions.Was Franklin & Hannebery injuries coincidentally the same time frame? Hearing perhaps internal punishment for off field indiscretions? .The Swans were reportedly prepared to ignore Thomas’ tweet, but on Monday SEN Breakfast host Tim Watson read an unattributed statement from the club which described the accusation as “absolutely laughable”.“I’d like to think that if we stepped a player down for poor discipline, we’d call it out as it was,” Watson read.It prompted Thomas to double down. When he’s not kicking goals, the Tigers champ is bringing the ball to ground for his small forwards to feast on.