Will Cuckson & Phil Prior
Well it’s just about ‘go’ time for the AFL 2023 season. So let’s celebrate.
We’ve assembled by a couple of our biggest AFL nuffies to put together their top 23 players heading into the AFL 2023 season. It’s a combined list based on their average rank (both individual lists can be found at the bottom).
It factors in 2022 form generously, but that’s not the be all and end all. These ranks have been built on a more holistic approach, including a certain amount of consideration towards their 2023 trajectory.
Here’s where things have landed. Oh… and enjoy AFL 2023, we can’t wait.
Our Top 23 players for AFL 2023
1. Touk Miller (Suns’ mid)
The Suns co-captain has been a star up on the Gold Coast for seasons on end now, and was duly recognised with a third-place finish in the 2022 Brownlow Medal; just two votes behind Patrick Cripps as the winner. Miller also took out the Suns’ best and fairest count in 2022, his second consecutive Club Champion award, and his fourth top-two finish in five years. The dynamic midfielder has averaged 31.8 and 28.5 disposals across his past two seasons, and as the Suns search for a breakthrough finals appearance in 2023, Miller is undoubtedly their most important player.
– Will Cuckson
Embed from Getty ImagesMELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – AUGUST 24: Clayton Oliver of the Demons and Touk Miller of the Suns pose for a photo after becoming joint winners of the AFL Coaches Association Champion Player of the Year Award during the 2022 AFL Awards at Centrepiece, Melbourne Olympic Park
2. Christian Petracca (Demons’ mid)
3. Clayton Oliver (Demons’ mid)
4. Jeremy Cameron (Cats’ key forward)
While it’s scary to think that the Dees might boast an engine room with two top players in the league, it’s an even scarier thought trying to defend two elite key forwards. Melbourne’s Oliver–Petracca combo proved flag-worthy in 2021, while Jeremy Cameron‘s return to fitness and form last season made it impossible to stop both him and Tom Hawkins… now also a premiership-winning positional duo.
– Phil Prior
5. Patrick Cripps (Blues’ mid)
6. Lachie Neale (Lions’ mid)
7. Andrew Brayshaw (Dockers’ mid)
It’s concerning to think how good Andrew Brayshaw could be, given he’s matching the exploits of Patrick Cripps, Lachie Neale and Miller at AFL level already. The 23-year-old Dockers midfielder finished fourth behind the trio in this year’s Brownlow Medal count, leading an unheralded Freo engine room throughout 2022 and to a fifth-placed finish on the ladder. With the Dockers’ big-name additions in the off-season, Brayshaw’s importance is only magnified as his side looks to keep surging upwards.
– Will Cuckson
8. Callum Mills (Swans’ mid)
9. Tom Hawkins (Cats’ key forward)
10. Charlie Curnow (Blues’ key forward)
Charlie Curnow caps off his Coleman Medal-winning season by sneaking into the AFL 2023 top 10 on this list. Many are expecting another strong season, which puts him even higher 12 months from now.
11. Tom Stewart (Cats’ defender)
12. Sam Taylor (Giants’ key defender)
Make no mistake, underrated 23-year-old Sam Taylor is a star; routinely wiping out the opposition’s best key forward, taking over Phil Davis’ duties in recent seasons. That’s been emphasised by two annual derby clashes against Sydney’s Lance Franklin, always a mouthwatering matchup. Taylor upped his one-on-one contest win or half rate to 87%, only beaten 13% of the time, which is up 10 units on 2021. His spoil and possession numbers are now rising too; it really is time for interstate fans to take notice across the AFL 2023 season.
– Phil Prior
13. Mark Blicavs (Cats’ utility)
14. Shai Bolton (Tigers’ mid-forward)
15. Chad Warner (Swans’ mid)
Shai Bolton and Chad Warner would be two of the first players plucked, if a team hypothetically starting from scratch had that power. Bolton (24) has had a few extra years in the system now (Warner’s only 21!), but they both possess the same game-changing traits that give opposition coaches utter nightmares. Good midfielders find the ball, make tackles and kick the odd goal; great midfielders explode out of contests and break lines too. These two do it all. Expect massive things in AFL 2023.
– Phil Prior
16. Charlie Cameron (Lions’ small forward)
17. Connor Rozee (Power mid)
18. Darcy Moore (Magpies’ key defender)
The Pies have moulded Darcy Moore into one of the league’s best intercepting defenders, with the 26-year-old averaging 7.3 spoils and 3.1 intercept marks in 2022. Moore has been widely discussed as a leading candidate for Collingwood’s now-vacant captaincy job, and has certainly proven he’d be a good fit, leading Collingwood’s defence aptly over the last few seasons.
– Will Cuckson
19. Steven May (Demons’ key defender)
Embed from Getty Images20. Sean Darcy (Dockers’ ruck)
Another key component of the Dockers’ engine room, Darcy is fast staking his claim as the league’s premier ruckman. Remarkably just 24, Darcy averaged 33.9 hitouts in 2022 – a third of those to advantage. He’ll be joined and supported by a rapidly rising star in Luke Jackson come the AFL 2023 season, a scary thought for opposition midfields.
– Will Cuckson
21. Hugh McCluggage (Lions’ mid)
22. Tom Papley (Swans’ small forward)
23. Marcus Bontempelli (Bulldogs’ mid)
Will Cuckson’s Top 23 for AFL 2023:
1. Touk Miller, 2. Christian Petracca, 3. Patrick Cripps, 4. Lachie Neale, 5. Andy Brayshaw, 6. Jeremy Cameron, 7. Clayton Oliver, 8. Tom Stewart, 9. Callum Mills, 10. Charlie Curnow, 11. Tom Hawkins, 12. Charlie Cameron, 13. Darcy Moore, 14. Mark Blicavs, 15. Sean Darcy, 16. Chad Warner, 17. Hugh McCluggage, 18. Sam Taylor, 19. Sam Walsh, 20. Tom Papley, 21. Marcus Bontempelli, 22. Shai Bolton, 23. Tyson Stengle
Phil Prior’s Top 23 for AFL 2023:
1. Clayton Oliver, 2. Jeremy Cameron, 3. Touk Miller, 4. Christian Petracca, 5. Callum Mills, 6. Tom Hawkins, 7. Patrick Cripps, 8. Lachie Neale, 9. Andrew Brayshaw, 10. Shai Bolton, 11. Sam Taylor, 12. Charlie Curnow, 13. Connor Rozee, 14. Steven May, 15. Tom Lynch, 16. Mark Blicavs, 17. James Sicily, 18. Chad Warner, 19. Isaac Heeney, 20. Tom Stewart, 21. Marcus Bontempelli, 22. Tom Papley, 23. Hugh McCluggage
