Every club’s best JLT performer

Who set fire to the field this pre-season?

Published by
Sebastian Clarke

There were many strong performer's this pre-season but who stood up amongst the bunch over the last two weeks?

Zero Hanger takes a look at each team's best performer, did we get it right?

Adelaide-GWS

Adelaide

Matt Crouch

Just edging out his brother Brad Crouch and fellow star midfielder Rory Sloane, Crouch had back to back weeks of 30+ disposals as well as nine tackles in the Crows' win over the Giants that sent them two from two in their JLT campaign. The Crows midfield looks like a force to be reckoned with in 2019.

Brisbane

Jarryd Lyons

The de-listed Sun looked right at home in the Lions' midfield along fellow recruit Lachie Neale. Lyons racked up 26 disposals in each of the Lions' wins over the Hawks and the Dees, and the ex-Crow booted five goals over the two weeks in the Lions' impressive outings. Lyons looks as though he will cement his spot in the exciting young Lions line-up.

Carlton

Sam Walsh

Last year's pick one has certainly impressed early this year, as the youngster looked classy in his first hit-out against the Bombers in the pre-season opener collecting 28 disposals and eight inside 50's. Walsh was impressive in Monday's match against last year's runner-ups, Collingwood, who were too strong claiming a four-point victory. Walsh gathered 23 disposals and six inside 50's, and this young gun is a lock for a round one debut.

Collingwood

Steele Sidebottom

Following on from an impressive 2018, the Pies have arguably the best midfield in the competition heading into 2019. Sidebottom is one of the many stars of the Pies' midfield who collected 34 disposals and a goal in their first hit-out since going down in the Grand Final last year. The Pies went on to win the game by an impressive 27 points. Collingwood was given a scare against the Blues, who went down by four points at the hands of the Pies. Sidebottom oozed class with 31 touches and a goal as well as ten marks.

Essendon

Andrew McGrath

The Bombers had a disappointing JLT series, going down to both the Blues by nine points in JLT one and the Cats by 28. Andy McGrath stood out in both matches racking up 25 disposals and two goals against a young Carlton side as well as 22 a week later. The 20-year-old has shown poise in his first three seasons at the Tullamarine and will be one to break the lines in 2019 for the Bombers.

GEELONG, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 07: Andrew McGrath of the Bombers runs with the ball during the 2019 JLT Community Series AFL match between the Geelong Cats and the Essendon Bombers at GMHBA Stadium on March 07, 2019 in Geelong, Australia. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)

Fremantle

Andrew Brayshaw

After missing the back end of 2018 after sustaining a broken jaw courtesy of Eagle Andrew Gaff, the 19-year-old has had a strong start to the 2019 season. Although the Dockers were unable to win either of their games against the Pies and Eagles, the former pick two was a shining light in a couple of dull performances gathering 25 disposals and four tackles against the Pies to go with 22 touches and 6 tackles against an impressive Eagles outfit.

Geelong

Patrick Dangerfield

The Cats superstar has reportedly had a big summer shredding 4kg over the pre-season, and the Brownlow medalist was a standout performer in the Cats' loss to the reigning premiers in JLT one with 29 disposals, five tackles, and a goal. Dangerfield was able to back it up a little under a week later in the Cats' 28 point win against the Bombers at GMHBA stadium collecting 30 disposals and another goal, the superstar is set to return to his best in season 2019.

Gold Coast

Braydon Fiorini

The Suns' had an average JLT series downing the Dogs by five points in the young sides first hit out before being punished by the Swans a week later. Braydon Fiorini stood up as a candidate to cement his spot in the Suns' engine room, with 26 disposals and three tackles against the Bulldogs in slippery conditions, and the former pick 20 was a standout performer in Gold Coast's 42-point loss collecting another 26 disposals and a goal.

GWS

Stephen Coniglio

The Giants midfielder has more than impressed early, with 35 disposals in the Giants' first win of the year against the Swans to go with ten tackles and a goal. The WA product was able to back up his performance a week later with another game-high 37 disposals in their loss to the Crows. With Coniglio out of contract at the end of the year, he may be jacking up his price with more performances like these.

Hawthorn-Western Bulldogs

Hawthorn

James Cousins

The Hawks were unable to win either of their JLT games fielding a young side in both hit-outs. The youngsters weren't quite able to deliver, although 20-year-old James Cousins impressed the most out of the Hawks collecting 29 disposals and eight marks in their first JLT loss to the Lions. With the addition of Jaeger O'meara in the Hawks' second loss to the Tigers, Cousins' role changed but was still able to collect an admirable 21 disposals and four tackles. Is the former pick 46 the Tom Mitchell replacement?

Melbourne

Angus Brayshaw

It was a battle between the midfield bulls between Brayshaw and Clayton Oliver in their two JLT losses, as the 23-year-old was impressive against the Tigers with 37 disposals and 11 marks despite his efforts it wasn't enough to topple the Tigers who ran out 12 point victors. The Demons ran into an impressive Lions outfit who claimed a seven-point victory at Casey Fields despite Brayshaw gathering 26 disposals, 11 takes and three goals.

North Melbourne

Jared Polec

Like five other teams, the Kangaroos went winless in their JLT series although had plenty to take into round one, especially new recruit Jared Polec. The wingman impressed in both his outings collecting 27 disposals in the Roos' 25 point loss to the Saints as well as 25 disposals against his old side, Port Adelaide. The 26-year-old will be looking for a big year at Arden Street.

Port Adelaide

Zak Butters

Butters was endorsed by Port Adelaide superstar Robbie Gray before being chosen by the Power with the 12th pick in the 2018 draft and we now see why. The Western Jets midfielder impressed in his first hit-out for his club by collecting 25 disposals in the Power's 17 point loss to the Crows, the 18-year-old booted three goals in Port's win against the Kangaroos at Alberton oval over the weekend. Expect to see Butters debut in round one.

Richmond

Dustin Martin

The 2017 Brownlow medalist was on managed time in both of the Tigers' wins, managing 21 disposals and two goals in Richmond's win over the Demons before sitting the last quarter out. Tthe superstar was clean with ball in hand and will take centre stage once again in 2019. Martin gathered 30 disposals against the Hawks who blew a 40-point lead at half-time with Damien Hardwick's men running out eight point victors in Tasmania.

St Kilda

Jack Steele

The ex-Giant and one of many Jack's at the Saints, Steele was impressive in St Kilda's two wins, booting two goals from 18 disposals to go with seven tackles and five marks, Steele featured as one of the stand-out performers in the Saints' 25-point win over the Roos. The 23-year-old backed up his performance with 25 touches and ten tackles in their second win against the Bulldogs.

BALLARAT, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 10: Jack Steele of the Saints runs with the ball during the 2019 JLT Community Series AFL match between the Western Bulldogs and the St Kilda Saints at Mars Stadium on March 10, 2019 in Ballarat, Australia. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)

Sydney

Ryan Clarke

The ex-Roo has made an early impression at his club, collecting 20 disposals in his first run in the red and white, Clarke proved his worthiness of a spot in the Swans line-up by accumulating 29 disposals and six tackles in the Swans' 42-point demolition of the Suns. It will certainly be interesting if the 21-year-old can maintain his spot in the John Longmire's line-up.

West Coast Eagles

Dom Sheed

He was the hero in last year's Grand Final and he was the hero of the Eagles' pre-season campaign, gathering 39 disposals and a goal in the Eagles' 34 point win over the Cats'. The boy from Kalgoorlie went even bigger in yesterday's clash against the Dockers', being able to accumulate 40 touches and booting another goal. The 23-year-old looks set to break-out in 2019.

Western Bulldogs

Jack Macrae

Following on from last year the midfielder has hit his straps early in 2019, collecting 40 disposals in a narrow loss to the Suns', the 24-year-old will be heading into 2019 as one of the favourites to take out the coveted Brownlow medal, the left-footer backed up his performance with a 29 disposal outing in their loss to the Bulldogs.

Published by
Sebastian Clarke