If only one player from each team could be selected for an ultimate starting 18 who would make the cut?
This thought experiment only permits one individual per team to fill out a hypothetical starting lineup, based on playing positions.
Deciding who is likely to make such a squad is easier when assessing the league's bottom sides, but becomes increasingly more difficult as you make your way up the ladder and start to break down the best players from premiership contenders.
So this begs the question, would your side's best player be a lock or would they be forced to make way for a teammate in another position?
We at Zero Hanger have weighed in on this great debate and come up with the following starting 18, based on the mentioned criteria.
2. Centre
Touk Miller (Gold Coast)
Miller is not a winger by any means, but he is the Suns' best player by a country mile.
The Gold Coast ball-magnet attacks the footy hard and is relentless in his pursuit of the ball (31.8 disposals and 7.1 tackles per game), always willing to do the team thing and set up his teammates for success.
He makes this list based on his production alone and is a great fit for this midfield.
Christian Petracca (Melbourne)
While the Demons are stacked with talented players, Petracca showed us why he deserves to be on this list with his grand final performance, amassing 39 disposals, nine clearances, 896 meters gained and two goals to claim the Norm Smith Medal.
When 'Trac' is on, not many can say that their best can compare.
Jack Steele (St Kilda)
Like Miller, Steele was St Kilda's best player by some margin. He averaged 29.2 disposals, 13.9 contested possessions, 8.9 ground ball gets, 8.5, tackles, 25 pressure acts, and 5.9 score involvements.
Steele was the St Kilda football club in 2021, and his omission from this list would be criminal.
