Champion Data has released their top three players in the AFL heading into the 2021 season, with West Coast ruckman Nic Naitanui taking the top spot.
The West Australian revealed the rankings, with Naitanui edging out Richmond star Dustin Martin and Melbourne’s Christian Petracca.
The Eagles ruckman played 17 games in 2020, averaging 29 hit-outs, six clearances, four inside 50s and 11 disposals per game.
This comes after last week’s list of ‘elite’ players at all 18 clubs.
Kane Cornes doesn’t have a problem with the ranking, highlighting Naitanui’s influence on West Coast’s midfield dominance.
“I had a look at this … there’s all sorts of things they look at, one on one contests, where you win your contests, score involvements, hit outs would be a factor, contested versus uncontested … but I actually don’t think it’s too far off the mark,” Cornes told SEN SA Breakfast.
“I watched (Naitanui) closely last year and his ability to go into the centre bounce and give his team the biggest advantage out of any team and that is to get the ball in your forward line when there was even numbers was extraordinary.
“It’s one of the great comeback stories I can remember. We probably thought after he missed a couple of seasons with the knee in a row. His career was going a different path.
“I don’t have an issue with that (Naitanui as the number one player in the AFL). I actually think that Naitanui’s influence on a game of football is as big as anyone in the game.”
Cornes would have Martin on top if he was naming his own top player in the league.
“Now, if I was doing it I would have Dustin Martin number one, I’d have Patrick Dangerfield number two and then you’d probably throw a blanket over six other midfielders, but I’m okay with Naitanui,” he said.