With the AFL trade period behind us, we got a glimpse of what players are valued most by clubs positionally.
As the game shifts to a more high-pace frenetic style, ruckmen and inside midfielders appeared to lose some value as players with speed and elite skills are prioritised.
While the value of the inside midfielder has decreased, AFL Media’s Cal Twomey and Western Bulldogs great Brad Johnson still feel they’re critically important, if set up by complementary pieces.
Speaking on Sportsday, the duo discussed why they felt Josh Dunkley and Tom Mitchell will be successes at their new clubs, with their skills potentially helping improve star teammates.
Twomey: “Just looking at the trade period, the big three were (Tim) Taranto, (Jacob) Hopper and (Josh) Dunkley in terms of those (inside midfielders) moving clubs.
“Tom Mitchell moves for not very much really from Hawthorn to Collingwood and (Jaeger) O’Meara landed late who is another inside midfielder.”
Johnson: “You still need an inside mid, the Dunkley/(Lachie) Neale combination is going to stand out.
“Dunkley gets around the ground well, we know that, but he can win it in tight, he feeds it out well.
“Lachie Neale can win both, but he’s got some speed on the outside, that’s the combination you need.
“A Tom Mitchell for example can win the ball and then release the ball to some midfielders who can get out and about a little bit more in open space.”
Twomey: “How good could he be for Nick Daicos, as a handballer finding him that little bit of room?”
Johnson: “Even Jordan De Goey, he’ll be massive for Jordan De Goey in and around the footy.
“Suddenly he’s giving it to one of the best ball users in their side in the midfield, and it allows (Scott) Pendlebury to play more of a half-back role more consistently setting things up.
“That’s a good recruit for what we’re talking about.”
Collingwood and Brisbane will hope that Mitchell and Dunkley respectively can help them go one better in 2023 after both falling in Preliminary Finals last campaign.
Photo courtesy of Collingwood media