Western Bulldogs great Brad Johnson believes Fremantle’s Caleb Serong deserves more fan and media attention in Victoria.
While Serong is obviously a highly-rated player, Johnson believes he isn’t getting the credit he deserves in Melbourne for his strong start to the season.
Through five games so far in 2023, Serong is averaging 32 disposals, 5.4 tackles, one goal assist, 5.8 inside 50s and 7.4 clearances, all prolific numbers that are increases on his 2022 campaign.
Johnson also credited Serong for his consistency of output week-in-week-out.
“He’s just a young player in the competition that in Victoria we need to take notice of,” Johnson said on SEN Sportsday.
“We need to give him the credit he deserves in terms of the level of output he puts out every single week.
“He went to another level last year, he’s gotten even better this year.
“He’s had 29, 31, 35, 28 and 37 (disposals in each game so far), his last two weeks in particular have been excellent, his numbers are so strong.”
As well as picking up plenty of football, Johnson believes Serong does it in an impactful fashion due to a strong blend of both contested and uncontested possessions.
“What I love about him is that he’s got the perfect combo of uncontested and contested ball,” Johnson said.
“If he’s having 30 he’s having 15 contested and 15 uncontested possessions.
“He goes and wins his hard ball, but he’s got good run on the outside.”
Already a star of the competition, Johnson believes Serong can take his game to another level by hitting the scoreboard more often, even though other midfielders are also struggling in that facet.
“We say this a lot about the key midfielders in the competition, they’re not kicking goals at the moment,” Johnson said.
“Caleb Serong has kicked two points for the season, but looking at the other key mids in the and their goals this season – Bontempelli has kicked two, Warner has kicked three, Neale has kicked one, Dawson has kicked two, Oliver has kicked three and Parish has kicked one.
“I go, ‘Okay, I’m loving Serong and what he’s doing and what other players are doing possession wise, but are they playing more defensively minded?’.
“I will start to look at the amount of inside 50s they’re having and the impact of those inside 50s.”
Serong gets his next chance to impress when the Dockers face the Bulldogs in a prime time Friday night clash at Optus Stadium.