Five Western Bulldogs players have been rated as ‘elite’ by Champion Data ahead of the 2021 Toyota AFL Premiership Season.
It gives the Bulldogs an equal competition-high in that category, alongside the Brisbane Lions, Collingwood, Hawthorn and West Coast Eagles.
Champion Data ranks players as ‘elite’ by taking into consideration a number of factors – including what position they play, how long they play in that position and how much above, or below, the AFL average they perform in each position.
Players must have featured in five AFL matches throughout the 2020 season to qualify.
Skipper Marcus Bontempelli and 2020 Charles Sutton Medal winner Caleb Daniel feature again, following on from last year’s rankings.
However, there’s surprisingly no room for their 2020 All Australian teammate, Jack Macrae, who was part of the Bulldogs’ ‘elite’ four last season alongside Bontempelli, Daniel and the now-retired Matt Suckling.
Wingman Lachie Hunter has jumped into the ‘elite’ category, as has rebounding defender Bailey Williams after a breakout season in 2020.
CHAMPION DATA'S 2021 'ELITE' PLAYERS
Caleb Daniel, Bailey Williams, Marcus Bontempelli, Josh Dunkley, Lachie Hunter
None
Daniel Rich, Harris Andrews, Lachie Neale, Jarryd Lyons, Hugh McCluggage
Adam Saad, Zac Fisher, Sam Walsh
Jack Crisp, Jordan De Goey, Mason Cox, Steele Sidebottom, Brayden Maynard
Jordan Ridley
Nat Fyfe
Mark Blicavs, Tom Hawkins, Patrick Dangerfield, Sam Menegola
Sam Collins, Matt Rowell
Harry Perryman
Luke Breust, Chad Wingard, James Sicily, Ben McEvoy, Jack Gunston
Christian Petracca, Clayton Oliver, Max Gawn
Todd Goldstein
Robbie Gray, Steven Motlop, Zak Butters, Charlie Dixon
Nick Vlastuin, Shane Edwards, Dustin Martin
Dan Butler, Jack Steele
Jake Lloyd, Isaac Heeney, Dane Rampe
Liam Ryan, Jeremy McGovern, Jack Darling, Oscar Allen, Nic Naitanui
