The GFL has hit the halfway point of the season, so the Addy’s footy experts have broken down the best players of the competition and picked our team of the year so far. Check out the full team here.
Check out the full team, and the reason why they were picked, here.
Back Pocket: Edward Boyer (Bell Park)
Bell Park’s new recruit for 2023, Boyer has been sturdy in defence for the Dragons. The tall defender has been the competition’s best player one-on-one, winning the vast majority of his direct contests. Boyer leads the competition for spoils per game, uses the ball at an elite 80.8 per cent, and can take an intercept mark if he has created space from his opponent.
Full Back: Harris Jennings (Leopold)
Jennings has a good combination of lockdown and intercepting abilities, making him a great asset for Leopold. The Lions have endured some injuries in their key defensive department, heightening Jennings’ important in the team’s structure. He is currently fourth in the competition for intercept marks, while also nullifying some of the competition’s best forwards.
GFL: Newtown v Leopold. No 11. Harris Jennings for Leopold.
Back Pocket: William McKenzie (Lara)
The competition’s leading interceptor, McKenzie has been able to cause turnovers in the back half of the ground all season. McKenzie’s ability to read the play ahead of him and peel off his direct opponent to impact a contest, often pulling down an intercept mark, has been elite in 2023. McKenzie is averaging 23.6 disposals per contest, as well as 4.9 intercept marks so far this season.
Half Back: Jack Buckley (St Joseph’s)
Buckley would be in serious contention for a Mathieson Medal if he had not missed multiple games already this year, or if he were not going overseas during the season. The rebounding defender’s opening six weeks of the season were as good as anyone’s in the competition, providing plenty of attacking thrusts for the Joeys. Buckley led the competition for total disposals for a large part of the season before a niggling injury kept him sidelined for two weeks, but he returned for round 9 and had 36 disposals against Grovedale.
GFL: Leopold v St Joseph’s. No 14. Jack Buckley for St Joseph’s.
Centre Half Back: Braden Hocking (Newtown & Chilwell)
One of the ultimate utilities in the GFL, Hocking’s ability to go forward and kick goals is an added bonus for the Eagles, but he plays his best football in the back half. Hocking can fly for intercept marks while also keeping his direct opponent quiet, and has been a big reason for Newtown & Chilwell’s stifling defence.
Half Back: Todd White (South Barwon)
South Barwon has the best defensive record this season, and that is with arguably the Swans’ best defender Jack Driver missing a large number of games through injury and travel. White has been instrumental in maintaining South Barwon’s structure in the back half, providing plenty of zip off the back flank and often flying as a third defender into contests.
GFL: St Joseph’s v South Barwon. No28 Todd White for South Barwon.
Wing: Bailey Scott (Colac)
Scott could easily poll nine Mathieson Medal votes in the opening three rounds of the season, such was his early-game dominance. He has since slowed down his impact but his form is undeniable, enjoying an outstanding season for the premiership-contending Tigers. Scott’s ability to link up with his forward line, while also providing the run and carry to break lines, has been a big reason for Colac’s strong form so far this season.
Centre: Lachlan Patten (Bell Park)
A case could be made for Patten being the best midfielder in the competition. Very rarely is the leading Dragon not in the thick of things, winning hard balls and laying big tackles. Patten has likely polled well in Bell Park’s four wins this season and could be in the conversation for a Mathieson Medal if the Dragons can win a few more games this season. Patten leads the league for contested possessions, is fifth in clearances and eighth in disposals and tackles.
Wing: Ned Harris (Newtown & Chilwell)
Harris has been outstanding for Newtown & Chilwell, and is a big reason for the Eagles’ dominant first half of the season. He is one of a number of fantastic Eagles midfielders who can push forward and kick goals, having booted 10 in the opening half of the season. Harris collects plenty of the ball as well, and uses it well going inside forward 50.
GFL Round 7: Newtown & Chilwell v St Mary’s.
Seniors football
Newtown & Chilwell 5 Ned Harris
Picture: Mark Wilson
Half Forward: Matthew Boag (Newtown & Chilwell)
Boag could easily win the Mathieson Medal this season, such has been his dominance for the Eagles. The midfielder has the ability to push forward and be just as damaging in front of goal, with a vice-like grip overhead and a great kicking motion. He has booted 10 goals from nine games so far this season, and also has recorded the highest ranking-point game for the season.
Centre Half Forward: Mitchell Day (Lara)
Mitch Day has been strong again this season after years of dominance in local football in Geelong. Day has booted 25 goals from eight games, which is enough for equal third in the competition despite playing one less game, and has only been held goalless once this season.
Football GFL: Bell Park v Lara
Lara 14 Mitchell Day kicks a goal and celebrates
Picture: Mark Wilson
Half Forward: Mitch Chafer (Grovedale)
Chafer is the model of consistency for Grovedale, seemingly always performing in the Tigers’ forward line. The medium-sized forward has booted at least a goal in every game on his way to 23 for the season, with three games of four goals and two games with three. Chafer is also a great linking option, setting up teammates with shots on goal.
Forward Pocket: Paddy De Grandi (St Joseph’s)
When he is on a roll, De Grandi is a hard man to stop. His form this year has been outstanding, highlighted by a dominant showing in round 8 against Newtown & Chilwell, where he booted four majors and the Eagles rotated as many defenders onto him. Currently second in the competition for goals kicked this season with 27 majors, De Grandi has hit the scoreboard in every game this season, two bags of five goals already.
Full Forward: Sam Dobson (St Mary’s)
It is Dobson’s first season back in the GFL, but he is playing like he never left. The key forward has been a massive inclusion into the premiership-defending side’s forward line after losing pieces in the off-season, and Dobson is leading the competition for goals so far this year with 28 majors.
Forward Pocket: Matthew Caldow (South Barwon)
The Swans leader has been electric so far this season, booting 18 goals from eight games while also providing good linking play further up the ground. Caldow has averaged 15.6 disposals at 74 per cent efficiency per contest, as well as 8.1 marks and 2.4 inside 50s per game.
Ruck: Ryan Abbott (Grovedale)
In Abbott’s first season solely aligned with Grovedale, the big man has been outstanding. The former Geelong and St Kilda ruck is highly regarded as one of the league’s best two rucks, with Leopold’s Trent West occupying the other slot. But with West’s injury-stricken season, Abbott is a clear #1 option in this position, with the big man leading the competition in hit outs, as well as averaging midfielder-like numbers in disposals, clearances (third in the league), and inside 50s.
Rover: Logan Wagener (Leopold)
One of a number of damaging inside midfielders at Garry Hocking’s disposal, Wagener has been dominant so far in 2023. The bull’s form was slow to start the season, but Wagener has been on a tear since round 4, with massive stat lines in every game since. Wagener is now third for disposals, seventh in clearances, and contested possessions, and 15th in tackles for the competition.
Rover: Connor Linehan-Cunningham (Lara)
The young midfielder has been a revelation this season. Linehan-Cunningham had a strong 2022 campaign but he has lifted this season, leading the competition for tackles and clearances, third for contested possessions, ninth for disposals, and ninth in inside 50s.
Football GFL: Lara v Grovedale at Lara
Lara 13 Connor Linehan-Cunningham
Picture: Mark Wilson
Bench: Fraser Fort (South Barwon)
Possibly a victim of his own versatility, Fort has shone in different positions throughout this season. Often playing through the ruck, midfield, half back and full forward lines, Fort has dominated anywhere on the ground, highlighted by his 33 disposals, 15 hit outs, nine marks, six clearances and three inside 50s, while also booting 4.5 against St Albans in round 9.
GFL: St Albans v South Barwon. Senior football.
South Barwon 16 Fraser Fort celebrates kicking a goal
Picture: Mark Wilson
Bench: Marcus Thompson (Leopold)
By his own admission, Thompson’s start to the season was slow, but the Lions skipper has found form in the past month of football. A dominant 34-disposal, six-goal haul in round 8 was followed by 37 disposals and two goals in round 9. He also booted three majors from 25 touches in round 6, and recorded 42 disposals in round 4.
Bench: Zachary Zdybel (Colac)
Zdybel made a permanent move to ruck this season and has been dominant for Colac. He is third in hit outs so far this season, but he also collects plenty of the ball as a more mobile ruck. He has two games with at least 30 disposals and three more past the 20-touch mark.
Bench: Hunter Lewis (St Joseph’s)
The teenager is still eligible for selection at Geelong Falcons, but the small forward is dominating at the GFL level already. Lewis made his debut for the senior side under Ron Watt this year and has gone on to become one of his side’s most important pieces in a premiership tilt.
Addy’s GFL Mid-season Team of the Year
FB: Edward Boyer (BEL), Harris Jennings (LEO), William McKenzie (LAR)
HB: Jack Buckley (STJ), Braden Hocking (NEW), Todd White (SOU)
C: Bailey Scott (COL), Lachlan Patten (BEL), Ned Harris (NEW)
HF: Matthew Boag (NEW), Mitchell Day (LAR), Mitch Chafer (GRO)
FF: Paddy De Grandi (STJ), Sam Dobson (STM), Matthew Caldow (SOU)
FOL: Ryan Abbott (GRO), Logan Wagener (LEO), Connor Linehan-Cunningham (LAR)
INT: Fraser Fort (SOU), Marcus Thompson (LEO), Zachary Zdybel (COL), Hunter Lewis (STJ)
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