I was referring to 2020 in isolation, where Franklin, Kennedy, Heeney and Hewett all had injury effected seasons.
But you're probably right, although Dawson took until the half way point to get going, and Rowbottom's last month or so was disappointing.
Parker delivered all year, and under trying circumstances as one of the few leaders on the field every week.
Papley is our only nominee for the All Australian squad. Well done to him, for being rated above many fine small forwards, including Charlie Cameron. I think Jake Lloyd was a bit unlucky not to be nominated, since he ended up third in the competition for disposals. I assume that the selectors have decided that Caleb Daniel is going to be the small rebound defender. Which I suppose is fair enough, as he is a brilliant user of the ball. But still, finishing third in the competition for disposals, means that Lloyd has been working tirelessly to get into a position to receive the ball. While his disposal is not as intuitive as Daniel's, it has been very efficient, and his defensive efforts have often been more robust than sometimes in the past.
Parker is an interesting one. Hard to say he has had a great year when he can't make the 40 man AA squad after playing every game.
He is a very good player, not a great one. Lacks speed and foot skills but is all heart and guts. Pretty similar to Jude Bolton.
The biggest issue is that too much is left to Parker. He basically has to carry the whole team as the rest of our midfield are so young (and Horse refuses to play Mills there) and is therefore the first one tagged. Unlike the elite midfielders he isn't quite good enough to dominate under these circumstances.
Wouldn't say he is on the slide though, more that he has been exposed by playing with weaker (young) players around him.
Parker also has been written up, as somebody that was a bit unlucky not to have made the squad.
And I'm not sure if anyone else has mentioned it, but Rampe won the Robert Rose Award, for the season's most courageous player. He joins other Bloods; Kelly, Kirk and Parker, as winners of the award.
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