The season is almost over and it feels like it’s just flown by. We’re up to Round 22, which means there’s just two more weeks to go before our Supercoach seasons are over.

For some it will be a time of celebration, for others, it’ll be a time of quiet reflection and contemplation. Others may just go around wanting to smash stuff like they’re playing Grand Theft Auto. It’s never too early to get ready for next year though, so we’re going to go digging in the Barron Bargain Bin again and see what players could be in our sides next year.

Nathan Freeman

It feels like every year we talk about Nathan Freeman, but the truth is that 2017 has probably been the first year where he’s been able to play a large portion of football without having his hamstrings go ping on him.

He was the #10 pick back in the 2013 AFL Draft and immediately missed all of 2014 with injuries, then played the first 4 games of 2015 before hurting his hamstrings again and missing the rest of the year, followed by two more hamstring injuries striking in 2016, which kept him limited to just 8 games. It looks like Freeman might finally be getting his body right.

The two games he missed in Rounds 15 and 16 were due to an ankle injury, and so far this year his hamstrings have been going strong, playing in 13 of a possible 16 games so far this year. He did start off slowly, but really started to pick up the pace as the season went along, notably between Round 7-11 where he averaged 30 disposals a game.

St Kilda have said it didn’t matter how well he played this year, it was all about getting him ready for 2018. He’ll be a dirt cheap selection, so let’s hope he gets a full pre-season in, because if he does I can’t see much keeping him out of the Saints best 22.

LISTEN TO THIS WEEKS PODCAST: Supercoach Finals Week 3

Lukas Webb

Much like Ben Lennon last week, Webb is another guy who has only managed to play a handful of games over the past two seasons and has scored reasonably poorly, although high enough that it’ll see him start the year in the mid $200K range. Webb was the #27 pick back in the 2014 AFL Draft, but has only managed to string together 19 games over that time, despite some strong VFL form.

The bigger bonus from Webb’s stats is he’s been able to impact the scoreboard in nearly every game, while usually racking up over 20 disposals as well, with some really strong games where he’s had 30+. There’s been growing rumours that he might seek his fortunes elsewhere next year, with the Gold Coast being listed as a potential destination. If that happens he could be a Jack Steele type selection for us next year.

Corey Lyons

He’s only in his first year at the Lions, by Lyons has been one of the more encouraging players in the NEAFL squad so far this year. He was the 71st pick in the 2016 Draft and is the brother of current Gold Coast Sun Jarryd Lyons. Like his brother he’s an inside midfielder who is also capable of moving up forward and kicking a goal or two.

His form has been a bit patchy at times, but is averaging near 20 disposals a game and has also been made senior emergency as well. The Lions will have another crop of youngsters coming into the side in this year’s draft, but with the potential (though probably unlikely) loss of Tom Rockliff in the centre, there could be opportunities for Lyons to find his way into the 22 next year. If he gains MID/FWD eligibility, his worth will be all the greater for us in 2018.

AROUND THE GROUNDS

VFL

Round 17 of the VFL season saw Footscray smash Sandringham 138-39, Geelong defeated Richmond 84-77, Casey beat the Northern Blues 102-65, Essendon won a close one against Box Hill 89-83 and Collingwood handled North Ballarat easily 128-41.

Northern Blues (Carlton)

Jesse Glass-McCasker – Had just 8 disposals and 3 marks.

Harrison Macreadie – Finished with 10 disposals, 4 marks and 5 tackles.

Ciaran Sheehan – Sheehan had 18 disposals, 4 marks and 5 rebound 50’s.

Andrew Gallucci – Kicked 1.3, but also had 13 disposals, 6 marks and 5 tackles.

Collingwood

Brayden Sier – Sier had 18 disposals (14 handballs) and 2 marks.

Tim Broomhead – Dominated the game with 41 disposals, as well as kicking 3.1.

Kayle Kirby – Kicked 1.1 from 14 disposals, 5 marks, 2 tackles and 4 inside 50’s. Kirby is currently in the lead in the Frosty Miller medal race with 39 goals, ahead of Jordan Lisle on 38, Dylan Conway on 35 and Ben Lennon on 34.

Essendon

Aaron Francis – Took the game saving mark in defence and had 13 disposals, 4 marks and 4 rebound 50’s.

Jordan Ridley – Ridley had 14 disposals, 6 marks, 2 tackles and 5 rebound 50’s.

Jake Long – Long had 20 disposals, 4 marks, 2 tackles and 5 inside 50’s.

Kobe Mutch – Mutch finished with 22 disposals, 5 marks, 4 tackles and 5 rebound 50’s.

Mason Redman – Redman had 19 disposals, 6 marks, 3 each of tackles, inside 50’s and rebound 50’s.

Geelong

Jordan Cunico – Cunico had 19 disposals, 4 marks, 4 tackles and 5 inside 50’s.

Wylie Buzza – Inaccurate in front of goals kicking 2.4, also had 13 disposals, 5 marks, 4 tackles and 13 hitouts.

Ryan Abbott – Had just 9 disposals with 3 tackles, 4 inside 50’s and 26 hitouts.

Aaron Black – Booted 3.1 with 12 disposals, 6 marks, 3 tackles and 3 inside 50’s.

Box Hill (Hawthorn)

Kurt Heatherley – Heatherley had 18 disposals, 5 marks, 2 tackles and 4 inside 50’s.

Dallas Willsmore – Kicked 2 goals with 19 disposals, 8 marks, 4 tackles and 6 inside 50’s.

Oliver Hanrahan – Kicked a goal with 15 disposals and 3 inside 50’s.

Marc Pittonet – Had 48 hitouts with 17 disposals, 2 marks and 4 tackles.

Casey (Melbourne)

Declan Keilty – Keilty had 22 disposals and 11 marks.

Mitchell King – Had 26 hitouts with 5 tackles but just 4 disposals.

Jay Kennedy-Harris – Had 27 disposals, 5 marks, 6 tackles and a goal.

Dion Johnstone – Finished with 11 disposals, 2 marks, 4 tackles and 2 inside 50’s.

Werribee (North Melbourne)

Werribee stats not provided.

Richmond

Ben Lennon – Kicked 3 goals with 15 disposals, 3 marks, 3 tackles and 2 inside 50’s.

Todd Elton – Booted 3 behinds with 13 disposals and 4 marks.

Tyson Stengle – Kicked a goal with 13 disposals and 5 tackles.

Sandringham (St Kilda)

Ben Long – Kicked 1.1 with 14 disposals, 3 tackles and 2 inside 50’s.

Nathan Freeman – Back in the side after his ankle injury, Freeman had 18 disposals, 4 marks and 2 inside 50’s.

Nick O’Kearney – Finished with 25 disposals, 7 marks, 4 tackles and 5 rebound 50’s.

Josh Battle – Kicked 1.1 with 10 disposals and 3 marks.

Footscray (Western Bulldogs)

Fletcher Roberts – Finished with 16 disposals, 9 marks and 3 rebound 50’s.

Kieran Collins – Collins had 11 disposals, 1 mark and 2 tackles.

Fergus Greene – Greene kicked a goal with 12 disposals and 6 marks.

SANFL

Round 16 of the SANFL season saw Adelaide defeat North Adelaide 115-76 and Port smashing West Adelaide 149-57

Adelaide

Tom Doedee – Had 14 disposals, 2 tackles, 3 inside 50’s and 2 rebound 50’s. Currently leads the SANFL in intercept possessions.

Jordan Galluci – Kicked 2.1 with 23 disposals, 5 marks, 5 tackles and 5 inside 50’s.

Harrison Wigg – Was the travelling emergency to Melbourne for the Bombers game.

Matthew Signorello – Kicked 2 goals with 22 disposals (16 handballs), 3 marks, 7 tackles and 4 inside 50’s.

Myles Poholke – Poholke had 21 disposals, 3 marks, 6 tackles and 8 inside 50’s.

Ben Jarman – Kicked a goal along with 16 disposals, 3 marks and 3 inside 50’s.

Troy Menzel – Booted 4.1 with 18 disposals and 8 marks.

Port Adelaide

Will Snelling – Snelling had 21 disposals, 4 marks and 9 tackles.

Matthew White – White had 24 disposals (21 kicks), 8 marks, 4 tackles and 4 inside 50’s.

Joe Atley – Atley finished with 26 disposals, 1 mark, 2 tackles and 7 inside 50’s.

Willem Drew – Drew had 20 disposals, 3 marks, 7 tackles and 5 inside 50’s.

Jesse Palmer – Palmer had 21 disposals, 9 marks, 4 tackles and 3 inside 50’s.

Todd Marshall – Booted 5.1 with 17 disposals, 10 marks, 3 tackle and 3 inside 50’s.

Brett Eddy – Kicked 3.1 with 17 disposals, 10 marks and 2 inside 50’s.

NEAFL

Round 20 of the NEAFL season ended with Sydney smashing Redland 173-46 and Gold Coast beating Brisbane 111-104 while the UWS Giants had the bye.

Brisbane

Matthew Hammelmann – Kicked 3.1 with 12 disposals and 11 marks.

Corey Lyons – Lyons had 25 disposals, 6 marks, 2 tackles, 2 inside 50’s and 3 rebound 50’s.

Blake Grewar – Grewar kicked a goal with 20 disposals, 5 marks, 3 tackles, 2 inside 50’s and 3 rebound 50’s.

Oscar McInerney –Kicked 2.1 with 11 disposals, 4 marks and 18 hitouts.

Gold Coast

Mackenzie Willis – Had 18 disposals, 5 marks, 4 tackles and 2 rebound 50’s.

Will Brodie – Booted 1.2 with 16 disposals, 6 marks, 3 tackles and 2 inside 50’s.

Sydney

Alex Johnson – Johnson had 21 disposals, 9 marks and 3 rebound 50’s.

Shaun Edwards – Edwards kicked 1.2 with 20 disposals and 5 marks.

Brandon Jack – Jack had 30 disposals, 8 marks, 3 tackles, 5 inside 50’s and a goal.

Oliver Florent – Florent kicked 2 goals with 25 disposals, 4 marks, 4 tackles and 5 inside 50’s.

Jordan Dawson – Dawson booted 3.3 with 26 disposals, 6 marks, 4 tackles and 3 inside 50’s.

Ben Ronke – Ronke kicked a goal with 18 disposals, 6 marks, 2 tackles and 3 inside 50’s.

Samuel Fisher – Fished had 32 disposals, 7 marks, 6 tackles and 5 inside 50’s and kicked 4.1.

WAFL

Round 21 of the WAFL season saw East Perth win easy over Swan Districts 110-56 and Peel Thunder defeat Perth 76-55.

Peel Thunder (Fremantle)

Taylin Duman – Had 21 disposals, 6 marks, 2 tackles and 2 rebound 50’s.

Ryan Nyhuis – Finished with 18 disposals, 4 marks, 5 tackles and 4 inside 50’s.

Luke Strnadica – Had 51 hitouts, along with 13 disposals, 6 tackles and a goal.

East Perth (West Coast)

Fraser McInnes – Had 12 disposals, 4 marks, 10 hitouts and a goal.

Jordan Snadden – Snadden finished with 24 disposals, 2 marks, 3 tackles and 3 inside 50’s.

Tom Lamb – Kicked a goal with 24 disposals, 9 marks, 4 tackles and 5 rebound 50’s.

Jake Waterman – Kicked 2.2 with 15 disposals and 8 marks.

Willie Rioli – Played just his 2nd WAFL game for the year and had 12 disposals, 4 marks, 4 inside 50’s and 4 goals.

And that’s it from me, but as always, if you have any questions or comments, feel free to leave them in the section below, or drop me a line on the twitters

@BarronVonCrow