So how do we rank the young guns? Do we ever give Sydney the credit they deserve? Regarded as the greatest forward of his generation and among the greatest players of all time, Franklin is the seventh-highest goalkicker in VFL/AFL history with 944 career goals, the most of any current player, and has led his clubs' goalkicking on eleven occasions. He ranked top 25 in those two categories last season and has improved in every area across his first four years. Jake stands with a height of 6ft and 4inches and weighs around 92kgs. If it's related to sports, we have an opinion. Despite his small size for his position, he was considered to be one of the best forwards in the game because of his overhead marking ability, and he also had the ability to play across half forward or in the midfield. Popularity . For him to perform at this level without Nat Fyfe speaks volumes to his development. Let’s be real though, they remain the prohibitive favourites. Having won Carltons best and fairest last season, he is already coping with attention from opposition teams and yet continues to dominate. The Eagles have won one of their last nine away games against fellow finalists, but have not lost to a non-finals side since mid-2014. A small forward, he held the AFL record for the most goals kicked at Docklands Stadium. The young Bombers star has gradually increased his possession averages from 15 in his rookie year, to 22 last season and 28 through eight games this season, mixing contested and uncontested possessions effectively. Greenwood enters Magpies' selection frame as Bombers consider Stringer. Peter Ryan is a sports reporter with The Age covering AFL, horse racing and other sports. At the time, the competition was known as the Victorian Football League (VFL); it would become the AFL in 1990. Relying on the likes of Tom Boyd to deliver the goods is dangerous practice so Tory Dickson and Jake Stringer become critical success factors. They have a top 4 attack and a top 4 defence and also rank second in clearance differential. We'll monitor him closely during main skills, see how we moves and how he pulls up before making any decision on his availability to play.". In 2016, Stringer struggled with form which led to him being dropped at the end of the Home and Away season. In any case, this team looks undoubtedly better but is still lacking the midfield star power to win the flag. He was far from the Swans worst performer as they were eliminated from the finals in straight sets last year, and the sky seems the limit for a young man who has just turned 20. The league’s most difficult draw gets no better for ‘the pride of South Australia’. People born with their Sun in Taurus are sensual and tactile, considering touch and taste the most important of all senses. Collingwood's Levi Greenwood could return to face North Melbourne. He is a former NSW Scholarship player with the club, and was drafted with pick 75 in the 2007 national draft. He has averaged more than 25 possessions a game in each of those three seasons, mastering an uncontested mode of play and doing so in a reasonably efficient manner. Height: 192cm Weight: 95kg Position: Forward Last Drafted: Round 1, Pick #5 2012 National Draft by Western Bulldogs. Isaac Heeney (pick #18, 2014 national draft). So who has claims on being the premiership favourite? About. He played under captain Robert Murphy for the Western Bulldogs. Ranking among the league leaders in both uncontested and total disposals, Laird has become a key component of the Crows midfield depth. They remain dominant at the Cattery, and have taken care of business in their other games. Stable and conservative, this is one of the most reliable signs of the zodiac, ready to endure and stick to their choices until they reach the point of personal satisfaction. Brad Johnson is a former Australian rules footballer who was the captain of Australian Football League team Western Bulldogs. Nothing much has gone right for Essendon in the last few years, but one positive has been Merrett. It was also the first time in VFL/AFL history that a team won the premiership from seventh place on the ladder. Collingwood played Taylor Adams, Rupert Wills and Greenwood in the same team last season and with Brayden Sier out injured might look to get a big-bodied midfielder who can play multiple roles into the line-up. The Essendon Bombers star, 26, welcomed a son named River with his partner, Taylor McVeigh (right), in April - … About like this. Having just signed a four year deal, the future seems rosy for Viney and the Demons will look at him to become a leader; it seems a safe bet. He plays a brand which is both contested and uncontested and has kicked a goal a game in 2016. Ranks second in tackles among ruckman, third in contested possessions and second in total disposals. He has failed to get 25 possessions in just six of his last 31 games; he was dropped for poor defensive pressure last season and becoming consistent in this area remains his next development area. Bruce was St Kilda's leading goalkicker in 2015. Bomber Jake Stringer celebrates a goal during his influential match against Gold Coast on Sunday. In the 2016 AFL Grand Final the Bulldogs took on the minor premiers, Sydney Swans. That telling the story required courage wasn't lost on anyone either. Ollie Wines (pick #7, 2012 national draft). Due to a fixturing quirk they are yet to play away from the comforts of Etihad which is an interesting discussion point. Jake Stringer (born 25 April 1994) is a professional Australian rules footballer playing for the Essendon Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). To watch him play one can see that the outside skill and silky movement come naturally; there seems very little that will stop ‘The Bont’ from becoming an elite midfielder in the next few seasons. Collingwood's Levi Greenwood could return to face North Melbourne.Credit:Justin McManus. Following what should be any easy win against the Suns this weekend, they face the Bulldogs, Adelaide (away), Geelong (away) and Sydney – if they can split those games and be 8-4 after 12 games a spot in the top 4 will be theirs to lose as they only face two top 8 teams in last 10 rounds. With management and resting likely to be the order of the day, and confidence of being able to beat the other contenders, this side looks primed for a legitimate assault on the flag if it avoids major injuries. Those close to him say he has found a purpose outside football, with Worsfold acknowledging in a media conference this week Stringer's commitment to his two children and the Bomber relishing the opportunity to help Challenge, an organisation that supports young people with cancer. Very few players are known just by their nickname, and most have done more than ‘The Package’ but the excitement on display when Stringer goes near the ball is infectious. He was recruited from state-league football as a mature-age player in 2013. Stringer returned for the Bulldogs elimination Final against the Eagles, kicking one goal in the Bulldogs 47 point thrashing of the Eagles at Domain Stadium. He has started 2016 in an inconsistent manner due to injury but remains an elite small forward at just 22 years of age. Their attacking prowess and efficiency with the ball keeps them in every game; they rank in the bottom half of possessions per game, possession differential and inside 50 differentials yet they are the best forward line in the league having not kicked less than 97 points in a game. Having started so well, they allow themselves some latitude so splitting those games will put them well on the road to securing a top 4 spot. That is hardly surprising, and it ranks him very favourably with a number of the higher-profile players on this list. The 26-year-old has not played since he suffered a syndesmosis injury during the Bombers' win over Collingwood in round five. Since joining the Pies he has ranked in the top 15 in both disposals and uncontested possessions and has proven to be an upper-echelon midfielder who is particularly effective on the outside of the contest. He was the Bulldogs leading goalkicker in 2015 and named to the All-Australian team that year.