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Footygoss WAFL Top 30

With the mid-season break for the state game it is the perfect time to assess how our WAFL stars have performed in the first half of the 2008 season.

Footygoss has assessed the performances of all players to this point of the season and has come up with the best 30 players of the year to date.

AFL senior-list players were ineligible for selection, however those currently on rookie lists were able to be picked.

FOOTYGOSS WAFL TOP 30

1. Ross Young (P) The former Carlton midfielder has been a welcome addition to the Perth side and has been a major part of the Demons revival. Young has averaged almost 22 possessions a game and likes to sneak forward and kick a goal.

2. Brad Smith (S) Once again Smith has been the dominant forward in the league and is on target to kick another ton this season. With wonderful service from Subiaco’s midfield he is given plenty of opportunites and rarely lets his team down.

3. Phil Read (S) Read’s aggressive approach to his game has attracted plenty of scrutiny, but his ball winning abaility has never been in doubt. He has collected 22 possessions per game this year and provides plenty of drive for the Lions.

4. Hayden Ballantyne The nippy goalsneak has been in hot form this season with a remarkable 41 goals in ten matches. His emergence as a dangerous small forward has given Peel a valuable avenue to goal and has won them a couple of games this year.

5. Troy Cook (P) The Perth skipper has brought his tough ‘in and under’ style back to the WAFL this season and helped his club rise to second on the ladder. His omission from the state team raised eyebrows from supporters of all WAFL clubs.

6. Blake Broadhurst (S) After a frustrating 2007, Broadhurst has been in sparkling form this season. He cruises around the Subiaco forward line collecting marks and kicking an average of three and a half goals a game, proving to be a great foil for Brad Smith.

7. Brett Robinson (SD) Robinson came to WA with less fanfare than some other Victorian recruits but few have had more impact in the first half of the season. The tough midfielder has avergaed 23 disposals a game and thoroughly deserved his place in the WA state team.

8. Aiden Parker (S) Parker has been going about his business in the Subiaco defence with little fanfare for many seasons now. The Centre Half Back is rarely beaten and provides great rebound as part of the Lions miserly backline.

9. Aaron Zucconi (P) Perth’s Mr Fixit has played in more positions than any other player this season and has done so with great success. Zucconi’s flexibility is a wonderful asset which coach Simon Eastaugh takes advantage of every week.

10. Shaun Hildebrandt (S) Hildebrandt’s customary dashes along the wing at Medibank Stadium have become a regular occurrance. He always uses the ball well and loves to kick a goal.

11. Andrew Merrington (EP)
12. Zac Beeck (PT)
13. Brent LeCras (WP)
14. Ian Richardson (C)
15. Jason Salecic (WP)
16. Ben Keevers (S)
17. Jarrod Kayler-Thomson (P)
18. Craig Wulff (EP
19. Dion Fleay (WP)
20. Simon O’Keefe (SF)
21. Luke Newick (S)
22. Kyal Horsley (S)
23. Simon Rosa (PT)
24. Scott Siekierka (P)
25. Greg Broughton (S)
26. Toby McGrath (SF)
27. Josh Pearce (WP)
28. Andrew McCarrey (EF)
29. Jaxon Crabb (C)
30. Theo Adams (EF)