Fyfe v Ballantyne: Who is Fremantle's most important player?
Nat Fyfe or Hayden Ballantyne? Click here to have your say
NAT FYFE
The AFL players named him their most valuable player after a stellar 2014 season. He won All Australian honours for the first time and secured his second straight best and fairest award. If he didn't miss four matches through suspension last season he might have also won the Brownlow Medal. Fyfe has become one of the competition's best players and his task in 2015 is to continue his improvement as an all-round player. He is working on pushing further forward and providing another avenue to goal for the Dockers as well as sharpening his kicking skills. Combine this with his elite ability in contested situations in the midfield and he could become the best player in the AFL without doubt by season's end.
KEY 2014 STATS: Games 18. Ranked fifth in the AFL for contested possessions, second at Fremantle for clearances and third for contested marks.
HAYDEN BALLANTYNE
Small forward is arguably the toughest position to play in the AFL and Ballantyne is the best in the business as evidenced by making the 2014 All Australian team. He had a career-best season kicking 49 goals as well as countless defensive pressure acts. He is not a leader in many of the vogue statistical categories but goals are possibly the most important stat in the game and Ballantyne's importance to Fremantle is measured by his scoreboard influence. Ballantyne has kicked three goals or more 31 times in his AFL career and the Dockers have won 30 of those matches. The only loss was in his second game in 2009, a season when the Dockers finished 14th. If he kicks goals, the Dockers win.
KEY 2014 STATS: Games 20. Leading goalkicker for the Dockers with 49 goals, ranked 10th in the AFL for goals and 17th for marks inside 50.
What will give Brisbane the edge when they meet their old foes, Adelaide, in a preliminary?
10:05
Full 2024 draft recap: Who came out on top?
Draft guru Cal Twomey teams up with Nat Edwards and Riley Beveridge to unpack all the winners and surprises from the 2024 Telstra AFL Draft
03:29
Roos explain shock pick swap, praise O’Sullivan
North Melbourne’s Will Thursfield offers insight into his club’s bold trade with Richmond and explains why No.2 pick Finn O’Sullivan is one to watch for fans
06:37
Tigers’ draft jackpot: What’s in store for 2025
Richmond’s Blair Hartley unpacks his club’s impressive draft haul and weighs in on No.1 pick Sam Lalor’s round one hopes