ADELAIDE
2015: The Crows' contested possession king Scott Thompson frequently finds himself in a situation where he lacks time and space. As such his kicking on either side of his body is brilliant. At training it's sometimes hard to even tell which is the veteran's preferred leg and the same is true on game day. Thompson so often wins his own ball and emerges from a contest before disposing on whichever foot allows him an extra few split seconds to hone in on his target.  

Best in history: The Jarman brothers, Andrew and Darren, are widely regarded as the most skilful footballers to pull on an Adelaide jumper. Andrew was a joy to watch and his ease on either foot helped him win two Magarey Medals (1987, 1997), but Darren's kicking ability was on full show in the 1997 and 1998 Grand Finals. He booted six goals in '97 and five in '98. Post-retirement the pair passed on their knowledge by running a junior kicking school for several years in Adelaide. – Harry Thring

BRISBANE LIONS
2015: He is new to the club, but Dayne Beams has vaulted straight to the top of the class. Everyone knows how lethal Beams is on his right boot, but the 2010 Collingwood premiership player also has no hesitation using his left if required. Almost one quarter of his kicks last season were on the non-dominant side. He can kick both long and hit targets from close range on both sides. The Lions have been devoid of quality dual-sided players since the retirement of Simon Black and Beams fits the bill nicely.

Best since 1980: Even factoring in Fitzroy and Brisbane Bears players to join the Brisbane Lions candidates over the journey, Jason Akermanis was a standout. A natural right-footer, 'Aker' could not only do brilliant things on his left (remember the game-sealing snap in the 2002 Grand Final), but was also one of the most prodigious and penetrating kicks on his non-dominant side from any era. Seeing the 2001 Brownlow medallist thump goals home from outside the 50m arc on his left foot (and often from the left-hand boundary line) became a trademark and regular occurrence of the Lions' premiership era. – Michael Whiting

CARLTON
2015: Captain Marc Murphy, with a honourable mention to Bryce Gibbs. The club's most tagged player, which is recognition of how damaging he can be, Murphy has excellent evasive skills, which come from the fact he is highly skilled on both sides of his body. Not known as a traditional long kick, he picks short targets and hits them. He kicked short 80 per cent of the time with an overall efficiency of 64.7 per cent in 2014. It's a natural talent that led to him being taken with the No. 1 draft selection in 2005. The following year the Blues snared another player with similar ability in Gibbs.

Best since 1980: Greg Williams played for three clubs (Geelong, Sydney Swans and Carlton), won Brownlow medals in 1986 and 1994 and the Norm Smith Medal in 1995. He had incredible skill on both sides of his body with his feet and in particular his hands, and was always able to find his teammates around him, much like Hawthorn's Sam Mitchell. Brett Ratten was another who possessed great skills on both sides of his body and was often found creating chances for those around him, after retrieving the ball from the bottom of packs across his 255 games for the Blues. – Jennifer Phelan

COLLINGWOOD
2015: Steele Sidebottom is the obvious standout, being exceptionally fluent on his left side. (We won't call it his 'non-preferred' or 'non-dominant' side because neither description would necessarily be accurate.) Allied with his cleverness and endurance, it makes Sidebottom a difficult player to corral. Scott Pendlebury, a natural left-footer, does some exquisite things on his right side – is there anything the Pies skipper can't do? – while dexterous big man Lachlan Keeffe is adept on both sides, guiding the ball beautifully on to his left foot.

Best since 1980: It's impossible to forget goalkicking wizard Peter Daicos, who was superb on his non-preferred left foot, as plenty of highlights packages attest, with 'The Macedonian Marvel' slotting some memorable goals on the run, including miraculous snaps and dribbling efforts. Daicos' 1990 premiership teammate Tony Francis was also particularly strong on his left side, as was fellow midfielder Shane O'Bree, who seemed to prefer using his left side. Current coach Nathan Buckley was a powerful kick on both sides, capable of roosting the ball more than 60 metres on his right and about 50 on his left. Sidebottom is also up there. – Ben Collins 

Peter Daicos was always dangerous in front of goal on either side. Picture: AFL Media

ESSENDON
2015: There are a couple of contenders on Essendon's list at present, but Michael Hurley tops them. The powerful key position player, who enjoyed his best season in the AFL last year as a defender, is a natural right-footer. But he's just as comfortable switching on to his left side to get the ball down the field or for a shot on goal. When Hurley first arrived at Essendon, his then-captain Matthew Lloyd wasn't sure if Hurley was a left or right-footer, and who could forget his long left-foot goal against Hawthorn in the final round of 2009 which sent Essendon into the finals? Brendon Goddard's exquisite skills on both feet make him the other main contender at the club.

Best since 1980: Leon Baker holds a special place in hearts of Essendon supporters after his heroics in the club's breakthrough 1984 premiership win over Hawthorn and his almost best-afield game in 1985 as the Bombers went back-to-back. He was also a brilliantly skilled player on both sides of his body, with precision, composure and balance key traits of his kicking. Although his time at Essendon was short – he left the club after five seasons and 86 games – his place in the club's history lives on. Another contender is John Barnes. The 2000 premiership ruckman was an excellent user of the ball, often switching between his left and right foot when kicking for goal. – Callum Twomey

FREMANTLE
2015: The Dockers have some elite kicks in their side but the majority are one-sided. Paul Duffield is statistically the best on his opposite foot, but he rarely uses his left. Stephen Hill and Michael Walters are both sublime on their left foots and while Walters is marvellous on his right side, he doesn't turn to it very often. David Mundy may well be the best dual-sided player in the side. Statistically his overall efficiency is not as high as others but he does use both feet very effectively. He is beautifully balanced and natural on either foot and weights his delivery very well.

Best in history: Mundy could again stake a claim as he is arguably the best dual-sided player of the 14 Dockers to have qualified for life membership at the club. But Adrian Fletcher is a player who was very effective with both feet and performed magnificently across his 79 games at the club. He co-captained the club for two seasons and won a best and fairest in 1999. Fletcher's kicking probably lacked the penetration of Mundy but he was very classy on either side. – Alex Malcolm

GEELONG
2015: Steve Johnson attempts kicks that no-one else in the competition even thinks of trying, so the three-time premiership Cat has to be considered as one of Geelong's best dual-sided players. Johnson often uses his left foot to angle the ball back into dangerous areas or to find a teammate in space. The star forward's brilliant left-foot kick to set up Travis Varcoe (who would eventually miss his shot at goal) in the dying minutes of the 2013 preliminary final against Hawthorn immediately springs to mind. Johnson also wheeled around onto his left boot to find Joel Selwood in the middle of the ground in the chain of play that set up Tom Hawkins' famous after-the-siren match-winning goal against the Hawks in 2012. Of the young players, Darcy Lang, Lincoln McCarthy and Nakia Cockatoo have little hesitation using their non-preferred feet.

Steve Johnson has produced some memorable left-foot kicks in his career. Picture: AFL Media

Best since 1980: Garry Hocking. 'Buddha' as he was affectionately known was a proficient kick on either foot. Geelong supporters will long remember Hocking bursting out of a pack to drive the ball forward with certainty. Having Gary Ablett snr and Billy Brownless as targets to kick to helped as well. The four-time All Australian could just as easily swing on to his left and send the Cats inside 50 with purpose. – Ben Guthrie

GOLD COAST
2015: He might not have the flair of some of his teammates, but Michael Rischitelli is the most comfortable and proficient on his non-dominant left side. He has a penetrating right boot, but the veteran midfielder has no qualms swinging on to his left and with minimal change in outcome. One in every six kicks in 2014 came from the left side. While skipper Gary Ablett can do almost anything, his evasion ensures he rarely has to go left. Harley Bennell and Jack Martin are also excellent dual-sided players, but without the length of Rischitelli's kick. – Michael Whiting

GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY
2015: Players aren't taken with the first pick in the NAB AFL Draft without some exceptional talent, which Lachie Whitfield has in spades. Just as comfortable on his left boot as his preferred right foot, the 20-year-old's outstanding ball use is aided by his composure to find space in traffic. Despite foot and shoulder setbacks last season, Whitfield was ranked second for effective kicks at GWS and the Giants retained possession from 76 per cent of his disposals. – Travis King

HAWTHORN
2015: It has to be Sam Mitchell. The champion midfielder learned his football as a left-footer but came to the conclusion before long that he was short and slow, so his best chance of becoming an AFL footballer would be to add another string to his bow. So he worked on his right foot so assiduously that when he broke into the Hawks' squad, it was assumed he was a right-footer. In the ensuing 13 seasons he has refined his left-sided skills to the point where on the football field, he is truly ambidextrous. Or, as Peter McKenna once said of a famous triple Brownlow medallist, "After all, Bobby Skilton was amphibious."

Sam Mitchell is equally comfortable on either side of his body. Picture: AFL Media
Best since 1980: Darren Jarman played within himself in 1991, his first year at Hawthorn. There were moments of brilliance, but they were fleeting as he played a small role in a premiership team. But he underwent an epiphany the following summer and for his remaining four years at the club – during which the Hawks fared progressively worse – Jarman would dazzle the Hawks with his ability to spin out of a pack and hit a target 50 metres away on either foot. Jason Dunstall played with an endless array of superstars at Hawthorn, but has long reserved special praise for Jarman, who later went on to display his considerable talents with aplomb at the Crows. – Ashley Browne

MELBOURNE
2015: Jack Watts and Christian Salem are the two best kicks in Melbourne's team, but where Watts separates himself is his ability to use his non-preferred foot. Watts never shies away from pulling the trigger to spot a target in the middle of the ground, but when that's closed down, his left foot is a valuable back up option. He doesn't often use his non-preferred leg to kick long, but he is adept at finding teammates on the lead with well-weighted passes. 

Best since 1980: There are endless highlights of Robbie Flower in his vintage, baulking around opponents with ease and then turning towards goal. But the true beauty of the late great Demons wingman was that he could also use his left foot to send the ball searing through the big sticks. His elite agility allowed him to create space not many else could, which often opened up scoring opportunities. That he could dob goals on either side of his body was a true reflection of his silky skills. – Ben Guthrie

NORTH MELBOURNE
2015: He carries a cannon in both legs and Sam Wright's ability to open up both sides of the ground has made him a weapon across half-back. Often an unsung performer, his timing to showcase his skills was never better than last year's elimination final against Essendon. With the Roos trailing by 33 points early in the third quarter, Wright seized the moment when he ran off his man, intercepted a mark and drilled a piercing pass to Drew Petrie on his non-preferred left boot. It was an audacious passage of play which broke the Roos' goal drought and sparked their revival. Wright's kicking efficiency rated excellently at 73 per cent last season and he was North's most effective long kick after coming back into the side in round 16.

Best since 1980: It says it all that Wayne Schwass was a two-time Syd Barker medallist during the Kangaroos' mid-1990s heyday. The lightly-framed midfielder was a bonafide star. Schwass was a natural left-footer but watching him hit top pace, swing on to his right boot and kick a goal or deliver lace-out to Wayne Carey and John Longmire was poetry in motion for Roos fans. To this day, he remains one of the better exponents on his right side for a predominant left-footer. An honourable mention to Carey, whose skills on both sides were exquisite – especially for a key forward. – Travis King

PORT ADELAIDE
2015: Hamish Hartlett's booming right-foot kick is something to behold. His ability to connect perfectly from long range and maintain accuracy is well recognised by his teammates, who often dish off when outside 50 and let 'Hammer' hit it home. But his skills on his non-preferred left are right up there with the best at the club. He has been pushed up hard against the boundary countless times in his career and still managed to hit a forward target on his left.

Best in history: Roger James' first term against St Kilda in the 2004 preliminary final kept his team alive when the Saints threatened to run away early. Port would go on to win narrowly, then claim a maiden AFL flag the following week. A natural right-footer, James' ability to size up his options before delivering a pass made him a forward's delight. On either side of his body he was able to hesitate, almost as he was dropping the ball, to ensure a perfectly weighted kick. – Harry Thring

RICHMOND
2015: Dustin Martin's fend-offs have become his trademark but his ability to dispose of the ball using both sides of his body is equally impressive. He is beautifully balanced and is a thumping kick which he can execute off either side. Martin has become more versatile with stints off half-back and up forward, where his strength one-on-one was a factor late last season. This year he will spend more time through the midfield.

Best since 1980: While the current Greater Western Sydney coach played more games for Footscray (172) than Richmond (84), Leon Cameron made an impact as a dual-sided Tiger who was used as a creative rebounder from half-back after playing on the wing and in the centre in his early years. The natural right-footer was known for his long kicking while on the run and was able to execute that on both sides. Before Nick Malceski, there was Leon Cameron. – Jennifer Phelan

ST KILDA
2015: From his first training sessions with the Saints, prized youngster Jack Billings caught the attention of his teammates with his class on both sides of the body. Whether he was slotting goals on a difficult angle or kicking across his body to a teammate on the lead, the 19-year-old stood out at Seaford. A gun at under-age level, Billings earned a NAB AFL Rising Star nomination against West Coast in his 10th game, using the ball at 100 per cent efficiency with his 25 possessions.       

Jack Billings already looks a star of the future after his impressive debut season. Picture: AFL Media
Best since 1980: Long-time St Kilda fans remember a day at Moorabbin, against West Coast, when Nicky Winmar changed his mind about kicking the ball between releasing it from his hands and it landing on his boot. While such moments highlighted his sublime skill, his beautiful delivery on either foot was a given. Champion full-forward Tony Lockett was obviously a magnificent shot on goal, but his teammates and coaches also knew how polished his field kicking was on either foot – a skill that shone in training if not as often on game day. – Nathan Schmook   

SYDNEY SWANS
2015: They won't single them out publicly, but there are two players the Swans' forwards love leading towards – Lewis Jetta and Jarrad McVeigh. Jetta's accuracy and depth with his kicking will see him redeployed to half-back this season to replace immaculate ball-user Nick Malceski. McVeigh, who has also been used across half-back, is now more likely to settle across half-forward, where Lance Franklin and Kurt Tippett can expect silver service in 2015.   

Best since 1980: A glorious long kick with a pure action, Dennis Carroll was a left-footer, but that wasn't widely known, such was his efficiency on either side. Captain from 1986-1992, he played on a wing before developing great versatility and holding down centre half-back. The Swans have a long list of pure left-footers, but Carroll was probably the pick of them on his 'non-preferred' side. Mark Bayes had a raking left-foot kick, and Wayne Schwass, also in the elite class, could use his right when required. – Nathan Schmook  

WEST COAST
2015: Shannon Hurn is widely regarded as the best kick in the Eagles side but he rarely uses his left foot. Mark LeCras is a fabulous user off both feet and really stands out, particularly when he plays higher up the ground away from goal. But LeCras only operated at 66 per cent effective disposal efficiency last year. The best could well be youngster Jeremy McGovern. His skills on both sides of his body for a player of his size are freakish. He is following in the footsteps of Dean Cox who was a natural off both feet. McGovern averaged eight kicks per game last season and found the target 80 per cent of the time.   

Best in history: Ask any Eagles fan this question and the immediate answer will be 1994 Norm Smith medallist Dean Kemp. The silky midfielder prided himself on his kicking and his ability to spot up targets inside 50 off both feet from any angle. Kemp to Peter Sumich was a familiar sight in the early 90s and most of Kemp's 18 kicks in the 1994 Grand Final win over Geelong found the mark, with two of them yielding goals.  – Alex Malcolm

WESTERN BULLDOGS
2015: He may be the oldest player on the Dogs' list, but skipper Robert Murphy is also the best user of the footy on either side. The keys to the 32-year-old's brilliance are he's superbly balanced, has elite agility and can hit a target a full pace. The 2014 season underlined how important the rebounding defender is to the Bulldogs, with the veteran's disposal efficiency at an impressive 81 per cent. 

Best since 1980: The Dogs have three standouts in this period, with club legends Doug Hawkins and Chris Grant and running defender Leon Cameron all gifted on both sides of the body. Hawkins glided along a wing at the Whitten Oval eventually named after him, hitting targets at will. A hallmark of Cameron's game was the ability to hit a target under pressure of either foot. But when it comes to key forwards, there have not been too many who have been a better field kick than Grant. – Ryan Davidson