Rightly or wrongly, midfielders have a monopoly on just about every major individual award in our game, similar to an NFL quarterback.
It makes sense to a degree, they are situated where the ball resides for the majority of the contest - in the middle - but must also cover the entire field to find the footy wherever required.
In turn, they typically clock in the most kms, accumulate the most touches and fill up the stat sheet more than any other typer of player on the ground.
They play a variety of roles - in & under the contest feeding the outside runners, exploding out of packs with strength, speed and agility, plus using the ball skilfully and efficiently by hand or foot.
Some are suited to a particular role more than others, making it hard to definitively rank one player over another using stats or achievements. Patrick Cripps and Nick Daicos both fall under the midfielder category but carry a 12cm & 15kg size difference and dominate in vastly different ways on the ground.
We must look beyond just the numbers which may favour a Tom Green, or the eye-test which may favour a Jordan De Goey to decide on number one.
Instead, we need a rich tapestry of impact, stats, moments, value, performance and pedigree to judge who holds the crown as the league's best midfielder.
SEE ALSO: THE TOP 10 DEFENDERS OF THE 2023 AFL SEASON
1. Marcus Bontempelli
This year's midfield crown goes to a player without any finals success in the season to show for it.
But after an all-round masterclass of a season, displaying the leadership, skill and impact that only the best player in our code can, Marcus Bontempelli has earned the right to be named the game's best midfielder.
With 'the Bont', every attribute and intangible is covered at an elite level.
He may be the best field kick, decision-maker, ball handler and leader in the competition, notwithstanding his statistical rankings among the best contested, clearance, score involvement and tackling players in the league.
He sits alongside Christian Petracca as the midfielder with the most profound stoppage presence of anyone in the comp, seemingly always the best bet to win the clearance or get his hands on the footy.
He was rewarded with a handful of major end-of-season honours at the conclusion of 2023, bringing home the Leigh Matthews MVP, Best Captain Award, All-Australian vice-captain honours and a fifth club best & fairest.
Suffering on an emotionally damaged team through the back end of 2023, it was often up to Bontempelli to figure out a way to will his side to victory or carry his side to within touching distance.
It was during this time of struggle for the Dogs where Bontempelli lifted his game to levels he would rather save for a finals campaign, putting up clinical performances against North Melbourne, West Coast and Richmond just to keep his side in top eight contention.
With a fresh coaching staff and the pressure to finally perform at the top four level expected of them, the Dogs and Bontempelli will be eager to carry themselves back up the ladder in hopes of fighting for another premiership as well as that elusive Brownlow Medal.
