AFL great Steve Johnson names the league’s most underrated stars from 2023 season

These are the guys who get the job done most weeks with very little acclaim, limited attention and zero awards.

They are the fabric of every great footy club. They stand up in good and bad times, usually making teammates look better.

And they deserve far more recognition.

As the All-Australian debate starts to really heat up, I have picked my inaugural All-Underrated team for the 2023 season.

The selection criteria was simple. If you’ve ever been picked in the All-Australian team, you are ineligible.

Some fans might argue a few players in this squad are already ‘rated’. They’re wrong, these 22 guys simply aren’t given the plaudits they deserve.

But that will change. I predict many of these players will be extremely unlucky when it comes to this year’s final All-Australian team, but I fully expect to see plenty of them in the 2024 team.

Here is my team, the reasons why, plus some of the unluckiest omissions.

STEVIE J’s ALL-UNDERRATED TEAM

B: Zach Guthrie, Jack Buckley, Brandon Starcevich

HB: Connor Idun, Jack Payne, Andrew McGrath

C: Nic Martin, Tom Liberatore (capt), Kamdyn McIntosh

HF: Zac Bailey, Oscar Allen, Sam Powell-Pepper

F: Kyle Langford, Nick Larkey, Lachie Schultz

R: Rowan Marshall, Chad Warner, Adam Cerra

IC: Blake Hardwick, Charlie Ballard, Noah Anderson, Oliver Henry

Coach: Dean Cox

Defenders

Zach Guthrie: Has developed into a very good midsized defender in recent years. Unless you watch the Cats closely, you probably don’t realise just how important his role is every week for them.

Jack Buckley: The ultimate competitor. Often plays undersized against power forwards, but gives it everything and makes them earn every kick. His return from an ACL is one of many reasons GWS has improved.

Brandon Starcevich: Uses his physicality to check opponents’ run better than anyone else in the comp. Takes on the league’s best small forwards and is very, very rarely beaten. It would be a nightmare to line up against him.

Connor Idun: Another elite one-on-one defender in the Giants’ back six. If Idun was at Collingwood or another big Victorian club, his emergence and talent would be getting highlighted by every footy pundit.

Jack Payne: Reliable player who reads the game really well and is having another very good season. Signed a five-year deal with the Lions, but could walk down the street in Melbourne without any second looks.

Andrew McGrath: Goes unnoticed, plays an important role with his counter-attacking but also one of the best at adjusting defensively when needed. Yes, even No.1 draft picks can be underrated.

Midfielders

Nic Martin: A gun who still has a fair bit of upside given his AFL debut was in 2022. Love his composure under pressure and ability to set up scoring opportunities. Should be in the extended All-Australian squad.

Tom Liberatore: So strange he has never been All-Australian. This has arguably been his best season. An ability to win the hard balls and be in and under every pack, dishing the ball out with elite hands, makes him a dream teammate for Marcus Bontempelli and Co.

Kamdyn McIntosh: Always delivers exactly what you want from an off-side winger. His workrate is immense. Supports his defence, regularly spoiling the ball near the opposition’s goal line, but also pushes forward hard while trying to test his opponent the other way.

Chad Warner: Sydney’s barometer. When Chad plays well, the Swans play well and are a chance of beating any opposition. Polled 12 Brownlow votes last year and, at age 22, will only get better. Easy to see him earning multiple All-Australian blazers in coming years.

Adam Cerra: If it wasn’t for injury, the former Docker would be in line for his first John Nicholls medal. His scintillating form helped Carlton turn its season around. Generates plenty of metres gained, sets up goals with his ball use inside 50, and kicks them himself.

Ruckman

Rowan Marshall: Enjoyed a breakout 2022 and has taken it to another level since Paddy Ryder retired. Marshall’s craft is great, but I really rate (and sure Ross Lyon does too) the fact he’s had more tackles and contested possessions than any other ruckman this year.

Forwards

Zac Bailey: An absolute gun. He is set for a third straight 30-plus goal season, has now played 100-plus games and routinely produces moments of brilliance with his speed, power and finishing skills. How on earth does he fly under the radar? Every coach would love to have him.

Oscar Allen: Has quietly put together a consistent year despite West Coast having a season they would rather forget. Will finish the season with 50-plus goals. A great effort for any young key forward about to come into his prime years, let alone one in a struggling side.

Sam Powell-Pepper: You have to love what he brings to Port Adelaide. He’s a competitor and a very good footballer. Hits the scoreboard and provides a physical presence that few other pressure forwards can.

Kyle Langford: Essendon’s Mr Fix It is, at age 26, enjoying a career-best season as a forward. To kick 50-plus goals you need to be a very good player. He has really stood up and should be in the extended All-Australian squad – and go close to the final team.

Nick Larkey: This bloke was 25th on my inaugural list of the AFL’s best forwards. I can guarantee you he will be higher in 2024! Can mount a strong argument he should be in the All-Australian team this year, given his output for a team sitting last on the ladder.

Lachie Schultz: Another example of out of sight, out of mind for many Victorians. A genuine star small forward. He does everything you need from a player in his role. Kicks goals, sets them up and applies pressure to the opposition when they get the ball.

Bench

Blake Hardwick: Has been underrated for a while now. One of the competition’s best small defenders, also has a good balance of being able to join in Hawthorn’s ball movement. He is a beautiful kick.

Charlie Ballard: This man has taken more intercept marks than Darcy Moore, Jacob Weitering or Harris Andrews in 2023. We know how important intercept defenders have become. Ballard must rank among the AFL’s top three because of his ability to read the play and come off his direct opponent to have an influence.

Noah Anderson: A great kick, wins his own footy, but also hurts the opposition with pressure and running. He’s got it all. Yet, even when Touk Miller was out injured, people still didn’t seem to be taking notice.

Oliver Henry: Playing 21 games and kicking 38 goals for the reigning premiers is a decent effort when you consider this is the 21-year-old’s third year in the AFL – and first at a new club. Four goals against Port Adelaide in round 21 proved he can be a match-winner.

Coach

Dean Cox: Take your pick of any number of assistant coaches throughout the league, they all play vital – and really underrated – roles. I’ve gone with Dean because I’ve seen him at work and know he has a great footy brain and all the attributes of a future head coach. Don’t be surprised if he is John Longmire’s successor, whenever Horse decides he’s finally had enough.

Unlucky omissions

Tom Green: He’s a weapon and could easily have made the cut. I think people are actually starting to wake up to how good he is, I expect him to be in the extended All-Australian squad.

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Harry Perryman: Could easily have won the Giants’ best and fairest in 2020. I’ve only left him out because I’ve rated him so highly for a long time.

Rory Laird: Ruled out because of his All-Australian blazers, earned as a backman in 2017 and 2018. But he is a criminally underrated midfielder, should be a walk-up starter in the All-Australian team.

Kysaiah Pickett: He is such a dangerous player and the value he adds is almost intangible. Big-moment player, pressure is elite and kicks clutch goals.