1. Trent Stubbs
Club: East Coast
Position: Midfielder/Forward
Previous Clubs: Collingwood (VFL 2011-12)
Number in last years count: N/A as playing in another league
Analysis:
Few could argue with Stubbs’ standing as the best player in the AFL Sydney competition (outside of maybe teammate McConnell), especially his teammates who apparently have donned him with the nickname “Phelan”.
His pedigree is undoubted. As a pat on the back for football in Sydney, Stubbs was a Baulkham Hills junior and graduated through the RAMS program to be selected with Pick 77 in the 2010 AFL Draft by Collingwood. A medium-sized 187cm athletic forward, he was originally on a NSW scholarship with Hawthorn and toured South Africa with the AIS-AFL Academy team.
While he didn’t play any senior AFL games, he was a mainstay of the VFL side when fitness allowed him onto the paddock.
On his return to the Eagles, he has played more as utility meaning he has spent a lot of time in the midfield. He managed 31 goals in the 2013 NEAFL competition and then 19 last year and has already exceeded that on the Eagles return to the Premier Division competition this year. He has kicked at least 1 goal in every game in 2015 with a season best of 5 on 3 occasions. Combine that with around 30 influential possessions per game and you have one classy individual capable of winning a game of his own boot.
His combination with Andrew McConnell was a feature in AFL Sydney’s representative win over Canberra where he kicked 3 crucial goals from the midfield.
Unsurprisingly, Stubbs is a Collingwood supporter and rates his favourite player as Scott Pendlebury. There is a bit of Pendlebury in Stubbs’ movement around the ground and the Pies’ captain would have been proud of his left foot (non-preferred side) goal from outside 50 against UTS in Round 3 (and early claim) which should make the highlights reel at Phelan Medal night.
Stubbs is worth the price of admission alone and would be a favourite to take home both the Phelan and Stan Milton Medal double which would be an amazing feat. Who knows, it may accompany a premiership medallion which he may wear only a weekend later.
Last Modified on 28/07/2015 13:19
