There was a time when half-back flankers were not marquee players. Handy players, absolutely, but not one of the more important positions in the game.
How times have changed.
Over the past 20 years, the role of the half-back flanker has become pivotal in the AFL, with all teams now using the role as the springboard to take them from defence to attack. The better the half-back, the better the chances they’ll start a scoring chain.
Some are seduced simply by the numbers, but having watched closely over the past couple of years, in particular, there is something more to the role than just racking up plenty of possessions and lots of metres gained. And it cannot be quantified by numbers alone.
How do you assess whether a player has a conscience?
How do you know whether they embrace the possibility of success over the fear of potential failure?
How do you know they disregard the latter and embrace the former fully?
The results come in the types of kicks they take, and how willing they are to take risks. Just how much do they trust their skills, their elite kicking, and their decision-making?
And how much do they doubt themselves?
There is one who doesn’t ever doubt his abilities. He has the nerves of a cold-hearted murderer, knowing only the job he has to do, and doing it without remorse. He is the best assassin in the league, and he wears maroon, blue, and gold.
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Oh… a Mongrel paywall… the worst of all paywalls. We’re all in on the 2026 AFL season. Player articles, stats, awards, game coverage. Dump the mainstream lip service and dive into articles like this – you will never look back. If you don’t want to, that’s fine. I consider it your loss as we get into the grind of the season, and you’re stuck with the stuff that’s frustrated you for years.
