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<\/a><\/p>\nIt\u2019s Wrestlemania season\u2026 the worst Wrestlemania season of all time probably, but it still counts, and as much as people love to cheer their heroes, you need a good villain to work alongside them.<\/p>\n
You think about it.<\/p>\n
Hulk Hogan had Roddy Piper.<\/p>\n
Ricky Steamboat had Randy Savage.<\/p>\n
The Ultimate Warrior had Ravishing Rick Rude.<\/p>\n
And it is just the same in the AFL. As much as people adore Marcus Bontempelli or Will Ashcroft, there have to be those who earn their ire. The AFL and those associated with it, can talk about booing all they like, and how they dislike this, or dislike that\u2026 but it is as much the villains, or in this case, the heels, that make the game tick.<\/p>\n
So, with that in mind, I undertook a task to deduce which players are most disliked in the game right now, and for a variety of different reasons, here is what I came up with.<\/p>\n
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10 \u2013 TOM PAPLEY<\/p>\n
As far as I can tell, everyone who doesn\u2019t worship the red and white thinks Paps is\u2026 well, they think he is a bit of a dick.<\/p>\n
Whether it is the over-the-top celebrations every time he kicks a goal, or getting in his opponent\u2019s face in the hope they retaliate and draw a free kick, people know the type of bloke they\u2019d want to avoid in public, and Tom Papley fits the bill.<\/p>\n
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9 \u2013 PATRICK DANGERFIELD<\/p>\n
Has a bit of a holier-than-thou attitude about him, and whilst his playing prowess can never doubted, his tenure as AFLPA President, where he would post personal preferences on the game (shorter quarters, remember?) but blur the lines as to whether he was talking for himself, or the players he represented, left a bad taste in people\u2019s mouths.<\/p>\n
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8 \u2013 JAKE STRINGER<\/p>\n
Jake would usually occupy a place much higher up the list, but he is now at a team where even when it comes to being disliked, he has to take a back seat.<\/p>\n
Earned the ire of Bombers fans with his repeated poor preseasons, and by bringing \u201ccolurful identities\u201d into the change rooms, which forced the AFL to step in.<\/p>\n
Playing well this season. Anyone know if his contract is expiring?<\/p>\n
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7 \u2013 BRAYDEN MAYNARD<\/p>\n
Look, even when you remove the unfortunate Angus Brayshaw incident from the equation, Maynard has always evoked a pretty strong reaction from opposition supporters. Does not back down, and actually takes a step forward whenever there is a confrontation taking place.<\/p>\n
Doesn\u2019t think twice to get in the face of an opponent \u2013 I\u2019d love to see a Maynard-Papley man-on-man duel for a whole game.<\/p>\n
Maybe throw some blunt object or two into the mix. And a sharp one\u2026<\/p>\n
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6 \u2013 DAYNE ZORKO<\/p>\n
Doesn\u2019t stop yapping, and you just know he is not saying the most positive things to the people he\u2019s talking to.<\/p>\n
One of the very few players to have played at the top level that has made an opponent cry, and you know what the worst thing about him is?<\/p>\n
He can play beautiful footy\u2026 and that tends to piss people off the most.<\/p>\n
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5 \u2013 HARLEY REID<\/p>\n
Oh, did you see what Harley Reid\u2019s done this time? Let\u2019s get on his case\u2026<\/p>\n
Ugh.<\/p>\n
Basically, he plays on the edge, is happy to sit an opponent on their backside, and loves the rough stuff. No, that\u2019s not part of his dating profile \u2013 he is an old school footballer who is trying to instil fight into his Eagles.<\/p>\n
And people don\u2019t like when a young player does that.<\/p>\n
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4 \u2013 NICK WATSON<\/p>\n
There is not much Nick Watson can do right in the eyes of many. Kicks five in a win, and the focus is how he didn\u2019t deserve some of the kicks, and how he shouldn\u2019t even have the nickname of The Wizard.<\/p>\n
Plus, he is short. Short people suck.<\/p>\n
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3 \u2013 TOBY GREENE<\/p>\n
There will never NOT be a time when one of these lists is produced, and Toby is not on it. He could run into a burning house, save an old lady, her cat, and her budgie, and people would complain he didn\u2019t lock the door on the way out.<\/p>\n
Like Harley Reid, he is a footballer who likes to make his opponent earn it, and if you don\u2019t like him\u2026 I reckon he\u2019d kick you in the face and call it an accident.<\/p>\n
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2 \u2013 BAILEY SMITH<\/p>\n
Well, he doesn\u2019t help himself, but the man with the biggest social media following in the game loves to ruffle feathers.<\/p>\n
Whether he is telling a photographer where to go, or speaking his mind openly, Bailey incurs the wrath of the footy public simply for being Bailey Smith.<\/p>\n
Someone\u2019s gotta be him, right? Why not him?<\/p>\n
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1 \u2013 NICK DAICOS<\/p>\n
Ah yes, Collingwood fans roll their eyes, but you know it\u2019s true. And you know why he is number one on the list, as well, don\u2019t ya?<\/p>\n
Because he is too damn good.<\/p>\n
I don\u2019t think he\u2019d be anywhere near the top of these rankings if the Fox Footy and Channel Seven commentators didn\u2019t wet themselves whenever he was near the ball. They make things much worse.<\/p>\n
And when he isn\u2019t near the ball, they should be asking \u201cWhere\u2019s Daicos\u2026?\u201d<\/p>\n
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And just so you know, I would have every single one of these players on my team without a second thought.<\/p>\n
Except Papley. He really does come across like a dick.<\/p>\n
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Apologies to the following short-listed players<\/p>\n
Zak Butters<\/p>\n
Lachie Neale<\/p>\n
Jack Ginnivan<\/p>\n
Mac Andrew<\/p>\n
Izak Rankine<\/p>\n
Zach Merrett<\/p>\n
Jason Horne-Francis<\/p>\n
Lance Collard<\/p>\n
James Sicily<\/p>\n
Tom Lynch<\/p>\n
Noah Balta<\/p>\n
Taylor Walker<\/p>\n
Mason Cox<\/p>\n
Keep working away fellas\u2026 you might make the next one.<\/p>\n
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What do you think \u2013 AFL coaches and personalities next? Kane, BT, Chompers Jones\u2026 who makes the list?<\/p>\n
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As always, massive thanks to those who support this work. You can see the amount of care that goes into it. I love footy, I love writing about it, and I hope you enjoy reading it. Without you, this whole thing falls over. Sincerely\u2026 thank you \u2013 HB<\/p>\n
Like this content? You could buy me a coffee \u2013 I do like coffee, but there is no guarantee I won\u2019t use it to buy a doughnut\u2026 I like them more. And I am not brought to you by Sportsbet or Ladbrokes\u2026 or Bet365, or any of them.<\/p>\n
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