Have been thinking this for weeks, and after yesterday when he didn't get much of a mention, is this guy the most underrated player in the team or even the whole AFL. Has been in our best nearly every week and continues to make good strong runs off the backline. I reckon he would be coming close to top 3 in the B & F.

DOn't know about in the AFL. Would be very inconspicuous in better teams... probably would struggle for a game with Geelong. But yes, he's been playing good footy and during the bad weeks has been one of the few to show some daring. Could be top 5 in the B&F.

Those injury troubles of last 2 years really hurt him. Key player for our side and has been fantastic all year. Love his endeavour and work ethic. A real team man.

Wheatley has had a good year, but he is a limited player. Be it injury or something else, he doesn't seem to enjoy physical contests. He can spoil but can't take a contested mark, he can lay a strategic tackle but he can't wrap up anybody bigger than himself. He is one of the main deliverers both coming out of the defensive 50 and entering the attacking 50, but for a 125-game player he doesn't win a lot of contested possessions.

He is a team player, and has to date had his best season. I just wish he were more damaging and suspect it is not through lack of ability that he is not. If a 33-game player like Dunn was being castigated for missing a goal after a 5-bounce run through the middle, what should be said of a 125-game player like Wheatley who misses a gifted set shot from 40 metres out?

Wheatley has had a good year, but he is a limited player. Be it injury or something else, he doesn't seem to enjoy physical contests. He can spoil but can't take a contested mark, he can lay a strategic tackle but he can't wrap up anybody bigger than himself. He is one of the main deliverers both coming out of the defensive 50 and entering the attacking 50, but for a 125-game player he doesn't win a lot of contested possessions.

He is a team player, and has to date had his best season. I just wish he were more damaging and suspect it is not through lack of ability that he is not. If a 33-game player like Dunn was being castigated for missing a goal after a 5-bounce run through the middle, what should be said of a 125-game player like Wheatley who misses a gifted set shot from 40 metres out?

Good opinion. And fair enough. If Wheatley were in Geelong though, I'd suspect he would rank highly in their team. What he does do is minimise the effect his direct opponent has on the game, which often goes unnoticed. Whilst still 'contesting' for loose balls as well as hard balls by backing himself and leaving his opponent, enabling melbourne to set up forward thrusts by breaking lines.

I rate Wheatley, and feel you're right when you say he's probably one of the more under-rated guys at MFC. However, there are some valid criticisms:

As has been mentioned above, I don't think he'd ever be described as hard or tough, in AFL terms. This is the main reason I like to see him playing up the ground a bit.

The other major criticism is that for a guy who can use the ball well by foot at times, and kick long, he fails to hit a target too often.

However, I think he's in our best 22, and he's been playing reasonably well for the entire season.

What he does do is minimise the effect his direct opponent has on the game, which often goes unnoticed. Whilst still 'contesting' for loose balls as well as hard balls by backing himself and leaving his opponent, enabling melbourne to set up forward thrusts by breaking lines.

Hmmm, good point. I'd always considered Wheatley generally but not specifically accountable. I'll have to check out the impact of his opponent in future games.

Though we may be behind the pack, most players seem to have increased their output this year, and Wheatley is one of them. I feel good about his prospects of continuing to improve under Bailey, but he's also not immune to being traded. I suppose few are.

Wheatley is close to our best player.

He can play absoloutly anywhere. He's got a good overhead mark. Sublime foot skills. A bit of dash and not a bad engine to go with it.

Not to forget he can play on small or talls.

He was interviwed on SEN today. Sounded very level headed. Said the boys enjoyed the win but did not get carried away. Had a few drinks and they all went home reasonably early! Luke Darcy reckons he would be leading our B & F right now ! Not sure about that but he has had a solid , consistent year!

He has been my most hated player for years and years. But he has seriously turned the corner this year. Seems to get himself out of trouble instead of running into it these days.

Wheatley has a great boot on him,it just seems on occassions that he goes through a bad patch and misses some targets.

Having said that, he has been one of our best players for the season and it looks like he has improved on the areas he was often criticised for, such as not going hard at the ball and showing courage.

He has shown great leadership too. Seems to be very popular within the team.

I dont mind Wheaters.. and have said so for a while. He's not perfect and to some commits some massive errors. Ive thought about those. What are they. Nearly everyone seems to pick on the occasions when he sets sail with boot on a longer searching kick that doesnt come off. It looks clumsy and may result in a clanger.

I ask you though...is this always this fault. There are times during training that scenarios are practiced that involve forward players getting into a position to receive a counter-flooding penetrating kick. Strangely enough in practice it comes off more than it doesnt..Ina game the tempo and pressure go up and it becomes a lesser gimmee that it will aucceed. However..this is a team movement...with more than one player respsonsible.. i.e Its up to the guys to be where where thery're supposed to be as well as the kicker delivering on cue and on song. Sort of...dont always shoot the messenger !!

I reckon he'd be leading the B and F at present.

I reckon he'd be leading the B and F at present.

You'd be wrong, but probably not by much.

He's 2 games behind Green, Bruce, McLean and Jones, and 1 game behind Miller, McDonald, and Bartram.

He's had a good year and so long as he stays on the park he will be a contender for B&F, but so far Green and Bruce have been more productive.

he doesn't seem to enjoy physical contests.

11 contested possessions on the weekend.

I've always been frustrated with Wheatley. He is a good size and has all the attributes but never had an impact. This year is different. He is playing an important role and along with Green is becoming one or our most important players.

11 contested possessions on the weekend.

It might be better to compare his outstanding effort of 11 CPs on the weekend to his CPs in other matches this year:

Round 1: 4

2: 5

3: 4

4: 2

5: 4

6: 1

7: 3

8: DNP

9: DNP

10: 3

11: 6

12: 5

13: 3

He's averaging 4.17 CPs p/game. Compare with other Demons to have played most or all games this year: Green (5.64), Bruce (6.36), McLean (7.29), Jones (5.86), McDonald (5.31).

Wheatley is having a great year by his own standards and a good year compared to AFL elite, and there is every reason to believe he will be even better next year. But physically imposing himself onto the game is not his forte. It only takes 20 minutes of watching him in a match to bear that out.

It might be better to compare his outstanding effort of 11 CPs on the weekend to his CPs in other matches this year.

I wasn't really suggesting that Wheatley is a hard player, just that he did well in contested possessions on the weekend.

Bruce usually leads the way in this area but I don't think many here think he is a hard player. there is a bit of a difference.

Wheatley is a go to man, but he seems to win a bit more of his own ball this year which is a great sign.

I wasn't really suggesting that Wheatley is a hard player, just that he did well in contested possessions on the weekend.

Bruce usually leads the way in this area but I don't think many here think he is a hard player. there is a bit of a difference.

Wheatley is a go to man, but he seems to win a bit more of his own ball this year which is a great sign.

Point taken.

I wasn't really suggesting that Wheatley is a hard player, just that he did well in contested possessions on the weekend.

On the stats page, or from your observation?

Some of the 'contested' marks and 'contested' possessions aren't really all that contested.

Wheatley fulfills the role ( with Brad Green ) that Johnstone used to play but is more consistent and is nearly as skilful with his foot passing. Hit Sylvia nicely a couple of times on Sunday.

Wheatley has had a good year, but he is a limited player. Be it injury or something else, he doesn't seem to enjoy physical contests. He can spoil but can't take a contested mark, he can lay a strategic tackle but he can't wrap up anybody bigger than himself. He is one of the main deliverers both coming out of the defensive 50 and entering the attacking 50, but for a 125-game player he doesn't win a lot of contested possessions.

He is a team player, and has to date had his best season. I just wish he were more damaging and suspect it is not through lack of ability that he is not. If a 33-game player like Dunn was being castigated for missing a goal after a 5-bounce run through the middle, what should be said of a 125-game player like Wheatley who misses a gifted set shot from 40 metres out?

this is one of the best explanations for wheatley ive read. good post.

for the record I like wheatley I just dont see him as core going forward