In a game that Sydney had very few winners, there was one man who stood up.
He couldn’t do enough to prevent the Geelong onslaught, but he could walk away from the 2022 AFL Grand Final with his head held high.
And in doing so, ensured he walked away with the Mongrel Midfield Championship Belt secured around his waist, too, retaining the title despite attacks from all angles.
The challengers had their claims – Patrick Dangerfield’s 24 touches and six direct goal assists provided a very strong argument for the Geelong champ to lift the title, BUT… as you will read below, to win the title, the win must be comprehensive, and whilst Geelong’s win was, the efforts of Chad Warner were enough to see him sneak outta there with the title safe one more time to end 2022.
We head toward the 2023 season with Sydney having lost a lot – a season promising so much and delivering so little when it was all on the line, but one small win in the grand scheme of things came when one of their players stood up when so many others stepped, or were pushed aside.
Chad Warner concludes the 2022 season as Mongrel Midfield Champion.
Let the challengers line up for their 2023 assault.
The world loves a winner.
Except for the losers, I guess. But the rest of us love a winner, and following the 2021 season, one man reigned overall.
Christian Petracca stood on the podium with another two medals stemming from his best-afield performance in the Grand Final. The best player on the best team in the biggest game of the year – he was the undisputed champion of AFL midfielders..
However, with a new season comes new challenges… and new challengers to the title.
As we entered 2022, the Mongrel Punt Midfielder Championship Belt is fastened tightly around the waist of the Melbourne champ, but every battle, every week would call on him to defend it. And all it takes is a bad day for his grip to loosen on that which he made his at the conclusion of the 2021 season..
The Mongrel Punt Midfield Championship is a bit of fun – let’s be honest, but it’s a bit of fun that adds a little bit of interest to each and every game the champ competes in. Who, if anyone can beat the champ?
Each week, the champ defends his title in this system. In order to unseat him, firstly, the challenging team has to win. Like in Pro Wrestling, the title cannot change hands on a disqualification, so if you have a great performance, but your team loses, you cannot win the title. You have to beat the champ in a win. You have to outperform the champ in a win to take the title off him.
The individual win has to be comprehensive. If a challenger has 26 touches and a goal and the champ has something similar, we call it a draw and the champ gets the benefit of the doubt to retain the title. You either win decisively, or you don’t win at all.
So, who will dominate the midfield in the 2022 season and turn back challengers week after week? Who will reign like Hulk Hogan or Ric Flair? And who will be an interim champ… like Kane, or the Iron Sheik?
Let’s jump in and find out.
Note – at the conclusion of the annual wrap-up, a full championship history, spanning from 2017 to the current day is available, including a full history of title reigns and most successful defences, etc… We are now at 9K+ words in this baby, and the history grows every week.
The year started with the dominant champion carrying over from his 2021 Norm Smith-winning rampage in the Grand Final. Christian Petracca entered the 2022 season as The Man.
And to be the man, you’ve got to beat the man.
ROUND ONE
PETRACCA RETAINS THE TITLE
In close to a replication of his 2021 AFL Grand Final performance, Christian Petracca didn’t just retain the title against the Dogs, he put on a dominant midfield display, racking up 38 touches, 14 score involvements, two goals of his own, and 11 inside 50s.
He received strong competition from former two-time champ, Jack Macrae, who finished with 39 disposals and 11 clearances, but as the Demons pulled away, Macrae’s chances of being the first-ever three-time champ evaporated in a red and blue haze.
ROUND TWO
PETRACCA RETAINS THE TITLE
The Suns hit the Dees with everything, but despite the huge efforts of Touk Miller, with 38 disposals and nine clearances, the Dees ran out winners, ensuring Trac retained the title.
Not that he needed to be bailed out by his team – he racked up the lazy 40 touches, added six clearances and carried the footy for 780 metres. To be the man, you’ve gotta beat the man, and I doubt anyone beats Petracca when he is in this form.
ROUND THREE
PETRACCA RETAINS THE TITLE
A 29-point win the Dees is enough to once again keep the title around the waist of the champ. A quieter game for Petracca in this one – 21 touches and a goal may have left him somewhat vulnerable had the Bombers been a little more competitive.
For the challengers, Dylan Shiel and Darcy Parish combined for 49 touches but neither would have put on a good enough performance had the Bombers got up.
ROUND FOUR
PETRACCA RETAINS THE TITLE
With this loss, Port sneak ahead of Carlton have the most unsuccessful title challenges in the history of he Mongrel Punt Midfield Championship Belt.
Travis Boak stars, with 35 touches and five clearances, doing enough to win the title, all things being equal.
But all things are not equal. With the Dees picking up the win, Petracca retains with 24 disposals and five tackles.
ROUND FIVE
PETRACCA RETAINS THE TITLE
A complete Dee-struction of the Giants negates the efforts of their midfielders. Sure, Tom Green was awesome with 34 touches, and yes, Callan Ward turned back the clock to record 34 as well, but the Dees ran out 67-point winners over the Giants.
For his trouble, Christian Petracca picked up 30 touches, snagged two goals, and had he lazy 12 score involvements in a dominant display. Had the Dees dropped this game, Petracca would have retained.
ROUND SIX
PETRACCA RETAINS THE TITLE
The Tigers push hard for three quarters, attempting to capitalise on the inaccurate Demons, but it is the Premiers that run out 22-pont winners.
You know what that means, right?
Yep, a sixth-straight title defence for Petracca.
He has a quieter game, notching 25 touches and a goal. Oh, he also has ten score involvements, which is second only to Alex Neal-Bullen for the game. Across from him, Dion Prestia has 27 touches, but the real star is teammate Clayton Oliver, with 241 disposals and 22 contested touches.
And no… a teammate cannot win the title from Christian Petracca. Sorry Clarry.
ROUND SEVEN
PETRACCA RETAINS THE TITLE
The Dees are pushed by the Hawks, but record their seventh win of the season, and with that comes Petracca’s seventh title defence.
Whilst everyone was expecting the challenge to come from Tom Mitchell, it was Dylan Moore moving to a wing and collecting 33 touches that put a scare into the Dees. They composed themselves, however, and Trac’s 31 touches and a goal were enough to keep him at the top of the heap, win, lose, or draw.
ROUND EIGHT
PETRACCA RETAINS THE TITLE
A tough challenge from Jack Steele and Brad Crouch, but a very solid first half of footy set the Dees up for the win, and enabled Christian Petracca to cruise to a 36-disposal game. This was +7 on his closest rival, Steele.
ROUND NINE
PETRACCA RETAINS THE TITLE
This could have been a monster game for the champ, with Petracca finishing with two goals and four behinds in a powerful display.
Connor West (29 disposals) and Tim Kelly (32) worked hard for West Cast, but with the Dees winning yet again, and the sublime Petracca notching 28 touches, the title was never in danger.
ROUND TEN
PETRACCA RETAINS THE TITLE
One cellar dweller one week – another the next.
30 touches for Trac secured him his tenth title defence of the season, hardly bothered by the efforts of the Kangaroos, who were led by Luke Davies-Uniacke (27 touches) in the guts.
Though North was surprisingly competitive, the result was never truly in doubt, and Petracca became the second-longest reigning champion (behind Tom Mitchell in 2018) of all-time.
ROUND 11
WILL BRODIE WINS THE TITLE
Stunning, in more ways than one.
Not only did Will Brodie play a belter of a game against some of the best midfield opposition in the game, but he also had an incredibly close tussle with his own teammate to grab the title.
Andrew Brayshaw was neck and neck with Brodie as the Dockers took over the game and handed Melbourne their first loss of the season, but the stellar clearance work of the former Sun pushed him over the line.
Petracca struggled, playing forward and unable to get into the game. Brodie was +18 in disposals and +7 in clearances, meaning this was a clear-cut win.
New champ – Will Brodie
ROUND 12
BRODIE RETAINS THE TITLE
You felt going in that this could be a danger game for the new champ, with Lachie Neale the main danger. Truth be told, he was pretty damn good, racking up 31 touches, but by his own admission, lacked presence at the contest.
The champ had 25 touches but was +5 on Neale in contested possessions, and was the only player in double figures for clearances. Neale, usually a clearance specialist, had just four.
The first defence is done and Brodie avoids being one of those champs to lose the title at the first opportunity.
ROUND 13
BRODIE RETAINS THE TITLE
The Hawks gave it a red-hot go out west, but the Dockers ensured the title was going nowhere, with a hard-fought 13-point win.
The best mid on the park was Andrew Brayshaw and the concern for the Dockers was that Brodie seemed to defer a bit to Nat Fyfe, amassing just 22 touches and the solitary clearance as he made adjustments to his game to accommodate the dual Brownlow Medallist.
For now, the title remains at Freo, but without Brodie playing a more significant role in the guts, all it will take is a loss to see it make a home elsewhere.
ROUND 14 – BYE
ROUND 15 – BRODIE RETAINS TITLE
Carlton fans thought they had it. They got the win over Freo and they had a young superstar produce a 40-disposal game.
Sam Walsh came so close to snatching the title from Brodie, but as Walsh amassed 40 touches, Brodie stayed close enough to escape with the belt, with 36 touches of his own.
There would be some that would argue Walsh was robbed; to me a narrow victory is not good enough to win the title. You have to be a hell of a lot better to unseat the champ, and this was too close to make a switch.
Better luck next time, Sam. I’m sure there’ll be more opportunities for you.
ROUND 16 – BRODIE RETAINS TITLE
Port pushed hard. Ollie Wines, with 39 touches, pushed particularly hard, but in the end the Dockers got over the line by eight points, ensuring that their champion retained his title.
Brodie had 27 touches and nine tackles for the game, but had the result been nine points different, we could have very well seen Wines with a midfield title belt to match his Brownlow.
ROUND 17 – BRODIE RETAINS TITLE
The Saints are making a habit of blowing things this season. After an 8-3 start, the wheels have fallen off, and they blew this chance to secure the midfield title, losing to the Dockers by 41 points.
Even in a loss, Brodie would have retained in this one. His 29 touches and two goals were once again one of the standout performances for his club.
ROUND 18 – CHAD WARNER WINS THE TITLE!
From one unlikely champ to another.
Chad Warner put on a clinic against the Dockers, bursting from the centre with some scintillating pieces of play, whilst also performing an admirable shutdown role on Andrew Brayshaw, nullifying his significant influence.
Warner had 35 disposals, seven clearances, 11 score involvements, and a goal as he ran riot through the guts. In defence, Brodie managed 24 touches and five clearances, but with the Swans winning the game, it left Brodie vulnerable, and a new champ was crowned.
ROUND 19 – WARNER RETAINS THE TITLE
I’d like to say it was a knock-down, drag-out affair, but the only players being knocked down in the first quarter belonged to the Crows, as Sydney jumped them and pounded them so convincingly, you could have almost put a line through them at quarter time.
Though Adelaide fought back, the game felt over early, with Warner notching 25 touches and a goal to successfully defend his newly-won title.
The best for the Crows was once again Rory Laird, who finished with 38 disposals in a losing effort.
ROUND 20 – WARNER RETAINS THE TITLE
The Swans gave the Giants a shellacking, beating them in all aspects of the game. So bad was the GWS performance that their coach named just eight players he thought put in on the day. That was damning.
As such, it was cruise control for the champ, with Warner picking up 20 touches, knowing full well that the dominant Swans performance was going to ensure he held onto the title for another week.
ROUND 21 – WARNER RETAINS THE TITLE
North gave this one a red hot go, with both Luke Davies-Uniacke and Jy Simpkin throwing down string challenges to Warner’s crown.
However, Warner responded in the way he has all season when challenged. He often finds the best form of defence is a good offence and his three goals would have ensured he retained the title, win, lose, or draw.
And this was a win.
ROUND 22 – WARNER RETAINS THE TITLE
The Pies loomed as a huge threat, riding a big win-streak into the game against the Swans, and possessing a midfield capable of dethroning the champ.
However, the Swans were right up for the challenge, putting the Pies in their place with a stellar defensive effort, whilst running hard the other way and denying the Pies the corridor.
Warner was one of the reasons. His 25 touches included five clearances and six inside 50 deliveries as he comfortably saw off the challenge of Scott Pendlebury (26 disposals)
ROUND 23 – WARNER RETAINS THE TITLE
How amazing would it have been had Dan Hannebery pinched the title in his last game, and against his old club?
As good as Hanners was for the Saints, it counted for little, as the Swans rolled over St Kilda, making his efforts redundant. He finished with 30 touches and seven clearances, turning the clock back.
Warner had an average game by his increasing standard, racking up 20 touches and a goal, but when the Swans win, he wins. He is still the champ.
FINALS WEEK ONE – WARNER RETAINS THE TITLE
There is a bit of Ric Flair about Chad Warner in this one, with his team having his back and ensuring he wasn’t losing the title this week, despite him being beaten.
The Swans knocked over the Dees, securing the titlre retention for Warner, as Clayton Oliver (29 disposals, two goals) was the clear best mid on the park. Warner managed just 13 touches for the game and should be thankful his team was on fire in this contest, lest he become the most recent former champion.
FINALS WEEK TWO – BYE FOR SYDNEY
FINALS WEEK THREE – WARNER RETAINS THE TITLE
After a week on the sidelines, the Swans and Pies locked horns in a classic, with the Swans managing to pull out a one-point victory, saving Warner’s title in the process.
This is the second game in a row Warner has escaped with his title due to the Swans’ overall brilliance, but on an individual level, Jack Crisp was the best midfielder out there. He returned 29 touches (20 contested), 11 clearances, and ten inside 50s.
Warner was no slouch, with 22 disposals and a goal, but had Collingwood got over the line, it is pretty safe to say we would have had a new champ.
2022 GRAND FINAL – WARNER RETAINS THE TITLE
Sydney were smashed.
Completely hammered by the Cats.
Alas, there was one man in the middle standing up for the Swans, and a late flurry (12 touches and two goals in the last quarter) managed to see Chad Warner hold onto the title by the skin of his teeth.
Warner battled hard for 29 touches and two goals, but he was challenged by Patrick Dangerfield, who almost added a Mongrel Midfield Title reign to his Gary Ayres Medal, and Joel Selwood, both of whom would have made worthy champs.
But hang on, what about Isaac Smith?
Yes, well… I would have liked to hand the title to Smith, but considering he played the wing all day, it is difficult to say he BEAT Chad Warner. The champ battled Danger, Selwood, and Cam Guthrie for the most part – thye were the challengers, and he did just enough to hold them off.
MONGREL PUNT MIDFIELDER BELT 2021 LIST OF CHAMPS
CHRISTIAN PETRACCA – TEN DEFENCES
WILL BRODIE – FIVE DEFENCES
CHAD WARNER – EIGHT DEFENCES
As I said, a bit of fun, but a nice little way to keep track of the title, week to week and add a little more interest to the season, As always, at The Mongrel, we try to look at things a little differently and hope you take this in the way it’s intended.
This will be updated weekly as we track the Midfielder Championship belt through the 2022 season.
I’ll just continue updating. This has been great fun. Cheers – HB
The Mongrel Punt Midfielder Championship Belt is a column for our Mongrel Members. The title history, dating back to 2017 remains locked for members and come the 2023 season, the entire article will be locked for them on a weekly/fortnightly basis. With four years of results below, this is where the value comes for our Mongrel members. You should join, huh?
