CARLTON midfielder Kade Simpson has emerged as the best Toyota AFL Dream Team performer from this year’s NAB Cup competition.

Simpson averaged 107.5 points per game to edge out Geelong champ Jimmy Bartel and teammate Bryce Gibbs as the most valuable Dream Team player in the pre-season tournament.

Simpson scored 116 points in the Blues’ first-round clash against North Melbourne, before backing up with a 99-point effort against Hawthorn in round two. He was rested along with several teammates for Carlton’s semi-final against the Cats.

Bartel (106.6) averaged one point less than Simpson from his three NAB Cup outings, while third-ranked Gibbs was the standout young player with 105 points per game.

Gary Ablett (104.6) and prolific Brisbane Lions on-baller Bradd Dalziell (104.5) rounded out the top five, which was comprised solely of midfielders.

In fact, there were only three players who could be classed as anything other than midfielders in the top 10 – and they all came from the one club, Richmond.

Defender Daniel Jackson and forwards Matthew Richardson and Nathan Brown filled positions six to eight, but all three have been given a licence to roam far and wide by coach Terry Wallace.

Tigers teammate Nathan Foley (93) and Michael Tuck medallist Joel Selwood (91) rounded out the top 10.

When putting their squads together, Dream Team coaches are looking for consistently excellent performances. To that end, players must have played at least two NAB Cup games to feature on the list.

That meant standout performances from Melbourne’s Brad Green (112 points), St Kilda’s Brendon Goddard (106) and Western Bulldogs Daniel Giansiracusa (104) could not be considered, but their efforts have been noted below.

Dream Team mentors looking for key position players could do worse than Collingwood’s Travis Cloke (87 points) and Hawthorn forward Jarryd Roughead (86.5).

While the likes of Fremantle skipper Matthew Pavlich and the Hawks’ Coleman medallist Lance Franklin weren’t sighted during the NAB Cup, Cloke and Roughead were the most valuable players for their respective teams.

Other players to keep an eye on include Essendon speedsters Andrew Lovett and Jason Winderlich, who both averaged more than 85 points per game, young Hawks on-baller Travis Tuck (86.5) and Port Adelaide’s former NAB Rising Star, Danyle Pearce (88.5). 

Top 20 NAB Cup Dream Team performers
(Players must have played at least two games)
1. Kade Simpson (Carl) 107.5 points per game
2. Jimmy Bartel (Geel) 106.6
3. Bryce Gibbs (Carl) 105
4. Gary Ablett (Geel) 104.6
5. Bradd Dalziell (BL) 104.5
6. Nathan Brown (Rich) 97
7. Daniel Jackson (Rich) 96.5
8. Matthew Richardson (Rich) 95
9. Nathan Foley (Rich) 93
10. Joel Selwood (Geel) 91
11. Joel Corey (Geel) 90.67
12. Jason Winderlich (Ess) 89.5
13. Danyle Pearce (PA) 88.5
14. Paul Chapman (Geel) 88
15. Travis Cloke (Coll) 87
16. Jarryd Roughead (Haw) 86.5
17. Travis Tuck (Haw) 86.5
18. Tarkyn Lockyer (Coll) 86
19. Andrew Lovett (Ess) 85.5
20. Josh Drummond (BL) 85.5

Other notable NAB Cup performances:
Brad Green (Melb) 112
Brendon Goddard (StK) 106
Daniel Giansiracusa (WB) 104
Matthew Bate (Melb) 103
Chris Knights (Adel) 103
Brock McLean (Melb) 102
Nick Dal Santo (StK) 101