THE south-west was well represented on football's national stage.
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The Standard's sport journalist SEAN HARDEMAN puts the region's 15 exports under the microscope to see how they fared in season 2019.
Gary Rohan
Club: Geelong
Age: 28
Games: 19
Verdict: A pretty good start to life at the Cattery for the Cobden export.
While most of his stats were down, his impact around goals was up, kicking an equal career-best tally of 25.
Started well playing every game up until round 15 before injuries began to creep in in the latter part of the season, missing six games in the final half of the year.
READ MORE: Happy south-west Cat in red hot form
Zach Merrett
Club: Essendon
Age: 24
Games: 23
Verdict: Another standout year for the Bombers' vice-captain, which was capped off with his second Crichton Medal as Essendon's best and fairest.
The influential Bomber took his game to another level. He was well above his career average in a number of key statistics.
He averaged 28 disposals, three more than his career average, a game and set a new career-high for handballs (313).
READ MORE: Cobden export claims second Crichton medal
Sean Darcy
Club: Fremantle
Age: 21
Games: 11
Verdict: A career-high for games played for the big Docker, which will hold him in good stead for an expected busy 2020 after the retirement of club legend Aaron Sandilands.
Played the first two games before injury and form forced him into the WAFL. Scored a recall in round 13 and missed just two games (round 16 and 23) as he held his spot in the side.
2019 saw Darcy accumulate career highs in every key stat except tackles. Expect these personal bests to be smashed in 2020.
READ MORE: Dockers ruckman delivers in return match
Ben Cunnington
Club: North Melbourne
Age: 28
Games: 22
Verdict: The 2019 season was by far Cunnington's best year for the Kangaroos.
He played every game and recorded career-bests in disposals, clearances and contested possessions.
In eight of his 22 games he accumulated 30-plus touches. But his best game came against Collingwood in round 15, collecting 37 disposals to demolish the Magpies' stacked midfield.
Cunnington also played his 200th game for the club in round 16 and earned his first inclusion in the 40-man All-Australian squad.
Marty Gleeson
Club: Essendon
Age: 25
Games: Nine
Verdict: Missed the first half of the season as he made his return from a serious ankle injury he suffered during the 2018 JLT Community Series and resulted in him missing most of last season.
But once the composed defender returned to the senior team he held onto his spot until missing Essendon's humbling elimination final loss to West Coast.
His best two games came in round 17 and 18 against where he amassed a season-high 21 disposals against the Kangaroos and 20 the following week against the Crows.
Easton Wood
Club: Western Bulldogs
Age: 30
Games: 23
Verdict: 2019 was the first season the Camperdown export played every single game the Bulldogs played.
The second-year skipper was forced to play more time as a key stopper in the Dogs' back six and never looked uncomfortable.
Willem Drew
Club: Port Adelaide
Age: 21
Games: 10
Verdict: The big-bodied midfielder finally got his chance on the AFL stage and immediately showed he belonged in an impressive debut season.
He played the first eight games before falling out of the senior team. He would go on to play a key role in the Power's drive to an SANFL grand final, which they eventually lost to Glenelg.
His best game at AFL level came in his second outing in round two when he accumulated 24 disposals, five tackles and 92 fantasy points as the Power beat Carlton.
Rowan Marshall
Club: St Kilda
Age: 23
Games: 20
Verdict: A breakout season for the Portland export that was filled with career-highs and firsts.
Marshall, who scored his highest finish as runner-up in the Saints' best and fairest, played a career-high 20 games as the senior side's number one ruckman.
The Saint lifted his career averages in a number of key stats and will be a key player in Brett Ratten's plans for 2020.
Jamaine Jones
Club: Geelong
Age: 21
Games: Zero
Verdict: Not the year Jones would've wanted on the field as he struggled to break into the senior team.
Ultimately his seven-game career with the club concluded when he was delisted at season's end.
However, off the field is where he shone the brightest, being named a finalist in the Jim Stynes Community Leadership Award.
The nomination was recognition for his work with Barwon Child Youth and Family's Foster Care Campaign, continuing his inspiring work in his second year as the campaign's official ambassador.
Hugh McCluggage
Club: Brisbane
Age: 21
Games: 23
Verdict: By far his best season with the Lions as he took his game as a wingman to an elite level.
Earned selection in the initial All-Australian squad and lifted his key stats to become one of the game's most promising midfielders.
He also took his goal-kicking ability to another level with a career-best season tally of 23 majors after previous hauls of 10 and eight.
Jeremy Cameron
Club: GWS Giants
Age: 26
Games: 24
Verdict: Another standout year for the Giants' spearhead culminating in his first Coleman Medal victory, a grand final berth and a second All-Australian blazer.
2019 was the Dartmoor export's most productive in front of goal as he finished with 76 goals, including a career-best haul of nine against Gold Coast to steal the Coleman from North Melbourne's Ben Brown in the final round.
Lewis Taylor
Club: Brisbane
Age: 24
Games: Five
Verdict: A lean year for Taylor in terms of games as he fell out of the Lions' senior side.
He only managed five games as the Lions bolted up the ladder. Only one of those games resulted in him collecting more than 18 touches.
However, he did not miss out on success with the Lions' NEAFL side as they claimed a premiership victory over Southport Sharks.
Liam Picken
Club: Western Bulldogs
Age: 33
Games: Zero
Verdict: Concussion again restricted the gritty premiership star this season and ultimately resulted in him calling time on his career two games short of 200.
Will be fondly remembered as the Bulldogs' "Mr Finals" in the premiership year of 2016.
Cedric Cox
Club: Brisbane
Age: 22
Games: One
Verdict: Just the solitary AFL game in round 23 for the Camperdown export as he struggled to break into a firing Lions' outfit.
But there was still success for the young Lion in 2019. He kicked four goals as Brisbane stormed to a NEAFL premiership victory.
Jordan Lewis
Club: Melbourne
Age: 33
Games: 12
Verdict: A fair final season from the four-time premiership star.
Didn't set the world alight but can hold his head high as he bows out a legend of Hawthorn, Melbourne football clubs and of the AFL.
Josh Corbett
Club: Gold Coast
Age: 23
Games: Nine
Verdict: A good debut season for the former North Warrnambool Eagle.
Showed a lot of promise in a seven-game stretch from his debut in six, where he kicked two goals against Brisbane, to round 12.
Another pre-season under his belt could help him cement his spot in a developing Suns' outfit.
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