“Geez Andrew Swallow was unlucky,” was the call from Mike Sheahan regarding the release of his 2012 AFL Top 50 list. The former newspaper journalist revealing the two-time Syd Barker Medal winner won’t be featuring among his best this time around.

It’s a big call and maybe Sheahan pulled the pin at the Herald Sun at the right time given this, especially when you consider Swallow finished 2011 at number 29 on the same list.

He also averaged almost 26 possessions a game in 2012, was widely considered one of the league’s best midfielders and polled 16 votes in the Brownlow Medal.

So what exactly has he done wrong?

It’s a similar discussion with Drew Petrie who slid ten spots from 35 to 45.

Questioned by Paul Roos as to why Petrie was rated so far down the list, Sheahan replied, “Maybe it says something about North… they are a very even team.”

Do you think Andrew Swallow is among the league’s top 50 players? Leave a comment below.