Eight games into the 2012 AFL season, Toyota AFL Dream Team has managed to deliver coaches all the usual glory, heartbreak, friendship-testing banter and love-hate-trade relationships with AFL players just doing their job for the team.

The following list looks at who have been the top five Dream Team performers at Fremantle so far in 2012. It’s not necessarily just who’s been the best statistically, but also takes into account value for money, positional status and improvement on past averages.

Freo’s top 5 Toyota AFL Dream Team performers so far in 2012:

1. Clancee Pearce (MID/FWD)

He ended the 2011 season with similar job security to Julia Gillard, and now he’s gone up in value by more than $100K. Clancee’s current price tag of $405,700 is around the same price you could get Carlton’s Bryce Gibbs or St Kilda’s Nick Dal Santo at the moment. He’s also dual-position (Mid-Fwd), which means if you did pick Pearce up at the start of the season, give yourself a pat on the back. If you didn’t, it’s too late - you missed the boat.

2. Michael Johnson (DEF/FWD)

Johnson has been sensational playing off half-back in 2012, sometimes as the DT-friendly loose man. His 89.4 average is a staggering 25 points per game higher than he scored in 2011. Add the $78,500 price rise and ‘Johnno’ is looking almost as good a buy as google.com.

3. Aaron Sandilands (RUCK)

Big ‘Spider’ has had his issues staying on the park, missing two games already through injury. But when he’s on the field, he’s as valuable to your DT as a lawyer is to Matthew Newton. Sandiland’s 2012 average of 102.7 is currently the highest it’s ever been in his career and more than 13 points better than the next best Freo Docker this season. Thanks to hitouts, you can safely add 40-54 points to his score in every game before he’s even had a kick, mark or handball.

4. Ryan Crowley (MID)

There’s been a bit of conjecture in 2012 surrounding Crowley’s tagging tactics, which by the way may have been advantageous/caused you to lose your DT games if you have Daniel Rich, Chris Judd, Nick Dal Santo or Sam Mitchell in your team. Despite claims he makes the man and not the ball his primary target, the DT stats say otherwise. ‘Crowls’ is up $69K from his starting price, averaging a healthy 78 points per game, and 89.7 over his past three. And, he’s almost cracked the ton this year, with a 99 in round 2 against Sydney.

5. Chris Mayne (FWD)

Mayne has lifted his average by more than 10 points this season compared to last year and risen almost $40K in value. One of the main reasons for his 76.6 points per game has been his goal kicking. ‘Mayney’ has been more straight-shooting than Corporal Ben Roberts-Smith, booting 13 majors without a miss before finally registering a behind against Hawthorn in Launceston in round 8 - and even then, that one was touched before it sailed through the middle of the big sticks.

Honourable mention - Ross Lyon

For showing faith in Clancee Pearce and sending Michael Johnson back to the role he does best for the team and your Dream Team.