At the half-way point of Fremantle’s season, should it be unreasonable to consider Ryan Crowley a chance to win this year’s Doig Medal or even, wait for it, All-Australian selection?

The 28-year-old has been the best tagger in the AFL so far this year.

The numbers, or lack thereof for his opponents, don’t lie.

Daniel Rich in round 3: 13 possessions.

Nick Dal Santo in round 4: 18 possessions.

Chris Judd in round 5: 18 possessions.

Sam Mitchell in round 8: 21 possessions.

Scott Thompson in round 10: 18 possessions.

Brett Deledio in round 11: 15 possessions.

Crowley is no slouch offensively, either.

He’s averaging 16 disposals per game and he’s kicked five goals, often at crucial stages of games.

The Doig Medal is awarded to Fremantle’s best player at the end of the season as voted on by the coaching staff.

In each game, players are given a score reflecting how they performed their role.

It’s hard to see how Crowley wouldn’t be a big chance to win the Doig if he stays in this vein of form for the rest of the season.

Historically, taggers don’t get selected in the All-Australian side. If they did, Cameron Ling would have been honoured on multiple occasions.

But the question must be begged: why not?

If the All-Australian side is supposed to be reflective of the season’s best players, picked in position, then a tagger should get a jumper, if deserving so.

Taggers are a vital component of every team’s game plan and it’s unfair to omit their role from consideration purely because they don’t kick the goals or make the highlight reel.

After all, somebody’s got to stop the big names from doing just that.

If a tagger was to earn All-Australian honours, Crowley is ahead at the midway point of the 2012 season.