Games: 15
Goals: 6
Kicks: 189
Marks: 80
Handballs: 168

The Fan's Rating: 7.1/10

Some of what the fan's had to say:

""Always written off as too slow but Smokin' gets the job done. Essendon would have finished higher on the ladder if Joe wasn't injured this year.""

""A lot of people outside Essendon don't realise the importance of Joe to the team. Finishing as high as he did in the Crichton Medal while missing nine games through injury says it all.""

""Joey's consistency, in spite of a lengthy injury break, show why he is one of the most underrated midfielders in the league. He stood up in crunch games late in the year.""

""Came back from injury and piled up the statistics. Always hard at the ball and getting the vital first possession out of the packs. Not as quick as he used to be but such a valuable player.""

""Just gets better with age. Really had an impact when on the field. Is bagged for his lack of pace. But take look at the second half against West Coast in the semi final, he ran Cousins and Kerr into the ground, go tortoise.""

""Severe injury restricted his season, but still a top contributor in the games he was able to play. 24 touches per game a good return and looms as the key midfielder in 2003.""

""Another whose season was decimated by injury but showed what a true champion he is by being our best player in the last four games of the year. Seemed to be very at home with a vice captaincy role.""

""Another consistence season, but once again we missed him for a number of games due to injury. Will need to maintain his consistency next year as it’s likely he will have to carry a bigger workload.""

""Ultra consistent - Joey was again in great form in 2002. Like the rest of the team, at some stage he had an injury that kept him out for a while (which hurt our midfield). Finished the season in excellent touch - his ability to find the ball is outstanding. He is a real leader of the club.""

""Although injuries set him back in the season, the other games that were played were outstanding. Each game that Joe played was always full of passion and he always knew what was expected of him. He is a very worthy player and is always very good week in and week out in the midfield.""

The wash up:
Misiti missed a number of games due to a broken wrist in 2002, however the fan's agreed he played a pivotal role in the mid-field in the matches he participated in. Speed isn't one of Misiti's key assets but he makes up for it with his ability to gather the ball and accurate disposal. Misiti controls the traffic flow through the Bombers mid-field and pending an injury free 2003 will be an intregal part of the team's success. Overall another consistent year by the 28-year-old.

What Mark Harvey has to say:
The way Misiti came back from injury was a real credit to him, particularly because he slotted straight back in after having a sustained period out. A lot of players really struggle to keep up with that sort of tempo and actually perform - so Joe was sensational in that way. Fingers crossed he can have a season next year that is injury free because he was quite hurtful to the opposition when he came back this year. He is one of those players that defies all logic in football and keeps getting the ball. We all know his deficiencies but he overcomes them. He is very smart and calculative in all ways and he has really got his body right. Whilst he is being consistent in the mid-field he will stay there and if he can kick 20 to 30 goals for us it would be a real bonus.