Playmaker's EFL 72: #44 Jacob Greaves

Our 'Playmaker 72' is hurtling towards its own halfway line, as we count down the EFL players we think have enjoyed the best seasons.

It's certainly been no easy task, but - just to clarify - our '72' is less a roll call of the best footballers in the EFL and more a tribute to those players who have enjoyed the most memorable seasons while racking up the most impressive stats.

Whatever the criteria, we're confident in our selections of the most outstanding players through the Championship, League One, and League Two and welcome any debate on the subject!

Next up is a Rolls Royce of a centre-back in the Championship...

Number 44: Jacob Greaves (Hull City)

When Hull City centre-back Jacob Greaves charted 15 places lower in last season's Playmaker 72, we suggested a Premier League move was on the cards - and the top flight must surely come calling sooner rather than later for the talented 23-year-old.

Just named in the Championship Team of the Season, Greaves has again been absolutely key for Hull this term; the Tigers enjoying a positive season that sees them in with an outside chance of bagging a play-off spot.

Jacob Greaves is named in the EFL Championship team of the year. 👏🏼🏆

One Of Our Own. Get in Greavesy!🖤🧡#HCAFC pic.twitter.com/JNb5Oc8Jq8

— Hull City News🇹🇷 (@HullCityStats) April 14, 2024

Greaves' terrific partnership with Alfie Jones has given Hull a solid defensive base throughout the current campaign, the pair almost ever-present for Liam Rosenior's side.

While Jones features in the Championship's 'Top 10' for shots blocked this season, with 37, Greaves has provided serious aerial dominance - the left-sided centre-half winning 163 aerial duels to rank fourth in the division. Throw in a combined 374 clearances between them, and you have one of the more impressive central defensive pairings in the league.

Imposing last season, Greaves has improved this term and his defensive skill-set, solid temperament and offensive threat mark him out as a young English defender to watch.

After scoring four goals and supplying two assists last term, Greaves has turned the tables in 2023/24, with two goals and four assists, and he is undoubtedly a handful in the opposing penalty box - ranking in the 'Top 10' defenders in the league for shots from set-pieces and headers on goal.

Greaves' two Championship goals in 2023/24 came on his 200th appearance for Hull on a night when he captained the Tigers to a 2-1 win over Huddersfield. Special nights like that, and the defender's bond with his hometown club, perhaps offer the Tigers their best chance of retaining Greaves for another season. 

Playmaker's EFL 72...the countdown

45: Paddy Lane

46: Herbie Kane 47: Dan James 48: Archie Collins 49: Karamoko Dembele

50: Haji Wright 51: Dan Crowley 52: Cameron Brannagan 53: Aaron Collins

54: Andy Cook 55: Connor Shaughnessy 56: Jannik Vestergaard

57: Willy Gnonto 58: Ellis Simms 59: Charlie Hughes 60: Fatawu Isshaku

61: Sam Hoskins 62: Paul Mullin 63: Chris Martin 64: Omari Hutchinson

65: Isaac Hutchinson 66: Sam Tickle 67: Ben Hinchcliffe 68: Michał Helik

69: Lewis Wing 70: Rob Apter 71: Kyle Walker-Peters 72: Alex Palmer