KK & RM, I'm pretty sure the AFL stats use Champion Data metric - they compare a players' disposal efficiency against other players who play in the same position, factoring in degree of difficulty, the amount of pressure they are under, expected outcome, etc. That is to say they do compare apples with apples.
Of course what is more difficult to quantify is a player's influence in a game, particularly when it is there to be won (or lost). Stats don't always accurately reflect which players continually put their head over the ball when it is their turn to go, or sprint 80 metres across the ground to cover a team mate's man who has got loose, or provide a get-out option for an under-seige defence.
Aish may not be a potato - yes he has ok skills - but he is not a damaging player, hardly durable, and is often outmuscled by bigger opponents. I'd much prefer Newnes, Menegola and Menadue (in that order). Newnes is a talented player (albeit coming off an 'average year') and as a (restricted) free agent we wouldn't have to trade for him; Menagola has shown that he has some real weapons but would cost the most; and Menadue shouldn’t cost too much but has great upside. All three present better value than Aish.
