Seven Cats make All-Australian team

Geelong have again dominated the AFL All-Australian team, but fell two short of last year’s record contingent. The Cats, who have lost only once this season and are strong premiership favourites, had seven selections in the team named tonight.

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Geelong captain Tom Harley and fellow defender Corey Enright were among nine players who received their first All-Australian selections.

Fremantle skipper Matthew Pavlich is easily the most-picked player in the team, receiving the honour tonight for the sixth time.

Among those who could consider themselves unlucky not to make the team are Brisbane key forward Jonathan Brown, Cats defender Andrew Mackie, team-mate Joel Selwood and Hawthorn captain Sam Mitchell.

Western Bulldogs midfielder Adam Cooney made the team for the first time, but did not attend the function because of illness.

He also has a sore knee, but the Bulldogs are confident Cooney, one of their most important players, will be fit for Friday night’s preliminary final against the Cats.

Geelong had an astonishing nine players named in last year’s team and this time they had 10 in the initial squad of 40.

Full-back Matthew Scarlett received his fourth selection, while midfielders Gary Ablett, Joel Corey and Jimmy Bartel and forward Steve Johnson also backed up from last season.

The Geelong players named last year who did not make the team tonight were Cameron Mooney, Cameron Ling and Darren Milburn.

Harley was named vice-captain of the All-Australian team under Carlton star Chris Judd, who received his third selection and was made captain of the side for the first time.

The other first-time All-Australians are Adelaide key defender Nathan Bock, St Kilda defender Sam Fisher, Hawthorn full-forward and Coleman Medallist Lance Franklin, Collingwood small forward Paul Medhurst, Western Bulldogs backman Dale Morris and giant Fremantle ruckman Aaron Sandilands.

West Coast ruckman Dean Cox, North Melbourne forward Brent Harvey and Pavlich joined the five Geelong players in making the team for the second-successive year.

This weekend’s four preliminary finalists - Geelong, the Bulldogs, Hawthorn and St Kilda - also took the double-chance positions at the top of the ladder at the end of the regular season.

Reflecting their strength this year, those four sides had 13 players in the All-Australian 22.

Arguably the most popular choice was Richmond utility Matthew Richardson, who has reinvented himself this season as a tall wingman.

One of the most liked players in the competition, Richardson was named for the third time - and his first since 1999.

Richardson will be the sentimental favourite for next Monday night’s Brownlow Medal.

The other members of the All-Australian team are Carlton key forward Brendan Fevola, St Kilda captain Nick Riewoldt and Hawthorn half-back Luke Hodge.

Franklin was also presented with his Coleman Medal tonight as the league’s leading goalkicker.

Richmond onballer Brett Deledio, a member of the initial All-Australian squad but not the final side, won the Army Award.

The award recognises teamwork, initiative and courage and Deledio was nominated for a piece of play in round seven when he tried to mark while running with the flight of the ball.

Details of the 22 AFL All-Australian players:

BACKS

Dale Morris, Western Bulldogs. Never previously selected. 22 games in 2008. 137 kicks, 102 marks, 143 handballs, 11 Clearances, 36 Rebound 50m.
Matthew Scarlett, Geelong. All Australian 2003, 2004, 2007. 19 games in 2008. 178 kicks, 63 marks, 145 handballs, 22 Inside 50m, 57 Rebound 50m.
Tom Harley, Geelong, vice-captain. Never previously selected. 22 games in 2008. 150 kicks, 117 marks, 184 handballs, 11 Inside 50m, 45 Rebound 50m.

HALF-BACKS

Luke Hodge, Hawthorn. All Australian 2005. 17 games in 2008. 241 kicks, 90 marks, 155 handballs, 58 Clearances, 73 Inside 50m, 38 Rebound 50m.
Nathan Bock, Adelaide. Never previously selected. 22 games in 2008. 324 kicks, 159 marks, 158 handballs, 11 Clearances, 42 Inside 50m, 79 Rebound 50m.
Sam Fisher, St Kilda. Never previously selected. 22 games in 2008. 303 kicks, 192 marks, 193 handballs, 18 Clearances, 43 Inside 50m, 73 Rebound 50m.

CENTRES

Jimmy Bartel, Geelong. All Australian 2007. 22 games in 2008. 339 kicks, 127 marks, 278 handballs, 19 Goals 15 Behinds. 78 Clearances, 89 Inside 50m, 44 Rebound 50m.
Joel Corey, Geelong. All Australian 2007. 22 games in 2008. 304 kicks, 104 marks, 336 handballs, 100 Clearances, 104 Inside 50m, 34 Rebound 50m.
Adam Cooney, Western Bulldogs. Never previously selected. 22 games in 2008. 283 kicks, 84 marks, 297 handballs, 21 Goals Six Behinds. 99 Clearances, 68 Inside 50m, 53 Rebound 50m.

HALF-FORWARDS

Steve Johnson, Geelong. All Australian 2007. 22 games in 2008. 285 kicks, 128 marks, 150 handballs, 49 Goals 28 Behinds. 34 Clearances, 93 Inside 50m, 18 Rebound 50m.
Nick Riewoldt, St Kilda. All Australian 2004, 2006. 21 games in 2008. 256 kicks, 211 marks, 113 handballs, 56 Goals 39 Behinds. 52 Inside 50m.
Brent Harvey, North Melbourne. All Australian 2000, 2005, 2007. 22 games in 2008. 322 kicks, 107 marks, 227 handballs, 23 Goals 19 Behinds. 46 Clearances, 102 Inside 50m, 30 Rebound 50m.

FORWARDS

Brendan Fevola, Carlton. All Australian 2006. 22 games in 2008. 214 kicks, 128 marks, 44 handballs, 99 Goals 51 Behinds. 30 Inside 50m.
Lance Franklin, Hawthorn. Never previously selected. 22 games in 2008. 281 kicks, 145 marks, 67 handballs, 102 Goals 84 Behinds. 48 Inside 50m.
Paul Medhurst, Collingwood. Never previously selected. 22 games in 2008. 284 kicks, 165 marks, 62 handballs, 48 Goals 22 Behinds. 90 Inside 50m, 17 Rebound 50m.

RUCKS

Dean Cox, West Coast. All Australian 2005, 2006, 2007. 22 games in 2008. 233 kicks, 125 marks, 253 handballs, 571 hit outs averaging 26.0 hit outs. 86 Clearances, 61 Inside 50m, 51 Rebound 50m.
Chris Judd, Carlton, captain. All Australian 2004, 2006. 21 games in 2008. 250 kicks, 41 marks, 258 handballs, 103 Clearances, 83 Inside 50m, 29 Rebound 50m.
Gary Ablett, Geelong. All Australian 2007. 18 games in 2008. 246 kicks, 84 marks, 262 handballs, 23 Goals 22 Behinds. 87 Clearances, 101 Inside 50m, 22 Rebound 50m.

INTERCHANGE

Corey Enright, Geelong. Never previously selected. 22 games in 2008. 267 kicks, 118 marks, 250 handballs, 39 Clearances, 41 Inside 50m, 64 Rebound 50m.
Matthew Pavlich, Fremantle. All Australian 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007. 19 games in 2008. 263 kicks, 138 marks, 83 handballs, 67 Goals 35 Behinds. 38 Clearances, 101 Inside 50m, Five Rebound 50m.
Matthew Richardson, Richmond. All Australian 1996, 1999. 20 games in 2008. 263 kicks, 222 marks, 102 handballs, 48 Goals 30 Behinds. 46 Inside 50m, 19 Rebound 50m.
Aaron Sandilands, Fremantle. Never previously selected. 22 games in 2008. 122 kicks, 77 marks, 208 handballs, 646 hit outs averaging 29.4 hit outs. 88 Clearances, 45 Inside 50m, 18 Rebound 50m.

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