Here is part two of my look at who will make the All Australian side in 2013. Part one covered Adelaide to GWS, and here we kick it off with the Hawthorn Hawks.
Hawthorn
There is huge chance Jarryd Roughead will be selected for the All Australian squad. The in-form player of the competition can play multiple positions but is most commonly known for playing forward.
Roughead also has the most goals in the competition, alongside Josh Kennedy from West Coast. Sam Mitchell is also a contender for one of the midfield positions in the All Australian team. Mitchell has the fourth most disposals in the league.
Mitchell has a solid body, is swift and can position himself well.
Melbourne
To add to their season from hell, Melbourne have no genuine players pushing for an All Australian spot.
Demons players may perform better under a new coach but there isn’t enough rounds left for players to standout above others in the competition.
If Jack Watts builds consistency, taking seven marks and four goals a game then he may be able to challenge for a spot next season.
A spark has landed at Melbourne this year in mature age recruit Dean Terlich. The small defender is second at the club for rebound 50s and third for most disposals.
He applies great pressure to try and move the ball outside defensive 50.
North Melbourne
Todd Goldstein probably doesn’t get as much recognition as he should. His hitout work is outstanding, placing the ball in great positions for kangaroo midfielders to collect.
Goldstein is second in the competition for most hitouts.
Full back Scott Thompson also has had a fabulous year, keeping highly regarded forwards quiet such as Lance Franklin (0 goals in Round 5) and Kennedy (2 goals in Round 8).
Port Adelaide
South Australia’s favourite 19 year old, Chad Wingard, is slowly becoming a certainty forward in the All Australian squad this season.
Wingard has been Power’s most consistent player; he is always kicking goals and if he’s not kicking them, he is setting them up.
Kane Cornes has the fifth most disposals in the competition. Cornes can also shut down some of the best midfielders.
The 2x All Australian could be pushing for his third AA spot.
Richmond
Richmond have had some great performers this season but players like Cotchin and Jack Riewoldt haven’t been as good as others in the AFL though. Cotchin gets a lot of disposals but his efficiency lets him down.
Riewoldt kicks a lot of goals but doesn’t contribute to his team as much as other forwards do in the league.
Brett Deledio will be closely looked at his he a very damaging player if he isn’t tagged. You could argue that Deledio is more important than Cotchin to the Tigers’ midfield.
St Kilda
Nick Riewoldt has reinvented himself to be one of the best forwards in the competition again. Riewoldt is leading his team from the front as he is first in the league for most marks and has kicked 35 goals this season.
Since Brendon Goddard has left, Leigh Montagna has risen to help lead a young midfield as Lenny Hayes has been injured for a lot of the season and Nick Dal Santo has been scratchy. Montagna has been in career best form running from halfback and creating havoc for opposition for teams.
Sydney
Outside midfielder Daniel Hannebery has been tossed up as a name to win the Brownlow.
His entries inside 50 are always polished and he also has a beautiful clearing kick.
Nick Malceski is another name to look at for a backline position as he is Sydney’s go to man for clearing for ball outside defensive 50.
Malceski’s long kicks always put Sydney out of any pressure situation.
West Coast
Josh Kennedy will be looking for a forward position as he’s been the most consistent forward in the competition and is tied first in the Coleman Medal race.
Shannon Hurn will also be considered for a spot as he can keep his opponent quiet, takes a lot of marks and can help work the ball outside the defensive half.
Eagles have other players who will be pushing for All Australian spots but some of these players haven’t stood out above the rest, for example: Dean Cox and Matt Priddis.
Western Bulldogs
Will Minson has clearly been the best ruckman in the competition. He is first for hitouts in the league and also averages 41 hitouts a game due to his strength and positioning awareness.
Ryan Griffen is yet another midfielder pushing for a spot in the team as he can work at all stoppages around the ground.
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Apart from one five-goal game, GWS forward Toby Greene has only kicked six goals from the other eight games. He's traditionally had success against the Western Bulldogs.
Bayley Fritsch should become an even more important player from a structural perspective, given key forward Jacob van Rooyen will be unavailable due to concussion.
Tom Hawkins returns to familiar surroundings of Geelong - but is it the tonic he needs to regain some of his confidence back after a goalless four games.
Jeremy Finlayson should be a welcome addition to the Port Adelaide forward line after kicking four goals in the SANFL last week.
Last, year in the second showdown, Adelaide destroyed Port by 47 points with a staggering 20 marks inside 50 with Tex Walker the main star.
There’s no disputing that Cam Guthrie will be important against Melbourne, given Patrick Dangerfield is set to miss due to injury.
