Even though the AFL season is not yet finished, it is clear who the 2013 All-Australian team could be.
After a tumultuous 20 rounds of AFL football, the top eight is close to being certain, albeit with the Essendon scandal being the only topic that could hinder the make-up of the best eight teams in 2013.
Hawthorn have yet again starred, looking almost impossible to be booted out of top spot, unless Collingwood kick off a string of losses on Friday night (let’s hope so!) for the mighty Hawks.
Geelong are then second on the ladder, with their form slightly rising by the week, shaping brilliantly to look like a true finals contender just two years ago after beating Collingwood for the flag.
The reigning Premiers in Sydney then follow, with their last few weeks being crucial if they want to finish in the top four, with only the Swans being the possibility of being kicked out of the top four at the hands of Collingwood or Richmond.
Fremantle then follow in fourth, but they have an easy finish to their year, with Ross Lyon’s chargers preparing for a huge finals campaign in the top four.
Collingwood, with the continually growing form, sits in fifth, with an enormous match on Friday night against the Hawks providing whether the Pies will finish in the top four or not.
Richmond then sits sixth, but only by percentage, with the Tigers certain to not finish ninth again, also having a true possibility of getting a double chance in September.
Essendon, the rolling troublemakers, sit in seventh by percentage, but with their guilty findings of taking drugs making all supporters and members of the club shake their heads, they may be punished by the AFL and may not even make the eight.
They may even drop down to 18th with 0 points if the AFL finds it fitting to punish them in that matter.
The all impressive Port Adelaide then round out the eight, being eight points ahead of closest rivals Carlton and West Coast on the ladder, with the electric young side from Adelaide looking like they can go far in September.
All eight of those teams have true stars in their line-ups. But there are some superstar players in the lesser skilled teams like Gary Ablett, Ryan Griffen, Pearce Hanley, Nic Naitanui, Patrick Dangerfield and Jeremy Cameron, just to name a few.
All of the players from the eighteen clubs make up what in my mind is the All-Australian team for 2013 up to Round 20. Enjoy and please comment your thoughts.
Defence
BP FB BP
Shannon Hurn Ted Richards Josh Gibson
West Coast Sydney Swans Hawthorn
HBF CHB HBF
Nick Malceski Harry Taylor Heath Shaw
Sydney Swans Geelong Collingwood
Midfield
WING CENTRE WING
Ryan Griffen Scott Pendlebury Joel Selwood
Western Bulldogs Collingwood Geelong
Forwards
HFF CHF HFF
Cyril Rioli Lance Franklin Jeremy Cameron
Hawthorn Hawthorn GWS
Followers
FP FF FP
Chad Wingard Josh Kennedy Steven Motlop
Port Adelaide West Coast Geelong Cats
RUCKS
RUCK: Ivan Maric, Richmond
RUCK ROVER: Gary Ablett Junior, Gold Coast (CAPTAIN)
ROVER: Kieren Jack, Sydney Swans
BENCH
Jarryd Roughead Patrick Dangerfield Luke Hodge Dane Swan
Hawthorn Adelaide Hawthorn (SUB) Collingwood
What do you think, Roarers? Do you agree?
D
Guest
*Lindsay Thomas out Ryan Griffen in
D
Guest
Selwood will win brownlow medal check out his season stats
D
Guest
Michael Johnson (freo) Scott Thompson (kang) Andrew walker (Carl) Nick malceski (syd) Harry Taylor (gee) Garrick ibbotson (freo) Scott pendlebury (Coll) Joel selwood (gee) Kieran jack (syd) Patrick dangerfield (ade) Jarryd Roughead (haw) Steve Johnson (gee) Chad wingard (port) Jeremy Cameron (gws) Lindsay Thomas (kang) Ruck: will minson (bull) jobe Watson (ess) Gary ablett (gcs) Int: Nathan fyfe (freo) jarrad mcveigh (syd) dustin Martin (rich) Dane swan (Coll)
Sean Mortell
Roar Guru
I have listened to all of your opinions and thoughts and I have made a new team suited to what your recommendations are.
BIGBOY
Guest
Hurn Really? Surely one of the best 6 defenders is from the best defensive team? I'd say johnson in, walker in - Out everyone except ablett + Taylor + Pendulbury + Griffin + Swan and my team of 6 would beat that 22. Oh Jeremy Cameron has to stay to.
TomC
Roar Guru
In the words of Sterling Archer... CYRIL??!!
TomC
Roar Guru
Don't reckon Ibbotson, Johnson or McPharlin would make it in this year. I think Freo's defence is more about an integrated gameplan across the team, rather than relying on their key defenders the way more freewheeling teams like Hawthorn or Richmond might. Ultimately the AA is best viewed as a series of individual awards. How many players you get in there isn't a measure of how good a team is.
Jacksoon
Guest
Let's see who should not be in -Rioli- by far the first person to remove -Ivan Maric -Franklin- a little bit down on overall form -Pendlebury/Swan- one of them should go (leading toward pendlebury) -Shannon Hurn- been injured for a chunk of the year -Ted Richards- other full backs have conceded less goals -Shaw?- Really
Floyd Calhoun
Guest
Despite a prominent Port supporter claiming he was quite happy to drive him to Adelaide airport himself just to make sure he was actually gone, I believe Chaplin has had three goals kicked against him by his direct opponent this season.
Cats 07,09,11
Guest
Cyril you have got to be kidding me, freo deserve a look for at minimum 1 backmen.
Chris
Guest
Could not agree more. This is one of the worst AA teams I've seen
Steve J
Roar Guru
Sorry - It has to be said, you'll only get about 10 of the players named above in the team Not one Docker? Nat Fyfe, Michael Barlow, Michael Walters, Chris Mayne and Michael Johnson would all be in consideration right now. And all of them ahead of Hurn, Gibson, Shaw, Motlop, Rioli, Selwood, Wingard, in their respective positions for season 2013. Even Mundy should be considered before some of the people listed above I really hate this idea of putting three power forwards in the AA team. It is a lock for Kennedy and Cameron. Franklin is not even in consideration. Mayne or Stevie J should be on the HFF No, No and No again to the team you've come up with.
Balthazar
Guest
each to their own but McPharlap is the reigning AA full back (albeit injured too frequently this year to get another cap). Ibbo is the best defensive intercept mark in the game and is ranked 4th overall for marking. I think Freo's biggest problem is that the players are not well known outside W.A.
Pope Paul VII
Guest
The All bores me to tears but anyway L Thomas as stated above Elliott on the bench Thompson for Gibson, Gibson's ceaseless spoiling in marking situations is unneccessary.
Jermayn
Guest
Ummm is this All Australian side a joke???? Lets start from defense.... 1) Hurn has been injured for 1/3 of the year 2) Richards and Gibson do not have the stats to back up their defensive credentials as someone like North Thompsons and WCE Macenzie. 3) Heath Shaw has been hot and cold, where someone like Jarred MacVeigh has been one of the best small defenders of the year. Even Houli or Hanley have been more impressive and providing better consistent run. 4) Rioli??? Now why do people keep talking up this over rated player who plays one good match out of 5 games. Very similar as David Warner... 5) Thomas from North should be included before Rioli, Wingard and Motlop. 6) Buddy Franklin?? Again why? He plays one game breaking match and it makes him AA?? seriously.... 7) Maric?? Even Cox has had a better season than him but it definatley should go to Minson. His stats are far ahead of anyone else. Hannebery, Fyfe are just two that come to mind who should replace Rioli, Wingard, Buddy and maybe even Motlop.
Jacksoon
Guest
I think fremantle dont have the best backmen or defensive players, but that their overall strength is their whole defensive game style and the way they work together. It's also similar with north melbourne, they have a good defensive but not a good defensive mindset.
simmo107
Roar Rookie
Hurn cant be in there, have to be someone sensational to only play half a season of football and be picked for an AA team. Plus he was only in reasonable nick before he did his ankle. If Mcpharlin had played more would have been a lock again, kept his opponent goalless in 11 of the 13 games he played but same case as Hurn, too much football missed. Scott Thompson (North Melbourne) is a logical selection as a defensive replacement considering some of the form he has been in this year. Constantly undersized against key forwards yet managers to usually break even or beat his opponent. Plus gives some dash and structure coming out of defense Both buddy and Cyril haven't played good enough for long enough to be selected on the field. Cyril probably had one of his quiter years in the AFL yet while buddy hasn't been in typical destructive buddy form, even going a fair few games not kicking a goal. Roughead is the most sensible replacement for him while the AA selectors usually like to place an extra midfielder on the half forward position that Rioli occupies. Someone to fill that could possibly be Nathan Fyfe who has been one of the better midfielders in a team which is poised for a top 2 finish or Dan Hannebery who is a top 5 brownlow chance easily. Minson certainly needs to be in the ruck, one of the most dominating players this season, easily better than Maric who struggled with groin problems for a good while. The midfield is solid but there a players such as Michael Barlow and Travis Boak who definitely have strong cases for a midfield berth.
Matt
Guest
No chance Cyril should be in there, he's been pretty ordinary for a long time this season. Neither should Teddy Richards who was awesome last year but not quite as effective this year (but has done well - but not AA form imo).
Balthazar
Guest
so, yet again, the best defence in the league can't get a defender in someone's all Australian side. No room for Ibbotson or Michael Johnson?
DingoGray
Roar Guru
Cyril no hope. Pearce Hanley or Lindsey Thomas should take that spot. I agree with Tony about the Ruck position Big Will been sensational for the Doggies this year. I'd probably also have Roughie in the starting team in a pocket and one of Motlop or Windgard on the bench.