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 droop their heads, they may be punished by the AFL and may not even make the eight, nonetheless 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.
But there are some superstar players in the lesser skilled teams like Gary Ablett Junior, 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
Garrick Ibbotson Scott Thompson Luke McPharlin
Fremantle North Melbourne Fremantle
HBF CHB HBF
Nick Malceski Harry Taylor Jarrad McVeigh
Sydney Swans Geelong Sydney Swans
WING CENTRE WING
Ryan Griffen Scott Pendlebury Daniel Hannebery
Western Bulldogs Collingwood (VC) Sydney Swans
HFF CHF HFF
Lindsay Thomas Jarryd Roughead Jeremy Cameron
North Melbourne Hawthorn GWS
FP FF FP
Chad Wingard Josh Kennedy Nathan Fyfe
Port Adelaide West Coast Fremantle
RUCKS
RUCK: Will Minson, Western Bulldogs
RUCK ROVER: Gary Ablett Junior, Gold Coast (CAPTAIN)
ROVER: Kieren Jack, Sydney Swans
BENCH
Jamie Elliot Patrick Dangerfield Joel Selwood Dane Swan
Collingwood (SUB) Adelaide Geelong Collingwood
Sorry for my shocking first attempt, I have agreed with all of your comments and I hope that you can agree and see what this team is like! Thanks.
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