It’s All-Australian time, and this year seems particularly tough to round out the best 22, even if there are probably more locks than usual.
As is traditional, I’ll start with the backline.
Daniel Talia and Cale Hooker will marshal the defence from the key posts, both having consistently dominated key forwards all year.
Talia stifles his opponents ability to even breathe unrestricted, Hooker by out-marking them and leaving them dispirited as he runs off to launch another counter-attack.
Eric Mackenzie gets the third tall back position, having taken his rebound to another level, along with his ability to rarely get beaten. Alex Rance was knocking down the door for his position, and will be an All-Australian before his career is out.
Nick Malceski and Brodie Smith have been the outstanding rebounders across the season, and can take a back pocket and flank respectively. Malceski’s laser left foot cuts opposition presses open, and no-one carries the ball further and moves his team forward more than Smith.
In true All-Australian selector tradition, I’m going to engage in a little underhandedness here, and throw Tom Rockliff on a half-back flank. If he’d played every game, his rebound 50 stats would have him ranked a more-than-respectable sixteenth, and in a year of unprecedented midfield and forward quality depth, he’s my little cheat.
Sam Jacobs is the ruckman beyond compare, finally getting enough of the ball around the ground and in the contest to warrant inclusion, averaging almost double his career best for clearances, and hitting personal bests in almost all other categories.
Gary Ablett is Gary Ablett, and no more needs to be said, except he’s the only player who could get selected off fourteen and a half matches. Joel Selwood is another who needs no introduction, and Josh Kennedy is the premier clearance midfielder in the premier team.
Nat Fyfe has launched himself off an already high base to be under genuine consideration as the second best player in the competition. He could win a Brownlow as a permanent midfielder and a Coleman as a permanent forward if his career took those paths.
Scott Pendlebury gets judged by a very high standard, and has probably had a quieter year based on them, but all that means is that he becomes the fourth or fifth best midfielder in the competition.
Lance Franklin takes the centre-half-forward position as the stand-out forward in the game. He’s done it all this season, kicking goals, taking contested marks, and roaming far and wide to win the ball and send it Sydney’s way.
Tom Hawkins is the full-forward in my team as the marking powerhouse, and probably provides the most consistent output of any key forward.
Robbie Gray and Luke Parker are the strongest candidates for the half-forward positions and are surely in everyone’s team.
Gray has always had inordinate talent and, now with full confidence in his body, is showing it week after week. He has elite skill, awareness, cleverness and movement in traffic.
Parker does his best work in the clinches and forward of centre, hitting the scoreboard regularly, and it won’t surprise at all to see him win a best and fairest in a premiership year at only 21 years of age.
Luke Bruest trails only Gray for goal assists this season, and as one of only seven players with 50-plus majors is the most effective small forward around. While he doesn’t possess the obvious tricks of some others, his football brain is second to none.
The toughest selection was between Hayden Ballantyne and Eddie Betts for the other forward pocket. Goals are a given. Do you want in-your-face attitude or tackle pressure? Attacking flair or dazzling moments? The numbers say Betts, but I’m going with Ballantyne… just.
The bench spots are among the toughest to fill.
Matt Priddis deserves reward for years of consistent service at an extremely high level. Dyson Heppell basically carried Essendon on his shoulders during Jobe Watson’s absence. Brent Harvey has almost had a career-best season in a career that’s contained a great many.
Paddy Ryder gets the final berth in my side as second ruck and third tall forward, his maturity as a footballer perhaps finally marrying up with his talent.
As ever, there are a host of unlucky players, but we all have to make the hard calls.
Who have I left out that should leave me embarrassed? Is there anyone named that should have me shed my ‘expert’ label? What has been my biggest misjudgement?
Let rip, Roarers!
Don Freo
Guest
You know I am, Tom. Has probably conceded less goals than every other Full Back. Vote Zac #1.
Nev
Guest
Pumping dougie , I know we all are gonna put up our teams players ,but credit has to be given where it due There are a lot of very good defenders around but Iam gonna challenge you on this because when the Vickos commentators wrap up a player from West Coast or Freo other than Nat Fyfe of Hayden Balantyne you know he's earnt it , and that is Eric Mckenzie In all honesty the only player that has given him the run around this year is Roughie
Tom from Perth
Guest
Haha I thought you were serious about Dawson for a moment then!!
Don Freo
Guest
Sandi and Buddy are the 2 absolute 'no contests' in the AA 22. No one has come close to Sandi and, after Fyfe, will be Freo's highest Brownlow poller. I think he'll win it.
the 13th Man
Roar Rookie
Where is Zac Dawson?? had a ripper year, even kicked a goal and has occasionaly scored over 30 in dream team. In more serious things I think Sandilands is more worthy than Paddy Ryder for a spot in the side, I know him and Jacobs are very similar ruckmen but they have been by far the two best ruckmen in the league and deserve the two ruck spots.
Don Freo
Guest
Leuenberger is so much better than Martin. If he can stay on the park, he will be a premier player in the comp. Stephan Martin has been playing for over 6 seasons and has played 10 good games. Steady on. That's like saying Jake King is one of football's all time greats.
Pope Paul VII
Guest
Agreed. Davo is also strong, if not subtle. Spud is versatile and gutsy if a bit vulnerable. Gibbo, fortunately punches too much.
Cameron Rose
Expert
Thanks Oven. I actually had Malceski in my side last year too from memory, I thought he was very stiff to miss on the real thing. I'll sure he'll get a nod this time. Boak and Gibbs should be in the AA squad of 40, Boak definitely and Gibbs hopefully. Boak was one of four or five mid-fielders that I just couldn't squeeze in, but I'd have no issue with him replacing two or three of the others. That's the thing with these sort of teams - there's a lot of right answers!
Cameron Rose
Expert
It's a very good point Theo, and a worthy discussion point. Maybe he shouldn't be in there. But gee, those 10-11 games were better than any other players by some way I'd suggest. I wouldn't hang someone for leaving him out.
Cameron Rose
Expert
I think you've made a mistake putting Rance in that category Winston, he's exceptional one-on-one.
Theo Pratt
Roar Rookie
Maybe this is the minority view but does Gaz definitely get in? Just the 15 games and maybe 10-11 games of All-Australian quality? Midfield is probably the most competitive position in the team so it's hard to pick a guy based on half a season of football, even the great Gazza. Travis Boak and Jordan Lewis, for instance, have led strong midfield groups for the entire season and would be stiff to miss out.
Pope Paul vii
Guest
you need to more closely observe the trials and roles of defenders, the various quality of the teams they play with and against and the size of opponents.
Winston
Guest
Do you want to be more specific?
Pope Paul vii
Guest
Not strong enough? Winston I'm sending this to Spud and the defenders union so they can have a good giggle.
handles
Guest
No love for Mumford?
Don Freo
Guest
Sam Jacobs has played many good games...when Crows have played well. Sandilands has played well every game all year. A no contest. As for Harvey, why? He has not been good enough.
The Oven
Guest
Great work Cam! I'm a swans fan and am stoked for Malceski having had such a great year. He's now regularly appearing in a lot of these predicted AA teams. A very hard earned debut... it's amazing how well the LARS grafts have worked for him, in terms of maintaining his speed and agility and also not affecting his kicking technique - keeping a great disposal efficiency. Having worked in orthopaedic research and being familiar with the difficulties associated with rehabilitation after knee injuries and returning to an optimum level of performance - he has certainly made the most of his opportunities! Interestingly some of the ones that I thought would have made it in were other midfield players. I thought Boak has been abolutely brilliant this year in the games that I have watched for Port. And Gibbs really stepped it up for the Blues. I guess I'm just used to seeing AA teams stacked with midfielders in all kinds of positions! Where as this one is a bit more like a true position based AA team. Its a little bit sad that the Brownlow has slipped into a cycle of becoming a midfielders award and to some extent that is now creeping into the way that some of the AA teams have been put together in previous years with mid's in half forward and half back positions.
Winston
Guest
I like all those names, but I guess my focus is slightly different from yours. I thought Scarlett was good not because he could create but because he was rarely beaten one on one. And he could read the play so well that not much could surprise or wrong foot him. I'd put Glass, Fletcher, Richards in the same mould. Whereas the sort of tall defenders I hate are people like Phil Davis, Alex Rance, Michael Hurley, Josh Gibson, Michael Jamison, Michael Firrito - ie guys who are not strong enough to hold their spot one on one, and rely more on blocking, being the spare man, that type of player.
Cameron Rose
Expert
I don't disagree with any of that Dougie, he's a genuine champion.
Pumping Dougie
Guest
This is what afl.com.au published about Nick Riewoldt today (in their season review of the Saints): "Riewoldt was a star in 2014, but the sight of kicks flying over his head was too regular. Playing every game and leading the Saints with 49 goals, Riewoldt delivered another fine season when his club desperately needed it. He took more marks than any player in the League (184), often leading up to ground to provide a get-out option. He was the star in each of the Saints' four wins, booting 17 goals across those games." To perform the way he has in the bottom side, kick so many goals, take so many marks and provide outstanding leadership when the chips are down (and average 17 disposals from CHF), makes his season very impressive I reckon.