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This is the week where we look both forward and back, reflecting on the home-and-away season that was, and predicting what lies ahead in the finals.
One thing we all love doing is an All-Australian team, so here’s my crack at it.
Top-eight teams account for 17 of the 22 positions, and the top 10 teams are all represented, but only one other club outside of that.
This was the year of the mid-size forward and defender, so there have been no third talls named up forward or down back. Mobility has never been more important, and neither has versatility.
Starting down back, as is traditional, the key defensive posts will be filled by Alex Rance (Richmond) and Michael Hurley (Essendon). Both back themselves in the air and on the ground, intent on being a driving force from defensive fifty, as good at rebounding from defence as beating their opponent in one-on-one contests.
Heath Shaw (Greater Western Sydney) is in one back pocket after arguably a career-best season rebounding from the Giants’ defensive fifty with that precise kicking style. It may surprise to learn that he was also second at GWS for contested marks, so he doesn’t just play the game on his terms.
Garrick Ibbotson (Fremantle) is in the other back pocket, and with Easton Wood (Western Bulldogs) on a back flank, good luck to any opposition forward thrust getting past these two. Winning the ball back at half-back is critically important in today’s football, and these guys were as good as anyone in the game this year. Their versatility to play tall and small is also important.
Luke Hodge (Hawthorn) is on the other half-back flank after the Hawks skipper once again maintained a high standard throughout the year, even though he missed five matches through suspension. I want my team to play on the edge, and he can lead the way.
Todd Goldstein (North Melbourne) will give the midfield first use of the ball after a stellar season rucking solo for the Roos, not just with his hit outs, but also ball gathering, around-the-ground marking, and ability to sneak forward for an important goal.
Nat Fyfe (Fremantle), Matt Priddis (West Coast) and Patrick Dangerfield (Adelaide) will be the starting centre-square on-ballers, and none of them need any explanation after their exploits this year.
Dan Hannebery (Sydney) and Andrew Gaff (West Coast) take up the wings after a year of gut-busting outside running, gathering plenty of ball, and being the most damaging playmaker for their respective top-four sides.
Josh Kennedy (West Coast) picks himself at full-forward as the dominant Coleman medallist, a beast overhead in a marking contest, but equally at home leading up between the arcs. Taylor Walker (Adelaide) is at centre-half forward as the second-best key forward in the competition this year.
Eddie Betts (Adelaide) and Jake Stringer (Western Bulldogs) take the forward pockets, third and fifth on the goal-kicking ladder, the brilliance and the bull coming together to give small and medium defenders headaches.
Two Port players round out the half-forward flanks, Robbie Gray and Chad Wingard.
Gray spent more time in the midfield this year, but confirmed his status as a top-10 player as a brilliant clearance man coupled with dangerous ball use forward of centre, despite the Power’s struggles.
Wingard had a superb second half of the season, a key reason for Port’s form resurgence in the latter part of the year. He kicked 53 goals and averaged almost 20 disposals a game across the season, and is a big-moment player.
On the bench, we’ve got Sam Mitchell (Hawthorn) after another fine season as the architect of the Hawk midfield, David Mundy (Fremantle) who has had his best and most complete year yet, and Brett Deledio (Richmond) as the Tigers’ best player through the middle and up forward.
As highlighted earlier, this side may be lacking a third tall defender or forward, and with versatility being so important, the 22nd player in my side is Cale Hooker (Essendon).
Hooker was compiling an All-Australian season down back in the first half of the year, but was then moved forward from Round 14, and became clearly the Bombers most dangerous forward. He took the fifth most marks and fifth most contested marks in the home-and-away rounds, a fantastic achievement for someone who played half a year at either end of the ground.
Given how important versatility is in the game today, we need to get better at appreciating the players who are moved around, and don’t get the chance to excel in just one position.
Cam Rose’s All Australian team for 2015
B: Heath Shaw (GWS) Michael Hurley (Essendon) Garrick Ibbotson (Fremantle)
HB: Luke Hodge (Hawthorn) Alex Rance (Richmond) Easton Wood (Western Bulldogs)
C: Dan Hannebery (Sydney) Patrick Dangerfield (Adelaide) Andrew Gaff (West Coast)
HF: Robbie Gray (Port) Taylor Walker (Adelaide) Chad Wingard (Port)
F: Jake Stringer (Western Bulldogs) Josh Kennedy (West Coast) Eddie Betts (Adelaide)
R: Todd Goldstein (North Melbourne) Nat Fyfe (Fremantle) Matt Priddis (West Coast)
Int: Sam Mitchell (Hawthorn) David Mundy (Fremantle) Brett Deledio (Richmond) Cale Hooker (Essendon)