The final All Australian side is among the most divisive and polarising decision on the AFL calendar, so why not through my hat in the ring?
A reliable and robust defence is the bedrock of any team and this year has seen many new faces thrust themselves into the spotlight. Most notably Tom Stewart and Rory Laird have seen significant increases in their contribution and importance to their respective teams. However, only one of these two found a place on my side.
As consistency is a critical component of excellence, my team will only consider players that have competed in over eight matches this year, and any relevant statistics will factor this.
Full backs
Jeremy McGovern (right full back)
Any All Australian side would be incomplete without the West Coast defender. He is the number one defender in the competition for intercept and contested marks, and as a result McGovern can often appear as an impenetrable barrier in defence.
Similarly, the 26-year-old significantly contributes on offence and is rated as elite in effective kicks and score launchers.
Daniel Talia (full back)
The Adelaide defender is the best lock-down defender in the league, ranking second for contested defensive one-on-ones and first in contested one-on-one loss percentage (For those that average over four defensive one on ones). Impressively, this record has been maintained despite the haemorrhage of inside 50s that Adelaide has conceded over the past month.
James Sicily (left full back)
Despite some on-field discretions, the Hawthorn defender has produced an incredible season. Sicily is ranked elite in an outstanding 16 stat categories. These include ranking second in effective kicks and score launches, fourth in effective disposals and fifth in intercept marks.
As was shown on Saturday night, Sicily has an incredible ability to push forward and kick goals, averaging a goal every second game.
(Paul Kane/Getty Images)
Half backs
Kade Simpson (left half back)
The 34-year-old has put together the best season of his career, averaging the second most AFL fantasy points of all defenders. Simpson ranks elite in ten stats categories, including effective kicks, effective disposals, contested possessions, and rebound 50s.
Simpson’s elite season has come despite operating in a woeful side where he receives little to no assistance on a week to week basis.
Alex Rance (centre half back)
The Richmond defender has been a staple of the All Australian side since 2014 and his 2018 season has been consistent with these standards. First in contested defensive one-on-ones and second best one-on-one loss percentage for defenders that average over four defensive one-on-ones a game.
Third in intercept marks and first in score launches, much of Richmond’s defensive rebounds can be attributed to Rance’s dominance.
Rory Laird (right half back)
Rory Laird’s 2018 season off half back has been one of the most prolific in recent memory, ranking elite in 13 separate stats categories.
The sheer amount of AFL fantasy points highlights Laird’s dominance. The Adelaide defender has compiled on average over 13 more points per game than any other back and averages over 32 disposals a game
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Shannon Hurn (bench)
The West Coast captain has reaffirmed himself as one of the premier half backs in the competition. Hurn is one of the leading ball users, ranking elite in both kick and disposal efficiency.
Hurn also possesses immense versatility. In addition to his elite ball skills, the West Coast captain ranks first for backmen in marks and is elite in both effective kicks and disposals.
Unlucky exclusions
- Jake Carlisle
- Aidan Corr
- Tom Stewart
- Lachie Whitfield
- Harris Andrews
Who is in your defence, Roarers?
Redbacks fan
Guest
It's good to see Daniel Talia get recognised. Talia has been superb so far this season. He is having probably the best year of his career which says a lot considering he is already a two time all-Australian. I agree with the others above: Rance is extremely lucky to be in the side, albeit from my limited viewing. I have seen him towelled up badly twice though, against Adelaide and West Coast. In those two games he conceded more goals than what Talia would have all season so that alone should be enough to see him miss out. Nicholas you seem to have access to a lot of stats. Do you what Rance's "goals conceded to his direct opponent" are? and who is leading that category?
Hate Breeder
Guest
Right Full Back? I think you mean back pocket. I'm guessing you will also have a 'Modern Prototype Forward' instead of a half forward flank!
Davico
Roar Pro
Bozo, So what your saying is that defensive one on one should be the definitive criteria in deciding who should be an All-Australian? Sorry, just don't agree with that methodology.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Any response to Rance's games on Darling?...or Josh Jenkins?...or Charlie Dixon?
Bozo
Guest
Davico, regardless of The quality of a defence, defensive one on ones are often beneficial to a defence as they allow for an allocation of players to be assigned forward instead of flooding the back half. As a result, almost all teams (including Sydney) have players that average high numbers of defensive one on ones, they just however have mediocre one on one records
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Ridiculous. There are not even 59 key position defenders in the league. Give up. 59th!!! By the way, if Rance is 8th, he is not All Australian for any defensive key position.
Davico
Roar Pro
Are you able to provide how the defensive one on one is worked out? If it is in a purely one on one situation does that not mean that your team is not doing a very good job as a team defensively? Why should a defender be punished by this statistic for working hard to get back and make sure his teammate is not faced with a one on one situation? Or for the fact that they communicate well with their teammates to avoid one on ones? Once again relying on stats alone will never tell the full story hence why it is flawed to use them as a gauge of a players talent or value in their position.
Davico
Roar Pro
Games shown in Canberra on FTA this year: Swans - 12 GWS - 12 Games featuring Vic clubs - 52 Games featuring 2 Vic clubs - 13 Yes you are more exposed to the Swans more than living in Melbourne but how would that affect any bias you had from growing up in Melbourne? Unless you want to bring Fox Footy into it and then why make the original point as you can see all the games?!
Davico
Roar Pro
"Yes, it shows the usual Victorian lack of understanding" "That shows that even those who don't live in Melbourne do not watch swans games" At least use the whole quote. You are the one who mentioned Melbourne in the first place! Until then redunderthebed had only mentioned Victorians and the Vic media. Yes, Canberra TV gets all the Swans and GWS games but they also get on average another 2 games featuring Vic teams every week on 7mate, sometimes more.
Nicholas Richardson
Roar Guru
Where is the Spoil you say? Well, Rance is 8th, and Pearce is 59th. "Some watch football some read graphs to tell them what happened at the football." It is a nice false dichotomy you've constructed there. I watch most football matches and browse statistics regularly. I have no idea what you are referring when you assert that my stats are "mathematician stats." Well, Rance is rated elite in eight statistical categories. Alex Pearce is elite in NO statistical categories
Doctor Rotcod
Guest
I was at Subiaco Oval the night that Ash Mcintosh,chased,tackled and dispossessed Lockett in five strides. I still remember the thud when he hit the ground.I was on the fence. Lockett never tried to outrun Ash again. He leaves Scarlett and Silvagni a long way behind
Don Freo
Guest
He has beaten every opponent he has played on, bar 3 where the contest was squared. Your choice of your special stat is exclusive of real defensive stats. Where is the spoil? Your stats are mathematician stats, not comprehensive enough for exclusive football analysis. They merely inform debate, they are not empirical. That why football watchers draw different conclusions. Some watch football, some read graphs to tell them what happened at the football. Tell me how Rance played against Darling. I'll bet his stats still looked good. Why? Because he outmarked Cripps and beat Sheed in a one on one.
Nicholas Richardson
Roar Guru
Given as he said, "those who don't live in Melbourne do not watch swans games" and "I really wonder if anyone in the Vic media every watches a Swans game", I believe he was referencing how infrequently I would watch the Swans. Concluding that I live in Canberra and the Swans are the games shown on free to air TV, not living in Melbourne would likely increase my exposure to Swans football.
Nicholas Richardson
Roar Guru
Yes, statistics are not a be all, but they give an objective view as to the ability of players. Such specific statistics such as the defensive one on one success rate, provide an incredibly accurate description as to players defensive ability.
Davico
Roar Pro
Yes but that also does not mean that stats are the be all and end all of judging a footballer either. And it is the flaw in trying to give accolades on such a basis. It's not cricket or baseball we are talking about here.
Davico
Roar Pro
"I do not live in Melbourne" Profile: "Brought up in Melbourne, live in Canberra" Pretty sure redunderthebed was referring to your Vic bias not where you currently reside.
Nicholas Richardson
Roar Guru
Yes Davico, but it is difficult to put a system in an All-Australian team.
Davico
Roar Pro
And here was I thinking that Aussie Rules was a team game?! Would have thought being able to help out teammates in defence to stop goals would be worth more than stats.
Doran Smith
Roar Guru
The full back line consists of three tall defenders and I don’t think that Alex Rance lines up at centre half back, however it’s a very tough job to pick the All Australian team defence and it was a good effort.
Blakey
Guest
apologies- at work and read too quickly