Following my All Australian defence selections, attention turns to the midfield.
The engine room of every All Australian team is hotly contested, but midfielders such as Joel Selwood, Patrick Dangerfield and Dustin Martin consistently find themselves in line for selection. However, 2018 has seen some of the most consistent midfielders in the competition decrease their output. As a result, none of those above three found their way into my team.
Similarly, to the defence, only players who have competed in over eight matches for the season will be considered, and relevant statistics will reflect as such.
Centre line
Jack Macrae (wing)
The Bulldogs midfielder has had the most consistent year of his career, ranking elite in ten separate statistical categories. Macrae is an elite accumulator and distributor and is ranked as the third highest midfielder in both disposals and effective kicks.
Macrae sits first in the competition for Supercoach points, highlighting his incredible season.
Patrick Cripps (centre)
Cripps is undoubtedly an incredible young leader and a sensational midfielder. Despite being consistently tagged and receiving little by way of support, Cripps ranks first in contested possessions and second in clearances.
Often noted is the Carlton mid’s sheer height, which has seen him develop into a dominant force in the air, ranking fourth in his position for contested marks.
Andrew Gaff (wing)
The West Coast superstar is one of the competitions elite runners. Gaff ranks first in uncontested possessions attesting to his ability to spread from contests. The 2015 All Australian is also an exceptional user, ranking as the second-best midfielder in effective kicks.
(Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
Followers
Max Gawn (ruck)
The ruck position was the most difficult selection of the side. The battle between Brodie Grundy and Gawn was incredibly close. They are the second and third-highest Supercoach scoring players in the competition. Grundy is undoubtedly the most elite ruckman around the ground, but Gawn is a colossus in ruck contests. Ultimately it came down to Gawn’s ability inside 50. Gawn averages more points, goal assists, and marks inside 50 than his Collingwood rival.
Nathan Fyfe (ruck-rover)
Aside from a brief brain fade against Collingwood, Fyfe has had a sensational season, ranked as the third-highest Supercoach midfielder. The Brownlow medallist is the league’s most prolific contested ball-winning midfielder, sitting first in contested marks and second in contested possessions. Fyfe also presents a serious threat on offence, averaging almost a goal a game.
Tom Mitchell (rover)
The Hawthorn ball magnet has continued on from his dominant 2017. The former Swan’s tank is exceptional playing almost 90 per cent of the game time. Mitchell is elite in 15 statistical categories, including ranking first in disposals and clearances and third in contested possessions.
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Bench
Brodie Grundy
A phenomenal ruckman. The Magpie is rated elite in clearances, contested possessions, effective disposals and tackles.
Jake Lloyd
A perpetually underrated player. The Sydney wingman is the competitions most elite ball using midfielder. First in effective kicks, second in disposal efficiency and fifth in metres gained.
Unfortunate exclusions
- Clayton Oliver
- Ben Cunnington
- Ed Curnow
- Adam Treloar
- Mitch Duncan
- Elliot Yeo
Davico
Roar Pro
Don't think you are wrong there AD. Is Tom Mitchell THAT much better this year than he was the previous years for the Swans or were there just more players sharing the load and therefore bringing his stats down? Was he not an elite player with the Swans? Personally I would say that Heeney has been one of the elite players in the game this year but using the statistics used in these last 2 articles I doubt he will get "Unfortunate exclusion" status. I doubt based purely on statistics over his whole career that Buddy would be among the top 50 players during the time he has played but nobody would argue he is going to go down as an all time great. I would hate to be one of those who can only look at footy whilst counting the stats to make sure I know who the "best" are. Would miss the actual BEST parts of footy. A mark is a mark but a speccy is a memory!
Brian
Guest
Really depends on the criteria if i was picking an actual national team like the wallabies or socceroos nicnat would definately be my no 1 long term ruckman.
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
Something, something so many good midfielders make it hard for one or two to gain recognition in their own right? I think I've heard that line pulled out around Brownlow time. When the entire team is consistent, it's hard to pinpoint the very best.
anon
Roar Pro
I'm not sure why people sell Fyfe short. He's the best in the game. On track to best ever. Will likely win most of the individual awards. Would have won the Brownlow in 2014 if not suspended and will likely poll the most this year in an ordinary side. The only thing Pavlich has over Fyfe is longevity. Pavlich was never particular tough or courageous. Never imposed himself for a guy his size in the way a Brown did. Fyfe is as tough as they come. Leads by example.
Paul D
Roar Guru
Interesting that Sydney are having their barnstorming run and yet Kennedy and Hanneberry are nowhere near AA contention this year
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
No doubt Fyfey will eventually become one of the finest players to play in the game. He'll also become a Fremantle legend. Neale, though, might not get the wider recognition in 10, 20 or 30 years from now, but he'll probably become as synonymous to Freo as Pavlich and Fyfe are becoming.
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
Fyfe can become the GOAT. Neale will be lost in time, just like most mere mortals. Relish the very now — I certainly do, and I'm not even a Freo fan.
dontknowmuchaboutfootball
Guest
I admit I used to feel the same about Neale v. Fyfe, but Fyfe's climbed up to levels of club loyalty and self-sacrifice that are virtually on a par with Pav and so it makes me feel bad inside to think such things anymore. So Neale and Fyfe are my equal favourite Freo players. Along with Walters, St.Hill, Mundy, and Sandi. And Langdon, A Pearce, Johnno, Ballas, Blakely, McCarthy, Taberner ...
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
I've always maintained that I'll be more upset if Freo lost Neale, than if they lost Fyfe. He's my favourite player, bar none. Well, Fyfe is up there, but I like the way that whilst Fyfe is (justifiably, of course) getting all the headlines and all the attention, Neale will always just keep performing at a very high level. I still remember the time I accidentally met Neale's brother in Adelaide after a Freo loss. Most surprising moment of my life.
dontknowmuchaboutfootball
Guest
Neale is perennially overlooked. His 2016 season when he didn't make the AA 22 is a case in point. Set a league record for total disposals (soon to be beaten, admittedly), averaged 4.6 tackles, 7.4 clearances, 16.3 contested possessions, and earned 20 Brownlow votes. Never mind the stats, though: the way he put absolutely everything into it while Freo were free-falling and then actively embracing a rebuild. It's why he remains my equal favourite Freo player.
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
No Neale, not even on the unlucky inclusions list? He's third in the league for disposals, sixth in the league for average disposals and average contested possessions, and has a better disposal efficiency than Fyfe and Mitchell. Yes, I'm biased, but he's a seriously good player.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Nicholas there's a reason the top three in the competition for clangers are Cripps, Selwood and Fyfe (with Sidey in the top ten). It's because they are doing the grunt work, the hard stuff under pressure where the only choice is to drive forward wherein the forwards job is to then contest and lock it in. You are taking one stat and using it for an argument, there's a bigger picture at hand. Sidebottom for inside 50's: equal tenth in the competition, 9th for score involvements, 5th in total disposals and so on and son. To have Jake Lloyd ahead of both Steel and Tom Phillips on the bench is a stretch IMO.
Geoff Dustby
Guest
this team would be hard to beat. who are they playing?
Nicholas Richardson
Roar Guru
Peter, he is very good at hitting his targets by hand but is 110th in average effective kicks with 7.8 a game. That's pretty brutal to me.
Tom M
Guest
Sidebottom brutal by foot??
Kaiden
Guest
There is a very real chance that I am being biased towards Ollie Wines (I'm trying not to be), but do you genuinely believe all the players in your Unfortunate exclusions have out performed him over this year?
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
I'd have Nic Nat in a forward pocket WCE, he can do the rucking in the forward line.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Sorry Nicholas but don't know where you are getting your stats. Steele is 7th in the competition for effective disposals this year and 4th in the average per game for effective disposals. He is also in the top 30 for contested possessions and is very much an inside and outside player this year.
Nicholas Richardson
Roar Guru
I think it says more about the quality of ruckman in the competition than Nic Nat’s deficiencies.
WCE
Roar Rookie
No NIc Nat for ruck?