Opinion
This is a hypothetical exercise with a starting 18 team of players with one player selected from every AFL team.
This is an entertaining experiment. Check out the team following Round 15.
There are three captains for the purpose of this exercise: Travis Boak, Marcus Bontempelli and Dayne Zorko.
All-AFL starting 18 (Round 15)
Adelaide Crows: Brodie Smith
Brisbane Lions: Dayne Zorko (co-captain)
Carlton Blues: Sam Walsh
Collingwood Magpies: Brodie Grundy
Essendon Bombers: Zach Merrett
Fremantle Dockers: Rory Lobb
Geelong Cats: Zach Tuohy
Gold Coast Suns: Josh Corbett
Greater Western Sydney Giants: Lachie Whitfield
Hawthorn Hawks: Dylan Moore
Melbourne Demons: Steven May
North Melbourne Kangaroos: Jy Simpkin
Port Adelaide Power: Travis Boak (co-captain)
Richmond Tigers: Nick Vlastuin
St Kilda Saints: Jimmy Webster
Sydney Swans: Lance Franklin
West Coast Eagles: Shannon Hurn
Western Bulldogs: Marcus Bontempelli (co-captain)
B: Nick Vlastuin (Richmond), Steven May (Melbourne), Shannon Hurn (West Coast)
HB: Brodie Smith (Adelaide), Jimmy Webster (St Kilda), Zach Tuohy (Geelong)
C: Sam Walsh (Carlton), Zach Merrett (Essendon), Lachie Whitfield (GWS Giants)
HF: Josh Corbett (Gold Coast), Rory Lobb (Fremantle), Dayne Zorko (Brisbane, co-captain)
FF: Marcus Bontempelli (Western Bulldogs), Lance Franklin (Sydney), Dylan Moore (Hawthorn)
Foll: Brodie Grundy (Collingwood), Travis Boak (Port Adelaide, co-captain), Jy Simpkin (North Melbourne)
Backs
Nick Vlastuin showed great endeavour in a disappointing performance from the Tigers; he was a shining light for them in defence.
Steven May was a pivotal part of the Demons defeating the Bombers. There’s no doubt that May was a big reason why the Demons won the game.
Shannon Hurn of the Eagles had the most metres gained of anyone on the ground as he finished the game with 653 metres gained. He never stopped trying, despite his team getting a shellacking.
Halfbacks
Brodie Smith played an outstanding game for the Crows against the Blues. He showed plenty of dare as he brought the ball out of the back half. He had an impressive 757 metres gained.
Jimmy Webster had a solid game for the Saints. He finished the game with 20 disposals playing at centre half back. Throughout the game he looked calm and composed.
Zach Tuohy worked extremely hard to endeavour to get the Cats back into the game. He finished the game with two goals, 21 disposals and 639 metres gained. His performance was impressive, despite the fact the Cats’ display wasn’t up to their usual standard.
Centres
Sam Walsh performed in the manner in which we have come to expect. He is a star. He never gave in and won plenty of the influence as the Blues’ best player had a big influence on the game.
Sam Walsh of the Blues (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)
Zach Merrett was a standout for the Bombers; he finished the game with 41 disposals. He was a pivotal part of a Bombers outfit that appeared to have plenty of belief and it started with him re-signing and committing to the club long term and the manner in which he played.
It was an honourable loss for the Bombers against the top of the ladder Demons.
Lachie Whitfield was arguably the Giants’ best player; at least he tried to take the game on. He finished the game with 32 disposals and the fourth most metres gained of anyone on the ground with a total of 530 metres gained.
If all of his teammates had played with his dare, the Giants would’ve beaten the Hawks.
Half-forwards
Josh Corbett showed why he should be a permanent part of the Suns team. He had a good game, kicking three goals. He presented well and gave the Suns another option in their forward line.
Rory Lobb of the Dockers had possibly one of the best games for them this season. The forward/ruck finished the game with three goals. It was great to see him hit the scoreboard.
Dayne Zorko played an incredible game; his defensive pressure set the tone and was the catalyst for the Lions comfortably defeating the Cats, as he finished with 12 tackles.
Forwards
Marcus Bontempelli led by example for the Bulldogs. He showed why he should be renowned as possibly the best player in the competition, kicking three goals to go with his 29 disposals.
Lance Franklin nearly got the Swans over the line against the Power. He finished the game with four goals. His will to win the game when it appeared to be over in the fourth quarter was impressive.
Dylan Moore of the Hawks was a standout; he was arguably the difference between the two teams as he finished the game with a total of four goals. He kicked a couple of goals in the last quarter that were pivotal.
Followers
Brodie Grundy had a good game in his first game back from injury for the Magpies. He even managed to hit the scoreboard, as he kicked two goals!
Travis Boak led from the front for the Power against the Swans. He had the third most metres gained of anyone on the field with 456 metres gained, to go with his one goal, 29 disposals and six clearances.
Jy Simpkin was outstanding for the Kangaroos in their clash with the Suns. It was a typical Jy Simpkin performance as he finished the game with 30 disposals to go with a goal.
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