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Opinion
At the midway point of the season, everyone has formed an opinion of who is the best team in the competition, and who the best or most improved players are in the competition. In this article, I’ll be giving out my All Australian team at the midway point of the season, and the reasons why certain players are both included and left out!
FB: Tom Stewart, Steven May, James Sicily
HB: Jayden Short, Jacob Weitering, Jack Sinclair
I thought most positions in the back half were very obvious.
Tom Stewart and James Sicily were the first two defenders selected.
Sicily averages nine marks per game this season (the most in the competition), whilst Stewart averages eight (third-most in the competition). Sicily also averages eight intercepts a game (sixth-most in the competition), as well as averaging 23 disposals a game whilst playing on some of the better key forwards in the competition whilst undersized.
Stewart averages nine intercepts a game (most in the competition), whilst also averaging 27 disposals a game. They can play on both talls and smalls and also provide plenty of offensive rebound and therefore are locks in this team.
Steven May and Jacob Weitering are widely accepted as the two best key defenders in the competition currently.
Harris Andrews has had a down year (I think Marcus Adams has been better this season) and therefore drops out of the side, while Jake Lever hasn’t played enough games and was also better last season in essentially every statistic.
Tom McCartin and Marcus Adams were both considered for the key defender spots, but the fact that Adams generally plays against the second-best forward went against him, while McCartin stays in very strong contention and if he maintains his form, he will probably get the blazer over Jacob Weitering after his unfortunate injury.
(Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
The half back spots were definitely the hardest to pick in the back half. I went with Jayden Short, who is having another terrific season. He is averaging 27 disposals per game, ranks 12th in effective disposals across the competition, and ranks first in metres gained per game.
His long and beautiful kicking, as well as the run he provides, gave him the nod over the likes of Daniel Rich, Sam Docherty (still in very strong consideration), and Jordan Dawson.
The same can be said for Jack Sinclair, who occupies the other half back-flank spot. He is having a career-best season, also averaging 27 disposals per game whilst ranking 20th in total rebound 50s, tenth in meters gained per game, and 14th in effective disposals per game.
I think this defence has a good mix of run and creativity (Sinclair, Short, Stewart) and keeping the ability to be able to beat any key forward combination with May, Weitering, Sicily, and Stewart helping each other out who are either brilliant one on one, or brilliant at intercepting forward entries.
C: Sam Walsh, Patrick Cripps, Bailey Smith
FOL: Max Gawn, Lachie Neale, Clayton Oliver
I thought the midfield was the easiest position to pick from this season. This is partly due to the fact that we have some star players who have basically been put on a wing in Sam Walsh and Bailey Smith.
Walsh is averaging 32 disposals per game in another terrific season, whilst ranking second in uncontested possessions per game, seventh in total effective disposals, and 15th in total score involvements.
He has been pushed out to a wing or to a more outside role due to the inside strength of the Blues midfield, but he has grabbed the opportunity with both hands and is still one of the best midfielders in the league.
Smith is having a career-best season, averaging 33 disposals a game whilst ranking sixth in total uncontested possessions, second in meters gained per game, and second in inside 50s per game. His running ability stands him out as a truly elite player in any conditions, as well as his ability to kick goals and control the territory battle for the Bulldogs.
Patrick Cripps, Lachie Neale, and Clayton Oliver are instant selections. Oliver is averaging 34 disposals a game and ranks first in clearances per game and second in inside 50s, Neale averages 32 disposals per game and ranks first for contested possessions per game and second in clearances, and Cripps is averaging 27 disposals per game whilst ranking fifth in clearances per game, as well as kicking 15 goals.
They are clearly the three best midfielders.
HF: Shai Bolton, Tom Lynch, Zac Bailey
FF: Tyson Stengle, Charlie Curnow, Bayley Fritsch
I thought the two key forward positions were easy enough to select. Charlie Curnow leads the Coleman medal with 37 goals to his name whilst ranking third for total score involvements and fourth for total contested marks.
Tom Lynch sits fifth in the Coleman with 31 goals (missed last week) and ranks first in contested marks per game, second in goals per game, and fifth for marks inside 50 per game.
The only other two forwards considered for this position were Max King, who if it wasn’t for his inaccuracy in front of goal would be in the team, and Tom Hawkins due to the number of goals he gives away. Both these players are still firmly in consideration for the remainder of the season, depending on form.
The small forwards and forward flankers were very hard to select. Bayley Fritsch has kicked 25 goals this season and has the ability to play taller than his height, which was important for team balance.
Shai Bolton is averaging 18 disposals per game and has kicked 21 goals and is on target for his first blazer considering he ranks seventh in total score involvements and 15th in goal assists per game.
Zac Bailey averages very similar stats to Bolton – averaging 17 disposals per game whilst kicking 22 goals. Both these players can rotate through the midfield (especially Bolton, who is a brilliant clearance player), which also was another reason they were selected.
The other half forwards that were considered for this position were Dylan Moore, who has kicked 17 goals and is averaging 19 disposals per game, Jack Ginnivan (19 goals) and Luke Bruest (19 goals). Dylan Moore is in very strong contention still for these spots, whilst it wouldn’t take much for Bruest and Ginnivan to slot in ahead of Bolton or Bailey.
(Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
And the Tyson Stengle selection (which may be the most controversial) was made simply because to this point in the season, he is the most traditional-type small forward who has kicked 23 goals. He also ranks 15th in score involvements per game and is therefore giving goals away and providing attack without kicking goals, which got him in over Charlie Cameron who has kicked four more goals.
I/C: Christian Petracca, Jack Macrae, Andrew Brayshaw, Adam Saad
Yes, the big talking point/controversial exclusion is Swan Callum Mills. He is having a terrific season, but I think the other three midfielder I’ve chosen are simply better footballers and do more damage with the ball.
Petracca has averaged 28 disposals a game in what has been considered a ‘down’ season, whilst ranking first in inside 50s per game, first in score involvements per game, first in total goal assists, and ninth in metres gained per game. He is still the most damaging player in the competition when he plays well and I think he’s played well enough to command a spot in the team.
Jack Macrae is doing what he does, and I think he’s the most consistent player in the league. Averaging 31 disposals a game again this season and is again using it incredibly well, ranking second in total effective disposals whilst also winning the hard ball, ranking sixth for total clearances.
Andrew Brayshaw is a part of the most improved team in the competition in the Dockers and he has led the charge in the midfield, averaging 29 disposals a game whilst ranking fifth for inside 50s per game and third for uncontested possessions per game.
The controversial selection on the bench will be Adam Saad, who has been outstanding this season. He is averaging 21 disposals per game whilst ranking first for total bounces (34 clear of the second-best) and 18th for intercepts per game.
His run and carry are clearly the best in the competition due to his speed and his one-on-one work has become much better this season. He can play on a wing or at half back if needed, to allow the likes of Sicily and Short to go up the ground and is the ultimate utility at the moment.
There were many players considered for a bench spot who were unlucky to miss out and still might be able to squeeze their way in.
Darcy Parish was the unluckiest of the lot I thought, as was Callum Mills. George Hewett is having a massively underrated season and was considered, as was Travis Boak who is again having another terrific season. Dylan Moore, Tom Hawkins, and Jordan De Goey were all also considered for the last two bench spots and could easily see themselves in the team come season’s end.
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