2025 Rolling ALL-Australian Team

[Bigthirsty81]

I get what you're saying, but this is also a guy that has performed in bottom 4 seasons - he kicked 47 goals in 2021 when we finished 16th and kicked 40 goals in 2023 when we finished 15th on the way back from an ACL injury that took him out for the entire 2022 season. Had another great season last year with 55 goals, despite us finishing 13th on the ladder. He's a proven goalkicker regardless of how the rest of the team is performing.

So Riley Thilthorpe was named in this year's AA team instead of Ben King. What that tells me is the AA selectors value 5 extra disposals/kicks per game more than 14 extra goals for the season. I would've thought the most important criteria is goals kicked (as evidenced below) but obviously that wasn't the case this year. Must have been a long time since a key forward that finished 5th in the Coleman race ends up getting named in the starting AA team like Thilthorpe did this year.

Top 2 in Coleman Medal
2024: Jesse Hogan + Jeremy Cameron - both named in starting AA team
2023: Charlie Curnow + Taylor Walker - both named in the starting AA team
2022: Charlie Curnow + Tom Lynch - one named in the starting AA team
2021: Harry McKay + Tom Hawkins - both named in the starting AA team
2020: Tom Hawkins + Charlie Dixon - both named in the starting AA team

I think Ben King has good reason to feel a bit cheated by not being named in the AA team this year.

Mabe if he laid a tackle he'd get a sniff

 

[GC2015]

So Worrell is AA going by your logic????

There were several odd decisions... No idea why Jeremy Cameron was named as the captain. That was bizarre.

Both King and Worrell were named in 44-man squad so obviously they were considered/close. I just think if you're going to pick Gunston ahead of Elliott because he kicked 10 extra goals, then you should be consistent and pick King ahead of Thilthorpe when there's a 14 goal differential.

FWIW I do think Worrell should've got in ahead of Battle.

 

[Mr Meow]

There were several odd decisions... No idea why Jeremy Cameron was named as the captain. That was bizarre.

Both King and Worrell were named in 44-man squad so obviously they were considered/close. I just think if you're going to pick Gunston ahead of Elliott because he kicked 10 extra goals, then you should be consistent and pick King ahead of Thilthorpe when there's a 14 goal differential.

FWIW I do think Worrell should've got in ahead of Battle.

This has been covered to death. They have been often been using the AA captain spot as a legacy reward for extended bodies of work in recent history. I think Franklin was the first of that kind. There may be exceptions but it is hardly the first of its kind and the AA panel have elaborated on this topic several times.

 

[Mr Meow]

There were several odd decisions... No idea why Jeremy Cameron was named as the captain. That was bizarre.

Both King and Worrell were named in 44-man squad so obviously they were considered/close. I just think if you're going to pick Gunston ahead of Elliott because he kicked 10 extra goals, then you should be consistent and pick King ahead of Thilthorpe when there's a 14 goal differential.

FWIW I do think Worrell should've got in ahead of Battle.

Compare coaches votes for King (24) and Thilthorpe (66). Do you really think the key forward with the most coaches votes (even ahead of Cameron) to go with stacks of goals and assists is going to miss out? 1.5 more score involvements per game for Thilthorpe over King too. Just much higher impact across the board.

 

[TheOptimum18]

If the selectors could get away with picking 22 midfielders, they would do it, and let's not pretend that they wouldn't if given the chance to do so.

A competent organisation would have a set of criteria that the selectors must follow when selecting the team, and therefore we would all have a better understanding of why some players were chosen over others.

I also think we need to very precise as to who fits into what position, which fits into my above point about a selection criteria. For example, NAS is a HB in the AA team this year (and whilst I have no issue with NAS being in the team itself), did NAS get AA-selection because of his work as a HB, or because of his impact as a midfielder and forward of centre? My guess would be the latter.

For example, the criteria for the AA might be "the team that most reflects the football seen in the past season" (which I think it should be regardless). This would mean, for example, that only one ruck is selected because the overwhelming majority of teams only played with one genuine ruck. You could then have a key fwd who regularly rucks as part of your selection, and that would most accurately reflect what teams did throughout the season.

I also think its stupid for an AA selector (who is a highly opinionated individual himself) to be such an active member of AFL commentary to then be discussing the squad after its released, especially if they're not going to actually shed some light as to how certain decisions were made.

 

[soafraid]

There were several odd decisions... No idea why Jeremy Cameron was named as the captain. That was bizarre.

Both King and Worrell were named in 44-man squad so obviously they were considered/close. I just think if you're going to pick Gunston ahead of Elliott because he kicked 10 extra goals, then you should be consistent and pick King ahead of Thilthorpe when there's a 14 goal differential.

FWIW I do think Worrell should've got in ahead of Battle.

Thrilthy over king is the opposite of an odd decision. If you'd watch the games, thilthorpe is one of the highest rated players in the comp, and had multiple games this year where he dragged the team over the line. He's also arguably the best second ruck in the comp. King kicked a few more snossages.

He'll get there, maybe next year even if the suns continue to improve.

 

[YeoShuey]

It shouldn't be. Do they want to have the AA team as a true indication of the best players that year, or do they want to make it sentimental by giving the captaincy to players who would never be one in real life?

Making him the captain when he has never been one, and the team has two or three guys who are actually captains, is making a mockery of being the AA Captain.

That would be assuming that the team is based on reality...

If we go that route, placing 4 midfielders kn the bench is an even bigger issue.

 

[PhatBoy]

Gee I wonder who missed in 2022

Lunch kicked one extra goal than Tom Hawkins in 2022.

Hawkins had 21 more goal assists.

I wonder why he missed out.

 

[soafraid]

Lunch kicked one extra goal than Tom Hawkins in 2022.

Hawkins had 21 more goal assists.

I wonder why he missed out.

Big Tommy lunch

 

[PhatBoy]

Big Tommy lunch

Yeah that’s him

 

[Fadge]

Pretty much doubled his coaches votes from 24 to 25.

LOL.

So did the player who went from 5 votes in 24 to 10 votes in 25...

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

I perused alot of the teams put up on this forum by punters, before the team was named.

Can't say I say that I saw many mentions of Battle, even from Hawk supporters.

Let's call it a selection against the trend.

 

[Kobe Gryant]

In all seriousness, there should be an instant dismissal of all selectors for choosing Cameron as captain over the 4 actual captains.

They have made a mockery of the role as captain.

It's a very ordinary selection panel & most have less idea than the average punter.

It's happened pretty regularly. It's not a new thing.

Rance got it over Selwood when he wasn't club captain. Franklin got it over Hurn. Hawkins got it over all of Gawn, Cripps, Mills, and Neale.

I don't hate it personally. We award a captain of the year anyway. I see it like how the NFL does the offensive player of the year awards and the league MVP.

In theory, if you're good enough to be league MVP, then you should definitely be the OPOY too, but they switch it up purposely to add a bit of variety to the awards.

We all know that if you were picking a captain to lead a side for your life, you'd take Dawson over Cameron, and he's been compensated for that.

If the the other one is a life time achievement award, then who cares? It's happened before, and it'll keep happening.

Nobody remembers it anyway.

 

[Mr Meeseeks]

Bunch of duplicitous sooks the lot of you.

Every year idiots post repeatedly complaining while in the next sentence say it's a worthless award

 

[Mr Meeseeks]

That’s because they’re far better players than him. And Stewart has 5, and Enright 6. You’re entering Blaisee maths territory here

Not a bug deal for me but 2022 was a pisstake and reaffirmed the perception of geelong love for this award for a lot of people.

Stewart getting the nod after playing 14 games (4 of which were for a dog act on prestia) and Hawkins being skipper were ludicrous decisions.

 

[WilloTree]

I've been saying this for years. The selectors deliberately pick a controversial player, sometimes two. I'm.almost certain they are told to.

It's what creates discussion, which drives media in an opinion based business.

 

[Art Vandelay_]

Death.
Taxes.
Hawthorn nuffies complaining about Stewart. He's had a career that shits on Sicily's. Get over it already.

 

[Jootube]

Now I dislike Collingwood as much as anyone, but did Zac Bailey

33

Zac Bailey

Age

26

Ht

181cm

Wt

84kg

Pos.

M/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

12.7

3star

K

6.9

3star

HB

5.9

4star

M

3.0

3star

T

2.2

4star

CL

0.9

3star

D

12.9

3star

K

7.3

3star

HB

5.6

3star

M

3.9

4star

T

2.4

3star

CL

0.7

3star

D

13.4

4star

K

6.6

3star

HB

6.8

5star

M

3.2

4star

T

2.8

5star

CL

0.6

3star

really have a better year than Jamie Elliott?
I'd have Bailey out, Gunston to the flank, Elliott to the pocket.

Otherwise, it's a near perfect team (ignoring the Jezza captain stupidity...)

 

[AlwaysHawks15]

Very.

Worrell and Vlas almost identical. Both far superior years to Battle.

Absolute rubbish. Our defence was number 3 across the whole season because of players like Battle holding the fort. Midfield was bottom 4 in alot of metrics so the ball spent more time down there than we would like. Your mobs defence was bottom 2 so you would expect Vlastuin to get plenty of opportunities to impact being a senior player. Had a great year FWIW but your kidding yourself if you think he was far superior totally deluded post.

 

[thehunterclarkhill]

I don’t understand the complaints about Naicos on the bench. He’s in the team. That’s all that matters IMO.

The starting midfield was absolutely stacked and some players in there were very very deserving. Happy for Nick to take a seat for once.

can confirm, every Saints fan on the planet would have copped Lenny on the bench in 2010! no one cares if you were bench or on field when reading the CV at the end of your career

 

[soafraid]

I've been saying this for years. The selectors deliberately pick a controversial player, sometimes two. I'm.almost certain they are told to.

It's what creates discussion, which drives media in an opinion based business.

Korn kain is on the selection panel for a reason. Rage bait

 

[Lunchtime]

Now I dislike Collingwood as much as anyone, but did Zac Bailey really have a better year than Jamie Elliott?
I'd have Bailey out, Gunston to the flank, Elliott to the pocket.

Otherwise, it's a near perfect team (ignoring the Jezza captain stupidity...)

Elliot was the best small forward during the home and away rounds - him missing out and not getting an All Australian.....what were the selectors thinking.

 

[AlwaysHawks15]

Cornes saying Battle takes the best forward... and says Vlastuin & Battle play different roles, they both play intercept roles.
the only difference is their height.

Vlastuin is better in most statistical areas, so is Worrell

“As a nine-person selection committee, yes.” it's pretty obvious that Battle was Cornes call he is such a bias fanboy.

Four mids on the bench? King and Cornes discuss the All-Australian team

There were some glaring omissions.

www.sen.com.au

He doesnt play an intercept role he does both. Lockdown and intercept. Vlastuin last time I checked you guys try to free up at every opportunity so he can impact the play. It's why some teams put a defensive forward on him. If you paid more attention to Battle's specific role you would understand why he's in the team.

 

[sdfc]

Now I dislike Collingwood as much as anyone, but did Zac Bailey really have a better year than Jamie Elliott?
I'd have Bailey out, Gunston to the flank, Elliott to the pocket.

Otherwise, it's a near perfect team (ignoring the Jezza captain stupidity...)

Need Bailey to help out the other ten midfielders.

 

[Sonny Hayes]

There were several odd decisions... No idea why Jeremy Cameron was named as the captain. That was bizarre.

Both King and Worrell were named in 44-man squad so obviously they were considered/close. I just think if you're going to pick Gunston ahead of Elliott because he kicked 10 extra goals, then you should be consistent and pick King ahead of Thilthorpe when there's a 14 goal differential.

FWIW I do think Worrell should've got in ahead of Battle.

Gunston got picked ahead of him because of 10 extra goals, more disposals, marks, goal assists, score involvements.

He was more well rounded as well as simply more goals.