2026 Rolling All-Australian Team

[LukeParkerno1]

Bowes? Really? He's played just the two games, and they've been pretty good, but I wouldn't call them AA worthy.

He's just bringing more of what he's always brought IMO. He's a solid role player who plugs holes for us week to week, but that's where it starts and ends

Are you sure you don't mean Bruhn? Of the two, he's the one who actually looks to have taken his game up a gear or three, and his form in every game would at least somewhat warrant being on the fringes of conversations like these.

I don't think either deserves to be in FWIW, but Bruhn would be a heck of a lot closer than Bowes for mine.

No I meant Bowes. Been very impressed with him and he’d be in the wider squad for mine. I didn’t say he’d be in but he’d be a sneaky chance if he goes 30 + goals and whatever possession he gets normally.

My point has been all along can we pick some half forwards I’m losing my patience over these selectors picking genuine mids at HF! If they pick Heeney or Bont there again I swear!

 

[Mr Meow]

No I meant Bowes. Been very impressed with him and he’d be in the wider squad for mine. I didn’t say he’d be in but he’d be a sneaky chance if he goes 30 + goals and whatever possession he gets normally.

My point has been all along can we pick some half forwards I’m losing my patience over these selectors picking genuine mids at HF! If they pick Heeney or Bont there again I swear!

Way to early for Bowes given the 2 games, but let's pretend he played 20 games this season from the wing/half forward with his current averages: 16 disposals, 1.5 goals, 1.5 goal assists, 8 score involvements. Not many wingmen/high half forwards make the team with that sort of stat line. You generally need to play quite a lot of midfield time and average 20+ disposals while being an absolute game breaker.

Zac Bailey is a good template, but even his selection was somewhat surprising last year. Neale's missed games gave Bailey just enough starring full time midfield games to tip the scale, I think.

 

[txbyhull]

Outside of Dempsey I find it difficult to pick other geniune wingman. Baz is too CBA heavy for me these days. I like Brad Hill and Jack Crisp

25

Jack Crisp

Age

32

Ht

190cm

Wt

91kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

21.2

5star

K

11.5

4star

HB

9.7

5star

M

4.6

4star

T

4.0

5star

CL

2.2

4star

D

17.7

4star

K

10.7

4star

HB

7.0

4star

M

5.1

5star

T

1.6

3star

CL

1.0

3star

D

14.4

4star

K

8.4

4star

HB

6.0

4star

M

2.8

3star

T

3.0

5star

CL

1.4

4star

. Harvey Thomas is also having a really good season so far. Bailey Williams (WBD).

 

[EBERT THE KING]

Revisiting the posts from yesterday.

LDU is a starter at the moment.

 

[EBERT THE KING]

Some decent shouts in there - but let's be clear there isn't a single person outside of the North fanbase who is seriously suggesting Trembath or LDU are anywhere near the AA Squad let alone the team. Parker maybe for the squad, but the other two - no chance.

Even putting aside past squads/teams - and there's no doubt it does introduce bias - there are 9 seasoned tall forwards who have kicked more than Trembath (King, Gunston, Larkey, Naughton, Georgiades, Treacy, Neale, Darcy and Amarty). And then you have the likes of Allen, Waterman, Curnow, Thilthorpe, McKay and Cameron who are all on the same or within a goal of Trembath. If you filled the AA team with just tall forwards, Trembath might get a seat on the Subs bench.

Why no for LDU?

Hes top 20 in the league in about 7 key stats. He is in front of Serong at the moment.

 

[Guardian Hawk]

Why no for LDU?

Hes top 20 in the league in about 7 key stats. He is in front of Serong at the moment.

If we are talking about the team itself, the competition is pretty stiff. LDU is not the type of player you can plonk at half forward (1 goal, 2 assists for the season), half back or even the wing.

That leaves rover, ruck rover or centre. Those spots would go to the likes of Bontempelli, Butters and Daicos. Then there's the bench - but there's still a fair few other mids ahead of him IMO (Heeney, Smith, Holmes, etc, etc).

You mention he is top 20 for a bunch of key stats. Thing is, he is not top 10 for any of those and not top 20 for coaches votes either. You need to be firmly in the top 5-7 mids to make AA (and the top 12 or so to make the squad). He has had a good start and been pretty consistent (a knock in the past) but probably sits in that 10/15-20 zone at the moment so may be on the fringes of the squad.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Way to early for Bowes given the 2 games, but let's pretend he played 20 games this season from the wing/half forward with his current averages: 16 disposals, 1.5 goals, 1.5 goal assists, 8 score involvements. Not many wingmen/high half forwards make the team with that sort of stat line. You generally need to play quite a lot of midfield time and average 20+ disposals while being an absolute game breaker.

Zac Bailey is a good template, but even his selection was somewhat surprising last year. Neale's missed games gave Bailey just enough starring full time midfield games to tip the scale, I think.

Fair I guess. My point has been that pick two genuine half forwards though don’t care which one maybe Bailey or someone like that

 

[BarbieITFC]

Why no for LDU?

Hes top 20 in the league in about 7 key stats. He is in front of Serong at the moment.

For exactly the reasons Guardian Hawk stated. He’s having a decent year but there are at least 7-8 true mids ahead of him.

I’ve always liked LDU and was one of the ones who back in 2017 was hoping we picked him at #2. I can’t complain about picking Brayshaw in hindsight but I don’t think it would have been a disaster if we’d taken LDU. I’m glad he’s having a good year, but there’s having a good year and having an AA year - and for mine he’s not in the latter so far.

I agree on the last point - neither he and Serong are in my team.

 

[Sphynx]

If we are talking about the team itself, the competition is pretty stiff. LDU is not the type of player you can plonk at half forward (1 goal, 2 assists for the season), half back or even the wing.

That leaves rover, ruck rover or centre. Those spots would go to the likes of Bontempelli, Butters and Daicos. Then there's the bench - but there's still a fair few other mids ahead of him IMO (Heeney, Smith, Holmes, etc, etc).

You mention he is top 20 for a bunch of key stats. Thing is, he is not top 10 for any of those and not top 20 for coaches votes either. You need to be firmly in the top 5-7 mids to make AA (and the top 12 or so to make the squad). He has had a good start and been pretty consistent (a knock in the past) but probably sits in that 10/15-20 zone at the moment so may be on the fringes of the squad.

I don’t think Holmes is ahead of him personally or plenty of other mids.

Holmes has great meters gained stats, but poor advanced disposal numbers.

His ball use and retention numbers aren’t great for the amount of ball he gets which is on the more uncontested side compared to some others.

 

[Sphynx]

For exactly the reasons Guardian Hawk stated. He’s having a decent year but there are at least 7-8 true mids ahead of him.

I’ve always liked LDU and was one of the ones who back in 2017 was hoping we picked him at #2. I can’t complain about picking Brayshaw in hindsight but I don’t think it would have been a disaster if we’d taken LDU. I’m glad he’s having a good year, but there’s having a good year and having an AA year - and for mine he’s not in the latter so far.

I agree on the last point - neither he and Serong are in my team.

Who are your mids?

You realise 19 midfielders made the AA squad last year?

So for a statement like “let's be clear there isn't a single person outside of the North fanbase who is seriously suggesting LDU is anywhere near the AA Squad let alone the team”, you would need to give me 25+ names not 7.

 

[BarbieITFC]

Who are your mids?

You realise 19 midfielders made the AA squad last year?

So for a statement like “let's be clear there isn't a single person outside of the North fanbase who is seriously suggesting LDU is anywhere near the AA Squad let alone the team”, you would need to give me 25+ names not 7.

I'm not going to name names because then you will spend the next few hours listing individual stats where LDU is ahead of Player X.

So instead I will point out that in the AFLCA votes there are 20+ Mids, 5 Mid/Forwards, and 1 Ruck/Mid (Jackson) who are ahead of LDU. And that's before you take into account that Noah Anderson, Jack Steele and Matt Rowell are all around the same votes as LDU and more likely in the conversation.

(There you go, there's 3-4 names for you to argue LDU's case against).

 

[pazza]

Big watch on Archie Roberts.

Back to back career best performances. Every chance of getting looked at.

 

[jakefooty23]

Big watch on Archie Roberts.

Back to back career best performances. Every chance of getting looked at.

Needs to be more damaging imo. He's been significantly better then he was at the start of the season but he gets fed the ball alot. 79 disposals, 27 marks over his last 2 games, 14 contested disposals with 0 contested marks, only 8 score involvements. Seems the sort of player you'd love in your fantasy side, but I can't say he's in the top echelon of half back flankers. Hope he proves me wrong though.

 

[Maddo11]

I hope you guys are ready for 20 weeks of me being insufferable about Grundy.

 

[Randomizor]

I hope you guys are ready for 20 weeks of me being insufferable about Grundy.

Who?

 

[LukeParkerno1]

I hope you guys are ready for 20 weeks of me being insufferable about Grundy.

Won't get in unless they pick two rucks, Grundy has been great but he has not been Gawn great, not sure they pick two purre rucks anyway, they might with the extra on the bench then again this is AA where they will likely plonk x 'unlucky' midfielder there.

 

[Orange crush]

Won't get in unless they pick two rucks, Grundy has been great but he has not been Gawn great, not sure they pick two purre rucks anyway, they might with the extra on the bench then again this is AA where they will likely plonk x 'unlucky' midfielder there.

It’s a long season …. But gawn with Jackson as ruck/forward seems most likely

 

[LukeParkerno1]

It’s a long season …. But gawn with Jackson as ruck/forward seems most likely

Yeah the ruck/fwd position is so tricky. I'm not saying he's in now okay, but Thilhorpe could literally get in as a FWD and they could claim him as the forward/ruck.

I just know how the AFL is, plonk another mid in rather than wasting a bench spot on a ruck. Just feel it's UNLIKELY they go two straight out rucks, and Gawn is having near his best season on record so he's a certain selection

 

[Orange crush]

Yeah the ruck/fwd position is so tricky. I'm not saying he's in now okay, but Thilhorpe could literally get in as a FWD and they could claim him as the forward/ruck.

I just know how the AFL is, plonk another mid in rather than wasting a bench spot on a ruck. Just feel it's UNLIKELY they go two straight out rucks, and Gawn is having near his best season on record so he's a certain selection

Yeah it’s very early to judge …. Thrills is certainly an option

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Yeah it’s very early to judge …. Thrills is certainly an option

Yeah that's FWD who rucks is such a weird role. Then again they could claim that who cares about the role not as if Gawn in a 'real' game is coming off

 

[Maddo11]

Won't get in unless they pick two rucks, Grundy has been great but he has not been Gawn great, not sure they pick two purre rucks anyway, they might with the extra on the bench then again this is AA where they will likely plonk x 'unlucky' midfielder there.

But he's ahead in the most key stat for a ruck;



Might change my user name to Grundy4AA

 

[The Feeder Club]

Is the team size increasing to 23 this year? If so, 2 genuine rucks seems fine with one on the bench, increasing Grundy's chances

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Is the team size increasing to 23 this year? If so, 2 genuine rucks seems fine with one on the bench, increasing Grundy's chances

That’s what I’m hoping but hardly one I expect this is the afl where they love to pick a million mids in positions they don’t play…now watch them pick Heeney or Bont as half forwards or something

 

[Rash]

Watch them put heeney, bont half forward or something, No good wingers so im going outside mids

Anyway i have had a go, (probs missed someone obvious):

FB Wilkie Barras Mccartin
B Sincliar Aiir Ash
C Holmes Bont B.Smith
HF Pickett Treacy Heeney
F Watson King Gunton
Fol Gawn Butters N.Daicos
Int Callaghan Jackson Collins Sheezel

 

[Sirlemsip]

That’s what I’m hoping but hardly one I expect this is the afl where they love to pick a million mids in positions they don’t play…now watch them pick Heeney or Bont as half forwards or something

Heeney and Bont exactly the type of players they could legitimately pick at half forward...

Who would you think should be picked on a HFF flank at the moment?
Looking at lists posted in this thread you see names like:
Z.Bailey - 7 goals, 32 score involvements
Rachele - 9 goals, 30 score involvements
K.Pickett - 6 goals, 31 score involvements
Ginnivan - 6 goals, 35 score invovlements
S.Bolton - 6 goals, 33 score involvements

Bont - 8 goals, 39 score involvements
Heeney - 10 goals, 37 score involvements

You could argue that they are the best two players for the HFF spots at this stage. Yes, they both start at the centre bounce. But they spend a lot of time forward compared to other pure mids with high score involvements but low goals (Butters, Daicos, Newcombe, Brayshaw, etc)