AA Candidates

[Quigley]

Who do you see as our AA candidates? The end of season fade out of the Saints and Geelong have opened up a few spots I reckon. With a 6th place finish I think we could be good for 2 spots maybe 3 if we are lucky. The candidates as I see them:

Brown - second in the Coleman and a very strong second half of the year should see him get a selection. There are only three key forward candidates with a legitimate claim I think and they are Reiwoldt, Brown and Fevola. Reiwoldt is a certainty and from there I think the ranking would be Brown and then Fev. I would be surprised if all three did not get selected actually. Slim on forward candidates this year with poor year's from the likes of Franklin and Pav.

Clark - was a long way from contention at midseason but came home like a house on fire and is a favourite to get a spot. It helped that he outpointed Jolly on teh weekend who I see as being the one most likely to be up for the second ruck spot. Sandi is the clear number 1 over the course of the season but the second spot is up for grabs with Jolly, Ryder and McIntosh all having some claim. Jolly and McIntosh both had huge first halves of the year but died out in the second half of the year and as we have seen over the last few year's with Black it doesn't matter how well you play in the first half of the year the AA selectors only remember the last half dozen games of the year. Ryder has gotten a lot of hype but there is not a lot of substance there for mine when compared with the others.

Black - only an average year from the champ but he hasn't faded out like he has the last couple of years and you figure he might be owed one for his woeful ommisions. Second in the Brownlow doesn't qualify you for AA apparently I think he would be lucky given we are likely to have two others in the side but you never know.

Patfull - not a serious contender but has had another very good year. Not flashy enough I think to grab the headlines but was certainly in contention at midyear. Has faded on the run home a little.

McGrath - if the selectors have serious long term memory issues he could be a shot. Has been great over the last 4 or 5 weeks. I would not expect him to be in any sort of contention but he might get a mention at the meeting of selectors.

 

[notting18]

Drummond would also be there abouts. Squad maybe but I don't think he is much chance of making the 22.

 

[Trjn]

Clark and Brown simply have to be included, Black could make it on the bench, but the selectors don't seem to like him that much seeing as he's missed out a few times when he's ranked in the Brownlow.

McGrath had a strong finish, but won't make it, the backline is pretty tightly contested, which is the same reason Drummond (who was a certainty before he was injured) won't make it.

 

[LuckyLuke]

Brown would be a lock for AA. Clark and Black would be very unlucky to miss out.

IIRC, Clark has beaten Jolly, Ryder and McIntosh when gone head to head with them so he is very much a chance to win a spot at least on the interchange.

However if the selectors go for players with a proven track record, like the media have been suggesting, then surely Black will be there.

 

[BigCat2]

Brown and Clark should be certainties. Mitch on the bench as 2nd ruck behind Sandilands. Brown probably FF (with Fevola in forward pocket or vice versa) and Riewoldt CHF.

Drummond and Black chances for the extended squad, but I doubt will make the final 22. Black started slowly, while Drummond was right on track until being injured in the game vs Carlton, hasn't been as dynamic since.

Nobody else would be close enough I don't think.

 

[Stocka]

Brown
Clark
Drummond
McGrath

I wouldn't say that any are certainties (not even Brown, considering he didn't make it last year!), but in my opinion Brown should make it.

Black has been very good, yet again, particularly in the second half of the year, but he'd be behind about 10 other players to even make the 40-strong squad (ie: Swan, Ablett, Montagna, Dal Santo, Hayes, Boyd, Judd, Pendlebury, Mitchell, Vince, Selwood, etc.). The fact that Black doesn't really ever play a role as a half-forward or half-back probably limits his potential to grab a spot outside of the midfield (unlike say, Goddard, for example).

 

[POBT]

Black could make it on the bench, but the selectors don't seem to like him that much seeing as he's missed out a few times when he's ranked in the Brownlow.

I was wondering whether this might actually work in his favour. It might tip him in. Would be an interesting quirk if he ran a place in the Brownlow and missed AA for the third year in a row.

 

[Zoski]

I think long with Clark, Brown and Patfull, Brennan might have a chance of making it again

 

[Corrosion]

Brown and Clark should be certainties. Mitch on the bench as 2nd ruck behind Sandilands. Brown probably FF (with Fevola in forward pocket or vice versa) and Riewoldt CHF.

Drummond and Black chances for the extended squad, but I doubt will make the final 22. Black started slowly, while Drummond was right on track until being injured in the game vs Carlton, hasn't been as dynamic since.

Nobody else would be close enough I don't think.

Think it definantely will be Fevola as the FF. Don't all Coleman Medallist immediately get the FF spot?

In terms of Lions chances for AA.

Brown = Lock for Forward pocket, maybe even CHF, but I think Riewoldt will get the CHF position.

I reckon it is between McIntosh and Clark for the Ruckmen position.

Black has been great again this year, but I think he'll be overlooked for a St.Kilda and Geelong dominated centre line, and followers.

 

[Hollow Knight]

Think it definantely will be Fevola as the FF. Don't all Coleman Medallist immediately get the FF spot?

Nope.

Gehrig won the Coleman in 2005 and didn't even make the side.

 

[Corrosion]

Far out......I should do some research

 

[dlanod]

Not even the Brownlow Medallist is an automatic selection... Woewoedin missed out on AA honours in his medal year.

 

[Jubair]

Brown and Clark.

 

[Stocka]

Scott Cummings also won the Coleman Medal in 1999 and was not selected in the All-Australian team. Lloyd got the spot ahead of him.

I would not be surprised at all if Fevola was overlooked, to be honest. He's had a good season and probably played some individual games that have been amongst his very best, but he has probably been down on his overall effort from last year (which is similar to L.Franklin). Considering that this has just about been "The Year of the Small Forward", I would not be surprised at all to see the likes of M.Le Cras, J.Porplyzia, A.Didak and L.Davis all get in ahead of him (I don't think they all will, but at least some of those players will be in the team). Even S.Johnson and J.Akermanis, although they might not have 22 weeks of top football to their names, might be in contention as well.

Then there's also the midfielder/forwards in P.Chapman and R.O'Keefe who have had good years and could be in line for a spot on the half-forward line, so there could be fewer spots for key forwards this year.

There is also the possibility that A.Goodes may be selected as a half-forward as well, meaning that he'd take up one of the "tall forward" spots.

Considering the importance of small forwards throughout the competition this year, I think it makes sense to select more of them than in previous years, if the players are deserving, even if this is at the expense of a deserving key forward.

 

[fuzzi1313]

I reckon brown will be in there and maybe black and clark

 

[Hollow Knight]

Clark and Brown are the only Lions named in the 40 man squad.

 

[whatboutbob]

Clark and Brown are the only Lions named in the 40 man squad.

Looks like it is between Clark and McIntosh for the second ruck spot. With respect to McIntosh you'd have to think Clark would have the edge. The argument for McIntosh would be that he's kicked more goals - but I'm pretty sure Mitch has spent a lot more time down back (and doing a bloody good job of it) than Hamish has.

Mitchell Clark, Brisbane Lions. Never previously selected. 22 games in 2009. 181 kicks, 133 marks, 184 handballs, 489 hit outs, averaging 8.2 kicks, 6.0 marks, 8.4 handballs, 22.2 hit outs. Seven Goals Seven Behinds. 63 Clearances, 51 Inside 50m, 34 Rebound 50m.

Hamish McIntosh, North Melbourne. Never previously selected. 22 games in 2009. 174 kicks, 112 marks, 188 handballs, 514 hit outs, averaging 7.9 kicks, 5.1 marks, 8.5 handballs, 23.4 hit outs. 13 Goals Three Behinds. 47 Clearances, 47 Inside 50m, 20 Rebound 50m.

 

[notting18]

Looks like it is between Clark and McIntosh for the second ruck spot. With respect to McIntosh you'd have to think Clark would have the edge. The argument for McIntosh would be that he's kicked more goals - but I'm pretty sure Mitch has spent a lot more time down back (and doing a bloody good job of it) than Hamish has.

Mitchell Clark, Brisbane Lions. Never previously selected. 22 games in 2009. 181 kicks, 133 marks, 184 handballs, 489 hit outs, averaging 8.2 kicks, 6.0 marks, 8.4 handballs, 22.2 hit outs. Seven Goals Seven Behinds. 63 Clearances, 51 Inside 50m, 34 Rebound 50m.

Hamish McIntosh, North Melbourne. Never previously selected. 22 games in 2009. 174 kicks, 112 marks, 188 handballs, 514 hit outs, averaging 7.9 kicks, 5.1 marks, 8.5 handballs, 23.4 hit outs. 13 Goals Three Behinds. 47 Clearances, 47 Inside 50m, 20 Rebound 50m.

However, HMac has in his favour that he was almost selected back in 2007. I can see them giving it to him.

 

[Trjn]

Looks like it is between Clark and McIntosh for the second ruck spot. With respect to McIntosh you'd have to think Clark would have the edge. The argument for McIntosh would be that he's kicked more goals - but I'm pretty sure Mitch has spent a lot more time down back (and doing a bloody good job of it) than Hamish has.

Mitchell Clark, Brisbane Lions. Never previously selected. 22 games in 2009. 181 kicks, 133 marks, 184 handballs, 489 hit outs, averaging 8.2 kicks, 6.0 marks, 8.4 handballs, 22.2 hit outs. Seven Goals Seven Behinds. 63 Clearances, 51 Inside 50m, 34 Rebound 50m.

Hamish McIntosh, North Melbourne. Never previously selected. 22 games in 2009. 174 kicks, 112 marks, 188 handballs, 514 hit outs, averaging 7.9 kicks, 5.1 marks, 8.5 handballs, 23.4 hit outs. 13 Goals Three Behinds. 47 Clearances, 47 Inside 50m, 20 Rebound 50m.

More inside 50s, more rebound 50s, more clearances and probably more tackles.

Stats are generally useless, but it should be clear that Clark does a lot more work around the ground and really deserves that spot.

 

[Zacisonfire]

It really is pretty close stats wise will be interesting indeed.

 

[Hollow Knight]

Mitch only started rucking from round 3 onwards, so his hitout average is lower than it should be.

 

[Mazza44]

No Drummond yet Fletcher and Maxwell get in. Which 'experts' pick this team again?

 

[notting18]

No Drummond yet Fletcher and Maxwell get in. Which 'experts' pick this team again?

James Hird selecting and Fletcher getting a nod is no surprise.

It is a joke that a selector which such a stated bias is allowed to select. Hird would've selected Fletcher on his form before Round 1

 

[BigCat2]

It's more a case of these guys having a short memory. Nick Riewoldt last year didn't do much in the first half, then stormed home to be named at CHF.

Drummond started very well, then missed games with injury and hasn't been as good since.

Of course, many of these selectors probably don't watch too many interstate games. Blacky missing out last year for example.

 

[scotty4]

surprised that watson and lovett didnt make the squad with jimmy's help. clark should go reasonably close youd think. why is swan a forward and didak a midfielder?