As far as KPF go I think I'd have:-
HF: xx Franklin XX
FF: Rough Hawkins XX
Rather than Rough and Franklin across the FF and N Riewoldt at CHF. Possibly harsh on Nick but didn't appear to me to finish the season as strongly as he started (but I'll readily admit also I didn't catch as much of the Saints as other teams).
Tough to pick...but no tougher than the KPD's this yr.
Numbers reflect their true roles...Hawkins SHOULD hit the scoreboard much more than Riewoldt, and Hawkins SHOULD take a heap more marks inside 50. One has played closer to goal and the other as a classical CHF mobile marking target. One has been getting good service and the other butchered. First third of the season when saints surprised and won 50/50 of their games Riewoldt/Ablett/Pendlebury were the first 3 obvious picks before you even thought about anyone else...so we can only imagine the season he would have had at a top 4 club.
Old schoolers see the importance of the marking target and will never see the point playing 2 FF's. But time marches on and maybe CHF isnt the premier AA slot anymore and picked as the best pure CHF. Still the most difficult position on the field but is more often seen as interchangeable with stay home FF's when it comes to AA. Not every time such as last yr...but if a guy is 10 behind in the Coleman they tend to favour that as a benchmark for AA at the expense of the position. Same as how inside or clearance mids can get picked on a wing or flank...they begin by picking 3 groups of guys in order based on the most important criteria (eg goals kicked for forwards) and THEN look at the lesser numbers and other factors to make up the 3 categories.
So my take on it is that IFF you already have say Franklin and Roughead to play a game of footy tomorrow...why on earth would any coach/selector pick a stay home type FF like Hawkins as well ? You'd lick ya chops and pick the mobile CHF in a heartbeat. No brainer. The CHF can even play as a KPD if u cop injuries. Also, if you already have one KPF and have a choice of Roughead and Hawkins...why wouldnt you choose the flexibility of Roughead who can help in the ruck if needed as well as doing Hawkins' role normally. Means you can play one less Ruckman to get more run off the bench. Another no brainer for me at least.
AA selection doesnt necessarily work off picking a team to play a game for you...it is far more clinical. With Richardson now on the selection panel you would imagine he's smart enough to know half a goal a game is a nothing differential between a CHF/FF...he'd prefer the genuine and flexible CHF like most of us and coaches as well...but overall i reckon they'll get around it and compromise by picking Franklin at CHF, then Hawkins/Roughead in the FF line with Breust. That is an easier compromise to make so that they can hand 3rd place mob more than perhaps none to 1 All Aust. So i'd agree with both guys up there ^^ but yes its the wrong choice in reality and mean it is weaker as a TEAM. Shows how bloody hard it is to get picked AA if your mob isnt winning games.
I'll predict this will be the AA fwd line, but yeah in reality (for a game) Riewoldt would get picked at CHF.
GRAY.......FRANKLIN...??? (harvey/parker/beams/martin etc)
BREUST...HAWKINS...ROUGHEAD