All Australian thread

[clivenator26]

Who does everyone think deserves a spot in the 22 or the 40 ? We have been stiff most years of our history with players missing out and I reckon that trend will continue this year, here is how I see it.

Fyfe - absolute lock in the 18, no doubts from anyone (though last year people would've thought the same!).

Sandilands - will be in the 40 for sure but I think Sauce Jacobs has earned the first ruckman choice, Sandi the 2nd best for sure but sometimes they only take 1 ruck in, halfway through the season 211 was a lock but he has dropped off slightly and Jacobs has played some really top games.

Ballantyne - definitely in the 40 but will be up against it to get in the 22, a big finish to the season might tip him in. Plenty of goals, and the pressure is second to none, definitely his best year and the way he has handled Walters absence has been terrific.

Johnson - is a smoky to get in the 40, probably missed too many games.

Mundy, Barlow, Hill all great players who have had impact at various times, I think Hill would have been a chance but has probably missed a few too many games for us.

 

[beetz]

Fyfe is a lock. Sandilands a good chance at the ruck spot.

Apart from that, I don't think any one else has been consistent enough to make the final team.

 

[Nickos66]

Fyfe's a lock.

Ballas in the 40 man squad.

This is all we'll get as we're not Hawthorn, Sydney or Geelong, ie. we won't be having 7 players from our team in the squad in our lifetimes.

 

[Frank J Moose]

Sandi should be a lock. You have been listening to the media too much with the Sandi hate since Matthews said he was overated. Go watch the Adelaide game. Sandi pantsed Jacobs, pulled them over his head and pantsed him again.

 

[clivenator26]

I love Sandi, have been sticking up for him for 10 years. He is a definite chance but I wouldn't say lock, he did a great job on Jacobs but that isn't the only argument, Sandi hasn't been as prolific in the second half of the year which for some crazy reason puts players offside with AA selection. I remember Hasleby being robbed in 2004 of a spot when Chad Fletcher got in ahead because he finished the season off well.

 

[Seppo]

Fyfe, Sandi, Ballas could potentially all make the final squad.

Could see Ballas missing if they decide to throw someone like Robbie Gray into the forward pocket and Natainui into the other spot.

 

[PeelnThunder]

Fyfe is lock, HFF or midfield.

I think Ballantyne needs to crack 50 goals(41 now). Even still, Victorian bias is against him.

Sandilands should make it as I think he's been better across the whole season. (Comprd Jacobs)

No one else, unless Hill has absolutely magically last 3 rounds.

 

[beetz]

If that's the case, Pav was robbed when he dominated the latter half the season a couple of years ago.

AA selection along with every other accolade determined by a group of "experts" is overrated and biased. The true reflection of how well a player has gone is through public or fellow player voted awards in my opinion.

 

[Schauermann]

Who does everyone think deserves a spot in the 22 or the 40 ? We have been stiff most years of our history with players missing out and I reckon that trend will continue this year, here is how I see it.

Fyfe - absolute lock in the 18, no doubts from anyone (though last year people would've thought the same!).

Sandilands - will be in the 40 for sure but I think Sauce Jacobs has earned the first ruckman choice, Sandi the 2nd best for sure but sometimes they only take 1 ruck in, halfway through the season 211 was a lock but he has dropped off slightly and Jacobs has played some really top games.

Ballantyne - definitely in the 40 but will be up against it to get in the 22, a big finish to the season might tip him in. Plenty of goals, and the pressure is second to none, definitely his best year and the way he has handled Walters absence has been terrific.

Johnson - is a smoky to get in the 40, probably missed too many games.

Mundy, Barlow, Hill all great players who have had impact at various times, I think Hill would have been a chance but has probably missed a few too many games for us.

Agree on this mostly.

Think one of Barlow or Hill (or even Mundy) will make the squad, perhaps a bit depending on next few weeks.

But don't think Johnson will make the squad anymore.

Sandi and Jacobs still look like 50:50 in the tread on the main board and there is a chance of two rucks. Two rucks are a bit back in fashion after being declared dead with the Leigh Brown/other pinch hitters success a few years back...

If that's the case, Pav was robbed when he dominated the latter half the season a couple of years ago.

Pav was also robbed in 2010 when he dominated the first half of season in 2010. Freo luck...

 

[mattis117]

Fyfe Sandi and Ballantyne should all make AA. Barlow is a roughy, but highly unlikely I would have thought. No one else is even close.

 

[gaskin]

Fyfe, Sandi and Ballas.

 

[Docker82]

Fyfe, Sandilands and Ballantyne should get AA

But we all know that the AFL will find a way to include just one of them. Surely they can't leave Fyfe out this year but they'll find a way to leave out any other freo players just you watch.

 

[Righteo]

Shame Hilly got injured as he was on track to making it. If we win our last three and Sandi and Ballas play reasonably then I think they'll make it, Fyfe was already in before the season.

Barlow could make the squad too, hasn't been as good as Fyfe but his stats stack up pretty well still.

 

[Allikat]

Fyfe should be a lock. I'm only saying should - because you never really know with how often non-vic/syd teams get overlooked. Just cos he's the best player in the league this year and all.

Ballas - Start of the year I would've locked him in but he has some quiet weeks. Would have to have a decent end to the season.

Sandi - Is the best ruckman in the league based on the fact that he wins the ruck in every game he plays. But everyone's so used to him winning the taps that he's not as noticeable as say a Jacobs who's had a standout season for him despite losing to our Sandi.

Barlow - Could be the smoky. He's had a pretty great year and consistent too. He just gets overshadowed by having Fyfe right next to him.

 

[Boppo]

Jacobs was stupidly overlooked afew seasons back so will probably get payback this year.

 

[PapaJ]

Yeah, I think there's only three that have a legitimate shot:

Fyfe - 99%
Sandi - 60%
Balla - 40%

Hill and MJ are smokies for the 40 based on earlier season from - though the selectors are pretty myopic so I doubt it. Barlow has had a good 2nd half to the season so could be an outside for the 40 too. That would be about it.

 

[Square Peg]

Can't see MJ as close to AA myself, his form is down on last year.
I reckon we can all mount arguments to have Ballantyne and Sandi in the 22 but I bet they don't get that far, they may make the shortlist but that will be it.
I reckon it will be Fyfe only.

 

[Freoforever86]

Fyfe, Sandi & Ballaz all in the squad.
Fyfe makes the 22 and should start, Sandi is 50/50 in the 22 and Ballaz gets a bit of hate, but will go close. Bruest, Gray, Betts & Thomas (unfortunately) his competiton..

 

[PapaJ]

Fyfe, Sandi & Ballaz all in the squad.
Fyfe makes the 22 and should start, Sandi is 50/50 in the 22 and Ballaz gets a bit of hate, but will go close. Bruest, Gray, Betts & Thomas (unfortunately) his competiton..

No way Betts and Thomas should be ahead of Balla. Thomas has had an OK year, Betts has had some good moments/games, but particularly early in the year was crap and neither has done anything close to what Balla does off the ball and in terms of bringing other players into it.

Bruest has had a great year and Gray has been superb - they are the only two I'd consider ahead of him in the small fwd spot (not that they care about positions as such, but you know).

Edit: Wingard is another good one, forgot him. Though he hasn't had as good a year as last year and has faded lately from what I can tell.

 

[Righteo]

Wingard has dropped off massively and won't even make the squad, agree it's between Gray/Breust/Ballas. All deserve to be in there but they do need to make room for 15 mids not forgetting.

 

[PapaJ]

Wingard has dropped off massively and won't even make the squad, agree it's between Gray/Breust/Ballas. All deserve to be in there but they do need to make room for 15 mids not forgetting.

Yeah, like I said, faded in recent times, but he was in good form earlier in the year, as good as last year and he made the team last year - that's what I'm basing it on.

Anyway, the real point I was making is that Betts and Thomas shouldn't even be considered.

 

[Righteo]

Yeah, like I said, faded in recent times, but he was in good form earlier in the year, as good as last year and he made the team last year - that's what I'm basing it on.

Anyway, the real point I was making is that Betts and Thomas shouldn't even be considered.

Yeah no doubt, it appears I can actually seem argumentative when agreeing with someone haha. For me the most interesting thing will be whether they squeeze two rucks in again which probably means another forward pocket taken.

 

[PapaJ]

Yeah no doubt, it appears I can actually seem argumentative when agreeing with someone haha. For me the most interesting thing will be whether they squeeze two rucks in again which probably means another forward pocket taken.

I'm cool, didn't read it as argumentative.

The rucks thing is interesting - the team isn't picked to play as such, hence midfielders find their way into the pockets etc. These days you can make a case for an extra fwd and one legitimate ruck and call it a real team I suppose, and besides the Cox/NicNat combo a couple of years ago, I don't think they've put two rucks in much in recent years - could be wrong on that, just going off vague memory.

If they do name two, then Sandi will make it, and even if it's one, I think he'd be more likely than not. He's been a bit off lately, but I still think his season overall has been very good, as good as anybody - just doesn't hit the scoreboard enough which you want your ruck to do and is the sort of thing that gets you noticed.

Jacobs is the only obvious one with any consistency to take it away from 211, and he has the advantage of being good later in the year which helps I'm sure, but without having seen heaps of his games, I'd say he's been as good at best - and Sandi's top games would be better than Jacobs.

And yeah, If they name 1 ruck, then obviously someone like Balla might squeeze in if he finishes the year strongly.

 

[Righteo]

When it comes to selecting ruck it's probably the only position where you'd think heavy weighting in terms of H2H should occur. Sandi hasn't been in his early season form recently but has still beat down most of the contenders (well who BF reckons were contenders) he's been pitted against and that definitely includes Sauce Jacobs.

His tapwork was dominant that day even if Jacobs picked up more cheapies around the ground, would like to see it factor in.

 

[pokerspiv]

A lot of Victorian commentators still rate Will Minson as the #1 ruck in the comp so I don't think Sandi is at all guaranteed.