All Australian thread

[Wigarus]

Betts had a good first half of the season, finished OK too - was very ordinary in the middle. His numbers look good, helped because he didn't miss a game, but if you're picking an actual team you'd pick Balla on this years form over Betts every day of the week. There's no way Betts should get in over Balla IMHO.

Bruest, would be more likely to keep Balla out - supper accurate and plays for a 'profile club' which helps massively. Plays up the ground a bit too. If they go for only one true small(ish) fwd player, he might be it.

Betts played 3 more games than Ballas. Put it this way, I don't think there needs to be any conspiracy talk if he doesn't get in. They both have a very legitimate claim imo.

 

[PapaJ]

Betts played 3 more games than Ballas. Put it this way, I don't think there needs to be any conspiracy talk if he doesn't get in. They both have a very legitimate claim imo.

Yeah, sure, you're probably right.

I must concede a bit of bias, and it's not pro-Freo in this case, I really don't rate Betts that much. I know he's done well at Adelaide, certainly lifted since his inconsistent days at Carton, but he hasn't got much of a game when his team isn't on top. He's a real front runner in that sense. On the other hand, he's got a wicked sense of the goals, is lively and knows where to go to be a dangerous player. His goal scoring speaks for itself.

AA talk aside, and being as objective as I can, I'd still pick Balla over Betts any day of the week because Balla gives so much in terms of pure work-rate, 1% etc. He has a few more strings to his bow IMHO.

 

[yoong]

I'd love to see Ballantyne get in. However, missing games through suspension/injury could hurt him.

Hayden Ballanytne, Fremantle. Never Previously All Australian. 19 games in 2014. 187 kicks, 83 marks, 49 handballs, averaging 9.8 kicks, 4.4 marks, 2.6 handballs. 49 Goals (Tenth in the AFL), 25 Behinds. 13 Clearances, 57 Inside 50, Seven Rebound 50m. 48 Tackles.

Up against some decent competition.

Luke Breust, Hawthorn. Never Previously All Australian. 22 games in 2014. 176 kicks, 72 marks, 162 handballs, averaging 8.0 kicks, 3.3 marks, 7.4 handballs. 53 Goals (seventh in the AFL), 10 Behinds. 40 Clearances, 65
Inside 50m, Nine Rebound 50m. 69 Tackles.

Eddie Betts, Adelaide Crows. Never Previously All Australian. 22 games in 2014. 167 kicks, 53 marks, 123 handballs, averaging 7.6 kicks, 2.4 marks, 5.6 handballs. 51 Goals (ninth in the AFL), 22 Behinds. 30 Clearances, 37 Inside 50m, Eight Rebound 50m. 74 Tackles.

Is Gunston playing the same position as Ballas also? It'll be him or Breust for me.

 

[pokerspiv]

Can't see Breust not getting the nod.

 

[StingBitten]

Sandi and Fyfe are a lock.

 

[VolgaBoatman]

Sandi and Fyfe are a lock.

Sandi is no lock - Jacobs will get the number one Ruck position, then they might decide to put another midfielder on the bench. I predict Fyfe will be our only representative.

 

[clogged]

They usually choose two rucks.

 

[such is fyfe]

How is Sandi a chance to miss? I've read and heard that Jacobs hashed a great year this year, but Sandi has handed out a bath every games far.

 

[Spoken4]

Sandi is no lock - Jacobs will get the number one Ruck position, then they might decide to put another midfielder on the bench. I predict Fyfe will be our only representative.

Sandilands was the best ruckman all year, and we came up against contenders he beat them. Ballas will also make AA along with Fyfe who was the best midfielder in the competition this year.

 

[Righteo]

Sandilands was the best ruckman all year, and we came up against contenders he beat them. Ballas will also make AA along with Fyfe who was the best midfielder in the competition this year.

The sheep all got on board with Leigh Matthews unfortunately, it's disappointing but media influence cannot be underestimated (particularly when most of the judges are "celebs" in their own right).

 

[VolgaBoatman]

They usually choose two rucks.

Will Minson was the only one last year, though in 2012 Nic Nat and Cox were selected.

I think Sandi had a great first 15 rounds or so, but has just dropped off a little bit - which will count against him. I would love Balla's to get selected, but just can't see him getting past Breust for the small to mid forward role - Eddie Betts also might be ahead of him in some selectors eyes.

 

[Kunna17]

Will Minson was the only one last year, though in 2012 Nic Nat and Cox were selected.

I think Sandi had a great first 15 rounds or so, but has just dropped off a little bit - which will count against him. I would love Balla's to get selected, but just can't see him getting past Breust for the small to mid forward role - Eddie Betts also might be ahead of him in some selectors eyes.

Clarke has been spending more time in the ruck recently, I'd say the idea is to give Sandi a small rest before Finals. That's the main reason for his drop-off imo.

 

[tofushark]

what i would like to see, it is not that i am lazy just don't know how, is not just that stats for but the stats against. for example jacobs may had x many hitouts to advantage but how did his opponents fair, how often did ballas opponent get the ball, all these figures are just as significant. the other thing that bothers me is measuring performance on something such as goals when you are comparing apples with oranges as some teams play a much more free flowing game than others.

 

[VolgaBoatman]

Comparing Sandi with Jacobs

# Player GM KI MK HB DI DA GL BH HO ↑ TK RB IF CL CG FF FA CP UP CM MI 1% BO GA %P
31 Sandilands, Aaron 21 68 76 203 271 12.90 7 5 798 41 14 23 56 28 21 17 158 114 38 11 62 1 8 80.7
24 Jacobs, Sam 22 193 90 165 358 16.27 7 3 763 46 20 40 69 33 11 15 150 189 19 4 63 1 10 87.9

I would say Jacobs has slightly better stats, though I would like to know Hitouts to Advantage - I can't seem to find it anywhere.

 

[Righteo]

Comparing Sandi with Jacobs

# Player GM KI MK HB DI DA GL BH HO ↑ TK RB IF CL CG FF FA CP UP CM MI 1% BO GA %P
31 Sandilands, Aaron 21 68 76 203 271 12.90 7 5 798 41 14 23 56 28 21 17 158 114 38 11 62 1 8 80.7
24 Jacobs, Sam 22 193 90 165 358 16.27 7 3 763 46 20 40 69 33 11 15 150 189 19 4 63 1 10 87.9

I would say Jacobs has slightly better stats, though I would like to know Hitouts to Advantage - I can't seem to find it anywhere.

I referenced this article the other day re: corridor use and it has the HO's to advantage too.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2014-08-29/the-inquirer-cream-always-rises

Dead even but when they met this year Sandi gave him a bath not that it'll matter.

 

[Clive Diablo]

There is one thing the stats don't in the Sandi v Jacobs battle. Impact in the game. How many times when we needed it has there been a clear centre break goal, due in a large part to ruck domination. The 38 to 19 in the contested marks is huge. Thats two a game to one.

I watched an Adelaide game and Jacobs stats were good but not once did Adelaide get a clear centre break goal. He was meh when it came to actual game impact. But as we have no-one on the panel that pushes for Freo players Sandi will miss.

 

[holy diver]

Fyfe for certain. Possibly Ballantyne but he has missed a few games...
Sandilands deserves it but unlikely.

 

[Square Peg]

Yeah Jacobs will get his 1st AA, simply to shut everyone up about 2012 when he should have got it. Sandi will instead have to cry himself to sleep cuddling his premiership medallion

 

[Schauermann]

Will Minson was the only one last year, though in 2012 Nic Nat and Cox were selected.

But Cox was probably only in because of his forward work/impact. Last time they chose two pure rucks was in 2010 with Sandi and Jamar...

 

[Allikat]

The 2012 ruck selections were just stupid and driven by hype.

I do think Ballas will only get in if they pick 2 small forwards, but deserves to be in based on his work ethic, pressure off the ball, and the fact that he's such a team player. Sure Bruest is good, he's kicked a lot of goals and has been pretty handy up forward, but I just don't like the way he played footy when he was on his goal streak. Hospital handpasses and drawing the ball out of bounds to avoid a dodgy shot on goal is just selfish play.

 

[PapaJ]

They usually choose two rucks.

Will Minson was the only one last year, though in 2012 Nic Nat and Cox were selected.
...

I was having a look at past AA's a few days ago and more recently they are tending not to pick 2 rucks. As you say Volga, they didn't last year for example, and in 2009 and 2011 they had Sandi and Cox on their own respectively. So just going on recent years, 2010 (Sandi starting, Jamar on the bench) was the last time the 'traditional' 2 rucks were chosen as such and 2012 was the unusual one with Cox at fwd flank (NicNat as starting ruck), other than those two times, the other 3 of the past 5 have seen 1 ruck chosen.

 

[Simmofreo]

WTF so first I was gobsmacked that priddis was in the AA team, and now afl.com.au predict him to poll more than Fyfe in the Brownlow !!!!!! What is everyone smoking ?

 

[Taylor]

I expect they will pick Jacobs and assume that Hawkins or Roughead will ruck.

 

[clogged]

WTF so first I was gobsmacked that priddis was in the AA team, and now afl.com.au predict him to poll more than Fyfe in the Brownlow !!!!!! What is everyone smoking ?

I hope Priddis wins it.

 

[ilikepotatoes]

I hope Priddis wins it.

Would be hilarious