No All Australians for the first time since 2006?

[MC Extra Dollop]

SJ kicked some bags early in the year before moving to the midfield where he must be averaging over 25 possys a game since. Definitely deserves a spot but I dunno with the way the team is selected.

That's the issue though, he's not even averaging a goal per game (18 for the year) and he's averaging 22.2 possessions. Several of the fancied midfielders, as well as guys like Harvey, Lewis, Bennell and even Chapman and Martin have put up more impressive numbers than that. I'm just not sure where he fits in. I would have thought 35 goals would be the absolute minimum to get a guernsey in the forward line.

 

[Jmac2225]

That's the issue though, he's not even averaging a goal per game (18 for the year) and he's averaging 22.2 possessions. Several of the fancied midfielders, as well as guys like Harvey, Lewis, Bennell and even Chapman and Martin have put up more impressive numbers than that. I'm just not sure where he fits in. I would have thought 35 goals would be the absolute minimum to get a guernsey in the forward line.

Stats are deceiving but I agree with you in a lot of regards because IMO the AA panel takes them too heavily into consideration.

When looking at the Geelong side and stats on a weekly basis you would notice we play a low possession game compared to other sides. Many weeks none of our players reach 30 disposals and others we only have 1-2 max crack 30.

Then there are sides like Collingwood who have 3+ players crack 30 every week.

Take into account SJ got KO'd against Adelaide and got no possessions his true average is about 23.4 possessions only 2 behind Kelly and Selwoods 25.5 average. The major argument for SJ is how damaging he is with ball usage compared to other players.

 

[marshhhhh]

In my opinion, I think Pavlich and Petrie are both very deserving of their spot.
They have both been fantastic for their teams and I love watching them both play.
Having said that, you can't deny the Hawkins stats.
With all his stats, plus goals, you could not possibly deny him a spot in the team.
If Buddy makes it, the AFL must love him more than Judd.

What a cracking year in all facets of the game. So many players have been outstanding in so many positions, and I guess that's why at the business end of the season everything is still up for grabs.

Brilliant.

 

[Partridge]

In my opinion, I think Pavlich and Petrie are both very deserving of their spot.
They have both been fantastic for their teams and I love watching them both play.
Having said that, you can't deny the Hawkins stats.
With all his stats, plus goals, you could not possibly deny him a spot in the team.
If Buddy makes it, the AFL must love him more than Judd.

What a cracking year in all facets of the game. So many players have been outstanding in so many positions, and I guess that's why at the business end of the season everything is still up for grabs.

Brilliant.

To be fair to Franklin, when he has made the All-Australian side he's actually earnt it. Unlike Judd.

Hopefully Hawkins can continue his good form on Sunday and make it even harder to leave him out.

 

[Gabe Martin]

Selwood should be in for sure.

Hawkins will go close if he finishes off the season strongly.

yeah, selwood should be in

 

[marshhhhh]

To be fair to Franklin, when he has made the All-Australian side he's actually earnt it. Unlike Judd.

Hopefully Hawkins can continue his good form on Sunday and make it even harder to leave him out.

I agree, but he's not ahead of Petrie, Pav and Hawk this year.

 

[Stig_90]

Imagine the absolute uproar from Hawthorn supporters if Tomahawk got in ahead of Buddy! The main board here would be unbearable.

 

[Vdubs]

They'd want to be very careful selecting Buddy, wouldn't want him infecting the team if his virus hasn't cleared.

 

[Partridge]

Imagine the absolute uproar from Hawthorn supporters if Tomahawk got in ahead of Buddy! The main board here would be unbearable.

They might want to start getting used to it. When was the last time a player made it after missing 6 games? If he was leading the Coleman fair enough, but he's not.

 

[SJ]

They might want to start getting used to it. When was the last time a player made it after missing 6 games? If he was leading the Coleman fair enough, but he's not.

Johnson missed five in 2007 and made it. Six seems to be about the cut off.

 

[Partridge]

Johnson missed five in 2007 and made it. Six seems to be about the cut off.

Yep. So did Ablett in 1993.

 

[CatTricks]

Harry Taylor is a lock for AA selection
Hawk isn't far off

Mackie is a smokey - Best year of his career bar the first Adelaide game.

Selwood should get the nod but would not be suprised if he's named on the bench

Boris, Domsy and Kel should also be named in the initial 40, stiff for them to miss out but they have had fantastic seasons.

 

[DTRAIN87]

The thing we need to remember is that the AA selectors have and will use the Swan of 08 rule or maybe it was 09 where he was selected as a forward and the bench rule where they don't give a **** who is there.

 

[MC Extra Dollop]

Harry Taylor is a lock for AA selection
Hawk isn't far off

Mackie is a smokey - Best year of his career bar the first Adelaide game.

Selwood should get the nod but would not be suprised if he's named on the bench

Boris, Domsy and Kel should also be named in the initial 40, stiff for them to miss out but they have had fantastic seasons.

I don't think we'll get that many. Realistically, when your team is sitting seventh on the ladder, you don't deserve 7/40 on the squad. We only had six last year. Considering the fact that defenders, mids, rucks and forwards have to be selected, I'd suggest the squad will be something like this:

Adelaide: Scott Thompson, Patrick Dangerfield, Sam Jacobs, Brent Reilly
Carlton: Eddie Betts
Collingwood: Dane Swan, Dayne Beams, Scott Pendlebury, Heath Shaw, Steele Sidebottom
Essendon: Jobe Watson
Fremantle: Matthew Pavlich, Luke McPharlin
Geelong: Joel Selwood, Tom Hawkins, Tom Lonergan, Harry Taylor
Gold Coast: Gary Ablett
Hawthorn: Sam Mitchell, Grant Birchall, Jarryd Roughead, Cyril Rioli, Lance Franklin
North Melbourne: Andrew Swallow, Drew Petrie, Brent Harvey
Richmond: Trent Cotchin, Brett Deledio, Ivan Maric
St Kilda: Lenny Hayes, Stephen Milne
Sydney: Josh Kennedy, Ted Richards, Kieren Jack, Lewis Jetta
Western Bulldogs: Matthew Boyd
West Coast: Dean Cox, Nic Naitanui, Beau Waters, Darren Glass

Wouldn't be surprised if someone like Johnson made it, but there's not too many passengers on that list and I'd find it hard to take anyone out to put someone like Johnson, Mackie or Kelly in.

 

[marshhhhh]

Harry Taylor is a lock for AA selection
Hawk isn't far off

Tend to go the other way personally.
Media commentators have been loving on Ted Richards this year (and rightly so) and there is a heap of talk around Rutten too, who really has had a good season.
There's been a bit about Glass too, although I personally think he was better last year.

 

[Jmac2225]

A lot of contenders for key defensive posts this year. Its hard to know whether the selectors will go for pure stoppers like Glass, Rutten and Lonergan or more attacking players like Richards, Harry and McPharlane. IMO if they go for a pure stopper Lonners has been the best in the league this year.

Somehow though I don't think any of our backs will make it this year whether they deserve it or not. Media sweethearts often tend to win the AA spots and this year Richards and McPharlin are the buzz players and rightly so they have been fantastic.

Tomahawk and Selwood aside most our side has flown under the media and possibly a number of AA selectors radar this year.

 

[Duskfire]

Lonergan and Taylor deserve it but they wont get it; barely get a mention from anyone ever, despite Lonners in particular taking names every week.

Hawkins will get in. Franklin has missed too many games; leading in contested marks in the 50.

 

[Chewy]

If Buddy makes it, the AFL must love him more than Judd.

Or possibly it's because the All-Australian selection committee think he is the best forward in the competition.

 

[Chewy]

Franklin has missed too many games

It would be harsh for the A/A selectors to leave Buddy out when you consider :

a) he was EASILY the leading forward in the AFL prior to his hamstring injury
b) he kicked a match winning 4 goals against the likely A/A full back in his first game back
c) he has kicked as many goals Hawkins, Petrie, Riewoldt and Pavlich despite missing 6 games and spending more time further away from goal
d) deserving players have been selected in previous seasons despite missing 5-6 games. (e.g. Steve Johnson in 2007)

 

[Chewy]

I think Hawkins, Pavlich and Franklin are all certainties. CHF, FP and FF, or maybe one of them on the bench with Cox & NicNat as Ruck and FP.

I would be surprised if Petrie was given another guernsey. He hasn't been that great. I think he was lucky to be named first time around. (Mainly because of the lack of good key forwards in 2011 and the perception he could pinch hit in the ruck)

Selwood should get named, although it's a bit of a raffle with so many good midfielders in the mix: Cotchin, Watson, Pendlebury, Swallow, Kennedy, Beams, Swan, Thompson, Dangerfield, J Selwood, Mitchell, Jack, Boyd, Sewell, Kerr, S Selwood, Deledio, etc