Analysis Rolling All-Australian team for 2021

[Happy Mastenator]

Yeah bit of an asterisk next to Hawkins because Buddy outperformed him when he played.

Tex played the same amount of games as Buddy and generally had better stats. Neither of them deserved to get in though.

 

[Halftimehero]

He was also injured/ineffective for half the season. It's far, far from the most ridiculous omission in recent AA history.

Ineffective is a bit of a stretch, he kicked 3+ goals 4 times in 9 games before the bye.

He definitely finished stronger than he started but was a lot better than “ineffective” at the start.

 

[SSwans2011]

Tex played the same amount of games as Buddy and generally had better stats. Neither of them deserved to get in though.

Tex didn't really have generally better stats. He got a couple more touches a game, but Franklin had double as many tackles in a season where most of the best teams have had manic forward pressure as a key pillar of their success. They did have comparable seasons though, and I agree neither should have made it.

 

[danster168]

How many Essendon games did you watch this year?

I mean, I think I already know, but anyway.

I watched every single Essendon game.

 

[Northernsoul74]

Melbourne posters still covering themselves in glory I see.

 

[Trav 20]

Stringer was a ridiculous AA selection in 2015, so let's just call it even.

 

[bjwilliams]

Since the bye, Stringer has been the best player in the AFL, according to the Official Player Ratings.
39 goals in 18 games. Papley had 41 in 22. Plus Stringer was ranked elite for clearances and assists.
Huge omission. Papley was indeed robbed last season.

I'll only say the Official Player Ratings are a bit of a mess. Saw some analysis that showed who would get Brownlow votes based on game Player Ratings being used as a 3-2-1. Wines would get 13 votes according to the stats, Danger would lead the Cast with 11. Obviously Stringer was a gun and I thought he was stiff to miss, but player ratings are the stat to use for any players case.

 

[WallyStringhaus]

Stringer’s omission is the most ridiculous in recent AA history. He was one of the league’s top 10 players this year.

For people who think I’m being biased, he’s had a stronger year than both Merrett and Parish, and could’ve replaced either in the side with a simple reshuffle. There’s multiple other players he could’ve replaced too.

It’s absolutely mind blowing. We need AA selectors who actually watch the games.

If he was so good why didn't his own teammates rate him higher?

 

[Northernsoul74]

If he was so good why didn't his own teammates rate him higher?

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To be fair those same players also voted Laverde as most courageous.

 

[OnlyPowerForever]

To be fair those same players also voted Laverde as most courageous.

To be fair, by signing for Essendon and expecting finals success, all Bomber players could be considered "courageous".

 

[eth-dog]

To be fair those same players also voted Laverde as most courageous.

Your issue with that is?

To be fair, by signing for Essendon and expecting finals success, all Bomber players could be considered "courageous".

Oh, someone is bitter their pre-season prediction was wrong.

 

[Northernsoul74]

Your issue with that is?

Oh, someone is bitter their pre-season prediction was wrong.

To be fair he has completely turned his career around and has been very good in defence.

 

[eth-dog]

To be fair he has completely turned his career around and has been very good in defence.

Yep, much like Dale (although obviously on another level to Laverde). I'm just curious as to why he's a poor choice for most courageous?

 

[JayJ20]

To be fair those same players also voted Laverde as most courageous.

He is though. Injured himself many times during the season only to get back up and keep going.

 

[raskolnikov]

To be fair those same players also voted Laverde as most courageous.

What a dumb comment. Give yourself an uppercut.

 

[Halftimehero]

To be fair those same players also voted Laverde as most courageous.

Care to elaborate?

 

[Northernsoul74]

Care to elaborate?

Wow Essendon fans are touchy. He’s just not a player I’ve ever watched and thought wow he’s courageous. You’d know better than me and if Essendon fans think he’s deserving then fair enough. Courage is certainly not something you could have said about him before this year but credit to him for embracing everything that comes with playing in defence.

 

[OnlyPowerForever]

Your issue with that is?

Oh, someone is bitter their pre-season prediction was wrong.

Yeah, true, I tipped Port Adelaide to drop to 5th-8th. Didn't realise how soft their draw would become.

But that's got nothing to do with Essendon.

 

[Northernsoul74]

What a dumb comment. Give yourself an uppercut.

Up there with “bookmark it” as one of the dumbest bigfooty cliches.

 

[GatesOfHell]

What's the point of having a team structure then? Why not just pick the best 22 players of the season regardless of position?

Here’s an exercise if you’re up for it. Pick an AA side with who you think are the best “pure wingmen” and best “pure half forward flankers” then see how it stacks up against the AA as picked by the official selectors. Nine hypothetical times out of ten the AA selectors’ side would beat any side you can come up with.

No-one you pick on either half forward flank for example will be better choices than Bontempelli and Petracca. Two of the best five players in the game. They’d both crush anyone you can name on a flank.

 

[Happy Mastenator]

Here’s an exercise if you’re up for it. Pick an AA side with who you think are the best “pure wingmen” and best “pure half forward flankers” then see how it stacks up against the AA as picked by the official selectors. Nine times out of ten the official AA selectors’ side would hypothetically beat any side you can come up with.

No-one you pick on either half forward flank for example will be better choices than Bontempelli and Petracca. Two of the best five players in the game. They’d both crush anyone you can name on a flank.

You obviously never saw Zac Langdon and Jack Petrucelle in action this year.

 

[staffonly]

Here’s an exercise if you’re up for it. Pick an AA side with who you think are the best “pure wingmen” and best “pure half forward flankers” then see how it stacks up against the AA as picked by the official selectors. Nine times out of ten the official AA selectors’ side would hypothetically beat any side you can come up with.

No-one you pick on either half forward flank for example will be better choices than Bontempelli and Petracca. Two of the best five players in the game. They’d both crush anyone you can name on a flank.

There is an art to being a forward. An art that not many can regularly perform well.

 

[Halftimehero]

Wow Essendon fans are touchy. He’s just not a player I’ve ever watched and thought wow he’s courageous. You’d know better than me and if Essendon fans think he’s deserving then fair enough. Courage is certainly not something you could have said about him before this year but credit to him for embracing everything that comes with playing in defence.

So basically you’ve got no idea whether he’s deserving of being a nomination for most courageous or not, just dribbled some shit for the sake of it?

 

[OnlyPowerForever]

Here’s an exercise if you’re up for it. Pick an AA side with who you think are the best “pure wingmen” and best “pure half forward flankers” then see how it stacks up against the AA as picked by the official selectors. Nine hypothetical times out of ten the AA selectors’ side would beat any side you can come up with.

No-one you pick on either half forward flank for example will be better choices than Bontempelli and Petracca. Two of the best five players in the game. They’d both crush anyone you can name on a flank.

Two of the best 5 players in the game - can't get a starting gig in the AA midfield or the AA on-ball brigade though (that's 6....)

 

[GatesOfHell]

Two of the best 5 players in the game - can't get a starting gig in the AA midfield or the AA on-ball brigade though (that's 6....)

Would you have said the same about peak Dusty? No. Same category of mid/forward superstar. Best player in the game doesn’t have to be a starting mid.

That said, Clarry looks a good bet to take Charlie home this year