Analysis Rolling All-Australian team for 2021

[Sphynx]

I don't think you can really compare Merrett and Steele. One's far superior on the outside, one's far superior on the outside.

If you're picking who has had the better year, I'd be inclined to say Steele, and fairly comfortably. But in a year where there's so many inside mids vying for spots, is Merrett perhaps more likely to be squeezed into a wing position? Quite possibly.

IMO the tiers of midfielders vying for selection this year are:

1. Bont, Oliver, Miller, Walsh
2. Macrae, Steele, Parish, Petracca, Wines
3. Merrett, Lyons
4. Zorko, Liberatore, Guthrie, Boak

Mills and Mitchell are probably in the Merrett and Lyons group.

Id drop Wines to the tier 3 also.

Id add Brayshaw, Parker, Cunnington and Josh Kelly in tier 4.

Libba and Boak wouldn’t be in my tier 4. They’d be borderline along with Mundy and McCluggage.

1. Bont, Oliver, Miller, Walsh
2. Macrae, Steele, Parish, Petracca
3. Merrett, Lyons, Wines, Mills, Mitchell
4. Zorko, Parker, Brayshaw, J.Kelly, Guthrie, Cunnington.

 

[Ricky Vaughn]

St. Kilda deserve to be punished for the season they're putting together.

Steele out.

 

[Scythe]

Mills and Mitchell are probably in the Merrett and Lyons group.

Id drop Wines to the tier 3 also.

Id add Brayshaw, Parker, Cunnington and Josh Kelly in tier 4.

Libba and Boak wouldn’t be in my tier 4. They’d be borderline along with Mundy and McCluggage.

1. Bont, Oliver, Miller, Walsh
2. Macrae, Steele, Parish, Petracca
3. Merrett, Lyons, Wines, Mills, Mitchell
4. Zorko, Parker, Brayshaw, J.Kelly, Guthrie, Cunnington.

Admittedly, I completely forgot about the Sydney mids, added them in now. IMO, Jelly, Cunnington and Mitchell don't sit at the levels of those mentioned for various reasons, but can understand your inclusions. Don't think any of those listed in tier 4 will make it though.

 

[port_adelaide_1870]

Mills and Mitchell are probably in the Merrett and Lyons group.

Id drop Wines to the tier 3 also.

Id add Brayshaw, Parker, Cunnington and Josh Kelly in tier 4.

Libba and Boak wouldn’t be in my tier 4. They’d be borderline along with Mundy and McCluggage.

1. Bont, Oliver, Miller, Walsh
2. Macrae, Steele, Parish, Petracca
3. Merrett, Lyons, Wines, Mills, Mitchell
4. Zorko, Parker, Brayshaw, J.Kelly, Guthrie, Cunnington.

Wines to the 3 tier? In what world. He has been one of the best mids of the year. He’s been better than Oliver, Miller, Steele you name it. He is second favourite for the brownlow and equal fourth in the AFLCA votes

 

[Scythe]

Wines to the 3 tier? In what world. He has been one of the best mids of the year. He’s been better than Oliver, Miller, Steele you name it. He is second favourite for the brownlow and equal fourth in the AFLCA votes

If you're using coaches votes to back up your opinion, you might want to take a look at the leaderboard, where Oliver is second, and will be first after tonight.

I agree that Wines is better than tier 3, but in no way has he had a better season than Oliver.

 

[blues4flag]

Andrews had another strong performance on the weekend. He is currently 2nd in the league for intercepts (behind Lever) and 2nd in the league for one percenters. That's pretty impressive to not only be intercepting the ball so much but also spoiling the ball so much (Lever is ranked 20th in the league for one percenters). Andrews is also the top ranked contested marking defender for the year...

Feel like he's judged harshly due to his high standards over the last 3-4 years (he has had a few down games this year - but who hasn't). I'd comfortably argue he is the best key defender in the league. He and Lever should be the key backs this year I think.

Weitering would be a worthy selection too.

The stats make for interesting reading. Andrews is probably the best lockdown defender statistically, with Weitering second. May and Ryan the best attacking key stalls, with Weitering third.

 

[Happy Mastenator]

so do you agree with Eaglespremiers that naitanui was convincingly better?

Because on the neutral board most people agree that Grundy smashed him around the ground.

It was 17 touches to 22. So Grundy had a total of 5 more possessions and that's a smashing around the ground?

Nic Nat had the same amount of score involvements, meters gained, intercepts.

Nic Nat won clearances 10 to 4, score launches 4 to 2, hit outs to advantage 9 to 4.

 

[g_TRAIN]

It was 17 touches to 22. So Grundy had a total of 5 more possessions and that's a smashing around the ground?

Nic Nat had the same amount of score involvements, meters gained, intercepts.

Nic Nat won clearances 10 to 4, score launches 4 to 2, hit outs to advantage 9 to 4.

It was a good battle which Nic Nat won in the end.

 

[eaglespremiers]

It was 17 touches to 22. So Grundy had a total of 5 more possessions and that's a smashing around the ground?

Nic Nat had the same amount of score involvements, meters gained, intercepts.

Nic Nat won clearances 10 to 4, score launches 4 to 2, hit outs to advantage 9 to 4.

Also, just pre-empting the coaches votes today.
I wouldn't be surprised if Harvey gives Grundy some votes for his game.
There was an article suggesting that he was happy with Grundy's contribution.
I disagree vehemently, but his opinion is his opinion.
Does make me wonder about him as a coach though.

 

[danster168]

Wines to the 3 tier? In what world. He has been one of the best mids of the year. He’s been better than Oliver, Miller, Steele you name it. He is second favourite for the brownlow and equal fourth in the AFLCA votes

you realise Oliver is winning the AFLCA yeah? So Wines has been better than Oliver because you go for port. Reality is, the coaches of all the teams have Oliver being better than Wines.

 

[port_adelaide_1870]

you realise Oliver is winning the AFLCA yeah? So Wines has been better than Oliver because you go for port. Reality is, the coaches of all the teams have Oliver being better than Wines.

Guess we will see Brownlow night who is better

 

[Virgin Dog]

Errrrr Cripps averages .67 contested marks a game. Oliver .21. cripps averages over 3 times more than oliver. And cripps Has averaged more goals than oliver. And yes, Cripps has had a crap season.

When the average is that low for both players, it's basically a rounding error. Contested marking is not a relevant element of either players' game, nor is goalkicking

 

[danster168]

It was 17 touches to 22. So Grundy had a total of 5 more possessions and that's a smashing around the ground?

Nic Nat had the same amount of score involvements, meters gained, intercepts.

Nic Nat won clearances 10 to 4, score launches 4 to 2, hit outs to advantage 9 to 4.

Very conveniently didn't mention Grundy's 10 marks and 6 tackles to Naitanui's 2 and 0. HAHA. Very convenient of you . Also 22 to 17 disposals is 30% more touches.

 

[danster168]

Guess we will see Brownlow night who is better

You shouldn't go around making claims like it's fact because I just owned you with regards to the AFLCA votes. I think Oliver out votes Wines in the brownlow too which would make it a clear victory to Oliver over Wines.

 

[00Stinger]

Guess we will see Brownlow night who is better

you think the umpires are better at judging players performances than the actual coaches do you?

 

[Del28562]

Yep the wing is such a specialist position, those mids may be better players than Amon, menegola and Langdon, but put them on a wing in a real game and the likes of McCrae, Parrish etc would get beaten by Amon etc

Flying under the radar a bit, doesn’t have a name factor/media presence, AA selectors will likely pick a permanent mid in the wing position.

Deserves to be AA but doubt it.

 

[Ezayyak]

When the average is that low for both players, it's basically a rounding error. Contested marking is not a relevant element of either players' game, nor is goalkicking

Really? So, Dixon who leads with 2.68 a game is what?

 

[Del28562]

Where's Guthrie, as last year and had a better year this year

I don't think you can really compare Merrett and Steele. One's far superior on the outside, one's far superior on the outside.

If you're picking who has had the better year, I'd be inclined to say Steele, and fairly comfortably. But in a year where there's so many inside mids vying for spots, is Merrett perhaps more likely to be squeezed into a wing position? Quite possibly.

IMO the tiers of midfielders vying for selection this year are:

1. Bont, Oliver, Miller, Walsh
2. Macrae, Steele, Parish, Petracca, Wines
3. Merrett, Lyons, Mills
4. Zorko, Liberatore, Guthrie, Boak, Parker

 

[Snuffaluphagus]

When was the last time a team made the 8 and didnt have one player in the AA side? That's an honest question because I have no idea.

Freo could sneak into the 8 and I dont think anyone has us with anyone in there (though Darcy, Brayshaw and Mundy should be locks for the squad at least)

 

[PhatBoy]

you think the umpires are better at judging players performances than the actual coaches do you?

not that I have a dog in this fight but coaches look at players playing their specific roles and look at things that might be fundamental to their team that don’t necessarily look appealing to spectators or critics or umpires. They’re not looking for the same things as everyone else so their criteria for judgement is often going to be a bit different to that of others

 

[baby pluto]

Melbourne supporters using coaches votes for Oliver arguments while discounting them for Nic Nat vs Gawn is hilarious.

 

[Scythe]

Where's Guthrie, as last year and had a better year this year

He's right there in tier 4. I don't think there's an argument to be made for him over the players listed in tiers 1-3. Team success? Maybe. But as a midfielder, he has not been to the level of those listed above him.

Had him in my team around 10 weeks in, but between missing a couple of games and taking a while to regain form, he misses out.

 

[Scythe]

Melbourne supporters using coaches votes for Oliver arguments while discounting them for Nic Nat vs Gawn is hilarious.

I haven't bought into NN v Gawn argument, but sure, I'll bite.

Gawn is competing for votes with five other players that are in All Australian contention, including two of the top four brownlow favourites. Naitanui is battling for votes with Tim Kelly and Andrew Gaff.

 

[baby pluto]

I haven't bought into NN v Gawn argument, but sure, I'll bite.

Gawn is competing for votes with five other players that are in All Australian contention, including two of the top four brownlow favourites. Naitanui is battling for votes with Tim Kelly and Andrew Gaff.

On the flip side it’s very difficult to get votes in games your team gets blown off the park. Hardly like eagles don’t have more talent competing for the votes when the team is up and about with 12 AA’s in the starting 22.

 

[Scythe]

On the flip side it’s very difficult to get votes in games your team gets blown off the park. Hardly like eagles don’t have more talent competing for the votes when the team is up and about with 12 AA’s in the starting 22.

That may be so (re votes in losses), but the fact is that you're comparing a ruckman in the third placed side that's averaging:
- More disposals, and a higher disposal efficiency
- More hitouts
- More than triple the amount of marks (contested and uncontested)
- Five times the amount of goals
- Nearly three times the amount of intercepts (combine the last two points and see: work rate)
- More score involvements

Vs the ruckman in a team that's teetering on the edge of the eight.

Naitanui averages more clearances, sure. But Gawn has him covered in just about every other key stat, while contributing to a premiership push.