2009 All-Australian Team

[AG]

May as well get one thread going for this. Last year we did it just after the half way point in the season and it's a good topic to debate. Like I did last year I'll put my squad of 40 players and team after each round.

Defenders (12):
Joel Patfull (Brisbane)
Josh Drummond (Brisbane)
Simon Prestigiacomo (Collingwood)
Chris Tarrant (Fremantle)
Matthew Scarlett (Geelong)
Corey Enright (Geelong)
Troy Chaplin (Port Adelaide)
Steven Salopek (Port Adelaide)
Brendan Goddard (St.Kilda)
Sam Fisher (St.Kilda)
Sam Gilbert (St.Kilda)
Craig Bolton (Sydney)

Unlucky:Gilbee, Morris, R.Shaw, Glass, Merrett

Midfielder (16, inc. 3 ruckmen):
Chris Judd (Carlton)
Scott Pendlebury (Collingwood)
Jobe Watson (Essendon)
Aaron Sandilands (Fremantle)
Gary Ablett (Geelong)
Jimmy Bartel (Geelong)
Joel Selwood (Geelong)
Brad Sewell (Hawthorn)
Sam Mitchell (Hawthorn)
Aaron Davey (Melbourne)
Lenny Hayes (St.Kilda)
Leigh Montagna (St.Kilda)
Nick Dal Santo (St.Kilda)
Darren Jolly (Sydney)
Dean Cox (West Coast)
Matthew Boyd (Western Bulldogs)

Unlucky: M.Murphy and McIntosh (very unlucky), Corey, Swan, Stanton, J.Bolton, Goodes, A.Selwood

Forwards (12):
Jonathan Brown (Brisbane)
Leon Davis (Collingwood)
Steve Johnson (Geelong)
Paul Chapman (Geelong)
Lance Franklin (Hawthorn)
Jarryd Roughead (Hawthorn)
Cyril Rioli (Hawthorn)
Warren Tredrea (Port Adelaide)
Nick Riewoldt (St.Kilda)
Steven Milne (St.Kilda)
Mark LeCras (West Coast)
Jason Akermanis (Western Bulldogs)

Unlucky: Bradshaw, Fevola, Lovett, Porplyzia, Betts


All-Australian Team after Round 10:
B: Sam Gilbert; Matthew Scarlett; Craig Bolton
HB: Josh Drummond; Sam Fisher; Brendan Goddard
C: Leigh Montagna; Chris Judd (c); Nick Dal Santo
HF: Leon Davis; Nick Riewoldt (vc); Paul Chapman
F: Steve Johnson; Warren Tredrea; Cyril Rioli
R: Dean Cox; Joel Selwood; Gary Ablett
INT: Darren Jolly; Brad Sewell; Lenny Hayes; Corey Enright

EMG: Aaron Sandilands/Hamish McIntosh; Matthew Boyd; Scott Pendlebury

I think most people would have roughly the same backline. Tarrant and Presti very unlucky not to be one of the key defenders. Drummond and Goddard have been significant in their respective teams start to the season. Salopek is another who has impressed off the HB line.
Midfield is tricky I think Judd, Ablett, Selwood, and Montagna should be in most teams. Dal Santo was clearly in the best 3 mids over the first 5-6 rounds and has still been good since, but not as damaging as he was earlier. Should still be in the side. Sewell and Hayes are my bench midfielders, but you could throw a blanket over 5 or 6. Rucks are impossible to pick. All four are deserving but I think Cox is still the best regardless of a drop in his disposal efficiency.
In the forward line Riewoldt and Johnson are no brainers. Chapman has missed a couple but when he has played has been fantastic. Can't igore Rioli's form. LeCras, Milne and Betts have all been good as well, but Rioli just seems to contribute for all 4 quarters. Normally I like 3 key position forwards with CHF, FF and one of the bench, but apart from Riewoldt no one has jumped out of the pack. Tredrea and Brown have probably been the most consistent. Franklin is still getting results but he isn't having the same impact as last year and Roughead has faded after his good start to the season.
The last spot on the bench I went with Enright. I don't normally like having 3 midfielders on the bench, but this year you probably could. Regardless I think Enright has been AA standard this season.

 

[The Octopus]

Great read. I would have LaCras over Davis if you are playing him as a forward.. Fevola, Buddy or Buddy will overtake Tredders. But as of rd 10, you are right. I would have Marc Murphy in the squad and probably on the bench. Better than Watson or Pendlebury. Up there with Hayes and Sewell. Dont agree with Drummond, but not a shocker. No way Chapman IMO. That a glaring mistake. Good to see Rioli there.

 

[SASQUATCH09]

Insert Aaron Davey. Best kicking in the league this year. Equal second best for most kicks and clearly the most efficient kick. Think coaches don't mind that. But, you know, we might be bias... Myself and the stats...

 

[Quinz]

Tough thing to do, a pretty decent job

LeCras has been very good though, but maybe not quite enough to sneak it just yet, hopefully if he keeps his form up for the rest of the year he might be a chance.

I'd have Sandilands on the bench too, but the rucks are very hard to pick this year.

 

[AG]

Great read. I would have LaCras over Davis if you are playing him as a forward.. Fevola, Buddy or Buddy will overtake Tredders. But as of rd 10, you are right. I would have Marc Murphy in the squad and probably on the bench. Better than Watson or Pendlebury. Up there with Hayes and Sewell. Dont agree with Drummond, but not a shocker. No way Chapman IMO. That a glaring mistake. Good to see Rioli there.

It's line ball with Murphy. It was between him and Watson, but to save the insults from Essendon supporters I went with Watson. Watson deserves his spot though. Murphy and McIntosh probably should be in the squad. They have both been good. Some people will question Boyd, but he's a gun and his clearance work is up their with the best this season. I agree that I don't see Tredrea holding his spot, but it has been good to see him as a premier forward again. I like Davis on the half forward line. I'd swap LeCras with Rioli before Davis.
I think Chapman has been very good, but that's why I like discussing these things because a lot of people will disagree on certain players.

 

[herecomesthejudd7]

So there would be no room for Pavlich in the squad? Think Bock may be near the mark by the end of the year. Don't think Corey has been as influental this year, Rioli however is a very good choice. Scott Thompson has also been very consistent this year and probably is on the verge of the squad.

 

[El_Scorcho]

Great job! After round 10 I can't really fault your side.

 

[wixism]

Dane Swan should make the Squad
Leading in disposals so should get a nomination at least.
Put him in for Davey and put Davey in the forwards for Jason Akamanis

My team would like
All-Australian Team after Round 10:
B: Sam Gilbert; Matthew Scarlett; Craig Bolton
HB: Josh Drummond; Sam Fisher; Brendan Goddard
C: Leigh Montagna; Chris Judd (c); Nick Dal Santo
HF: Leon Davis; Nick Riewoldt (vc); Steve Johnson
F: Warren Tredrea; Lance Franklin Cyril Rioli
R: Dean Cox; Joel Selwood; Gary Ablett
INT: Hamish Mcintosh; Brad Sewell; Lenny Hayes; Scott Pendlebury

EMG: Aaron Sandilands/Darren Jolly Simon Prestgiacomo Mark Lecras

 

[AG]

Dane Swan should make the Squad
Leading in disposials so should get a nomination atleast.
Put him in for Davey and put Davey in the forwards for Jason Akamanis

I don't rate Swan as highly as others. I've said enough on him in the 'Dane Swan...breaks record' thread.
I had Davey as a forward originally but in reality he's been playing midfield and across the half back line. Aker was last picked for the forward category so he would go out if any.

 

[AG]

So there would be no room for Pavlich in the squad? Think Bock may be near the mark by the end of the year. Don't think Corey has been as influental this year, Rioli however is a very good choice. Scott Thompson has also been very consistent this year and probably is on the verge of the squad.

I completely forgot Pavlich. He wouldn't be in the team but he could probably be in the squad. He's another in the Roughead, Franklin, Brown pack who has been good but nothing special.
I don't think Thompson has been as good as last years form. I'd have Edwards before Thompson in the squad.
I forgot Haselby as well he would be in the unlucky category for the mids.

 

[Carlton Kid]

Duffield for HBF or BP?

 

[AG]

Duffield for HBF or BP?

Not in the team but could be thereabouts for the squad. He has been impressive for the Dockers especially against the Hawks, Eagles and Tigers. I think Gilbert has the BP to himself and is probably two good games ahead of the other contenders. Drummond, Goddard, Salopek and Enright ahead of Duffield for the HB positions. He's rebound work is good, but I don't think he is AA standard in his 1-on-1 defefensive efforts. But that will come with experience, looks a good player though. After showing very good signs at the start of last year, this is definitely his best season so far.

 

[Boucks09]

Since when do Essendon supporters get up in arms over anything? Everybody knows that Jobe Watson is the next Gary Ablett...or something.

I really like your teams and enjoy the changes you make each week in order to ensure that they earlier rounds are not forgotten. You are doing an excellent job

I would have Winderlich ahead of Stanton in terms of being in the squad from an Essendon perspective. Has been more consistent and damaging over the stretch.

I think that Sandilands would be ahead of Jolly in the team as his form has been much better over the last month especially (and against quality opposition) whilst much of Jolly's great games earlier in the season were against a weaker opponent (e.g. Hawthorn).

Apart from that I think you have got everything else pretty much spot on

 

[Bubba_5]

Great read. I would have LaCras over Davis if you are playing him as a forward

Over Davis?!! Davis has probably been in the top 5 players this year. The one who should be dropped is Cyril Rioli - the most overrated player in the league.

 

[AG]

I think that Sandilands would be ahead of Jolly in the team as his form has been much better over the last month especially (and against quality opposition) whilst much of Jolly's great games earlier in the season were against a weaker opponent (e.g. Hawthorn).

That's a very valid point. Still the hardest position to pick this year.

 

[camo2572]

Dane Swan should make the Squad
Leading in disposals so should get a nomination at least.
Put him in for Davey and put Davey in the forwards for Jason Akamanis

My team would like
All-Australian Team after Round 10:
B: Sam Gilbert; Matthew Scarlett; Craig Bolton
HB: Josh Drummond; Sam Fisher; Brendan Goddard
C: Leigh Montagna; Chris Judd (c); Nick Dal Santo
HF: Leon Davis; Nick Riewoldt (vc); Steve Johnson
F: Warren Tredrea; Lance Franklin Cyril Rioli
R: Dean Cox; Joel Selwood; Gary Ablett
INT: Hamish Mcintosh; Brad Sewell; Lenny Hayes; Scott Pendlebury

EMG: Aaron Sandilands/Darren Jolly Simon Prestgiacomo Mark Lecras

thats close but on form I think Franklin hasnt been upto his heights he set last year , thus Steven Milne would be a good foil , he has played outstanding footy along with Stevie J.

Also McIntosh has plyed better than cox the last few weeks, thus he deserves to start

 

[rainman06]

Watson very stiff not to be in there IMO. Getting better numbers and having a better influence on games than Enright. So is Pendlebury though.

 

[AG]

Also McIntosh has plyed better than cox the last few weeks, thus he deserves to start

I judge players over the whole season not the past few weeks. Cox's form has only been questioned over the past few weeks, he has been fine for most of the season.
Have to base selections on the whole season if it is going to be a 'team of the year'. A good example is Dal Santo and Chapman. One has had a slight form dip and the other has had a few injury problems but their first 6-7 rounds were easily AA standard in my opinion.

 

[jonoman89]

Watson very stiff not to be in there IMO. Getting better numbers and having a better influence on games than Enright. So is Pendlebury though.

Murphy is far more damaging than both of them. 40 disposals doesn't make you a gun. 25 disposals, 12 contested, 2 goals and 5 tackles a game does.

McIntosh deserves to be there over Jolly.

 

[AG]

Watson very stiff not to be in there IMO. Getting better numbers and having a better influence on games than Enright. So is Pendlebury though.

I don't like putting 3 midfielders on the bench. I prefer a backup ruck(if deserving), 2 mids and a forward or defender. None of the other forwards have stood out. Enright or Prestigiacomo have been the next best defenders, so I went with Enright because he's more versatile and looks a more balanced team.

 

[smiddaz123]

Presti has been comfortably the best full back this season imo.

Fevola - goaless
Lloyd - goaless
Hale - goaless
J Brown - goaless
Tredrea - 1 goal
Cam Mooney - 1 goal


I strongly disagree with Cox being starting ruck. On current form he's lucky to get into the team as a second ruckman. Sandilands, Jolly and McIntosh have been better than him in 2009 for me.

 

[rose jam]

There should just be a hole at CHF because they have all been crap. Position doesn't even exist anymore. May as well put Steve Johnson in that position

 

[AG]

There should just be a hole at CHF because they have all been crap. Position doesn't even exist anymore. May as well put Steve Johnson in that position

Riewoldt has been awesome this year. Other than that, they have all been well below par.

 

[AG]

Presti has been comfortably the best full back this season imo.

Fevola - goaless
Lloyd - goaless
Hale - goaless
J Brown - goaless
Tredrea - 1 goal
Cam Mooney - 1 goal

I strongly disagree with Cox being starting ruck. On current form he's lucky to get into the team as a second ruckman. Sandilands, Jolly and McIntosh have been better than him in 2009 for me.

Not comfortably. Previous seasons I haven't rated Scarlett as highly as others but this year he has been very good. Presti, Scarlett, Bolton and Fisher fighting for the two key positions and a BP. Like the ruck position it's too close to call. Tarrant not far away either.

 

[rainman06]

Murphy is far more damaging than both of them. 40 disposals doesn't make you a gun. 25 disposals, 12 contested, 2 goals and 5 tackles a game does.

McIntosh deserves to be there over Jolly.

Watson has had more disposals, more contested possessions and more tackles than Murphy. In the same amount of games.

http://www.afl.com.au/stats/tabid/73/default.aspx