2024 Rolling ALL-Australian Team

[Lyttelton Ranger]

Not sure what’s worse, no Sam Flanders or picking Rayner.

Flanders hasn't put a foot wrong all year. Rayner has been hot and cold as per usual. I guess consistency counts for nothing

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Flanders hasn't put a foot wrong all year. Rayner has been hot and cold as per usual. I guess consistency counts for nothing

Not even the same position, there are very few half forward mids deserving of a spot. What are you picking Flanders as? He’s only played mid 1/3 of the season so it has to be as a half back who out of the half backs are you leaving out? Bear in mind Newman wasn’t picked too.

 

[AvantGardener]

McGovern Andrews Sheezel
Dale Weitering Whitfield

Merrett Daicos Gulden
Gawn Cripps Bont

Moore McKy Heeney
Stengle Hogan Curnow

Serong Neale Warner JHF Butters

 

[g_TRAIN]

Marshall was very good for my Fantasy team and I like him as a player, but he has one major problem. He's poor at actual ruck contests.

That's a significant failing when you're competing for an AA ruck berth.

Why does that matter so much when statistically hit outs have such a poor correlation to clearance anyway?

The real way's rucks can impact are through disposals, marks, clearances and goals. Rowan is the best in the league at that side of it on balance.

Personally Gawn every day of the week and happy for Xerri to win his spot too. However Rowan smashed Darcy in their only meeting this year and if there was going to be a 3rd ruck then he was the only logical choice.

 

[Back One Out]

For all those complaining about Rayner, what other player in the squad has a 173 page Bigfooty mainboard thread dedicated to them. Exactly.

Yeah. Who else had his own club fans on Big Footy tellling him to “f**k off” like the Lions fans did with Rayner after their Round 12 loss to Hawthorn? Their patience with him seemed to have run out by that point.

But then he plays 6 decent games over the next 10 rounds and the AA selectors lose their minds.

 

[Elixuh]

Or his own club fans on Big Footy tellling him to “f**k off” after their Round 12 loss to Hawthorn

The Lions fans patience with him seemed to have run out by that point.

Plays 6 decent games over the next 10 rounds and the AA selectors play their usual games.

Which of hawthorns players didn’t make the squad to make you this upset

 

[Back One Out]

Which of hawthorns players didn’t make the squad to make you this upset

Huh? I’m not upset. I’m just posting, dude. It’s the All Australian discussion thread and I’m here to discuss. What’s your problem?

None of these players that people are arguing about are gonna make the final 22 anyway

FWIW, I would’ve liked to see Scrimshaw and Impey in the squad… i.e. defenders who actually defend, who intercept, who win their own ball and provide attacking rebound from defence (instead of receiving a million cheapies and leading the way in Fantasy football)

 

[Elixuh]

Huh? I’m not upset. I’m just posting, dude. It’s the All Australian discussion thread and I’m here to discuss.

What’s your problem?

None of these players that people are arguing about are gonna make the final 22 anyway

FWIW, I would’ve liked to see Scrimshaw and Impey in the squad… i.e. defenders who actually defend, who intercept. as well as provide attacking rebound from defence.

Impey yes scrimshaw no

 

[danster168]

Please stop.
Gawn was well down this season. Melbourne weren’t effective. It’s laughable to suggest Marshall and Xerri didn’t have better season.
It’s all reputation now.
Gawn will probably get captain of the AA team to top it off

How can you say this with a straight face? When Gawn and Marshall went head to head, Gawn absolutely dominated Marshall. And when I say dominated I mean it was the most one-sided ruck duel in maybe 50-100 years. Marshall lost any chance of being in the squad on that game alone.

 

[chaddy22]

Remember to remind your mates over on the Dockers Board about the All Australian “Vic bias”

I noticed a few of them complaining recently how you had to be Victorian in order to be noticed by the selection committee

All the evidence demonstrates the EXACT OPPOSITE (both this year and in previous years)

Every year, there is an over-representation of players from non-Victorian teams in the squad… Particularly so for Eagles and Dockers players, thanks to Jakovicb and Pavlich being on the selection panel.

The Hawks would probably fare better with All Australian selections if we had Hodgey and Isaac Smith on the AA committee; pumping up the better Hawthorn players; and voting against the WA players they’d only seen 3 or 4 times throughout the year

Same goes for the players from St Kilda, Melbourne and North. i.e. none of the Vic clubs who are the prime time, media darlings like Collingwood, Carlton, Essendon, Richmond and Geelong; with their army of admirers in the media who constantly fluff the pillows of their better players.

I think you are wrong about over representation by only two eagles players making the squad . Waterman's 53 goals and a few games missed by injury will always get you into consideration and no Hawks player is in front of him.
As for Mcgovern he has been a shining light in a awful team with the ball spending so much time in the back line.
Mcgoverm may not make the final cut but also deserves consideration and has made the forty on merit and not bias.

 

[paulige]

Yeah. Who else had his own club fans on Big Footy tellling him to “f**k off” like the Lions fans did with Rayner after their Round 12 loss to Hawthorn? Their patience with him seemed to have run out by that point.

But then he plays 6 decent games over the next 10 rounds and the AA selectors lose their minds.

After a loss (or an individually poor performance) most club match day threads aren’t known for their constructive criticism - negative groupthink tends to take precedence.


Rayner’s almost as good as any other half-forward - Moore, Stengle and Heeney* will rightly be chosen ahead of him.

(*Heeney clearly a long way ahead.)

His second half of the season has been very good - if he produces it for a full season in 2025, he’ll likely make the team.

Would expect 10+ Brownlow votes, and he has performed well amongst forwards in the coaches votes.

At 24yo and finally settled into a role that is suited to him, his best is yet to come.

 

[HairyO]

Impey yes scrimshaw no

Scrimshaw far more important than Impey.

We have a few others who do what Impey does (Amon, D'Ambrosio, Weddle). Only Sicily does what Scrimshaw does.

But Id probably choose Hardwick over Scrimshaw as an actual defender.

 

[Happy Mastenator]

I am not at all disputing that, i doubt he gets picked. I agree he will get stiffed, just voicing my criticism of the idea that others have been 'better' when not playing the same position. He is not the first and won't be the last but i will continue to call our the BS until one day we maybe actually get selectors with half a brain willing to pick an actual team and not just pick and choose when they want to use the 'it has to resemble a team' argument.

I might be late to the party but Massimo's stats





There is nothing there that is AA worthy, plenty of midfielders could be better wingers than him if they didn't end up playing on ball as much. What is he elite at?

He's had a nice season, but that should be recognised at club level not AFL level.

 

[g_TRAIN]

How can you say this with a straight face? When Gawn and Marshall went head to head, Gawn absolutely dominated Marshall. And when I say dominated I mean it was the most one-sided ruck duel in maybe 50-100 years. Marshall lost any chance of being in the squad on that game alone.

Gawn everyday over Marshall. I agree with your point in general.

But still Marshall over Darcy. Marshall quite easily won their H2H in round 2.

Can't ignore the fact Marshall had some quite elite numbers this year.

 

[I wanna pash Nash]

I might be late to the party but Massimo's stats

View attachment 2093257

View attachment 2093258

There is nothing there that is AA worthy, plenty of midfielders could be better wingers than him if they didn't end up playing on ball as much. What is he elite at?

He's had a nice season, but that should be recognised at club level not AFL level.

He is elite at playing the wing role. Not just any midfielder can go and run those patterns and get to the spots Mass or any other high level wing does. It's a specialist position, particularly at Hawthorn with the way we play.

You could probably also add that his kicking is elite too. Beautiful kick of the footy.

I agree if you compare his numbers to someone who plays on ball it doesn't look great. But you have to put his stats in context to his position and what his role is.

For what it's worth I don't think he makes the 22. But he rightfully deserves to be recognised in the squad.

 

[KissKiss]

How many ruckman "should" be in the squad? If only going to go one in the first team that leaves 2 to fit into the "second" team.

Someone is always right on the cutoff line and will feel hard done by for almost every position

 

[I wanna pash Nash]

How many ruckman "should" be in the squad? If only going to go one in the first team that leaves 2 to fit into the "second" team.

Someone is always right on the cutoff line and will feel hard done by for almost every position

I think 3 is a good number, but I guess it depends on the overall quality of the year too. I don't think Cameron had a good enough year that puts him solidly enough ahead of the next crop of Grundy, Marshall and Meek to warrant him being in the squad. Though his intercept marking is a point of difference.

You could argue if the selectors know that they're only going to take one ruck then they should probably just have two in the squad. 1 per 22 makes sense. But all it does is open a spot for another mid who won't get picked anyway so who cares?

 

[liz]

After a loss (or an individually poor performance) most club match day threads aren’t known for their constructive criticism - negative groupthink tends to take precedence.


Rayner’s almost as good as any other half-forward - Moore, Stengle and Heeney* will rightly be chosen ahead of him.

(*Heeney clearly a long way ahead.)

I realise you’re not arguing Heeney’s worth, but he’s not (or shouldn’t be) contending with the likes of Moore, Stengle and Rayner. This year he’s been a genuine centre bounce midfielder and most of his goals have come from the midfield. It just so happens that he can also occasionally “rest” deep in the forward line and add more goals from there.

 

[Juddernaut08]

FB: Zorko, Andrews, Blakey
HB: Houston, McGovern, Whitfield
CT: Gulden, Cripps (vc), Merrett
HF: Heeney, Daniher, Horne-Francis
FF: Stengle, Hogan, Moore
RU: Gawn, Daicos, Bontempelli (c)
INT: Serong, Butters, Neale, Holmes

I didn't watch every West Coast game this year but I saw most and McGovern was very good the ones I saw. I'd probably have him in over Siciliy as the CHB. Sic started slow (like most in our first 5 except Worple) but did still have a great year, missed a few with injuries too. He might get in, and he really should have another jacket (2022).

Weitering very unlucky but I think if they pick a balanced back 6 you go Andrews and then one of Gov or Sic. I wouldn't be upset if he was picked though.

I think you could easily have Sinclair in for either Houston or Whitfield. Clark also had a great year I just think Zorko was a touch better and a bit more versatile.

If they pick two genuine wings then D'Ambrosio walks in and I could still see a world where he sneaks on the bench. I know it might come across as Hawthorn bias but his season has honestly been fantastic. He puts another season like that together and he'll force his way in next year. I think they'll put Merrett on the other wing, he has had a terrific year and plays a great outside game. Wouldn't be shocked if Young ended up there too. Finished the season red hot. I must admit I didn't watch a huge amount of Freo so he may have played a lot more inside than I think too.

Both Heeney and JHF are genuine mid/forwards. Stengle and Moore are the two stand out smalls. Daniher over Curnow for me as he can ruck. I don't like having three talls. Heeney is tall enough to play 3rd anyway.

Thoughts? I've probably made 1 or 2 glaring errors. Happy to be corrected.

Probably the worst attempt so far.

 

[I wanna pash Nash]

Probably the worst attempt so far.

Would you care to elaborate why?

 

[liz]

He is elite at playing the wing role. Not just any midfielder can go and run those patterns and get to the spots Mass or any other high level wing does. It's a specialist position, particularly at Hawthorn with the way we play.

You could probably also add that his kicking is elite too. Beautiful kick of the footy.

I agree if you compare his numbers to someone who plays on ball it doesn't look great. But you have to put his stats in context to his position and what his role is.

For what it's worth I don't think he makes the 22. But he rightfully deserves to be recognised in the squad.

What kind of stats do you think will reflect a wingman's effectiveness? I'm not one for judging on individual stats, but I'd expect the best wingmen to be high up in some of the following categories: metres gained, score involvements, inside 50s. And maybe to have made a decent contribution on the scoreboard.

D'Ambrosio is nowhere near the top of any of those categories. Compare that with Gulden, who seems likely to nab "the other" wing spot. He's first or second (on totals) for each of those three stats, as well as contributing 15 goals of his own (which feels a bit lower than it should be - his conversion hasn't been as good this year).

In what aspects of the game do you think D'Ambrosio's prowess shows up over all the other guys who are good at running up and down the wing (and most teams have at least one nowadays who pretty much does that)?

 

[Altum Volantes]

Would you care to elaborate why?

I’d say it’ll be about Weitering.

They are very keen on Weitering.

 

[H00t]

He plays the first receiver role which I consider more outside than inside. Similar to Merrett.

He’s been their main inside mid most of year. Which is why he has almost double the clearances of the next pies player and the second most in the league.

 

[james Dean]

Would you care to elaborate why?

Joe Daniher... Enough said

 

[Hoops]

holmes and anderson over butters is wild

That's a fair take for the bench position, but iyou wouldn't pick on the field Clark over Holmes who was listed as a defender