All australian team

[shish.kebab]

Not a bad team really, but think Brian Lake is nowhere near it this year.
[/quote]

Who would you have replace him? McPharlin or Gibson?

[ossie85]

McPharlin from those 2 for me :)

[AFEV]

http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/146778/default.aspx

The squad is in!

Some interesting selections.

[ossie85]

What's the point in selecting Nick Riewoldt in that squad? He's never going to make it!

But yes, I'm pretty happy with that squad overall. Thought Heath Shaw might have got a nomination though

[valkorum]

http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/146778/default.aspx

The squad is in!

Some interesting selections.

IN: Matthew Boyd
OUT: Nic Over-Rate-A-Tui

I cannot believe he has been selected in the squad

[Noz]

Dempster really deserves to make the cut should win Saints B & F as well otherwise its shambulls!

[kilbluff1985]

Shane Tuck a bit stiff not to make it? anybody agree?

[Noz]

Shane Tuck a bit stiff not to make it? anybody agree?

Don't think he should make the squad

Ranked 5th in Total Handballs      
Ranked 11th in Total Disposals   
Ranked 6th in Total Tackles            
Ranked 6th in Total Contested Possessions
Ranked 11th in Total Effective Disposals      
Ranked 11th in Total Clearances
Ranked 16th in Inside 50s Per Game      
Ranked 9th in Handballs Per Game
Ranked 18th in Disposals Per Game    
Ranked 16th in Tackles Per Game
Ranked 10th in Contested Possessions Per Game    
Ranked 16th in Effective Disposals Per Game
Ranked 19th in Clearances Per Game      
Ranked 7th in Total Inside 50s

While they are good stats there were better mids this year.

[kilbluff1985]

i just hope we get a better squad to play Ireland then last year that was a joke Monfries was in it lol

[ossie85]

http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/146778/default.aspx

The squad is in!

Some interesting selections.

IN: Matthew Boyd
OUT: Nic Over-Rate-A-Tui

I cannot believe he has been selected in the squad

Really? Think he is superstar valk, his stats back him up also. I think they should either select Maric as sole ruck, or Cox/Nic Nat as a double act.

Also, does Lenny Hayes really deserve to be there? Superstar, no doubt, but really?

[kilbluff1985]

http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/146778/default.aspx

The squad is in!

Some interesting selections.

IN: Matthew Boyd
OUT: Nic Over-Rate-A-Tui

I cannot believe he has been selected in the squad

Really? Think he is superstar valk, his stats back him up also. I think they should either select Maric as sole ruck, or Cox/Nic Nat as a double act.

Also, does Lenny Hayes really deserve to be there? Superstar, no doubt, but really?

agree with Hayes should not be there

[nillation]

This years team should be pretty easy for the selection panel this year and let's hope they don't try anything silly positionally.

For me:

FB: Dempster; Glass; Birchall
HB: Waters; McPharlin; Deledio
C: Cotchin; Ablett; Swan
HF: Dangerfield; Franklin; Beams
FF: Jetta; Franklin; Milne
R: Cox; Watson; Pendlebury
Int: Maric; Kennedy; Thompson; Swallow

Only uncertainty in my mind is the FB position - Taylor, Riely and Richards were all good and it's hard to say without watching all their games because stats don't tell the story.
Also the last interchange spot could be anybodies but I think Swallow deserves it.

[tbagrocks]

Brent Reilly's half back role has reminded me of Luke Hodge in the 2008 final, not at Hodges level but from the same draft (picked in front of Dal Santo for a reason) and not far off that level as a back this year

[valkorum]

IN: Matthew Boyd
OUT: Nic Over-Rate-A-Tui

I cannot believe he has been selected in the squad

Really? Think he is superstar valk, his stats back him up also. I think they should either select Maric as sole ruck, or Cox/Nic Nat as a double act.

Also, does Lenny Hayes really deserve to be there? Superstar, no doubt, but really?

I agree that Lenny shouldnt be in the squad - champion player though

Nic Over-Rate-A-Tui stats
Total Hitouts - 7th (505)
Hitouts per game - 14th (25.3)

Dean Cox averaged better than that and he spent more time in the forward line this year

Compare this to:

Will Minson
Total Hitouts - 1st (667)
Hitouts per game - 5th (31.8 )

Sam Jacobs:
Total Hitouts - 2nd (656)
Hitouts per game - 7th (31.2)

Ivan Maric
Total Hitouts - 3rd (652)
Hitouts per game - 8th (31.0)

Todd Goldstein
Total Hitouts - 4th (639)
Hitouts per game - 3rd (31.9)

Darren Jolly
Total Hitouts - 6th (667)
Hitouts per game - 4th (31.9)

Dean Cox
Will Minson
Total Hitouts - 5th (558)
Hitouts per game - 13th (25.4)

Just for showers and giggles I will put the Freo ruckman in

Aaron Sandilands (12 games)
Total Hitouts - 10th (463)
Hitouts per game - 1st (38.6)

Jonathon Griffin (13 games)
Will Minson
Total Hitouts - 20th (321)
Hitouts per game - 20th (24.7)



For someone who is supposed to be the #1 ruck he is really lacking in the key stats for a ruckman.  He has more contested possessions than any other ruckman but that is because he gets possessions at ball-ups and no-where else.  Sandilands has more average contested possessions per game than him and Griffin has only 21 less total CP than him from considerably less games.

Yes, he can do some exciting things for a man of his size but he should not be in the AA squad as a ruckman - clearly Jacobs, Maric and Cox are ahead of him (and Cox played a lot of time forward as well).  I could even make a case for Goldstein ahead of him.

You cant argue clearances either as Minson, Maric, Cox, Hale, Hudson and Giles all had more clearances that NicTwat

[ossie85]

lol, think you have me Valk :) I concede