The Soaring

The All Australian selectors have released their shortlist of 40 players vying for the 2008 All Australian team. In view of the fact our side is now on holidays I thought I’d put together my AA team from the shortlist. This is my preferred team, not necessarily who I think will be selected.

Back: Bock, McPharlin, Fisher
Half Back: Hodge, Scarlett, Enright
Centre: Corey, Bartel, Cooney
Half Forward: Reiwoldt, Franklin, Harvey
Forward: Johnson, Fevola, Motlop
Ruck: Cox, Ablett, Judd
Interchange: Richardson, Sandilands, Mitchell, Kirk

Scarlett and McPharlin have been the best key backs all season. McPharlin has been particularly strong in locking down key forwards, whilst Scarlett can do that and also set up his sides forays forward.

I went with Bock and Fisher in the backline. Both are critical to their sides defence, very strong overhead (top 10 marks), also win their own ball (both 21 disposal pg +) and play key roles in their respective game plans.

Hodge has been the most damaging half back of the season. His is an easy selection. Enright is another player who can lock down, tag, as well as win plenty of his own ball. Dale Morris is unlucky to miss out here - also a very good shut down defender of various types of players.

In the midfield things got tougher - there are plenty of worthy recipients. In the end I favoured players who led their respective midfields - they cop the tags each week, they are who their team mates look to, and they perform week in and out.

Corey is the games largest possession winner in 2008 and is the model of consistency. Bartel will go close to repeating his Brownlow of 07, having arguably a better year this year than last. Cooney adds plenty of line breaking ability, great ball winner and finisher.

Dean Cox is the obvious favourite to lead the ruck and partnering him is the dream team of Gary Ablett and Chris Judd. Both led their team midfields brilliantly. Win the contested ball, skills are superb, break open play and can be unstoppable.

Forwards include Franklin and Fevola - 200+ goals between them, how can you not?

I have selected Nick Reiwoldt over Brown and Pavlich simply because Reiwoldt was vital to his side’s late rush to 4th spot on the ladder. His performances in the second half of the season were huge. Led the league in contested marks.

Steve Johnson and Motlop get the small forward slots. Both were their sides leading goal scorers. Motlop is magical and Johnson is not far behind him. Motlop is excellent defensively and Johnson is 2nd in the league for scoring assists whilst averaging close to 20 disposals a game. Hard to beat.

Brent Harvey rounds out the forwards as the defacto midfielder. Has led the Roos from the front again in 08.

On the bench I have a bit of mishmash. Sandilands gets the 2nd ruck slot. Richo is hard to overlook - led the league in marks, kicked 48 goals and averaged 18 possessions a game up the field. Great weapon to have on the bench.

Then I went for Sam Mitchell and Brett Kirk. Both are similar players and ideally you’d want and different sort of player - maybe an outside mid. But both in my opinion were the next best players. Both led their respective midfields. Both great in the clearances (Mitchell led the AFL), strong defensively (Kirk led AFL in tackles again), and obviously win their own ball. Both worthy recipients in my view.

Very close to selection would have to be Pavlich, Jonathan Brown, Ryan O’Keefe, Simon Black, Joel Selwood, Milburn, Robert Murphy and Dale Morris as mentioned.

Nevermind, some of you will probably make the real team when it is announced Sept 15th.