40 Man All-Australian Squad

[spirit of norm smith 16,651]

51 minutes ago, godees said:

Just had a quick look through AFL stats pro because I'm astounded by this decision.

Vs WCE (Kennedy) - no goals

Vs Carl (mix) - one goal to McGovern

Vs Geel (Hawkins/Ratu) - no goals (Lever on Hawkins for his single goal)

Vs Rich (mostly Lynch) - we could say 2 here (Lynch kicked 3 but one he appears to be marked by Lever, one from poor turnover in middle of the ground and no clear opponent, one from free kick against Smith when picking up loose ball - prob May on him at the time)

Vs GCS (King) - one goal

Vs Hawthorn (mostly Gunston) - 2 goals (one kicked on Lever)

Vs Bris (Hipwood) - one goal

Vs Port (Dixon) - no goals (Dixon's one goal was a free in ruck contest against Gawn)

Vs Adelaide (Walker) - no goals

Vs North (mix) - one goal when on Larkey

Vs Coll (Reid/Cameron) - 1-2 goals (one was a high tackle free against Hibbo)

Vs WB - Naughton - no goals

Vs Stk (King/Marshall) - 2 goals (one each)

Vs Syd (mix) - 1 goal (McLean)

Vs Freo (Taberner) - no goals

Vs GWS (Cameron) - 1 goal

Vs Ess (mostly Daniher) - no goals

 

So I say 13 goals from 17 games, which included playing on the best tall forwards in the league (Cameron, Lynch, Dixon, Hawkins, Kennedy etc)

It’s a joke. May was clearly the best key defender in the league. 

[titan_uranus 25,211]

1 hour ago, binman said:

Max was and is a far better than Natanui, a hugely over rated player. 

Just to be clear, my view is that Gawn is overall 10 times the player Naitanui is and has a career that is 10 times more impressive.

But in 2020, my view is that Naitanui's influence on games and overall product has been stronger than Gawn's.

I'm not as harsh on him as @A F. I cannot agree with a lot of what he says about Gawn's game. But I do agree that Gawn didn't have the same overall influence on games as he's had in previous years.

Maybe that means I'm unfairly holding him to the standards he's set in previous years.

 

[Rodney (Balls) Grinter 11,023]

3 hours ago, roy11 said:

dual All-Australian ruckman Brodie Grundy and Kangaroos veteran Todd Goldstein both controversially left out of the squad.

Don't see how that's at all controversial.  From what I understand Grundy fell away big time this season and wasn't anything like AA form.

Goldstein started strong, but faded out.  He was practically non existent up against Max, so I think that shows a clear pecking order.

[P-man 13,367]

Nic Nat has been the best ruck this year. His influence has been massive. Gawn is vying for a bench spot.

To not even select May in the squad is an extraordinary decision. There’s an argument to say he’s been the best KPD for much of the season. Certainly the second half. But when you look at the list of numpties in charge of the selections it’s not much of a surprise:

Gillon McLachlan (chairman), Kevin Bartlett, Luke Darcy, Steve Hocking, Glen Jakovich, Chris Johnson, Cameron Ling, Matthew Richardson and Warren Tredrea.

Enough said really.

Richo is the one whose judgement I would trust the most out of that clown show.

Edited September 22, 2020 by P-man

[Earl Hood 6,152]

55 minutes ago, binman said:

Jeez you are being tough on Maxy AF.

Sure his year wasn't as good as his last few but he was so far the best ruck man it is not funny.

He played nearly 93% game time and almost all of that time in the ruck. Was smashed and physically targeted all year by opposition thugs, sorry rucks. 

Since the Port game carried at least two pretty serious injuries that we know off (and no doubt other niggles) - a lat tear and a PCL. The latter an injury that often means six weeks plus on the sidelines.

Incredible he played as many games as he did, particularly given the travel schedule,  compressed fixturing and that fact Goody barely gave him a chop out all season (by comparisons Nik Nat only played 69% game time and did much less travel). 

Was ranked 8th for average contested marks, with nearly two marks per game (as a comparison Nic Nat had 0.4 a game) and second most hit outs per game.

In terms of influence,  like most rucks (less so nic nat because he is he is different sort of player) he needs his mids to be switched on and have really effective systems in place by the coaches. With justification, you have been critical of both these elements at different times this year.

If his mids get tackled immediately or don't give it off when they have a chance, or don't block an opposition player sharking his taps then his influence is diminished. 

Worked his guts out all season and in every game. One of the few dees players i saw who gritted his teeth and put every ounce of effort into games when they were eon the line.  

One of our few true leaders. 

And was a brilliant skipper to boot. In his first go as skipper, in an incredibly tough year.

Fully deserves his AA spot. I'd make him captain.

Someone posted this on Facebook. Can’t do much more playing as a legit fullback than stop the big power forwards, the position is not about rebounding, s intercept marking or come across the pack and punch the ball away stuff. 

[titan_uranus 25,211]

5 minutes ago, Earl Hood said:

Someone posted this on Facebook. Can’t do much more playing as a legit fullback than stop the big power forwards, the position is not about rebounding, s intercept marking or come across the pack and punch the ball away stuff. 

The frustrating thing is, this reduces May down to one stat.

He's so much more. So, so much more.

Intercept marking. Pressure. Kick outs from defence. Leadership. Zoning. Reading the play. 

[godees 901]

Reminds me of Farmer missing out in 2000, despite kicking more than 60 home and away goals. Woey in 2000 also. Yze missed out in some exceptional years. It’s chronic.

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

Fritsch had a better season than Taberner.

Even though his goal kicking wasn’t as accurate the sheer number of shots on goal says a lot.

https://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/ft_player_compare?playerStatus1=A&tid1=12&pid1=6505&fid1=S&playerStatus2=A&tid2=9&pid2=3885&fid2=S&type=T

 

[Earl Hood 6,152]

1 minute ago, titan_uranus said:

The frustrating thing is, this reduces May down to one stat.

He's so much more. So, so much more.

Intercept marking. Pressure. Kick outs from defence. Leadership. Zoning. Reading the play. 

Agree May delivers much more but his primary role is to stop big forwards scoring and he has done that all season and his AA squad membership should be judged on the primary role of the full back position in my opinion. How often have we seen KPB getting all the plaudits but their role is not to take on the big gorilla but to spoil, intercept, rebound. It looks great but often some other poor bastard has done the hard man on man work. 

[loges 6,767]

20 minutes ago, godees said:

Reminds me of Farmer missing out in 2000, despite kicking more than 60 home and away goals. Woey in 2000 also. Yze missed out in some exceptional years. It’s chronic.

Farmer kicked 76 goals in 2000 and missed AA, LOL

[Biffen 12,949]

May started the season poorly.

Punched when he should've marked.

Got better during the year .

Don't care if he didn't make the squad anyway.

 

[Earl Hood 6,152]

14 minutes ago, loges said:

Farmer kicked 76 goals in 2000 and missed AA, LOL

Strewth who got the small forward possie? I remember a commentator, can’t remember who,  saying a small forward kicking 76 was the equivalent of a 100 goal year for a key forward. And Robbo did the equivalent a few years later, did he get AA? 

[dee-tox 4,835]

Our two definites should have been Petracca and May.

Oliver played a couple of great games in the middle of the season but was often ineffective. Case of stats having bigger say than effectiveness

I was disappointed with Gawn's season. His best game was against the Hawks when they kept kicking to him. Too often we lost clearances and first use. The fact that he polled so well in the Grinter surprised me. Maybe my expectations are too high...

[Pates 9,686]

19 minutes ago, loges said:

Farmer kicked 76 goals in 2000 and missed AA, LOL

According to wikipedia he got All Australian in 2000.

In the present seeing May miss out on All Australian honours is one of the worst snubs the club has ever experienced for this award. I would've picked him ahead of Petracca, Gawn, and Oliver for the squad. So clearly one of the best (I'd personally say THE BEST but that is opinion) defenders in the league, not even making the squad is a slap in the face to someone who performed his absolute [censored] off week in week out.

All I can think of is that they've got the classic tunnel vision on players "they love to watch" and have literally forgotten about May because he plays for Melbourne.

They should be disgusted with themselves.

[Roger Mellie 4,179]

2 hours ago, McQueen said:

Matt Taberner?

YGTBFK!!

Yes, my initial reaction was WTF?

[Pates 9,686]

After calming down from May's snub.....congrats to the other three. Petracca should make the final team, he's been outstanding this year and has taken his game to a whole new level. The game breaker and match winner we knew he could be. Best part is I still feel he's got another level to go to. 

Gawn and Oliver have both had good years, I think Gawn will make the squad but personally I feel he dipped a bit (harsh to say but he has high standards). Perhaps on the bench for him.

Oliver was an accumulator for a good part of the first half of the season, got plenty of the ball but butchered it badly. Credit to him he got better and started taking that micro pause to look for other options rather than kicking it randomly (and badly). This isn't a year for him to make the team.

Having said that the team is clearly picked by muppets who have their favourites so I could easily see Oliver making it, and Gawn and Petracca missing. May missing the squad.....honestly.?

[Bitter but optimistic 22,289]

I could cop May not making the final AA team ........ but not making the the squad is bull [censored]! 

 

[Graeme Yeats' Mullet 6,788]

I've just tuned into this... FkMe?‍♂️

Did anyone hear if Gerard had anything to say on Sports Today on 3aw?

[Roger Mellie 4,179]

53 minutes ago, Clint Bizkit said:

Fritsch had a better season than Taberner.

Even though his goal kicking wasn’t as accurate the sheer number of shots on goal says a lot.

https://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/ft_player_compare?playerStatus1=A&tid1=12&pid1=6505&fid1=S&playerStatus2=A&tid2=9&pid2=3885&fid2=S&type=T

 

Thanks Clint - that clarifies things, but unfortunately, not why Taberner is in the squad and May isn't. I'm a little clearer on the competency of the committee though

[Big Carl 333]

4 hours ago, Win4theAges said:

Just not good enough AFL.

Disgrace.

Well done Max, Trac and Clarry.

Typical AFL boys club

[godees 901]

1 hour ago, Pates said:

According to wikipedia he got All Australian in 2000.

In the present seeing May miss out on All Australian honours is one of the worst snubs the club has ever experienced for this award. I would've picked him ahead of Petracca, Gawn, and Oliver for the squad. So clearly one of the best (I'd personally say THE BEST but that is opinion) defenders in the league, not even making the squad is a slap in the face to someone who performed his absolute [censored] off week in week out.

All I can think of is that they've got the classic tunnel vision on players "they love to watch" and have literally forgotten about May because he plays for Melbourne.

They should be disgusted with themselves.

My mistake. I mixed him up with Robbo in 2005 who came third in the Coleman with a similar amount of goals as Farmer in 2000, yet inexplicably was not selected.

[Diamond_Jim 12,719]

If Gawn once again gets the ruckman nod what does that say about our midfield system.

Oliver has improved because he kicks more... duh ...many of us were pointing that out years ago

 

[Adam The God 30,644]

5 hours ago, Biffen said:

May started the season poorly.

Punched when he should've marked.

Got better during the year .

Don't care if he didn't make the squad anyway.

 

Loved May's year, but agree that he started slowly and IMV wasn't rock solid until after the Port game.

[Demon17 5,231]

15 hours ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

Tom Lynch and Gunstan kicked 3 goals on him in rounds 5 and 7. The rest of the games were 1 or 0.

Maybe Weitering and Moore didn't have multiple goals kicked on them in any game this year? 

I'm absolutely flabbergasted May didn't get nominated. His games against St Kilda and GWS were near flawless for a defender, and he was dominant in other games too.

Kennedy kicked 7 on Moore, On May he had 4 disposals for no goals, Weitering had 2 on him by Lynch, Andrews had also 3 kicked on him by Lynch.

Lynch kicked 3 on Moore, and 3 on may also.

if you take the best full forwards this year, ( Kennedy, Hawkins, Lynch, Hipwood, Dixon, Naughton Max King)they kicked a total of 7 , yes 7 goals on May. For an avaerage of a goal per game.

 

[Demon17 5,231]

4 minutes ago, Demon17 said:

Kennedy kicked 7 on Moore, On May he had 4 disposals for no goals, Weitering had 2 on him by Lynch, Andrews had also 3 kicked on him by Lynch.

Lynch kicked 3 on Moore, and 3 on may also.

if you take the best full forwards this year, ( Kennedy, Hawkins, Lynch, Hipwood, Dixon, Naughton Max King)they kicked a total of 7 , yes 7 goals on May. For an avaerage of a goal per game.

 

For Harris Andrews, the media's love child, goals kicked on him as follows:

Kennedy   1

Hawkins   3

Lynch  3

Dixon  0

Naughton  1

Max King  0

Total 8 , for an av of 1 goal 2 behinds a game