Love him or hate him, the bloke knows talent when he sees it.

Mark Robinson names his mid-season All-Australian team for 2021

Pretty please when posting from the Hun, could you just paste the names/relevant bits, becomes boring trying to go around the paywall.

I won’t even try to get around the paywall, but my guess is it’s a squad of 40?

Oliver, Gawn, Petracca, May, Lever, Tmac, Salem, Langdon would be my guess of the 8

 

 

"Even former Demons skipper David Neitz was initially surprised at the number, until he was asked to pass opinion on whether each of them deserved their position.

Jake Lever? “Yes, he gets a tick.”

Steven May? “He gets a tick.”

Christian Salem? “Great distributor, it’s hard to go past him.’’

Ed Langdon? “The wing position is such a pivotal spot and he plays it really well. He’s up and back and everywhere, he’s been fantastic.’’

Max Gawn? “Yep, very comfortably in the team.’’

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Clayton Oliver? “Also extremely comfortable in that team.’’

Tom McDonald? “What a story. Everyone thought he was shot at the end of last year and it’s been a credit to himself. I love seeing it.’’

Christian Petracca? “Yes.’’

“You could make case for each of them,’’ Neitz said.

...

 

no melkshame?

Be 9 when Merrett comes over.

Fritsch with 25 goals thus far wouldn't be far off. Definitely make the 40 man squad.

  On 01/06/2021 at 09:23, Better days ahead said:

Fritsch with 25 goals thus far wouldn't be far off. Definitely make the 40 man squad.

Fritsch has been good, but he has also played 2 or 3 games where he has been an embarrassing liability.

Not AA material at all.

  On 01/06/2021 at 10:26, faultydet said:

Fritsch has been good, but he has also played 2 or 3 games where he has been an embarrassing liability.

Not AA material at all.

Toby Greene 22 goals this year (in the side), Frittata 25. Just sayin.

The only one I would doubt is TMc.  Has his form been consistently that good?

  On 01/06/2021 at 10:26, faultydet said:

Fritsch has been good, but he has also played 2 or 3 games where he has been an embarrassing liability.

Not AA material at all.

He’s had a few poor games for sure. His dribble non-kick and casual defensive efforts against Adelaide left me fuming.

But 25 snags is not to be sniffed at. Not too many other med sized forwards can boast that amount of goals.

  On 01/06/2021 at 10:56, Better days ahead said:

He’s had a few poor games for sure. His dribble non-kick and casual defensive efforts against Adelaide left me fuming.

But 25 snags is not to be sniffed at. Not too many other med sized forwards can boast that amount of goals.

It's the things that he doesnt do that have me doubting his AA ability.

He is lazy af, refuses to chase, and only goes hard when he thinks a goal is in the offing.

 

Come to think of it, maybe a DNA test of Russell Robertsons, and Baileys parents is required?

 

Edited June 1, 20213 yr by faultydet

At this stage I'd go for Lever, Oliver, Salem as locks. Then I reckon Petracca and Gawn make it because they're just special players and the alternatives are inferior. They both aren't having dominant seasons though.

After that it gets a bit more tricky. Langdon's been great. I'd have him in. But he has to dominate his wing to be AA, that's the reality for wingmen. There's always inside mids left out and a lot of them are just better players. A full season of Mitch Duncan on ball is getting the Langdon spot and I don't mind that. Obviously it's different if they go with a lesser mid who just has stats.

May's probably borderline as well. His best games have been great but he's made a few too many mistakes to be a total lock for mine. Probably has to hold some more intercept marks or completely blanket forwards. He's right in the picture though.

Pickett, McDonald and Fritsch are all having great years but I wouldn't have any of them in the team and therefore I'm not too worried about their squad status. Kossie is probably closest to making it but there's a heap of great small forwards lifting like Papley and Cameron with AMT the standout.

  On 01/06/2021 at 11:09, faultydet said:

It's the things that he doesnt do that have me doubting his AA ability.

He is lazy af, refuses to chase, and only goes hard when he thinks a goal is in the offing.

 

Come to think of it, maybe a DNA test of Russell Robertsons, and Baileys parents is required?

 

You might need to watch some more Fritsch and some more prime Robbo. You don't win and best and fairest in a crap team and come runner up in another if you're just chasing easy kicks.

Bayley has the occasional poor game and he's not a good tackler or good at contested ground balls but I reckon his GPS numbers would be huge and I'm fine with him playing the odds every now and then to get one over the top. He opens his body up for contact on marks both inside and outside the 50.

  On 01/06/2021 at 11:14, DeeSpencer said:

At this stage I'd go for Lever, Oliver, Salem as locks. Then I reckon Petracca and Gawn make it because they're just special players and the alternatives are inferior. They both aren't having dominant seasons though.

After that it gets a bit more tricky. Langdon's been great. I'd have him in. But he has to dominate his wing to be AA, that's the reality for wingmen. There's always inside mids left out and a lot of them are just better players. A full season of Mitch Duncan on ball is getting the Langdon spot and I don't mind that. Obviously it's different if they go with a lesser mid who just has stats.

May's probably borderline as well. His best games have been great but he's made a few too many mistakes to be a total lock for mine. Probably has to hold some more intercept marks or completely blanket forwards. He's right in the picture though.

Pickett, McDonald and Fritsch are all having great years but I wouldn't have any of them in the team and therefore I'm not too worried about their squad status. Kossie is probably closest to making it but there's a heap of great small forwards lifting like Papley and Cameron with AMT the standout.

Agree with most of this but harsh on Gawn. According to the coaches he's the 9th best player in the competition at the halfway mark of the season.  That's pretty dominant. In a specialist position, he is absolutely miles ahead of the next best - probably Naitanui, who averages about 70% game time, 14 disposals and 1.4 marks and about 29 hit outs per game v Gawn who averages 19 disposals, 6 marks and 34 hit outs. He's absolutely dominant in his position to the mid point of the year, even allowing for a little lull for a couple of weeks against North and the Swans. 

12 of Robbo's AA 22 are playing Friday night, that's pretty impressive in itself. Almost a State of Origin game!

Where's Fritta? strike me pink, Green has been injured the last 2 weeks.

  On 01/06/2021 at 10:43, Jontee said:

The only one I would doubt is TMc.  Has his form been consistently that good?

In the big games yes, deserves his spot thus far.

  On 01/06/2021 at 10:43, Jontee said:

The only one I would doubt is TMc.  Has his form been consistently that good?

Apart from McKay and Walker I'd also have Hawkins and Naughton ahead of Tom as key forwards. Maybe Darling too. 

He's had a number of ordinary games to go with the standout performances

  On 01/06/2021 at 10:39, In Harmes Way said:

Toby Greene 22 goals this year (in the side), Frittata 25. Just sayin.

He's played one fewer game so average goals are 2.4 to 2.5 (Fritsch's favour), but Greene averages 8.6 more disposals per game, 6 more contested possessions, 3.2 more inside 50s and 0.5 more tackles.

  On 01/06/2021 at 11:14, DeeSpencer said:

At this stage I'd go for Lever, Oliver, Salem as locks. Then I reckon Petracca and Gawn make it because they're just special players and the alternatives are inferior. They both aren't having dominant seasons though.

After that it gets a bit more tricky. Langdon's been great. I'd have him in. But he has to dominate his wing to be AA, that's the reality for wingmen. There's always inside mids left out and a lot of them are just better players. A full season of Mitch Duncan on ball is getting the Langdon spot and I don't mind that. Obviously it's different if they go with a lesser mid who just has stats.

May's probably borderline as well. His best games have been great but he's made a few too many mistakes to be a total lock for mine. Probably has to hold some more intercept marks or completely blanket forwards. He's right in the picture though.

Pickett, McDonald and Fritsch are all having great years but I wouldn't have any of them in the team and therefore I'm not too worried about their squad status. Kossie is probably closest to making it but there's a heap of great small forwards lifting like Papley and Cameron with AMT the standout.

  On 01/06/2021 at 11:56, DeeSpencer said:

Apart from McKay and Walker I'd also have Hawkins and Naughton ahead of Tom as key forwards. Maybe Darling too. 

He's had a number of ordinary games to go with the standout performances

Agree with most of this - I'd argue Gawn and Petracca are locks. To everyone other than Demonland members they are dominating but possibly we set unreasonably high expectations on them both. They are both having very strong seasons, and that's possibly an understatement.

May's not having the consistently good season that Lever is having and there are probably others who have had a bit more consistency (e.g. maybe Weitering or Moore).

As for TMac, I'm loving his season but I'd definitely have Hawkins, Naughton and Darling ahead of him, and I'd add Ben King to that mix.

  On 01/06/2021 at 11:14, DeeSpencer said:

At this stage I'd go for Lever, Oliver, Salem as locks. Then I reckon Petracca and Gawn make it because they're just special players and the alternatives are inferior. They both aren't having dominant seasons though.

After that it gets a bit more tricky. Langdon's been great. I'd have him in. But he has to dominate his wing to be AA, that's the reality for wingmen. There's always inside mids left out and a lot of them are just better players. A full season of Mitch Duncan on ball is getting the Langdon spot and I don't mind that. Obviously it's different if they go with a lesser mid who just has stats.

May's probably borderline as well. His best games have been great but he's made a few too many mistakes to be a total lock for mine. Probably has to hold some more intercept marks or completely blanket forwards. He's right in the picture though.

Pickett, McDonald and Fritsch are all having great years but I wouldn't have any of them in the team and therefore I'm not too worried about their squad status. Kossie is probably closest to making it but there's a heap of great small forwards lifting like Papley and Cameron with AMT the standout.

Just wondering, who's been a consistently better six foot five back than May?

  On 01/06/2021 at 12:13, Queanbeyan Demon said:

Just wondering, who's been a consistently better six foot five back than May?

Keath or Weitering. 

  On 01/06/2021 at 10:43, Jontee said:

The only one I would doubt is TMc.  Has his form been consistently that good?

For me I'd say yes.

Have noticed more and more as time goes on this season, that with T Mac, it's not just about the big marks and timely goals he so reliably nails inside 50, but his work around the ground and delivering inside 50 in particular is elite in my view.

For a big bloke, he chases and tackles pretty good too.

surprised by plugger mac, but there's justifiable reasons for the the other seven

the locks at this stage would be lever, salem, oliver, and gawn, with mat, langdon and trac there or thereabouts

at the end of the season tho there's no way that they'll name an ACTUAL wingman or a key position forward on the pine; they'll be replaced by an inside mid (guthrie, most likely) and another mid who has had a starring season (parish, for instance)