Nick Riewoldt has been named captain and Chris Judd the vice-captain of the All-Australian team that was announced on Monday night.
The 2009 All Australian side
B: Corey Enright (Geel), Matthew Scarlett (Geel), Brian Lake (WB).
HB: Simon Goodwin (Adel), Craig Bolton (Syd), Nick Maxwell (Coll).
C: Leigh Montagna (StK), Lenny Hayes (StK), Joel Selwood (Geel).
HF: Paul Chapman (Geel), Nick Riewoldt (StK), Dane Swan (Coll).
F: Leon Davis (Coll), Brendan Fevola (Carl), Jonathan Brown (BL).
Foll: Aaron Sandilands (Fre), Chris Judd (Carl), Gary Ablett (Geel).
Inter: Matthew Boyd (WB), Nick Dal Santo (StK), Brendon Goddard (StK), Adam Goodes (Syd).
Captain: Nick Riewoldt
Vice-captain: Chris Judd
The players to miss out from the 40-man squad were: Bartel (Geelong), Mitchell Clark (Brisbane Lions), Alan Didak (Collingwood), Dustin Fletcher (Essendon), Lance Franklin (Hawthorn), Sam Gilbert (St Kilda), Ryan Hargrave (Western Bulldogs), Steve Johnson (Geelong), Mark LeCras (West Coast), Andrew Mackie (Geelong), Hamish McIntosh (North Melbourne), Stephen Milne (St Kilda), Marc Murphy (Carlton), Scott Pendlebury (Collingwood), Jason Porplyzia (Adelaide), Simon Prestigiacomo (Collingwood), Brad Sewell (Hawthorn) and Bernie Vince (Adelaide).
The All Australian selection panel was Andrew Demetriou (chairman), Adrian Anderson, Kevin Bartlett, Gerard Healy, James Hird, Glen Jakovich, Mark Ricciuto and Robert Walls.
When Geelong won the flag in 2007 after losing four games that year they had 9 representatives in the All Australian side.
This year, St Kilda only lost two games but had 5 players in the side.
I can’t put it down to the judges in 2007 simply getting carried away with the romance of the Geelong run – St Kilda would easily match that claim.
Or was it the fact Geelong’s run was two years ago so it’s taken the gloss off such an achievement.
Did the selectors think nine players from one side was overkill in hindsight?
Why don’t the Saints have nine players in the side?
Yes Steve the 2007 All Australian side was a selection disgrace. They should have picked the entire Geelong side and had their reserves as reserves.
To answer your question I would argue that this year the top four sides are a little more even. Call me catocentric but I am not yet convinced that this St Kilda side is pound for pound as good as the Cats of 2007. Time will tell. Cheers, Phantom.
I am amazed that the best defensive team in the competition does not have a defender selected.
Tim
Which team is that?
I think Tim means St Kilda. I’m amazed Goddard didn’t get a starting spot in the back six, especially with Maxwell being named there. Maxwell is a good player coming off a good year but Goddard was creative, line-breaking, match-winning, gut-busting – in short, phenomenal this year.
TBH Maxwell should have been on the bench at best. Still a worthwhile selection in the 22 for the player everyone loved to call “Hackwell” when installed as the Magpies skipper.
No one needs reminding that the critical centre break on Saturday night was achieved by Nick when it counted most. I hope our Nick holds the cup up aloft this year, but I’m sure another Nick is the more favoured.
Leon Davis was a bit lucky to hold his position. Le Cras has some telling statistics in a weaker team, but probably not being as much a flair player as Davis meant the selectors overlooked him.
Dane Swan should have taken an on-ball, being one of the most productive seasons in living memory from one player. Four touches now away from Robert Harvey’s 1997 record (http://stats.rleague.com/afl/stats/playershi.html).
Probably I’d give Swan the bench spot considering all the critics say he spends so long there, and is therefore the best 19th man in the competition.
How many touches would he get if he actually played more game time!?
Can’t really argue with the rest of the team. Great depth, very coachable, and would smash all comers.
Yes I meant St Kilda. Sorry for the oversight