IMHO to win the flag we need a list/team of Podium rated players. What the hell am I talking about? On a players best day they must be capable of playing in the Premiership winning team or making the All Australian team. Its the coach the inspires and gets the last 10% out of the players and some luck that with the Premiership. If a player can never get to the standard required thank them for their service and send them on their way. So where are we today?

How does our list match up? Discuss?


2010 All-Australian team

B: James Frawley Brian Lake Corey Enright

HB: Brendon Goddard Harry Taylor Harry O'Brien

C: Leigh Montagna Luke Hodge (C) Joel Selwood

HF: Alan Didak Lance Franklin Paul Chapman

F: Barry Hall Jack Riewoldt Mark Le Cras

R: Aaron Sandilands Dane Swan Gary Ablett (VC)

I/C: Mark Jamar Steve Johnson Chris Judd Scott Pendlebury

Judd, Murphy, Gibbs, Waite, Simpson, Russell all have a chance at AA next season providing we click as a team.

If that side was playing Carlton tomorrow I'd reckon we are a chance because it has one major deficiency, small defenders. Who in that side would take Betts, Garlett and Yarran? There are also no small defenders on the bench.

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You want the flame? Give us the marbles!!

And Betts.

Betts and Russell were pretty much in AA form for the first half of the year. If Waite hadn't missed so many games he possibly should have been in the initial 40. Simpson was a bit unlucky not to get nominated in the initial 40.

I would have had Hodge on half back instead of O'Brien who I think was way overrated (which coach wouldn't want Goddard & Hodge firing missiles off half back???), Hayes onto the wing instead of Montagna who goes to the bench for Judd who comes in to Centre to replace Hodge. (In: Hayes, Out: O'Brien.)

How do we compare? We'd get our arses kicked by that team! As would pretty much every team.

But, yes, I think we could have 4-5 players in there next year if we play to our potential and finish top 4. Realistically though, we'd need to finish top 2 to have this many in the team, given where we're coming from.

Judd, Murphy would be the closest. Murphy would need to kick 30+ goals in addition to his midfield role.
Waite would need to kick 60+ goals to make it as a forward.
Russell could do it if he continues his improvement and maintains it for the whole season.
The other big chance we have, on recent form, could be Warnock.
Betts could get there but would need to displace Le Cras and will be competing with Garlett, Rioli and several others. Bit of a lottery, that small forward spot. Again, if he kicks 60 goals...
(Not sure how likely it is that Waite & Betts kick 60+, Murphy 35 but how good would that be????)
Gibbs would have to either move into midfield and displace Hodge or Selwood (oh, the irony) or stay where he is and displace O'Brien. Could be done. Again, if we finish top 4, this will probably be one of the reasons...

Don't think Simpson could do it. He is one of our most valuable players b/c he often picks the team up and sparks it into action. But, he has too many top class competitors who play similar running midfielder roles and most outsiders won't appreciate his true value to us when it comes to AA selection.

Agree with Simpson being unlucky. Wouldnt be surprised if he wins our B and F.

Joel Selwood ... OVERATED.

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I am as mad as hell and I'm not going to take it any more!!!

Judd on the bench....

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"Truth, for the tyrants, is the most terrible and cruel of all bindings; it is like an incandescent iron falling across their chests. And it is even more agonizing than hot iron, for that only burns the flesh, while truth burns its way into the soul"     — Lauro Aguirre

Either that or get Sticks to complain about the lack of recognition given to our players. And get Brian Taylor to spruik him and fawn over him every time he looks like he might do something exciting.

Paul Bower will come into AA calculations next year. He is ready to explode IMO

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You heard it here first!

am i the only one who thinks O'Brien is the most overated player in the AFL?

i just dont get it. hell, id take maxwell before id take o'brien. sometimes i wonder if its reverse racism in effect. does he get looked upon differently becuase of his background? because he doesnt strike me as anything near good enough for that accolades he gets.

he isnt a mug, and can play the game, but i dont think he is even collingwoods best 2 (maxwell and shaw) defenders let alone be rated above them for a AA spot.

the rest of the team seems about right, though Hayes would be have to be massively unlucky, but again, Hodge to the Half Back, drop O'Brien and Hayes into the centre looks a far better side than what that is.

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Got to love the stare Down by Setanta on Llyod

It's because O'Brien has been doing plenty of media work this year and getting his face on TV and let's face it, the majority of selectors are media personalities so they like him and they pick him. Compare that to Daisy Thomas who has starred this year but done less media work, is in the limelight less and therefore couldn't even make the squad!!

Lenny Hayes>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Joel Selwood.

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You want the flame? Give us the marbles!!

If Murphy and Gibbs don't get there in next 2 yrs you'd want to start asking questions

JR a chance one day, and Betts if he can turn his form around ?? a chance one day too

Kreuzer and Warnock also chances one day

Not sure about Simmo tho

Bower early in year showed top form as a re-bounding defender but there are lots of those in the AFL

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It's a small world, but I wouldn't want to paint it

Realistically its very unlikely we'd have any more than 2 midfielders in the AA team in any one year. Look at this year, Pies: Swan & Pendlebury (arguably lucky to get in), Geelong: Ablett & Selwood, Saints: Montagna & Hayes very unlucky, Dogs: None. Judd will always be around the mark, but you'd suspect only one of Murphy & Gibbs would also force their way in. Simpson is probably a further step away.

To get a high number of AA selections, they have to be spread around all the positions. From our team, i'd suspect many players could reach the required level.

Backs: Russell would have been around the mark mid season, and if he keeps developing he'll find himself constantly around the mark.
Bower is also capable in a Harry O'Brien kind of role. He was sadly out of form this year & didn't have any consistency, but i think he showed last year that he is capable of playing to a standard as high as Harry O, or Taylor.
Gibbs in a Goddard type of role would also be likely.

Mids: Juddy is the obvious one.
Murphy has the assets to get to AA level quite regularly.
Gibbs in the middle could also rise to the necessary level.

Forwards: Henderson in a few more years.
Yarran & Garlett have also shown signs that they could get to the top level.
Betts wasn't too far away this year.
I'd say Waite probably wont make it as a forward, but will always be dangerous.

Rucks: If Jamar can develop to a stage where he makes AA, i'd say any one of our 4 could make it one day.

So, looking at that, i'd say we have many with the talent to get to AA level.

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@cecil_anderson

If we won an extra 6 games, we'd probably get more players selected.