Herald Sun chief football writer Mark Robinson names his mid-year All-Australian team

OLD, new, trustworthy and true. That’s my All-Australian team at the halfway mark of the season. Did Robbo get it right? Have your say

Round 4: Richmond v Collingwood.MCG.Picture:Wayne Ludbey.Goal, Dayne Beams.

OLD, new, trustworthy and true.

That’s my All-Australian team at the halfway mark of the season.

Statistics abound for every player and every category and if you had to look deeper, you could find out the percentage of players going to the toilet at half-time at Etihad as opposed to the Gabba.

Champion Data has everything covered.

But performance is not always about numbers.

This team is about performance, consistency, match-winning qualities, effort and importance.

It’s why ageing champ Brent Harvey makes it. And Nick Riewoldt. They have been match-winners and are treasures of the competition. So, too, has Scott Pendlebury and Gary Ablett because they drag their team over the line.

Of course, selecting the midfield is the issue.

Went with Josh Kennedy in the middle, Dayne Beams on a wing, and any team without Travis Boak in it is not a real team. Just love his leadership, his ability to play through injury, his ability to get to contest after contest. Once said he was a poor man’s Joel Selwood. Now I say, doesn’t Boak remind you of Joel Selwood.

Selwood makes it, so does Nathan Fyfe, The Chad wins games, and Callan Ward plays every week as if it’s his last, which means the effort is always there, which means he’s in the team.

And they’re the interchange bench, which is more than handy.

Tried to pick backmen and forwards in their position.

Sydney’s Nick Smith is the lockdown defender. Every All-Australian team should have one. He’s joined by Nick Malceski and Kade Simpson on the back-flanks. Malceski is the runner and deliverer, as is Simpson, and his courage cannot be ignored. Name another player with the same height, same weight and the same courage?

The key backs are Cale Hooker, Steve May and Michael Johnson. Johnson is a 196cm half-back who is one of a kind, while the other two are newbies who clearly deserve their spots.

MARK ROBINSON’S MID-YEAR ALL-AUSTRALIAN TEAM

Cale Hooker is the only Essendon player to make Robbo’s All-Australian team.

Sub-type: comment CAPTION: Pick your All Australian defenders (6)

B: Nick Smith (Syd) Cale Hooker (Ess) Michael Johnson (Frem)

Nick Malceski is one of three Swans to make the cut.

HB: Nick Malceski (Syd) Steven May (GC) Kade Simpson (Carl)

Daynes Beams was an automatic selection in the midfield.

Sub-type: comment CAPTION: Pick your All Australian midfielders (5)

C: Dayne Beams (Coll) Josh Kennedy (Syd) Travis Boak (PA)

Nick Riewoldt is the only St Kilda player in Robbo’s squad.

HF: Luke Breust (Haw) Nick Riewoldt (StK) Jack Gunston (Haw)

Brent Harvey is putting up terrific numbers forward of centre and in the midfield.

Sub-type: comment CAPTION: Pick your All Australian forwards (6)

F: Brent Harvey (NM) Tom Hawkins (Geel) Robbie Gray (PA)

How would this ruck division go every week?

Foll: Aaron Sandilands (Frem) Scott Pendlebury (Coll) Gary Ablett (GC)

Sub-type: comment CAPTION: Pick your All Australian ruck (1)

Inter: Joel Selwood (Geel) Nathan Fyfe (Frem) Chad Wingard (PA), Callan Ward (GWS)

RATE ROBBO’S TEAM

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By Club

3 Fremantle, Port Adelaide, Sydney

2 Gold Coast, Collingwood, Geelong, Hawthorn

1 Carlton, Essendon, GWS, North Melbourne, St Kilda

Originally published as Herald Sun chief football writer Mark Robinson names his mid-year All-Australian team