Robbo’s All Australian team: Who makes it, who misses and who gets captaincy nod
In a year that tested every player’s resilience, there was a slew of underdogs who rose to the challenge. Mark Robinson runs his eye over a season like no other to name his All-Australian team — and there are plenty of surprises.
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Travis Boak deserves to be captain of the All-Australian team, which will be announced on Thursday night.
So, too, do others, including Patrick Dangerfield and Tom Hawkins, the two other veterans in my All-Australian team and certain to selected in the official team.
SCROLL DOWN FOR ROBBO’S FULL ALL-AUSTRALIAN TEAM
In recent seasons, the All Australian selectors have not automatically chosen a club captain — if he is selected in the team — to be the AA captain.
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Last year it was Fremantle’s Nat Fyfe. In 2018, it was Lance Franklin and, in 2017, it was Richmond’s Alex Rance.
Neither Franklin, nor Rance, were captains of their own clubs and their honour was clearly a legacy selection.
Boak’s legacy at Port Adelaide is equally as profound.
He’s played 281 games which is second most at the club behind Kane Cornes (300).
At 32, his renaissance as an elite midfielder is one of the major reasons why Port Adelaide is a strong premiership contender this year.
And coach Ken Hinkley was wrong when he said of Boak, midway through last year: “I’m not sure I’ve seen him better.”
Yes he has, now. Boak’s 2020 season, arguably, is the best of his career.
My team is loaded with fresh All-Australian names, including Luke Ryan, Nick Vlastuin, Brayden Maynard, Jacob Weitering and Caleb Daniel in defence.
Collingwood’s Darcy Moore was just pipped for the key posts and, if he was selected in the team on Thursday, he would be a worthy All-Australian.
The midfield has St Kilda’s Jack Steele in the middle and Geelong’s Sam Menegola on the wing, both prolific contributors for their clubs and both wonderful stories.
The forward line was the most difficult group to select.
The traditional small forwards have had periods of dominance and periods of lameness and, in the end, only West Coast’s Liam Ryan made the starting 18.
Christian Petracca, Dangerfield and Dustin Martin fill three of the positions because they are midfield-forwards and, in fact, Martin’s time in both areas of the ground was split 50-50.
I lied about the forward line being the most difficult to assess. It’s the interchange.
Thirty players could easily fill those spots.
I opted for Marcus Bontempelli, Dan Butler, Brad Sheppard and Taylor Adams.
Of that group, Butler’s season was elite in terms of goals kicked (26) and pressure applied, which is a fundamental necessity as a small forward.
The other is Collingwood’s Adams, who has been a pillar for the Pies through difficult times, when key mids were unavailable.
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Originally published as Robbo’s All Australian team: Who makes it, who misses and who gets captaincy nod