Alastair Lynch names his mid-year All-Australian team

PICKING an All-Australian side is a great reminder of how many good players we have in the AFL, writes Alastair Lynch. Some players pick themselves. Others are open to debate.

Tom Lynch makes Alastair Lynch’s mid-year All-Australian team.

PICKING an All-Australian side is a great reminder of how many good players we have in our competition.

In some positions the players pick themselves and would appear in every punters’ team.

Others are open to debate.

My side has some inclusions and maybe even an omission or two that may raise eyebrows.

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The one thing that nobody could argue with is how good the side is.

It is a pity we don’t get to see the best of the best play together.

With rugby league’s State of Origin dominating the airwaves during the AFL bye period, the talk in footy circles has once again turned to a return to rep footy.

Patrick Dangerfield and Joel Selwood lead Alastair Lynch’s All-Australian midfield.

If there were enough strong states it would be one way to reduce the premiership season without robbing the public of footy.

But it doesn’t look like it is going to happen any time soon.

So for now the only annual representative honour is the All-Australian team and it is something players value highly.

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When I sat down to this task I found myself writing a handful of names almost without thought.

Joel Selwood and Patrick Dangerfield were the first two.

Dangerfield is the best player in the competition, Selwood the best captain and the most competitive person you could meet.

Alex Rance and Josh Kennedy fill the key defender and key forward positions. Picture: George Salpigtidis

Then came Alex Rance, he is the undisputed best key defender in the competition and has been for some time.

Next came Lance Franklin. Although he isn’t at is absolute best this season, it just doesn’t seem possible to pick an All-Star side without him in it.

The only other two spots I didn’t even debate was small forwards Toby Greene and Eddie Betts.

Greene is the best high forward-midfielder in the competition and Betts’ highlight reel demands inclusion while his defensive pressure is also first class.

With those six names locked in, I began to select a side around them starting from defence.

Zac Williams is the best running defender in the competition at the moment while Jeremy Howe got the nod in the other pocket, probably for his highlight reel.

Elliot Yeo slots in at half-back for his intercept marking and Rory Laird gets plenty of the ball and is a real driver of the Crows’ offence.

I was tempted to go with Steven May at centre half-back but thought he hasn’t been in his absolute best form this year and opted instead for Michael Hurley.

Tom Scully and Josh Kelly take the wing positions.

GWS pair Tom Scully and Josh Kelly are my wingers. Kelly is in Brownlow Medal form while Scully is the hardest working player in the competition.

I’ve opted for Paddy Ryder as my ruckman and Rory Sloane is my other starting midfielder.

Robbie Gray takes the other half-forward spot. Like Greene he can win the footy at stoppages and kick goals.

I wanted a side that was in form right now, but also acknowledging players that have had a consistently good year.

Josh Kennedy, who is currently injured, earns his position as the best full forward in the game.

Jeremy Cameron is not far behind him so he plays in the pocket.

The bench is star-studded too. Jarrod Harbrow is in career best form and he becomes the seventh defender. His teammate Tom Lynch gets the nod as the extra forward and back-up ruckmen and superstar midfielders Dustin Martin and Marcus Bontempelli join the midfield rotation.

Dustin Martin and Marcus Bontempelli are squeezed onto the bench. Picture: Colleen Petch

ALASTAIR LYNCH’S ALL-AUSTRALIAN TEAM

B: Jeremy Howe (Coll), Alex Rance (Rich), Zac Williams (GWS)

HB: Elliott Yeo (WCE), Michael Hurley (Ess), Rory Laird (Adel)

C: Josh Kelly (GWS), Patrick Dangerfield (Geel), Tom Scully (GWS)

HF: Toby Greene (GWS), Lance Franklin (Syd), Robbie Gray (PtA)

F: Jeremy Cameron (GWS), Josh Kennedy (WCE), Eddie Betts (Adel)

R: Paddy Ryder (PtA), Rory Sloane (Adel), Joel Selwood (capt) (Geel)

I/C: Dustin Martin (Rich), Marcus Bontempelli (WB), Jarrod Harbrow (GC), Tom Lynch (GC)

Originally published as Alastair Lynch names his mid-year All-Australian team