Plenty of Cats, Hawks, Swans and Dockers but no Richmond or Carlton players in 2013 All-Australian squad
UPDATE: IT might be Tiger time, but someone forgot to tell the All-Australian selectors. See the entire squad and have your say
IT might be Tiger time, but someone forgot to tell the All-Australian selectors.
No Richmond player was named in the 40-man squad released by the AFL last night, with Carlton, Brisbane and Melbourne also without representation.
Richmond on Sunday plays its first final since 2001 on the back of strong seasons from its midfield.
Last year, Richmond had four players in the All-Australian squad - Trent Cotchin, Brett Deledio, Ivan Maric and Jack Riewoldt - despite missing the finals.
This year, Cotchin was again considered a strong contender despite not reaching the heights of 2012.
Did the selectors get it right? Leave a comment below
But it is the omission of key defender Alex Rance, who has been a strong performer all season and taken his game to new levels in August, winning a key battle against Lance Franklin and keeping Jeremy Cameron goalless, that will shock many Tiger insiders.
Steven Morris has also been one of the best-performed small defenders in the competition.
It is conceivable that when the team is announced on Monday week, almost every spot will be filled by players from top four sides Hawthorn, Geelong, Fremantle and Sydney. They make up 20 of the 40-man squad.
Brownlow Medal favourite Gary Ablett is in line to make his seventh consecutive All-Australian side, while evergreen Geelong backman Corey Enright is up for his fifth All-Australian nod.
Western Bulldogs hardnut Tom Liberatore missed out, despite leading the competition for clearances.
AFL operations manager Mark Evans said tonight the selectors started with 70 names and sifted down to 40.
He did not explain why there were six power forwards in the squad and said Liberatore, Steve Johnson and Pearce Hanley were all considered before missing the cut.
North Melbourne's reputation as the best side not in the finals is enhanced by the inclusion of four players - ruckman Todd Goldstein, forward Lindsay Thomas, defender Scott Thompson and midfielder Daniel Wells.
Essendon skipper Jobe Watson was the only Bomber nominated in a troubled year for the club.
The Magpies are represented by usual suspects Scott Pendlebury, Dane Swan and Travis Cloke.
Young Giant Jeremy Cameron franked his credentials as a future superstar, earning a place in the squad in just his second season after booting 60 goals in a team that won just one match for the year.
Adelaide's Richard Douglas is among 25 players in the squad who have never been selected for the All-Australian team.
This year's top five goalkickers are all in the squad - Jarryd Roughead, Cloke, Cameron, Eagle Josh Kennedy and Franklin.
Tiger Riewoldt kicked one less goal than Franklin this season.
Eddie Betts was Carlton's sole representative in last year's squad. Brisbane's Tom Rockliff and Pearce Hanley both had outstanding seasons but missed out.
The All-Australian selection panel is AFL boss Andrew Demetriou (chairman), AFL operations boss Mark Evans, and former greats Kevin Bartlett, Luke Darcy, Danny Frawley, Glen Jakovich, Cameron Ling and Mark Ricciuto.
The All-Australian selectors, along with AFL talent manager Kevin Sheehan, choose the winner of the Rising Star Award which will be announced about 2pm today.
2013 ALL-AUSTRALIAN SQUAD
ADELAIDE: Patrick Dangerfield, Richard Douglas.
BRISBANE LIONS: Nil.
CARLTON: Nil.
COLLINGWOOD: Travis Cloke, Scott Pendlebury, Dane Swan.
ESSENDON: Jobe Watson.
FREMANTLE: Nathan Fyfe, Michael Johnson, Chris Mayne, David Mundy, Michael Walters.
GEELONG: Corey Enright, Andrew Mackie, Steven Motlop, Joel Selwood, Harry Taylor.
GOLD COAST: Gary Ablett.
GWS: Jeremy Cameron.
HAWTHORN: Lance Franklin, Josh Gibson, Luke Hodge, Sam Mitchell, Jarryd Roughead.
MELBOURNE: Nil.
NORTH MELBOURNE: Todd Goldstein, Lindsay Thomas, Scott Thompson, Daniel Wells.
PORT ADELAIDE: Travis Boak, Chad Wingard
RICHMOND: Nil.
ST KILDA: Nick Riewoldt, Jack Steven.
SYDNEY: Dan Hannebery, Kieren Jack, Josh Kennedy, Jarrad McVeigh, Nick Malceski.
WEST COAST: Josh Kennedy, Eric Mackenzie.
WESTERN BULLDOGS: Ryan Griffen, Will Minson.
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