Mark Robinson names his 2019 All-Australian team

The All-Australian selectors threw a curveball last year when they named Lance Franklin captain. Who will be given the nod in 2019? Mark Robinson looks at the options and reveals his final team.

The All-Australian selectors had a bit each way.

They named Brisbane’s Hugh McCluggage in their 40-man squad, but the classy mover was the only recognised wingman.

If the wing position is to be recognised then there should more than one in the team of the year.

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It is a thankless task selecting the best team from the best players and manipulating them into 22 positions.

And at least having one wingmen is a breakthrough.

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But where was Lachie Hunter? Mitch Duncan? Brad Hill?

McCluggage and Hunter have my made All-Australian team, purely because the wing position is a specialist position and more so this season than in the previous 20.

Several coaches — off the record, of course — were in support of naming wingmen in the wing position in the All-Australian side, and not the easy option of shuffling an onballer outside the square.

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“The fact is,’’ one coach said, “the inside mids can’t play wing. They can’t run defensively and offensively, which is what the wingmen is required to do.

“The same goes for the wingmen, who can’t really play inside mid.’’

One of the reasons why the Brisbane Lions is hosting a home qualifying is the emergence of McCluggage and the reincarnation of Mitch Robinson in the wing positions.

Same at Geelong, where Duncan has had an outstanding season.

My choice is the Bulldogs’ Hunter. He is ranked No.2 for disposals among wingman, No.3 for inside-50s and No.4 for score involvements.

The problem for Hunter is neither he, nor Duncan, nor Hill, are in the 40-man squad.

Lachie Hunter has had a superb season on the wing for the Bulldogs. Picture: Michael Klein

The other player in my team not in the official squad is Richmond’s Nick Vlastuin.

He ranks No.2 among general defenders for intercept possessions and No.5 for intercept marks, and with teammate Alex Rance missing most of the season, has played an enormous role in defence.

So, too, has teammate Dylan Grimes.

It seems impossible that Grimes will be overlooked this year, despite there being plenty of defensive options.

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My defensive group is Grimes, Jeremy McGovern, Vlastuin, Shannon Hurn, Harris Andrews and Nick Haynes.

Hurn is captain and I fully expect to him to be named captain in the official team, although the appointment of Lance Franklin as skipper last year tells us selectors are keen on recognising greatness rather than stellar individual seasons.

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Nick Vlastuin cuts off another Brisbane attacking move.

The midfield positions will be filled by Cripps, Bontempelli, Fyfe, Neale, Dangerfield, Macrae and Martin — you pick three of them to start in the middle, use one at half-forward (I’ve gone for Dangerfield, who plays mid-forward) and the rest of them fill three of the four positions on the bench.

The other position on interchange goes to Melbourne’s Max Gawn.

Last year the official selectors picked Max Gawn as the starting ruckman and Collingwood’s Brodie Grundy for the bench.

I’ve switched them this year, although the statistical evidence tells us this year’s numbers for both of them are almost identical to what they returned in 2018.

Perhaps one team finishing in the top four and the other a demoralising 17th played a role in the final decision.

WHAT THE STATS SAY

FULL-BACKS

Dylan Grimes – has had more than two goals kicked against him by a direct opponent once this season.

Jeremy McGovern – ranks No.1 in the AFL for intercept possessions and No.2 for intercept marks.

Nick Vlastuin – ranks No.2 among general defenders for intercept possessions and No.5 for intercept marks.

HALF-BACKS

Shannon Hurn – rates elite for disposals, intercept possessions and intercept marks.

Harris Andrews – ranks No. 1 for spoils and No.4 for intercept marks.

Nick Haynes – ranks No.3 for intercept marks and No.11 for intercept possessions.

CENTRES

Hugh McCluggage – No.1 rated wingman, kicking more goals than any wingman and ranking No.2 for pressure points.

Patrick Cripps – No.2 for contested possessions, No.4 for ground ball gets and No.1 for clearances.

Lachie Hunter – No.2 for disposals among wingman, No.3 for inside-50s and No.4 for score involvements.

HALF-FOWARDS

Patrick Dangerfield – rates elite for disposals, metres gained, goals and score involvements.

Jeremy Cameron – ranks No.1 for a key forward for disposals, marks inside 50, goals and score involvements.

Gary Ablett – rates elite for disposals, ground ball gets inside 50, goals and score involvements.

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FULL-FORWARDS

Charlie Cameron – ranks No.1 for a general forward for goals, fifth for score involvements and fourth for ground ball gets inside 50.

Jack Darling – rates elite for goals, ground ball gets inside 50 and above average for forward-half pressure.

Michael Walters – rates elite for goals and above average for disposals and score involvements.

RUCKS

Brodie Grundy – ranks No.1 for a ruckman for disposals, contested possessions, clearances and score involvements.

Marcus Bontempelli – ranks elite for goals, score assists, score involvements and above average for contested possessions and clearances.

Lachie Neale – No.4 for contested possessions, No.2 for clearances and No.4 for ground ball gets.

INTERCHANGE

Max Gawn – No. 1 for hitouts-to-advantage, No.1 for a ruckman for intercept marks and No.2 for score involvements

Dustin Martin – rates elite for disposals, metres gained, score assists and score involvements.

Nat Fyfe – No.1 for contested possessions, No.2 for clearances, No.3 for ground ball gets and has kicked the third most goals of any midfielder.

J ack Macrae – ranks No.2 in the competition for disposals and rates elite for uncontested possessions and score involvements.

Source: Champion Data