Which footy stars would make the AFLX All Star team?

THE ‘Big Three’ Dustin Martin, Patrick Dangerfield and Scott Pendlebury are almost unanimous inclusions in hypothetical AFLX All Star teams but, from there, it's a mixed bag as Herald Sun reporters pick their ‘best 10s’.

THE ‘Big Three’ Dustin Martin, Patrick Dangerfield and Scott Pendlebury are almost unanimous inclusions in hypothetical AFLX All Star teams.

From there it's a mixed bag as Herald Sun reporters pick their ‘best 10s’ for the abbreviated form of the game.

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WHAT IS AFLX: A MUG’S GUIDE TO THE NEW FORMAT

WE CAN HOPE: YOUR CLUB’S BEST AFLX TEAM

With just a month before Australian rules football enters a new era with its answer to cricket’s T20, here are the basics of the game:

— Soccer-size rectangular pitch

— Trial games have been played between teams of seven (plus three on the bench)

— Fast, free-flowing footy

— One umpire, no centre bounces, kick-ins from fullback after goals

— Quarters of 10 minutes

— 10 points for goals outside 40m

*WITH THIS IN MIND, HERE ARE OUR REPORTERS’ AFLX ALL STAR PICKS:

Gil Gardiner says Sydney’s Isaac Heeney provides flexibility in the AFLX competition. Picture: Phil Hillyard

GILBERT GARDINER

STARTING 7

Scott Pendlebury (Coll)

Dustin Martin (Rich)

Josh Kelly (GWS)

Eddie Betts (Adel)

Jake Lever (Melb)

Cyril Rioli (Haw)

Patrick Dangerfield (Geel)

BENCH

Isaac Heeney (Syd)

Christian Petracca (Melb)

Jy Simpkin (NM)

DUSTIN Martin ticks all the boxes for AFLX, but Scott Pendlebury is the perfect player. What Pendlebury lacks for breakneck speed, he makes up for in poise and precision, central to a game built on possession, and played on a field the size of a soccer pitch. Patrick Dangerfield and Josh Kelly were no-brainers for the 10-man squad for their ability to impact across the field and, most importantly, kick goals. Good luck stopping Eddie Betts and Cyril Rioli up forward, while Jake Lever’s intercept prowess will aid slingshot attacking plays. The AFL’s abbreviated form demands flexibility, so with that in mind, opted for Isaac Heeney and Christian Petracca over a genuine midfield type. Jy Simpkin looks suited to AFLX, with a nose for goal and the game’s best sidestep, the emerging Kangaroo could be anything.

Chris Cavanagh believes Bomber Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti would be a devastating weapon in AFLX. Picture: Getty Images

CHRIS CAVANAGH

STARTING 7

Alex Rance (Rich)

Seb Ross (StK)

Jayden Hunt (Melb)

Brandon Ellis (Rich)

Daniel Rioli (Rich)

Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti (Ess)

Mitch McGovern (Adelaide)

BENCH

Dane Rampe (Syd)

Shaun Atley (NM)

Charlie Cameron (Bris)

AFLX is about speed. Simple as that. It is fast, free-flowing football. There are no centre bounces so there is little need for height and with games only consisting of two 10-minute halves great endurance is also not a requirement. Hence, I have picked my team from the top-20 fastest players in the AFL last year according to Champion Data. All reached maximum speeds above 34.4km/h, Seb Ross the quickest of them at 35km/h. Rance and McGovern provide some marking ability at either end while the rest are well known for finding space and can pile on the pressure.

Joe Daniher is a crucial marking option in Sam Edmund’s AFLX All Star team. Picture: Michael Klein

SAM EDMUND

STARTING 7

Alex Rance (Rich)

Dustin Martin (Rich)

Joe Daniher (Ess)

Scott Pendlebury (Coll)

Nat Fyfe (Fre)

Eddie Betts (Adelaide)

Cyril Rioli (Haw)

BENCH

Michael Walters (Fre)

Robbie Gray (Port)

Josh Kelly (GWS)

CAN’T kick, can’t play. That will be the hallmark of AFLX — a game where turnovers will murder you and clean skills and sound decision-making will make you. With that in mind, I’ve gone for a squad that knows what to do with the pill and when to do it. Danger is a controversial omission, but the surgical ability of Pendles and Kelly are more suited to this game. The game will be fast. Very fast. That’s why Cyril and Betts will lurk forward, with Gray and Walters floating through. It will also be a dream for the interceptor, which is why the intercept king, Alex Rance, will hold the fort down back. He was the first picked. Ruckmen should extend their holidays, but don’t be kidded into thinking a marking option won’t be needed. That’s why Joe Daniher is in the house. Dusty needs to justification, nor does Fyfe, whose versatility will be crucial with only seven on the field.

Richmond’s Shai Bolton is a left-field pick for Mick Randall’s team. Picture: Michael Klein

MICHAEL RANDALL

STARTING 7

Dustin Martin (Rich)

Patrick Dangerfield (Gee)

Scott Pendlebury (Coll)

Cyril Rioli (Haw)

Eddie Betts (Ade)

Nic Naitaniui (WC)

Gary Rohan (Syd)

BENCH

Charlie Cameron (Bri)

Shai Bolton (Rich)

Charlie Curnow (Car)

MARTIN, Dangerfield and Pendlebury are the heartbeat, doing the hard work in the clinches and releasing the likes of Cameron and Rohan to burn off their opponents. Nic Nat might be tall, but he’s more like a midfielder. His athleticism and clearance work would cause havoc and I can guarantee I’m not the only one who has gone with the Cyril-Eddie forward line — it’s a no-brainer. Bolton and Curnow are surprise picks. The young Tiger played sparingly last season, but he is the prototypical AFLX footballer with his ability on the ground and in the air, while Curnow is something out of the box. He can play anywhere on the field for us and you need someone versatile in case your opponent rolls out a bigger line-up.

Chris Vernuccio has gone for Elliot Yeo as one of footy’s best interceptors. Picture: Getty Images

CHRIS VERNUCCIO

STARTING 7

Alex Rance (Rich)

Elliot Yeo (WC)

Dustin Martin (Rich)

Scott Pendlebury (Coll)

Josh Kelly (GWS)

Lance Franklin (Syd)

Eddie Betts (Adel)

BENCH

Jake Lever (Melb)

Robbie Gray (Port)

Gary Ablett (Geel)

DON’T fall into the trap AFLX is only for the fast and the young — and midfielders. You’ll still need experience and nous to succeed. Excellent foot skills are essential on the smaller field where turnovers will get punished. For that reason I’ve made the controversial decision to drop Patrick Dangerfield from my initial squad in favour of Scott Pendlebury. Gary Ablett makes the team for the same reason. No explanation is needed for Dusty’s inclusion. Lance Franklin is a must after he topped the goalkicking last year. Buddy and Eddie Betts are arguably the most breathtaking players in the competition. Robbie Gray is smart around the goals and can be an impact player off the bench. And AFLX can’t be all about scoring goals, you need to prevent them too. Alex Rance is the best stopper in the game and can match-up on talls and smalls, while Elliot Yeo and Jake Lever are among the league’s top interceptors.

Liam Twomey says Michael Walters of the Dockers would be a monster when the ball hits the deck. Picture: Getty Images

LIAM TWOMEY

STARTERS

Joe Daniher (Ess)

Lance Franklin (Syd)

Nat Fyfe (Fre)

Patrick Dangerfield (Gee)

Nic Naitanui (WC)

Alex Rance (Rich)

Adam Saad (Ess)

BENCH

Eddie Betts (Ade)

Adam Treloar (Coll)

Michael Walters (Fre)

Speed, excitement and more speed. That is what I am going for with my AFLX all stars. With less players on the field, I’ll put Joe Daniher and Lance Franklin up forward and tell them to line-up as far away from each other as possible. Both guys will be nearly impossible to beat one on one. When (or if) the ball hits ground, the likes of Michael Walters and Eddie Betts will be there to blast away from their opposition defenders and set their sights on the goals. The awesome foursome of Nat Fyfe, Patrick Dangerfield, Adam Treloar and Nic Naitanui will be dominant in the middle, all possessing the perfect mix of pace and skill. Down back, Alex Rance can cover the ground of multiple defenders while Adam Saad will provide rebounding at warp speed.