2021 All-Australian team: See the squad and pick your own AA team

Scott Pendlebury called it a “gag” that one star missed the All-Australian squad. Check out the full 40 and the most unlucky players not to be chosen.

These four guns are all part of Mick McGuane's All Australian Team for 2021.

Richmond, Collingwood and North Melbourne have been shown no love by All-Australian selectors in a 40-man squad that is also missing some big-name stars at both ends of the ground.

Selectors met on Monday to decide on the squad, with a final team of 22 players set to be named on Thursday night as part of the AFL Awards.

Top-four sides Melbourne (seven players) and Brisbane (five players) are the most represented clubs in the extended squad, which includes 21 players who have been nominated for what could be their first All-Australian honours.

However, the Tigers, Magpies and Kangaroos have no nominees.

SCROLL DOWN TO SEE THE SQUAD AND PICK YOUR OWN AA TEAM

Perhaps the biggest surprises were the omissions of former Port Adelaide captain Travis Boak

and Geelong midfielder Cameron Guthrie.

Boak, who broke the game’s record for Port Adelaide this year, is ninth in TAB Brownlow betting, while Guthrie finished as the 16th ranked player in the competition this year according to Champion Data after earning All-Australian honours in 2020.

I couldn’t find Travis Boak on the All Oz list, surely that’s a gag?

— Scott Pendlebury (@SP_10) August 23, 2021

Guthrie missed only two games for the Cats and averaged 29.9 disposals, 5.2 clearances and 113 SuperCoach points across the season.

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Jack Riewoldt kicked 51 goals in 2021. Picture: Michael Klein

Essendon backman Jordan Ridley and Brisbane defender Harris Andrews were also both left out of the squad after strong seasons.

Ridley had been named on the bench in leading football analyst Mick McGuane’s own All-Australian side.

Richmond’s Jack Riewoldt, who finished third in the Coleman Medal race, was also overlooked, along with teammate Shai Bolton.

Others that could be considered unlucky to miss out on the squad include Western Bulldogs midfielder Tom Liberatore, Collingwood’s Jack Crisp and Brisbane’s Brandon Starcevich.

Selectors did recognise wingmen at least in their initial squad, nominating three in Brisbane’s Hugh McCluggage, Port Adelaide’s Karl Amon and Adelaide’s Paul Seedsman.

I couldn’t find Travis Boak on the All Oz list, surely that’s a gag?

— Scott Pendlebury (@SP_10) August 23, 2021

Sydney veteran Lance Franklin was selected in the squad as he vies for a ninth All-Australian blazer this year, which would see the forward become the first player to achieve the feat under the current system.

Franklin currently sits on eight All-Australian blazers alongside Gary Ablett Sr, Gary Ablett Jr, Patrick Dangerfield, Robert Harvey and Mark Ricciuto.

The 2021 Therabody All-Australian selection panel consisted of Gillon McLachlan (non-voting chairman), Andrew Dillon, Chris Johnson, Glen Jakovich, Warren Tredrea, Cameron Ling, Jude Bolton, Matthew Richardson, Nick Riewoldt and Kevin Bartlett.

2021 ALL-AUSTRALIAN SQUAD

Adelaide: Rory Laird, Paul Seedsman

Brisbane Lions: Charlie Cameron, Jarryd Lyons, Hugh McCluggage, Daniel Rich, Dayne Zorko

Carlton: Harry McKay, Sam Walsh, Jacob Weitering

Collingwood: Nil

Essendon: Zach Merrett, Darcy Parish, Jake Stringer

Fremantle: Sean Darcy, David Mundy

Geelong: Tom Hawkins, Tom Stewart

Gold Coast: Touk Miller

GWS Giants: Toby Greene, Jacob Hopper

Hawthorn: Tom Mitchell

Melbourne: Bailey Fritsch, Max Gawn, Jake Lever, Steven May, Clayton Oliver, Christian Petracca, Christian Salem

North Melbourne: Nil

Port Adelaide: Aliir Aliir, Karl Amon, Ollie Wines

Richmond: Nil

St Kilda: Jack Steele

Sydney: Lance Franklin, Callum Mills, Tom Papley, Luke Parker

West Coast: Nic Naitanui

Western Bulldogs: Marcus Bontempelli, Bailey Dale, Jack Macrae

WINGING IT: MICK McGUANE NAMES HIS ALL-AUSTRALIANS

— Mick McGuane

Stop the rot, All-Australian selectors.

It’s time to pick players in their rightful positions and I’m largely talking about the wing role.

Last year’s All-Australian side saw Western Bulldogs’ Jack Macrae picked on one wing and Geelong’s Cameron Guthrie on the other.

Neither are wingman.

The wing position is a specialised role and it’s about time we gave due recognition for the performances of players who perform in it rather than using the spots as overflow for a glut of inside midfielders.

I played with two Collingwood greats in Darren Millane and Gavin Brown, who owned the wings at Victoria Park.

Footscray’s Doug Hawkins had a wing named after him at Whitten Oval, Robert Flower remains one of Melbourne’s favourite sons, Keith Greig was a two-time Brownlow Medal winner for North Melbourne and Wayne Schimmelbusch played over 300 games for the Kangaroos.

How would such greats of the game feel about their position being treated with such disdain by All-Australian selectors?

I could have put a player like Carlton’s Sam Walsh on a wing in my All-Australian team this year.

You could argue he has had a better season overall than designated Adelaide wingman Paul Seedsman.

Paul Seedsman has been a shining light for the struggling Crows. Picture: AFL Photos/Getty Images

Lion Hugh McCluggage is arguably the best pure wingman in the game. Picture: Picture: Michael Klein

But I didn’t pick Walsh there, by virtue of the fact that he has spent only 11 per cent of his game time on a wing this season.

Seedsman and Brisbane’s Hugh McCluggage have played the wing role all year – and to great effect.

Seedsman is averaging 26.2 disposals, 612 metres gained and 5.9 score involvements and McCluggage is averaging 25.2 disposals, 440 metres gained and 6.8 score involvements.

They work hard both ways and play significant roles in how their teams set up and move the ball.

I’ve selected a balanced team – with seven defenders, eight midfielders and seven forwards – where those in the starting 18 have been named in positions where they mostly play.

We can only hope that All-Australian selectors will finally piece together their team in the same way.

Stringer revival

There was a reason Essendon’s Jake Stringer spent only 17 per cent of his time in the midfield for the Bombers last year.

He wasn’t fit.

But after a year of working hard on his fitness levels and continuity of training and playing, Stringer is back to his very best and the type of form that earned him All-Australian honours in 2015.

The midfielder-forward has renewed enthusiasm and a sense of confidence that stems from being both physically and mentally fit.

The brilliant Jake Stringer has ignited the Bombers’ season. Picture: AFL Photos/Getty Images

He is spending more time around the ball where his key attributes of power and strength shine through and he possesses an urgent go-forward mentality that the best midfielders in the game play with.

Essendon has scored from 15.4 per cent of centre bounces which Stringer has attended this year – the second-most of the top 50 players to attend centre bounces.

His improved work rate has seen him lift his average disposals from 8.9 a game to 16.6, his score involvements have risen from 3.8 a game to 6.9 and his average goals from 1.8 to 2.2 a game.

Stringer creates serious headaches for opposition sides with his ability to impact in the middle and slide forward and he shapes as Essendon’s X-Factor heading towards finals.

We all admire his ability to turn a game on its head and he’s done that on multiple occasions this year, which makes him deserving of a second All-Australian jacket.

Aliir Aliir has been a linchpin for the power defence. Picture: AFL Photos/Getty Images

The rise of Aliir

Port Adelaide defender Aliir Aliir is one of footy’s great fairy tales this season.

Credit to Jason Cripps and the Power’s list management team for identifying a point of weakness in their line up and plucking a player from another club who can fill it so well.

Port Adelaide was one key defender short of challenging for a premiership last year, but Aliir has made the Power look a lot more rounded and complete down back.

He’s a different player to what he was at Sydney last year and a lot of that can be put down to the fact he’s been settled.

The Swans used Aliir in defence only 53 per cent of the time last year, with team injury issues meaning he split the rest of his game time between ruck and forward roles.

This year he’s been a constant down back for Port Adelaide and has a great ability to win one-on-one contests.

Aliir wins 37 per cent of his one-on-ones, neutralises 45 per cent and loses only 18 per cent.

They are strong numbers.

He’s also quite composed when he wins the ball back and favours picking off short options to teammates to retain possession.

At the moment, Aliir is playing with Jeremy McGovern-like dominance and teams will put a lot of time into him heading into finals.

Don’t be surprised to see defensive forwards deployed against Aliir or, at the very least, key forwards are told to engage him and use that as their competitive starting point.

As his opponent you cannot run to irrelevant areas because Aliir will let you go and this is where his reading and intercept ability come to the fore.

He is clearly in the All Australian conversation.

KEY CALLS EXPLAINED

Weitering over May?

Melbourne’s Steven May sits high in my apologies column, but I sided with Carlton’s Jacob Weitering for the fullback position.

The Demons are very well structured defensively across the ground, which helps May’s positioning.

Weitering does not have that luxury and is faced with a wave of opposition inside-50s each week yet is rarely beaten.

The Blues backman does have the assistance of Liam Jones, but generally gets the opposition’s No. 1 forward each week and rates above average for one-on-one contests and elite for disposals, intercepts, metres gained and spoils.

Bailey Dale has emerged as a star in a new position. Picture: Getty Images

The rapid riser

A one-time forward, Western Bulldogs’ Bailey Dale has been exceptional in a new role down back this year and full credit to both him and his coach Luke Beveridge.

That is what good coaching is about – looking at a player’s strengths and seeing where else they might be able to fit into the team’s balance and what a team needs.

Dale is an elite kick and has the fourth-best kick rating of any player across the competition this year, as well as rating elite among general defenders for disposals and metres gained.

High halfbacks who can use the ball and set up the game are worth their weight in gold in today’s footy and Dale is exactly that.

Just lock Lance legend in. Picture: Michael Klein

No. 9 for Buddy?

He has already earned All-Australian honours in a glittering career to date and at 34 years old, Sydney’s Lance Franklin deserves a ninth.

Yes, he has only played 16 games so far this season which is a few less than others.

But he is still having serious scoreboard impact, averaging 2.6 goals, 1.1 score assists and 6.3 score involvements a game.

There are also the intangibles.

When Franklin plays, his teammates stand taller around him.

He still has a presence – an aura about him – and there remains a sense of intimidation for opponents.

His ability to push high up the ground to connect as an aerial target for his defenders is a credit to his speed and mobility.

Despite the Dees’ dominance, Max Gawn missed out on a spot in Mick McGuane’s All Australian team. Picture: Getty Images

Nic Nat over Gawn?

The ruck role is demanding and many facets of a ruckman are assessed.

The follow-up work of West Coast’s Nic Naitanui is simply outstanding.

Remarkably, Naitanui is the Eagle’s No. 1 clearance player this season – having had 37 more clearances than his next best teammate Dom Sheed.

Naitanui also ranks No. 1 in the competition for hit-outs to advantage and he rates elite for contested possessions and scoreboard impact.

Melbourne’s Max Gawn has been very good in the ruck this year, as has Fremantle’s Sean Darcy and Sydney’s Tom Hickey.

But Naitanui has the edge this year for mine because of what he does both in the air and at ground level.

His impact at centre bounces has been compelling and West Coast would not be playing for a top-eight spot on Saturday if it wasn’t for Naitanui’s performance this year.

Simon Goodwin has been the architect of the Demons’ stunning season. Picture: Getty Images

Coach Goodwin?

At the start of the year, who had Melbourne in the top-eight, let alone sitting on top of the ladder?

If you did, you’re a genius.

Simon Goodwin has led the Demons from ninth on the ladder last year to eyeing off the minor premiership this season and has done everything right along the way.

Melbourne is playing a brand that is made for finals.

It is built on contest and pressure and, importantly, the Demons’ players have brought into selfless team roles.

Just look at Angus Brayshaw on a wing.

That’s both great coaching and great buy-in from the players to adapt.

The Demons are certainly playing for their coach and for each other and that’s what premiership teams are built on.

Originally published as 2021 All-Australian team: See the squad and pick your own AA team