The Standard journalist Nick Ansell has listed his mid-year All-Australian team. There are some notable omissions and surprise selections. Let us know what you think!
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SELECTING A mid-year All-Australian team is no mean feat.
There are going to be people who disagree with the picks in this team, and that's fine. The beauty of footy is that everyone has an opinion.
Let me explain some of the more controversial choices.
Some notable omissions are Dustin Martin, Marcus Bontempelli and Nat Fyfe. Patrick Cripps is another. There's no question all four of these players rank among the top-10 in the competition. But All-Australian teams are to celebrate form and development, rather than reputation.
Martin is now showing why he will go down as one of the greats of the modern era after dismantling the Bulldogs last week.
He's not quite at his 2017 levels yet, but there's no question he's moving in that direction.
My argument is other midfielders have so far had a more consistent impact on the season to date.
'The Bont', on the other hand, isn't in career-best form and is suffering through a rare dip in output.
Shorter quarters are a factor here, and the fact that Melbourne teams are playing the vast majority of footy outside their home state. But the stats show a dip on Bontempelli's usually lofty standards.
He's averaging eight less touches per game, just 0.44 goals, almost two less inside 50s and a drop to 3.44 clearances a game from 6.04 in 2019.
Cripps has been stifled by opposition tactics - to the point Carlton has complained to the AFL's umpiring department - and is still a great leader but his form isn't quite All-Australian worthy just yet.
Fyfe is arguably the AFL's most complete player and offers so much in both a playing and leadership capacity to Fremantle.
Sadly injury has intervened yet again and he's only managed six games to date.
Let's look to some of the surprise selections. Fyfe's teammate, Luke Ryan, is one which deservedly earns a place.
The defender has stepped up to fill a massive injury void in Fremantle's back half. He's grabbing 17 touches per game as a key pillar down back and is up to 6.67 rebound 50s each week.
Ryan was a mature-age recruit and his rise has been phenomenal.
Jarryd Lyons is another good story. Delisted by the Gold Coast Suns after moving from Adelaide, the 28-year-old Lion earns a berth on a wing.
Statistically, Lyons' output is effectively on par to last year. He's averaging 21.78 disposals, almost 10 of which are contested, and four clearances each week.
South Warrnambool and Allansford export Hugh McCluggage has been outstanding in 2020 and should be a lock in the official team come the end of the season.
Todd Goldstein over Max Gawn and Nic Naitanui is controversial, but the North Melbourne big man is as dynamic a player as there is at the moment.
Leads the AFL in clearances, is number one for effective disposals among rucks and number two, behind Brodie Grundy, for hit outs.
His ground work is also number one.
Without Goldstein, North Melbourne would be suffering like Adelaide is currently. His ability to shine in an otherwise under-performing team is what sets him apart.
The ruck decision is among the toughest to make. Nic Naitanui is another who is now firing on all cylinders and is likely to claim a spot in the end-of-year side.
Looking to the goalkickers, Tom Papley, Charlie Cameron and Dan Butler win out as smalls. The trio are second, third and fourth in the Coleman Medal race and have played a big part in the value being placed on small-to-medium spearheads.
Big men Tom Hawkins and Charlie Dixon hold down key forward roles, while Josh Kennedy claims an emergency spot. He's another case of someone who has burst into form of late.
Two hauls of four and one of seven in recent weeks have propped up his totals in a season when he's been otherwise quiet.
Dixon has been the linchpin of Port Adelaide's attack and has been more consistent so far in 2020.
The evergreen Hawkins has also been consistent en route to his 16-goal total in a potent forward line, slotting his majors in two and three goal spells.
Western Bulldogs 'quarterback' Caleb Daniel - who is known for setting up rebound play from defence - is unlucky not to get a starting berth.
He's kept out by Sydney's Jake Lloyd and Sam Docherty, both of who are rebounding machines.
Docherty (60) and Lloyd (55) are among the leaders in the statistic.
BACKS
Luke Ryan (Fremantle), Harris Andrews (Brisbane Lions), Darcy Moore (Collingwood)
HALF BACKS
Jake Lloyd (Sydney Swans), Jacob Weitering (Carlton), Sam Docherty (Carlton)
CENTRES
Jarryd Lyons (Brisbane Lions), Jack Macrae (Western Bulldogs), Hugh McCluggage (Brisbane Lions)
HALF FORWARDS
Dan Butler (St Kilda), Tom Hawkins (Geelong), Jack Steele (St Kilda)
FORWARDS
Tom Papley (Sydney Swans), Charlie Dixon (Port Adelaide), Charlie Cameron (Brisbane Lions)
FOLLOWERS
Todd Goldstein (North Melbourne), Travis Boak (Port Adelaide), Lachie Neale (Brisbane Lions)
INTERCHANGE
Max Gawn (Melbourne), Christian Petracca (Melbourne), Harry Perryman (GWS Giants), Caleb Daniel (Western Bulldogs)
EMERGENCIES
Josh Kennedy (West Coast Eagles), Robbie Tarrant (North Melbourne), Brodie Grundy (Collingwood), Dustin Martin (Richmond)
COACH
Ken Hinkley (Port Adelaide)