FOUR south-west football exports - including three who started at Hampden league outfit Cobden - are under the nose of All Australian selectors.
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Former Bombers Zach Merrett, Sean Darcy and Sam Walsh as well as Allansford and South Warrnambool product Hugh McCluggage have been included in the AFL's 40-man All Australian squad.
Darcy, Walsh and McCluggage would be first-time All Australians while Merrett, who has enjoyed a stellar season in Essendon's midfield, was previously picked in 2017.
Darcy has relished a breakout season at Fremantle, stamping his credentials as one of the competition's finest ruckmen.
He ranked fifth in the AFL for hitouts to advantage in his most consistent season to date.
Walsh, meanwhile, was a revelation in Carlton's midfield. The 21-year-old was 23rd in AFL ranking points - a statistic which combines several key fields including disposals, tackles, goals and others - and was widely recognised as Carlton's brightest prospect.
McCluggage's star also continued to rise. The hard-running wingman cemented his position as one of the AFL's best outside midfielders, helping Brisbane to a top-four finish.
THE THERABODY ALL AUSTRALIAN SQUAD:
Aliir Aliir, Port Adelaide
Never Previously All Australian.
22 games in 2020.
339 disposals. 244 kicks, 142 marks, 95 handballs averaging 15.4 disposals, 11.1 kicks, 6.5 marks, 4.4 handballs. 17 Inside 50m, 86 rebound 50m. 35 tackles. 82 Kick Efficiency. 121 spoils.
Karl Amon, Port Adelaide
Never Previously All Australian.
22 games in 2021.
520 disposals, 343 kicks, 131 marks, 177 handballs, averaging 23.6 disposals, 15.6 kicks, 6 marks, 8 handballs. 11 Goals, 17 Behinds. 42 clearances, 101 Inside 50m, 53 Rebound 50m. 87 tackles.
Marcus Bontempelli, Western Bulldogs
2016, 2019, 2020 All Australian.
22 games in 2021.
598 disposals, 340 kicks, 88 marks, 258 handballs, averaging 27.2 disposals, 15.5 kicks, 4 marks, 11.7 handballs. 26 Goals, 16 Behinds. 120 clearances, 145 Inside 50m, 40 Rebound 50m. 111 tackles.
Charlie Cameron, Brisbane Lions
2019 All Australian.
22 games in 2021.
235 disposals. 177 kicks, 87 marks, 58 handballs averaging 10.7 disposals, 8 kicks, 4 marks. 47 Goals, 31 Behinds. 38 Inside 50m.
Bailey Dale, Western Bulldogs
Never Previously All Australian.
22 games in 2021.
539 disposals. 381 kicks, 84 marks, 158 handballs averaging 24.5 disposals, 17.3 kicks, 84 marks. 59 Inside 50m, 117 rebound 50m. 23 tackles.
Sean Darcy, Fremantle
Never Previously All Australian.
21 games in 2021.
349 disposals. 156 kicks, 90 marks, 193 handballs averaging 16.6 disposals, 7.4 kicks, 4.3 marks. 12 Goals, 12 Behinds. 58 Inside 50m.
Lance Franklin, Sydney Swans
2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018 All Australian.
17 games in 2021.
199 disposals. 148 kicks, 76 marks, 51 handballs averaging 11.7 disposals, 8.7 kicks, 4.5 marks, 3 handballs. 48 Goals, 23 Behinds. 51 Inside 50m.
Bayley Fritsch, Melbourne
Never Previously All Australian.
21 games in 2021.
211 disposals. 160 kicks, 98 marks, 51 handballs averaging 10 disposals, 7.6 kicks, 4.7 marks, 2 handballs. 47 Goals, 20 Behinds. 43 Inside 50m.
Max Gawn, Melbourne
2016, 2018, 2019, 2020 All Australian.
22 games in 2021.
404 disposals. 273 kicks, 115 marks, 131 handballs averaging 18.4 disposals,12.4 kicks, 5.2 marks. 11 Goals, 14 Behinds. 68 Inside 50m.
Toby Greene, GWS GIANTS
2016 All Australian.
17 games in 2021.
299 disposals, 223 kicks, 77 marks, 76 handballs, averaging 17.6 disposals, 13.1 kicks, 4.5 marks, 4.5 handballs. 42 Goals, 40 Behinds. 20 clearances, 70 Inside 50m, 36 tackles.
Tom Hawkins, Geelong Cats
2012, 2019, 2020 All Australian.
22 games in 2021.
298 disposals. 190 kicks, 116 marks, 108 handballs averaging 13.5 disposals, 8.6 kicks, 5.3 marks, 4.9 handballs. 54 Goals, 33 Behinds. 33 Inside 50m.
Jacob Hopper, GWS GIANTS
Never Previously All Australian.
21 games in 2021.
557 disposals, 289 kicks, 66 marks, 268 handballs, averaging 26.5 disposals, 13.8 kicks, 3.1 marks, 12.8 handballs. 10 Goals. 137 clearances, 93 Inside 50m, 72 tackles.
Rory Laird, Adelaide Crows
2017, 2018 All Australian.
22 games in 2021.
704 disposals, 314 kicks, 82 marks, 390 handballs, averaging 32 disposals, 14.3 kicks, 82 marks, 17.7 handballs. 81 Inside 50m, 130 tackles.
Jake Lever, Melbourne
Never Previously All Australian.
22 games in 2021.
342 disposals. 215 kicks, 124 marks, 127 handballs averaging 15.5 disposals, 9.8 kicks, 5.6 marks, 5.8 handballs. 27 Inside 50m, 94 rebound 50m. 41 tackles. 80.5 Kick Efficiency. 130 spoils.
Jarryd Lyons, Brisbane Lions
Never Previously All Australian.
22 games in 2021.
620 disposals, 362 kicks, 112 marks, 258 handballs, averaging 28.2 disposals, 16.5 kicks, 112 marks, 11.7 handballs. 98 Inside 50m, 143 tackles.
Jack Macrae, Western Bulldogs
2019, 2020 All Australian
22 games in 2021.
743 disposals, 359 kicks, 92 marks, 384 handballs, averaging 33.8 disposals, 16.3 kicks, 92 marks, 17.5 handballs. 110 Inside 50m, 106 tackles.
Hugh McCluggage, Brisbane Lions
Never Previously All Australian.
22 games in 2021.
548 disposals, 373 kicks, 113 marks, 175 handballs, averaging 24.9 disposals, 17 kicks, 113 marks, 8 handballs. 99 Inside 50m, 82 tackles.
Harry McKay, Carlton
Never Previously All Australian.
19 games in 2021.
185 disposals. 154 kicks, 113 marks, 31 handballs averaging 9.7 disposals, 8.1 kicks, 5.9 marks, 1.6 handballs. 58 Goals, 33 Behinds. 26 Inside 50m. 27 tackles.
Steven May, Melbourne
Never Previously All Australian.
20 games in 2021.
368 disposals. 111 kicks, 116 marks, 57 handballs averaging 18.4 disposals, 15.8 kicks, 5.8 marks, 2.9 handballs. 17 Inside 50m, 128 rebound 50m. 23 tackles. 84.9 Kick Efficiency. 119 spoils.
Zach Merrett, Essendon
2017 All Australian.
22 games in 2021.
694 disposals, 345 kicks, 94 marks, 349 handballs, averaging 31.5 disposals, 15.7 kicks, 4.3 marks, 15.9 handballs. 82 clearances, 122 Inside 50m, 52 Rebound 50m. 103 tackles.
Touk Miller, Gold Coast SUNS
Never Previously All Australian.
21 games in 2021.
668 disposals, 334 kicks, 95 marks, 334 handballs, 91 inside-50m, 263 contested possessions, 416 uncontested possessions, 149 tackles, 185 ground-ball gets, 71.6 disposal efficiency, 73 stoppage clearances, 117 score involvements. Averaging 31.8 disposals, 15.9 kicks, 15.9 handballs, 4.3 inside-50m, 12.5 contested possessions, 7.1 tackles, 3.5 stoppage clearances, 5.6 score involvements.
Callum Mills, Sydney Swans
Never Previously All Australian.
18 games in 2021.
495 disposals, 256 kicks, 239 handballs, 75 inside-50m, 187 contested possessions, 86 clearances, 95 tackles, 107 marks. Averaging 27.5 disposals per game, 13.3 handballs, 14.2 kicks, 4.2 inside-50m, 10.4 contested possessions, 5.3 tackles, 5.9 marks.
Tom Mitchell, Hawthorn
2017, 2018 All Australian.
22 games in 2021.
754 disposals (First in AFL for total disposals), 321 kicks, 433 handballs, 91 inside-50m, 41 centre clearances, 63 stoppage clearances, 105 tackles, 254 contested possessions, 504 uncontested possessions, 118 score involvements. Averaging, 34.3 disposals, 14.6 kicks, 19.7 handballs, 4.1 inside-50m, 11.5 contested possessions, 22.9 uncontested possessions, 2.9 stoppage clearances, 5.4 score involvements.
David Mundy, Fremantle
2015 All Australian.
22 games in 2021.
553 disposals, 248 kicks, 305 handballs, 97 inside-50m, 400 effective disposals, 87 tackles, 75 stoppage clearances, 42 centre clearances, 244 contested possessions. Averaging 25.1 disposals, 11.3 kicks, 13.9 handballs, 4.4 inside-50m, 14.9 uncontested possessions, 11.1 contested possessions, 18.2 effective disposals, 3.4 stoppage clearances, 1.9 centre clearances.
Nic Naitanui, West Coast Eagles
2012, 2020 All Australian.
22 games in 2021.
687 hit outs, 270 hit outs to advantage, 54 centre clearances, 104 stoppage clearances, 335 disposals, 154 kicks, 181 handballs, 77 inside-50m, 273 contested possessions, 118 ground-ball gets, 118 score involvements. Averaging 31.2 hit outs, 12.3 hit outs to advantage, 2.5 centre clearances, 4.7 stoppage clearances, 15.2 disposals, 7 kicks, 8.2 handballs, 3.5 inside-50m, 12.4 contested possessions, 5.4 ground-ball gets, 5.4 score involvements.
Clayton Oliver, Melbourne
2018 All Australian.
22 games in 2021.
696 disposals (fifth in AFL for total disposals), 388 contested possessions (first in AFL for total contested possessions), 313 kicks, 383 handballs, 97 intercept possessions, 253 ground-ball gets, 114 inside-50m, 69.8 disposal efficiency, 104 stoppage clearances, 63 centre clearances, 159 score involvements, 522 pressure acts, 116 tackles. Averaging, 31.6 disposals, 17.6 contested possessions, 14.2 kicks, 17.4 handballs, 4.4 intercept possessions, 11.5 ground-ball gets, 5.2 inside-50m, 4.7 stoppage clearances, 2.9 centre clearances, 7.2 score involvements, 23.7 pressure acts, 5.3 tackles.
Tom Papley, Sydney Swans
Never Previously All Australian.
22 games in 2021.
297 disposals, 123 contested possessions, 41 goals, 27 behinds, 21 goal assists, 142 score involvements, 30 marks inside-50m, 218 kicks, 65 inside-50m, 22 tackles inside-50m. Averaging 13.5 disposals, 5.6 contested possessions, 6.5 score involvements, 3.9 marks, three inside-50m.
Darcy Parish, Essendon
Never Previously All Australian.
22 games in 2021.
666 disposals (Eighth in AFL for total disposals), 168 score involvements (Third in AFL for total score involvements), 319 kicks, 347 handballs, 131 inside-50m, 84 centre clearances, 80 stoppage clearances, 10,075 metres gained, 197 ground-ball gets, 72.4 disposal efficiency. Averaging 30.3 disposals, 7.6 score involvements, 14.5 kicks, 15.8 handballs, 6.0 inside-50m, 3.8 centre clearances, 3.6 stoppage clearances, 458 metres gained, 9.0 ground-ball gets.
Luke Parker, Sydney Swans
2016 All Australian.
22 games in 2021.
607 disposals, 293 contested possessions, 73 intercept possessions, 326 handballs, 281 kicks, 91 inside-50m, 81 stoppage clearances, 58 centre clearances, 130 score involvements, 477 pressure acts, 101 tackles. Averaging 27.6 disposals, 13.3 contested possessions, 3.3 intercept possessions, 14.8 handballs, 12.8 kicks, 4.1 inside-50m, 3.7 stoppage clearances, 2.6 centre clearances, 5.9 score involvements, 21.7 pressure acts, 4.6 tackles.
Christian Petracca, Melbourne
2020 All Australian.
22 games in 2021.
629 disposals, 173 score involvements (First in AFL for total score involvements), 24 goals, 14 behinds, 299 contested possessions, 198 ground-ball gets, 355 kicks, 274 handballs, 148 inside-50m, 62 centre clearances, 75 stoppage clearances, 11,411 metres gained, 480 pressure acts, 95 tackles. Averaging 28.6 disposals, 7.9 score involvements, 13.6 contested possessions, 9.0 ground-ball gets, 16.1 kicks, 12.5 handballs, 6.7 Inside-50m, 2.8 centre clearances, 3.4 stoppage clearances, 518.7 metres gained, 21.8 pressure acts.
Daniel Rich, Brisbane Lions
Never Previously All Australian.
22 games in 2021.
575 disposals, 65 inside-50m, 170 rebound-50m, 78.8 disposal efficiency, 475 kicks, 121 contested possessions, 96 ground-ball gets, 20 stoppage clearances, 128 marks. Averaging 26.1 disposals, 3.0 inside-50m, 7.7 rebound-50m, 21.6 kicks, 5.5 contested possessions, 6.0 intercept possessions, 4.4 ground-ball gets, 5.8 marks.
Christian Salem, Melbourne
Never Previously All Australian.
21 games in 2021.
529 disposals, 124 contested possessions, 117 rebound-50m, 130 marks, 347 kicks, 182 handballs, 124 intercept possessions, 249 pressure acts, 46 tackles, 79 score involvements. Averaging 25.2 disposals 5.5 contested possessions, 5.6 rebound-50m, 6.2 marks, 16.5 kicks, 8.7 handballs, 5.9 intercept possessions, 11.9 pressure acts, 2.2 tackles, 3.8 score involvements.
Paul Seedsman, Adelaide Crows
Never Previously All Australian.
22 games in 2021.
547 disposals, 347 kicks, 227 handballs, 125 inside-50m, 135 contested possessions, 72.6 disposal efficiency,13,335 metres gained, 118 marks, 128 score involvements, 61 rebound-50m. Averaging 26.1 disposals, 15.8 kicks, 10.3 handballs, 5.7 inside-50m, 6.1 contested possessions, 2.8 rebound-50m, 606.2 metres gained, 5.4 marks, 5.8 score involvements.
Jack Steele, St Kilda
2020 All Australian.
22 games in 2021.
642 disposals, 185 tackles (First in AFL for total tackles), 311 kicks, 331 handballs, 105 inside-50m, 305 contested possessions, 195 ground-ball gets, 77 intercept possessions, 78 stoppage clearances, 60 centre clearances, 552 pressure acts, 20 tackles inside-50m. Averaging 29.2 disposals, 4.8 inside-50m, 8.4 tackles, 25.1 pressure acts, 14.1 kicks, 15 handballs, 8.9 ground-ball gets.
Tom Stewart, Geelong Cats
2018, 2019 All Australian.
20 games in 2021.
480 disposals, 178 marks (First in AFL for total marks), 122 rebound-50m, 84.8 disposal efficiency, 378 kicks, 102 handballs, 115 contested possessions, 155 intercept possessions, 61 spoils, 76 score involvements, 146 pressure acts. Averaging 24.0 disposals, 8.9 marks, 6.1 rebound-50m, 18.9 kicks, 5.8 contested possessions, 7.8 intercept possessions, 31. Spoils, 7.3 pressure acts, 3.8 score involvements.
Jake Stringer, Essendon
2015 All Australian.
18 games in 2021.
303 disposals, 201 kicks, 102 handballs, 89 inside-50m, 159 contested possessions, 60 centre clearances, 25 marks inside-50m, 39 goals, 17 behinds, 125 score involvements, 325 pressure acts. Averaging 16.8 disposals, 11.2 kicks, 4.9 inside-50m, 8.8 contested possessions, 3.3 centre clearances, 1.4 marks inside-50m, 6.9 score involvements, 3.8 tackles, 18.1 pressure acts.
Sam Walsh, Carlton
Never Previously All Australian.
22 games in 2021.
656 disposals, 298 kicks, 358 handballs, 194 ground-ball gets, 85 inside-50m, 127 marks, 252 contested possessions, 59 intercept possessions, disposal efficiency 74.4, 100 tackles, 503 pressure acts, 143 score involvements, 12 goals, six behinds. Averaging 29.8 disposals, 13.5 kicks, 16.3 handballs, 8.8 ground-ball gets, 3.9 inside-50m, 5.8 marks, 11.5 contested possessions, 2.7 intercept possessions, 4.5 tackles, 22.9 pressure acts, 6.5 score involvements.
Jacob Weitering, Carlton
Never Previously All Australian.
22 games in 2021.
361 disposals, 139 rebound-50m, 301 kicks, 139 contested possessions, 183 intercept possessions, 78-ground-ball gets, 167 marks, 176 spoils, 70 intercept marks. Averaging 16.4 disposals, 6.3 rebound-50m, 13.7 kicks, 6.3 contested possessions, 8.3 intercept possessions, 3.5 ground-ball gets, 7.6 marks, eight spoils, 3.2 intercept marks.
Ollie Wines, Port Adelaide
Never Previously All Australian.
22 games in 2021.
706 disposals (Third in AFL for total disposals), 337 kicks, 369 handballs, 322 contested possessions, 114 inside-50m, 211 ground-ball gets, 77 stoppage clearances, 140 score involvements, 98 tackles, 421 pressure acts. Averaging 32.1 disposals, 15.3 kicks, 16.8 handballs, 14.6 contested possessions, 5.2 inside-50m, 9.6 ground-ball gets, 3.5 stoppage clearances, 6.4 score involvements, 4.5 tackles, 19.1 pressure acts.
Dayne Zorko, Brisbane Lions
2017 All Australian.
21 games in 2021.
511 disposals, 360 kicks, 139 inside-50m, 207 contested possessions, 87 intercept possessions, 56 stoppage clearances, 42 centre clearances, 113 marks, 11 marks inside-50m, 17 goals, 18 behinds, 172 score involvements, 131 tackles, 533 pressure acts, 24 tackles inside-50m. Averaging 24.3 disposals, 17.1 kicks, 6.6 inside-50m, 9.9 contested possessions, 4.1 intercept possessions, 2.7 stoppage clearances, 2.0 centre clearances, 5.4 marks, 0.5 marks inside-50m, 6.2 tackles, 25.4 pressure acts, 1.1 tackles inside-50m.
MORE TO COME
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Nick Ansell
Nick Ansell is a sports journalist at the Warrnambool Standard.
Nick Ansell is a sports journalist at the Warrnambool Standard.
