Australian Football

The 2017 AFL All Australian team

A changing of the guard

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With so many greats of the game announcing that 2017 will be their last AFL season, perhaps it is only fitting that this year's AFL All Australian Team, announced in Melbourne last Wednesday, also sees a changing of the guard. The team features 12 players who have never previously been accorded All Australian honours, the fourth-highest number of 'debutants' in history.¹

The 'newbies' include pairs from Adelaide (Matt Crouch and Rory Laird), GWS (Josh Kelly and Dylan Shiel) and Essendon (Zach Merrett and Joe Daniher). The other six are Dayne Zorko (Brisbane), Sam Docherty (Carlton), Tom Mitchell (Hawthorn), Michael Hibberd (Melbourne), Paddy Ryder (Port Adelaide) and Elliot Yeo (West Coast).

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Sam Docherty

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For three of those, it was a case of a change being as good as a holiday. Tom Mitchell, having already been a high possession winner at Sydney, became even more prolific and effective in his first season at Hawthorn, racking up 787 disposals in the home-and-away season at an incredible average of 35.8. Meanwhile two former Bombers who left Essendon after the supplements scandal also found career-best form, Port Adelaide ruckman Paddy Ryder and Demon defender Michael Hibberd making the team for the first time.

The 'veterans' of the team included Sydney's sublime spearhead Lance 'Buddy' Franklin, who made the team for a seventh time, having been selected in 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014 and 2016, Geelong's Joel Selwood (2009, 2010, 2013, 2014 and 2016 - the last three of those as captain) Patrick Dangerfield (2012, 2013, 2015 and 2016) and Tiger Alex Rance, who earned a fourth consecutive selection this year.

A measure of the fall from grace of the reigning premiers - the Western Bulldogs - was the fact that not one of their players was selected, with Marcus Bontempelli the only Dog to make the extended squad of 40. Four other clubs - Collingwood, Fremantle, Gold Coast and North Melbourne - also have no All Australian representation in 2017.

From a club perspective, Adelaide, Essendon and West Coast led the way, each with three players in the team, while Geelong, GWS, Port Adelaide and Richmond have two. Brisbane, Carlton, Hawthorn, Melbourne and Sydney have one player each in the side.

Talking points

As always, debate raged about which players should have been included in the team. Parochial fans found a case for the inclusion of one of their own at the expense of one of those named, who of course just happens to play for a team they do not follow.

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The battle for the first ruck position was an all South Australian affair, with Port's Paddy Ryder (right) getting the nod ahead of Crow Sam Jacobs. Jacobs certainly had the better of Ryder in the two sides' second meeting this year, winning the Showdown Medal, and perhaps did so the first time around also, but Ryder's form over the entire season might have been slightly more consistent, earning him inclusion ahead of his 'City of Churches' rival.

On the full forward line, not many would have argued against Josh Kennedy's inclusion, the Eagle spearhead coming within a whisker of winning a third consecutive Coleman Medal as the league's leading goalkicker despite having missed five games through injury. The choice of Joe Daniher over Ben Brown for the forward pocket position certainly generated some discussion, however.

While the Dons' Daniher kicked 62 goals and averaged just under seven marks a game, Brown's numbers also stack up very well. In a side that won only half as many games as the Bombers, North's Brown kicked one more goal - 63 - than Daniher, and he also outranked the Essendon star for goal assists. By most measurements, Brown can consider himself at least slightly unlucky. 

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Other selections to generate debate in several quarters included the battle of the Jeremys, with Eagle McGovern (left) getting the nod over Magpie Howe, Robbie Gray's selection ahead of Toby Greene (although the Giant did miss several matches through suspension) and Greene's teammate Dylan Shiel being chosen in front of Sydney gun Josh Kennedy. 

The player that perhaps generated the most controversy through his exclusion was Melbourne's Clayton Oliver, who not only failed to make the final list of 22, but was not even included in the initial squad of 40. This, to many pundits, was an oversight of significant proportions. While statistics aren't everything in football, Oliver averaged 30 disposals per game, and was also ranked inside the top five in the competition for contested possessions, clearances and tackles. He can certainly consider himself unlucky but, at only 20 years of age, a continuation of such form will see him almost certainly donning the All Australian blazer in future years.

Others who could consider themselves a little unfortunate not to have been included in the 40-man squad include Brisbane's Dayne Beames, Hawthorn's ruckman Ben McEvoy, Mitch Duncan of Geelong, Tiger skipper Trent Cotchin, the Bulldogs' Jack Macrae and Nat Fyfe, the Fremantle skipper whose numbers stack up very well against other players and his own form of previous years (26.4 disposals per game, 17 goals, and fourth in the league for contested possessions). Fyfe was perhaps an unlucky victim of being part of a side that had a relatively forgettable season, particularly the latter part, which may have relegated him subconsciously among selectors to the 'out of sight, out of mind' category.

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An unusual discussion point this year was the choice of captain. The selectors chose Alex Rance (right), who is not even the skipper of his AFL side Richmond. Given the fact that none of the 18 players selected on the field are captains of their club, Rance - being part of the Tigers' leadership group - makes sense to a degree.

However, some - including veteran football journalist Rohan Connolly - argued that Joel Selwood would have been a far more appropriate choice, given he is the current skipper at Geelong. The argument against that choice is that Selwood was 'only' selected as a bench player. Connolly's counter-argument is that, in today's modern high-rotation game, being selected on the interchange bench no longer warrants the 'lower ranking' status it would have in past eras.

While Connolly's point is well made, it is very much a moot one, given the fact that the All Australian side never actually makes it onto the oval. In any case, Selwood is hardly likely to be quibbling about that decision, as Rance almost certainly would not have had the call gone the other way. As proud as two will be of their selections, their minds will be undoubtedly far more focussed on their upcoming encounter in Friday week's Second Qualifying Final. For them to be All Australian is a great honour but a premiership is the ultimate goal.

The team

The team, named by position, is as follows:

The squad

The full 40-man squad, from which the final team was picked, named in alphabetical order of club representation, is as follows:

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Eddie Betts (right), Adelaide Crows. All Australian 2015 and 2016. 21 games in 2017. 192 kicks, 71 marks, 93 handballs averaging 9.1 kicks, 3.4 marks, 4.4 handballs. 49 Goals (equal sixth in the AFL), 30 Behinds. 26 clearances, 50 Inside 50m, one Rebound 50m. 71 tackles.

Matt Crouch, Adelaide Crows. Never previously All Australian. 22 games in 2017. 295 kicks, 63 marks, 431 handballs (third in the AFL) averaging 13.4 kicks, 2.9 marks, 19.6 handballs. Six Goals, Seven Behinds. 126 clearances, 69 Inside 50m, 43 Rebound 50m. 102 tackles.

Sam Jacobs, Adelaide Crows. Never previously All Australian. 22 games in 2017. 169 kicks, 83 marks, 151 handballs averaging 7.7 kicks, 3.8 marks, 6.9 handballs. Eight Goals, five Behinds. 63 clearances, 882 hit outs (first in the AFL) averaging 40.1 hit outs per game, 50 Inside 50m, 25 Rebound 50m. 64 tackles.

Rory Laird, Adelaide Crows. Never previously All Australian. 22 games in 2017. 325 kicks, 117 marks, 337 (ninth in the AFL) handballs averaging 14.8 kicks, 5.3 marks, 15.4 handballs. Three Goals, One Behind. 25 clearances, 55 Inside 50m, 107 Rebound 50m (equal sixth in the AFL). 50 tackles.

Jake Lever, Adelaide Crows. Never previously All Australian. 17 games in 2017. 175 kicks, 107 marks, 100 handballs, averaging 10.3 kicks, 6.3 marks, 5.9 handballs. One Goal, One Behind. Two Clearances, 30 Inside 50m, 59 Rebound 50m. 31 Tackles.

Tom Lynch, Adelaide Crows. Never previously All Australian. 20 games in 2017. 256 kicks, 141 marks, 153 handballs averaging 12.8 kicks, 7.1 marks, 7.7 handballs. 28 Goals, 22 Behinds. 17 clearances, 66 Inside 50m, nine Rebound 50m. 40 tackles.

Rory Sloane, Adelaide Crows. All Australian 2016 (vice-captain). 22 games in 2017. 290 kicks, 66 marks, 250 handballs averaging 13.2 kicks, 3.0 marks, 11.4 handballs. 18 Goals, six Behinds. 139 clearances (eighth in the AFL), 101 Inside 50m (ninth in the AFL), 33 Rebound 50m. 176 tackles (first in the AFL).

Taylor Walker, Adelaide Crows. Never previously All Australian. 20 games in 2017. 209 kicks, 126 marks, 96 handballs averaging 10.5 kicks, 6.3 marks, 4.8 handballs. 49 Goals (equal sixth in the AFL), 32 Behinds. Two clearances, 80 Inside 50m, two Rebound 50m. 40 tackles.

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Dayne Zorko (left), Brisbane Lions. Never previously All Australian. 21 games in 2017. 341 kicks, 79 marks, 185 handballs averaging 16.2 kicks, 3.8 marks, 8.8 handballs. 34 Goals, 27 Behinds. 112 clearances, 104 Inside 50m (sixth in the AFL), 44 Rebound 50m. 147 tackles (fifth in the AFL).

Sam Docherty, Carlton. Never previously All Australian. 22 games in 2017. 460 kicks (first in the AFL), 199 marks (first in the AFL), 153 handballs averaging 20.9 kicks, 9.0 marks, 7.0 handballs. Three Goals, three Behinds. 25 clearances, 43 Inside 50m, 126 Rebound 50m (second in the AFL). 72 tackles.

Matthew Kreuzer, Carlton. Never previously All Australian. 21 games in 2017. 206 kicks, 69 marks, 115 handballs averaging 9.8 kicks, 3.3 marks, 5.5 handballs. 12 Goals, 12 Behinds. 94 clearances, 665 hit outs (eighth in the AFL) averaging 31.7 hit outs per game, 58 Inside 50m, 32 Rebound 50m. 107 tackles.

Jeremy Howe, Collingwood. Never previously All Australian. 21 games in 2017. 294 kicks, 181 marks (second in the AFL), 164 handballs averaging 14.0 kicks, 8.6 marks, 7.8 handballs. Three Goals, two Behinds. Seven clearances, 48 Inside 50m, 86 Rebound 50m. 33 tackles.

Adam Treloar, Collingwood. Never previously All Australian. 21 games in 2017. 275 kicks, 54 marks, 353 handballs (fifth in the AFL) averaging 13.1 kicks, 2.6 marks, 16.8 handballs. 13 Goals, 11 Behinds. 114 clearances, 95 Inside 50m, 34 Rebound 50m. 133 tackles (equal tenth in the AFL).

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Joe Daniher (right), Essendon. Never previously All Australian. 22 games in 2017. 235 kicks, 147 marks (tenth in the AFL), 100 handballs averaging 10.7 kicks, 6.7 marks, 4.5 handballs. 62 Goals (fourth in the AFL), 37 Behinds. 19 clearances, 77 hit outs averaging 3.5 hit outs per game, 69 Inside 50m, 11 Rebound 50m. 30 tackles.

Michael Hurley, Essendon. All Australian 2015. 20 games in 2017. 339 kicks, 151 marks (equal sixth in the AFL), 168 handballs averaging 16.9 kicks, 7.5 marks, 8.4 handballs. Three Goals, one Behind. Four clearances, 24 Inside 50m, 141 Rebound 50m (first in the AFL). 21 tackles.

Zach Merrett, Essendon. Never previously All Australian. 21 games in 2017. 370 kicks (sixth in the AFL), 93 marks, 268 handballs averaging 17.6 kicks, 4.4 marks, 12.8 handballs. Nine Goals, Eight Behinds. 91 clearances, 86 Inside 50m, 63 Rebound 50m. 116 tackles.

Patrick Dangerfield, Geelong Cats. All Australian 2012, 2013, 2015 and 2016. 21 games in 2017. 277 kicks, 93 marks, 360 handballs (fourth in the AFL) averaging 13.2 kicks, 4.4 marks, 17.1 handballs. 38 Goals, 24 Behinds. 162 clearances (first in the AFL), 119 Inside 50m (equal second in the AFL), 19 Rebound 50m. 123 tackles.

Joel Selwood, Geelong Cats. All Australian 2009, 2010, 2013 (captain), 2014 (captain), 2016 (captain). 18 games in 2017. 217 kicks, 61 marks, 248 handballs, averaging 12.1 kicks, 3.4 marks, 13.8 handballs. Six goals, Three Behinds. 114 Clearances, 73 Inside 50m, 28 Rebound 50m. 90 Tackles.

Toby Greene, GWS Giants. All Australian 2016. 16 games in 2017. 195 kicks, 95 marks, 99 handballs, averaging 12.2 kicks, 5.9 marks, 6.2 handballs. 41 Goals, 26 Behinds. 21 Clearances, 60 Inside 50m, Five Rebound 50m. 44 Tackles.

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Josh Kelly (left), GWS Giants. Never previously All Australian. 21 games in 2017. 294 kicks, 72 marks, 320 handballs averaging 14.0 kicks, 3.4 marks, 15.2 handballs. 18 Goals, 20 Behinds. 106 clearances, 102 Inside 50m (eighth in the AFL), 32 Rebound 50m. 133 tackles (equal tenth in the AFL).

Tom Scully, GWS Giants. Never previously All Australian. 21 games in 2017. 210 kicks, 77 marks, 274 handballs, averaging 10.0 kicks, 3.7 marks, 13.0 handballs. 14 Goals, Six Behinds. 67 Clearances, 74 Inside 50m, 33 Rebound 50m. 60 Tackles.

Dylan Shiel, GWS Giants. Never previously All Australian. 22 games in 2017. 306 kicks, 64 marks, 300 handballs averaging 13.9 kicks, 2.9 marks, 13.6 handballs. 11 Goals, 13 Behinds. 146 clearances (equal third in the AFL), 96 Inside 50m, 33 Rebound 50m. 83 tackles.

Tom Mitchell, Hawthorn. Never previously All Australian. 22 games in 2017. 307 kicks, 117 marks, 480 handballs (second in the AFL) averaging 13.9 kicks, 5.3 marks, 21.9 handballs. 10 Goals, 10 Behinds. 137 clearances (tenth in the AFL), 76 Inside 50m, 46 Rebound 50m. 143 tackles (seventh in the AFL).

Jeff Garlett, Melbourne. Never previously All Australian. 21 games in 2017. 171 kicks, 56 marks, 65 handballs averaging 8.1 kicks, 2.7 marks, 3.1 handballs. 42 Goals, 28 Behinds. Nine clearances, 51 Inside 50m, seven Rebound 50m. 74 tackles.

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Michael Hibberd (right), Melbourne. Never previously All Australian. 18 games in 2017. 305 kicks, 97 marks, 188 handballs averaging 16.9 kicks, 5.4 marks, 10.4 handballs. One Goal, One Behind. 16 clearances, 48 Inside 50m, 123 Rebound 50m (fourth in the AFL). 23 tackles.

Neville Jetta, Melbourne. Never Previously All Australian. 22 games in 2017. 151 kicks, 94 marks, 164 handballs, averaging 6.9 kicks, 4.3 marks, 7.5 handballs. Three Goals, Zero Behinds. Six Clearances, Seven Inside 50m, 38 Rebound 50m. 68 Tackles.

Ben Brown, North Melbourne. Never previously All Australian. 22 games in 2017. 180 kicks, 120 marks, 76 handballs averaging 8.2 kicks, 5.5 marks, 3.5 handballs. 63 Goals (third in the AFL), 30 Behinds. Nine clearances, 35 hit outs averaging 1.5 hit outs per game, 44 Inside 50m, Three Rebound 50m. 27 tackles.

Robbie Gray, Port Adelaide. All Australian 2014 and 2015. 22 games in 2017. 220 kicks, 93 marks, 186 handballs averaging 10.0 kicks, 4.2 marks, 8.5 handballs. 47 Goals (ninth in the AFL), 28 Behinds. 61 clearances, 60 Inside 50m, 18 Rebound 50m. 52 tackles.

Tom Jonas, Port Adelaide. Never Previously All Australian. 21 games in 2017. 186 kicks, 111 marks, 100 handballs, averaging 8.9 kicks, 5.3 marks, 4.8 handballs. Zero goals, Zero behinds. Three Clearances, 28 Inside 50m, 55 Rebound 50m. 54 Tackles.

Paddy Ryder, Port Adelaide. Never previously All Australian. 21 games in 2017. 167 kicks, 71 marks, 104 handballs averaging 8.0 kicks, 3.4 marks, 5.0 handballs. 11 Goals, seven Behinds. 88 clearances, 777 hit outs (second in the AFL) averaging 37.0 hit outs per game, 67 Inside 50m, 14 Rebound 50m. 58 tackles.

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Dustin Martin (left), Richmond. All Australian 2016. 22 games in 2017. 434 kicks (second in the AFL), 97 marks, 233 handballs averaging 19.7 kicks, 4.4 marks, 10.6 handballs. 32 Goals, 23 Behinds. 146 clearances (equal third in the AFL), 137 Inside 50m (first in the AFL), 22 Rebound 50m. 78 tackles.

Alex Rance, Richmond. All Australian 2014, 2015 and 2016. 22 games in 2017. 196 kicks, 111 marks, 161 handballs averaging 8.9 kicks, 5.0 marks, 7.3 handballs. One Goal, zero Behinds. Three clearances, one hit out, 18 Inside 50m, 83 Rebound 50m. 54 tackles.

Dylan Roberton, St Kilda. Never previously All Australian. 22 games in 2017. 385 kicks (third in the AFL), 137 marks, 123 handballs averaging 17.5 kicks, 6.2 marks, 5.6 handballs. Five Goals, Four Behinds. nine clearances, 39 Inside 50m, 124 Rebound 50m (third in the AFL). 38 tackles.

Sebastian Ross, St Kilda. Never previously All Australian. 22 games in 2017. 318 kicks, 79 marks, 339 handballs (eighth in the AFL) averaging 14.5 kicks, 3.6 marks, 15.4 handballs. Five Goals, nine Behinds. 112 clearances, 89 Inside 50m, 43 Rebound 50m. 94 tackles.

Lance Franklin, Sydney Swans. All Australian 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014 and 2016. 22 games in 2017. 299 kicks, 151 marks (equal sixth in the AFL), 84 handballs averaging 13.6 kicks, 6.9 marks, 3.8 handballs. 69 Goals (first in the AFL), 56 Behinds. 10 clearances, Two hit outs, 118 Inside 50m (fourth in the AFL), Five Rebound 50m. 51 tackles.

Josh Kennedy, Sydney Swans. All Australian 2012, 2014 and 2016. 19 games in 2017. 230 kicks, 47 marks, 313 handballs averaging 12.1 kicks, 2.5 marks, 16.5 handballs. 14 Goals, Six Behinds. 131 clearances, 77 Inside 50m, 27 Rebound 50m. 94 tackles.

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Josh Kennedy (right), West Coast Eagles. All Australian 2015 (vice-captain) and 2016. 17 games in 2017. 154 kicks, 107 marks, 52 handballs averaging 9.1 kicks, 6.3 marks, 3.1 handballs. 65 Goals (second in the AFL), 38 Behinds. Five hit outs, 27 Inside 50m, 0 Rebound 50m, 24 tackles.

Jeremy McGovern, West Coast Eagles. All Australian 2016. 22 games in 2017. 236 kicks, 169 marks (third in the AFL), 125 handballs averaging 10.7 kicks, 7.7 marks, 5.7 handballs. 10 Goals, 14 Behinds. 11 clearances, 50 Hit outs averaging 2.3 hit outs per game, 50 Inside 50m, 52 Rebound 50m. 40 tackles.

Elliot Yeo, West Coast Eagles. Never previously All Australian. 21 games in 2017. 319 kicks, 148 marks (ninth in the AFL), 178 handballs averaging 15.2 kicks, 7.0 marks, 8.5 handballs. Eight Goals, Seven Behinds. 50 clearances, 83 Inside 50m, 66 Rebound 50m. 75 tackles.

Marcus Bontempelli, Western Bulldogs. All Australian 2016. 22 games in 2017. 285 kicks, 88 marks, 220 handballs averaging 13.0 kicks, 4.0 marks, 10.0 handballs. 20 Goals, 29 Behinds. 90 clearances, Three hit outs, 100 Inside 50m (equal tenth in the AFL), 28 Rebound 50m. 138 tackles (ninth in the AFL).