The All Australian team is the Pinnicle of the game at the highest level.
Sometimes it is easier to throw another midfielder in another spot. Sometimes it is position-specific. Midfielders do the bulk of the work and their level of performance often dictates the team. All Premiership teams have extremely good midfields. Then there are the goal kickers who produce the scores and, of course, the defence that is trying to stop them. It is a tough job putting the top 50 players into a team of 23, but here goes.
Forward
HF: Isaac Heeney, Mitch Georgiades, Chad Warner
FF: Nick Watson, Josh Treacy, Luke Jackson
Issac Heeney is turning out another wonderful season. His possessions per game are up, and his score involvement and tackles have improved. He is still kicking bags of goals at times during games and is one of the toughest matchups to curtail his influence.
Mitch Georgiades is on par with Patrick Voss, Jye Amiss and Josh Treacy, with the big men playing amazingly. He has a big engine and is not just kicking goals but up the ground, taking big marks and influencing forward ball movements.
Chad Warner has made the leap to elite midfielders of the game. His pace, repeat runs, and speed can open up opposition within seconds and have turned his natural abilities into serious weapons. He is getting forward and has kicked goals in nearly every game this year. I like that his open-field tackles have been higher than any other year he has played.
Nick Watson has turned more game per possession than any other player in the game this year. His speed and scoring ability have made opposition shudder. This year he has not just kicked the goal but made game-saving tackles. Something that has put his influence in games this year on the next two levels up on last year. Worth the price of admission to watch.
Josh Treacy has become a one-man wrecking ball. He will take contested mark after contested mark. If he doesn't mark it, he will bust the pack and create secondary opportunities. He will run right up the ground to help transition the ball from defence, and he is kicking goals. Lots of goals.
Luke Jackson could easily be the starting ruckman. He is a unicorn alright. He could be ruck rover, ruck, centre half forward or full forward. He has turned into the most dynamic and dangerous player in the game. His ruck taps to advantage have gone up; his numbers everywhere, for that matter, have gone up. Goals included.
