THE FINAL MONGREL PUNT ALL-AUSTRALIAN TEAM
We have reached the time in the season when every wanna be footy pundit, the so-called footy experts, and the AFL, itself, choose their All-Australian teams. I have been disappointed at how they continue to shoehorn midfielders up forward and on the wings. It’s great to see how role players and non-media darlings get recognised at this time; AFL House, do better.
I won’t post where the team was at our last iteration. To do that would lead to too many questions about why some are left out – and yes, some genuinely A-grade players miss out because I value the role players and am intent on picking players in their position.
So, with all that said *cue drum roll* here’s the official and unequivocally correct version of the Mongrel Punt Rolling All-Australian Team for season 2025.
FB: Josh Worrell Mark Keane Lachie Ash
HB: Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera Harris Andrews Dayne Zorko
C: Jarrod Berry Hugh McCluggage Oliver Dempsey
HF: Kysaiah Pickett Riley Thilthorpe Toby Greene
FF: Mitch Georgiades Jeremy Cameron Jamie Elliott
Foll: Max Gawn Bailey Smith Jordan Dawson
Int: Noah Anderson Caleb Serong Jack Gunston Jordan Clark
Sub: Tom Atkins
As a point of difference to other teams, we have named a sub. I should say I have. While this is on behalf of The Mongrel Punt, please channel any frustration towards me, the resident oracle, The Prophet.
I’m not going to spend a lot of time providing my reasons behind these selections; I imagine that most educated and aware football followers can answer that. I won’t do what the media and so-called experts do, and treat you like you have no idea.
What I will say, to clarify, only having five midfielders, if this team has been picked based upon pre-eminent position played, and my determination of the best/most influential/most impactful players in those positions. It is not solely stats-based, and selection has nothing to do with your surname and commentators creaming themselves over hitting an uncontested 10 metre kick to an unopposed teammate … as Disco Monagle would say, his dead nanna could do that.
What you have no doubt come for is a chance to air your grievances with me for not picking your favourite player. Or someone from your team you think should be in the side.
The Missing
Now, to those who are unlucky to miss out, and there are some familiar names and some I’ve been reading a lot about in either other people’s teams or in social media comments.
I’ll list their name and then a brief statement about why they weren’t picked.
Naicos (Nick Daicos) – this one is controversial and probably makes me look like more of an idiot when he wins the Brownlow. However, I personally don’t think he has been as damaging this year as last, and, honestly, the pissweak diving and flopping in his last two games is not befitting the title of ‘best player in the comp’. Hence, he misses selection. Before you come at me, Pies fans, I’m aware of how his stats stack up. As above, I just don’t think he has been as impactful, especially on some of the bigger stages this year.
The Best Daicos (Josh Daicos) – he is the unlucky one of the Daicos boys. I say that with a straight face. He has patrolled half-back this year, and while his output overall is less than recent seasons, it is what he has done that has mattered. That last quarter against the Suns, when he strapped on the Superman Cape, was extraordinary. Fly unfortunately didn’t deploy him in the midfield enough to be there, but it diluted his run off of half-back. He reminded everyone that while Nick is the sizzle and the shiny, he is the one who is so important for what the Pies do.
Bont World (Marcus Bontempelli) – I am unashamedly a big fan of the Bont. He does this effortlessly and regularly rescues his side. However, missing a big chunk of footy at the start of the year hurts him. Yes, his numbers stack up, and his influence was high. I just can’t justify his selection when others have been just as consistently dominant all year.
Mr Stocking Stuffer (Isaac Heeney) – there has been much discussion about Heeney amongst the Mongrel Writers. Many have him in their team. However, I don’t think he’s played enough up forward to warrant selection there, as others have suggested. As much as I think his season deserves recognition, I refuse to do away with selection integrity for any player. If I did away with it, anger would be in here.
Dailey Bale (Bailey Dale) – this is another controversial omission. I’ve seen many people with him in their side ahead of Dayne Zorko, and I can understand why. Zorko irritates a lot of footy fans – he’s a pest. However, for Dale, there have been too many games where I’ve felt like he’s just been lost in the crowd and not dynamic enough. He has big games where he uses his weapons – kicking and running (great technical analysis there, I know) – to have a tangible impact. I feel, however, that Zorko has done that more consistently.
Mr Underrated (Cal Wilkie) – Cal Wilkie is the player I’m least convinced about leaving out. I opted for the Crom duo of Worrell and Keane instead. Why? Vibes, mostly. As in, it is, as the great Dennis Denuto would say, “just the vibe”. I feel like the Crows duo have held up so well, are less esteemed, and have been remarkable for the Crows. Both have contributed significantly to the Crom Climb (and the Crow Throw, but that’s a different article). Wilkie is ever reliable, and every team needs a Cal Wilkie. Unfortunately, I have opted to go a different direction with this team … and I’m not certain I have made the correct call.
Ben King (Ben King) – Suns fans, all four of them, will no doubt be ropeable about this non-selection, and the next name too. The reality is, I think the other tall forwards have been better this year. Sure, King has kicked the second-most goals of anyone in 2025; however, that’s literally all he does. And I know the argument about that being what he is picked to do, and yes, you’re right. But the others kick goals, while also offering a target out of defence, and can push up the ground to help bring others into the game. King needs to do the same to be considered.
Master of Grass (Matt Rowell) – again, this is a difficult one. Rowell has had an extraordinary season. However, pipped for most tackles in a season by Tom Atkins sees him miss the side. No, that’s not the only reason. I feel like the likes of Anderson, Dawson, McCluggage, et al have been more consistent all year. While Rowell has put up some very good numbers, there have been some games where he has been less effective for weeks at a time, or even consistently can drift out of games. Also, in the games I’ve seen with him against other top mids, I seldom see him win that battle.
Sam Taylor (Sam Taylor) – yet another victim of the ‘missing too many games’ scenario. I believe he’s in the best two key defenders in the game. I had him at one for most of the year, but Harris Andrews has been absolutely incredible this year, reminding everyone of how good he is. Taylor is unlucky, but there are those who are unlucky in football.
North’s Only Hope (Paul Curtis) – he had an incredible start to the season, but seemed to drift a bit later in the season. Curtis was one of the few, and maybe only, shining lights for North this year. His goal sense is incredible, and his overhead marking for a player of his ilk is top tier. Had he not been suspended, and therefore had his momentum disrupted, I daresay his consistency wouldn’t have wavered.
The Forgotten Ruck (Brodie Grundy) – I daresay there will be numerous comments about Grundy. Yes, his second half of the year was incredible, and he probably was the best ruck in the game for that period. But can someone remind me: did he play early in the season? He was a non-event for almost half of the season. So, I can’t justify his selection, even with incredible form, because of that.
The Danger (Patrick Dangerfield) – I’ve been firmly on the Nine Time AA train for The Danger in 2025. I even had it in my Crystal Ball at the start of the season. And, on output and impact alone, a case can be mounted for his inclusion. However, like some others on this list, the games missed make this challenging for him to receive the record-breaking jacket. I will say, he deserved a nod in the AFL’s 40-man squad. His final quarter against the Pies in particular will live long as a reminder of his explosive best.
A Dash Brother (Max Holmes) – Max has been very good in 2025 and is likely a reason we don’t get to hear a Bailey Smith Brownlow speech … Max will pinch votes. He started to grow into a very complete player this season. He was thrown around at times, too (his magnet was at least), and he provided Cats fans with plenty of highlights. He is a victim of only having five mids.
Just to note* there are a number of Freo players I wanted to fit in: Luke Jackson, Andy Brayshaw, and ’Dick Cyclone’ Josh Treacy mainly. All have been great for the Purple Haze, but I couldn’t get them in without breaking selection integrity. I daresay next year it will be impossible to leave them out.
There are many others who could be considered unlucky, and likely you’ll tell me in the comments. Remember: I don’t solely go by stats, and I pick players in their primary position. None of this 80% midfielders on the wing or up-forward nonsense.
Let us know your team, or who you’d replace and why – don’t just blindly change it because someone in your team wasn’t picked.
Stay tuned for more from The Mongrel Punt, and for additional reasons to tell me I must not watch footy because you don’t like the team I’ve selected.
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