We are nine rounds into the season, and the one-hit wonders are being left in the dust by those who dominate week in, and week out. Whether it be a whole team dominating their opposition, or someone putting their club on their shoulders, we are being spoilt thus far in 2023 in terms of the football we are able to sit back and watch.
To refresh your memories after a two-week hiatus, here’s how the Round Seven team looked:
FB: Max Michalanney, Steven May, Callum Wilkie
HB: Nick Daicos, Charlie Ballard, Tom Stewart
C: Mason Wood, Patrick Dangerfield, Josh Daicos
HF: Christian Petracca, Jeremy Cameron, Toby Greene
FF: Charlie Cameron, Charlie Curnow, Tom Hawkins
Foll: Tim English, Marcus Bontempelli, Jordan Dawson
Int: Jack Sinclair, Clayton Oliver, Noah Anderson, Michito Owens, Connor Rozee (sub)
Sometimes it’s better to wait than jump the gun. Hodgey and I had a few names we couldn’t decide on, so, the additional weekend’s footy has helped shape what we are looking for. Some players started the season slowly, and are roaring to life. Others started with a bang, but are losing some steam. All things considered, there is a generous pool of players to choose from.
A big part of this team is the eye test. A smaller part is the stats. All of these players are worthy of selection.
I guess I should stop stalling and dragging this out. *cue drum roll* here’s the Mongrel Punt’s Rolling All-Australian Team following Round Nine.
FB: Max Michalanney, Harris Andrews, Callum Wilkie
HB: Nick Daicos, Charlie Ballard, Tom Stewart
C: Mason Wood, Tom Green, Josh Daicos
HF: Christian Petracca, Jeremy Cameron, Toby Greene
FF: Charlie Cameron, Charlie Curnow, Tom Hawkins
Foll: Sean Darcy, Marcus Bontempelli, Jordan Dawson
Int: Jack Sinclair, Clayton Oliver, Noah Anderson, Oscar Allen, Connor Rozee (sub)
The Changes
The team is starting to take shape, and we are getting a better understanding of the game’s leading players in season 2023. There’re only four changes to the team coming out of Round Nine, one being because of injury.
In defence, the Brisbane defensive general Harris Andrews takes up residence at full-back. He has returned to some serious form so far this year. Whether it’s intercepting, spoiling, or distributing, Andrews is doing it all and beating his opponents. While Steven May hasn’t been terrible, Andrews has been consistently great.
Patrick Dangerfield comes out of the side solely because he’s missed two weeks with injury. There are a number of midfielders having great seasons, and so Tom Green returns to the side. The Giants mid has been outstanding all year, and rightfully deserves his place in the starting midfield, even if it’s by way of someone else’s injury.
The forward six remain the same, even with Toby Greene being injured, such has been the year he has had so far.
The next change is in the ruck. Now, don’t get me wrong, Tim English has been absolutely brilliant this year. However, Sean Darcy can no longer be denied. He is the dominant ruckman in the competition at the moment. He wins the hit outs, gets his own clearances, and is pushing forward and creating contests. He is a vital cog in the Fremantle side.
On the bench, Oscar Allen returns to the side at the expense of rising star Mitch Owens. Allen is leading the line in the competitions worst team, and is in the top handful in the Coleman race. Some might say it’s easy to kick goals when you’re the only good forward in a struggling side, which is true, however, it’s his consistency and ability to compete that warrants selection.
The Watch List
So, what about the players not selected? Every Tom, Dick, and Harry wants their favourite player picked, but we can only select 23.
Brody Mihocek is becoming one of the most important players in the Collingwood line-up. He competes in the air, on ground level, and regularly impacts the scoreboard. Without him, the Pies’ forward line isn’t anywhere near as functional.
A trio of defenders we are monitoring – Liam Duggan, Aliir Aliir, and Jack Payne. All three of these guys are staking their claim for selection. They are all contributing defensively and offensively in what they do. The defenders are leading the way in 2023, so it’s a tough backline to break into. These three are some of the leading candidates to come in if the incumbents waver.
Jesse Hogan has had his challenges over his career. But the consistency he is showing this year, may be setting him up for his best year yet. He’s a shining light for the Giants, and is bringing stability to their forward line.
Matthew Rowell hasn’t quite reached the heights of when he first burst onto the AFL scene, however, his year he is reminding the football world of his skillset and the attributes he has that make him a fantastic footballer. He is getting the job done defensively and offensively.
Finally, Taylor Walker and Ben King are putting together great seasons. Tex has been in the top handful of key forwards in the last decade and continues to play at a high level, while Ben King has returned from injury sensationally and is reminding the footy world of his talent.
That’s all for this week. Let us know your thoughts – and I’m putting a caveat on that. Don’t just list someone who should be in/out, list who they replace/replaces them and why.
Stay tuned on our socials and find out about future changes.
You can buy Jimmy a coffee for his efforts if you like? He puts in the hard yards to bring you these free reviews… and he does like a coffee.
Hit the link below and give Jimmy his caffeine fix.
