All teams have now played the same amount of games, and certain sides are stamping their Premiership credentials upon the competition. Does this automatically guarantee a high number of selections, or is there more nuance to this side? The Prophet has been busy watching back the tapes, factoring in some statistics, consulting experts (The Mongrel Punt Team), and, utilising the esteemed eye test. So, what does the team look like?
I’m glad you’ve asked. The AFL Team and their so-called expert panel who pick a team of midfielders, at The Mongrel Punt, we value players who are the role players, who excel at what they are picked to do, and celebrate those who dominate their position. So, I am endeavouring to pick players in the position they spend most of their time.
Some players will inevitably miss out – especially midfielders. I may or may not justify my decisions, but know that I have picked this 23 and could have picked a second side with the names left out. So, I expect this will be a side that has changes at various points as I seek to bring the collective best 23, by position, at the conclusion of the 2024 season.
Here is what the team looked like at the culmination of Round Four:
FB: Brandon Zerk-Thatcher Sam Taylor Nick Vlaustin
HB: Tom Stewart Steven May Nick Blakey
C: Errol Gulden Tom Green Josh Daicos
HF: Gryan Miers Harry McKay Tom Papley
FF: Brent Daniels Jesse Hogan Bayley Fritsch
Int: Marcus Bontempelli Alex Pearce Connor Rozee Callum Brown Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera
What has changed? Who is now more firmly entrenched? There have been a lot of compelling arguments about different players, and I even recognise that the first team was a little too midfielder-heavy, so, like Anakin was supposed to, I will endeavour to bring balance to the force.
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 Seven.
FB: Zach Guthrie Alex Pearce Nick Vlaustin
HB: Tom Stewart Steven May Nick Blakey
C: Errol Gulden Tom Green Josh Daicos
HF: Gryan Miers Jeremy Cameron Jake Waterman
FF: Brent Daniels Jesse Hogan Bayley Fritsch
Foll: Max Gawn Isaac Heeney Caleb Serong
Int: Marcus Bontempelli Sam Taylor Zach Merrett Izak Rankine Christian Petracca
Seven changes to this side after a three-week block of matches.
Of these, we see Alex Pearce and Sam Taylor swap positions on-field and on the bench. Taylor is a victim of a concussion here, and missing some footy. For both he and Tom Stewart, the body of work up until missing a game or two is enough to keep them in for now.
Zach Guthrie – probably Geelong’s most underrated player currently – creeps into the side. One of the Cats headband crew, he is ever-reliable, a smart user, and has become a great interceptor. His consistency is a marked improvement and his value is high. BZT is unlucky to go out, but Guthrie’s form – especially without Tom Stewart – warrants a place.
Up forward, Jeremy Cameron and Jake Waterman warrant their selections. Harry McKay and Tom Papley haven’t done much wrong – Cameron is just undeniable, and Waterman’s three-week block is arguably the best of any forward. These two add a different dynamic to this side and have been irrepressible.
On the bench is where players get seriously unlucky. Connor Rozee, Callum Brown, and Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera have been very good, and haven’t done much wrong, however, others have been better. I’ve ummed and ahhed about Brown going out and am not 100% sold on my decision. So, watch this space with the Irishman coming back in. However, Zach Merrett has had a fantastic start to the season. He deserves his place in the side with his heroics and the way he is leading the Bombers. Izak Rankine is playing a great role for the Crows. While his side is battling, Rankine is rating as elite in many stats for his position – a benefit of some more on-ball time. I weighed up a second ruck option, but Rankine deserves his place. As for Trac, well, he’s been very good again. Unlucky to be in as the ‘sub’ but he deserves his place nonetheless.
All those who have come out of the side, remain firmly in the frame should others falter in the coming weeks.
Honourable Mentions:
Lachie Whitfield & Josh Kelly are leading the GWS charge. Their ball use, ability to cover the ground, and how they get involved in transition and the Giants ball movement, see them as vital cogs in the Orange Tsunami. It is almost a matter of time … almost … before they enter the side.
Patrick Cripps & Jacob Weitering have been building nicely in recent weeks – particularly Weitering, who’s slow start to the year is the main reason hs isn’t currently holding a key defensive post in this side. All they can do is keep doing what they are doing. Cripps is the victim of selection integrity and some other high-performing mids, more than anything else. One down week for others, and he is in, should his form continue.
In terms of the second ruck, Rowan Marshall and Luke Jackson are there or thereabouts. It’s a very interesting role to play, and I’m intrigued as to how they go and how other rucks come for their spot in the pecking order.
That’s all for our team thus far. Some may accuse me of Cats bias in having four players in the side – and for some #VicBias in terms of the clubs represented in the in’s & out’s – but so be it. Let’s see what the next few weeks have in store.
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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