Cats to dominate All-Australian AFL team - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Cats to dominate All-Australian AFL team

By Roger Vaughan 14/09/2008 05:02:03 PM Comments (0)

Geelong will go close to the record they set a year ago when the AFL All-Australian team is announced on Monday night.

The Cats had nine representatives in the season they won their historic premiership and have been even more dominating than last year, losing just one match.

They had 10 players named in the initial All-Australian squad of 40, from which the final team of 22 is picked.

Cats midfielder Cameron Ling was among several notable omissions from the initial group, along with Collingwood onballer Leon Davis and Essendon ruckman David Hille.

Ling is one of three Geelong All-Australians from last year who did not make the squad.

Forward Cameron Mooney also missed out and key defender Matthew Egan has not played this season because of injury.

But captain Tom Harley, fellow defenders Corey Enright and Andrew Mackie and second-year midfielder Joel Selwood are in line for their first All-Australian honours.

Geelong's Brownlow Medal favourites Gary Ablett and Jimmy Bartel, full-back Matthew Scarlett and forward Steve Johnson are all certain to earn selection again.

The other Cats named last year, midfielder Joel Corey and defender Darren Milburn, also have strong claims.

Several other players pick themselves, particularly Coleman Medallist Lance Franklin (Hawthorn), Carlton spearhead Brendan Fevola, North Melbourne small forward Brent Harvey, St Kilda captain Nick Riewoldt, his team-mate Sam Fisher, Hawks backman Luke Hodge, Western Bulldogs onballer Adam Cooney, Carlton captain Chris Judd, Adelaide key defender Nathan Bock and Hawks clearance specialist Sam Mitchell.

Richmond star Matthew Richardson, who has re-invented himself this year as a tall wingman, will be a popular choice for his third All-Australian selection.

Riewoldt said that Fisher deserved his first All-Australian selection after several consistent seasons as the Saints' main playmaker across half-back.

The Saints skipper also put in a good word for full-back Max Hudghton, another player in line for his first All-Australian honour.

The fourth St Kilda player in the squad, onballer Lenny Hayes, has had a strong year but will struggle to break into a strong midfield.

"Sam Fisher has had a terrific year, one of our most consistent performers, and has been for two or three years now," Riewoldt said.

"I'd certainly be surprised if he didn't make it.

"Max - every year I can't believe he's never been there before.

"He's one of our most valuable and reliable players every week, he gets the biggest job and gets it done - it would be a fitting reward."

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