Barry Hall and Leo Barry All Australians

[Jeffers1984]

Congrats to Bazza being named at Full Forward (Fraiser didn't make the team) and also Leo Barry for making the bench.

FB: James Clement, Ben Rutten, David Wirrpunda

HB: Joel Bowden, Trent Croad, Luke Hodge

C: Nick Dal Santo, Scott West, Lenny Hayes

HF: Mark Ricciuto (c),Matthew Pavlich, Shannon Grant

FF: Brad Johnson, Barry Hall, Peter Everitt

R: Dean Cox, Luke Ball, Ben Cousins

I: Leo Barry, Kane Cornes, Simon Goodwin, Brent Harvey

[SXP]

Some starnge selections. For example, Swans have got only 2 players in the side, Hawks 3, and yet the finished 14th on the ladder. Very interesting.

[punter257]

well done to hally and leo, kirky was very stiff

i reckon leo was very lucky and whats the story with bowden and crowd????????

[Jeffers1984]

Kirk is very unlucky to miss, and i thought C Bolts would be in before Barry but hasn't got the recognition.

Russell Robertson would be spewing.

[Plugger46]

How did Russell Robertson miss?

Kirky was stiff.

[TheHood]

10 "interstaters", 3 of which made it onto the bench, so 7 out of 18.

Kirky was very stiff as was Robbo. Not a single Lion or Cat.

How Everitt got in as a forward when they vowed to select the best in their position is beyond me.

Spida on the bench, Robo as the other forward I say.

Thought Milney was unlucky to miss too. Had more ups than downs and played some great footy in the midfield at times.

As for the Hawks. Can someone tell me how a team that let in as many goals as they did get 2 blokes off the backline in the team is fantasy. We crushed teams forward lines and the same backmen got the (deleted) nut past half forward more often than the Hawks too.

(sorry still struggling re last Friday night)

mod note: Please refrain from swearing and from deliberately evading the swear filter

[sharpie]

I reckon despite playing at fullback, Leo was probably more effective than James Clement at rebounding the ball out of defense, so probably deserved to be named in the back pocket, but either way, I'm not too fused about it.

However, were all CHBs really that bad this year that Trent Croad is the pick of them? What about Joel Bowden? Surely someone from a finals team would be more worthy? But the worst decision is Everitt in a forward pocket. Name him on the bench, sure, but not in a forward pocket.

[liz]

Most of the selections can be justified individually but when you look at the overall result, it just doesn't "look right".

For example, two small forwards / flankers from the Roos.

Three midfielders from the Saints - their midfield has been good, but that good?

And as others have mentioned, 3 players from Hawthorn.

I know it's meant to be about individual performance but how can the Hawks have three of the best performed players in the league this season play for a team that has been so hopelessly ineffective for most of the year?

Spider is hard to argue with (other than the position he was placed in) but personally I think Hodge is massively overrated.

[NMWBloods]

Everitt plays forward a fair bit. He was actually meant to be a semi-permanent forward this year but the new Hawk ruckman, Robert Campbell, was injured against us.

That half back line is pretty weak - wouldn't stop many attacks. It's purely there for rebounding.

Amazing how Russell Robertson could miss this year.

[DST]

Decision for Kirk came down to him or Kane Cornes as the defensive midfielder and while Kirk has had another fantastic year Kane Cornes has been pretty impressive this year and last for the Power.

DST

[NMWBloods]

Originally posted by DST
Decision for Kirk came down to him or Kane Cornes as the defensive midfielder and while Kirk has had another fantastic year Kane Cornes has been pretty impressive this year and last for the Power.

And also the only Port player in the side!!

No Brisbane and only one Port!

Also no Carlton, Essendon, Geelong, or Melbourne.

[liz]

Originally posted by DST
Decision for Kirk came down to him or Kane Cornes as the defensive midfielder

Two years ago, maybe, but neither really plays a defensive role anymore. Both are fantastic footballers who've had really good years and it's pretty hard to pick between them.

[ugg]

Grant is certainly a surprise to me, he's had some great games that have dragged the Roos over the line, but then he's also had some pretty average games. I would put Harvey in the starting side ahead of Grant who should miss out altogther. Robertson to slot into the forward pocket while Everitt should have been selected on the bench as the 2nd ruckman.

Croad's selection is puzzling to me as he seems to have played games up forward as well, although I really haven't seen enough Hawks games to comment fully. However, I struggle to think of another CHB whose claims couldn't be denied.

Another interesting point: Hodge and Ball (numbers 1 and 2 in the 2001 draft) were selected but Judd (number 3 wasn't). The debate over who should have gone no.1 seems likely to continue for some time.

[liz]

Originally posted by ugg

Another interesting point: Hodge and Ball (numbers 1 and 2 in the 2001 draft) were selected but Judd (number 3 wasn't). The debate over who should have gone no.1 seems likely to continue for some time.

Ball is going to be a fantastic player and had a very good year. I wouldn't have had him AA this year though. And I've already made my feelings on Hodge known.

If I were choosing one of them to join the Swans it would be a toss up between Judd and Ball (with Judd probably just winning out). Hodge would be a distant distant third for me.

[liz]

Back onto our boys, got to love the way Leo dodged the question on the free kick. Classy.