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Stars miss All-Australian team
Roger Vaughan
21:11 AEST Mon Sep 17 2012
  Have your say the All-Australian team

Fremantle captain Matthew Pavlich and Hawthorn onballer Sam Mitchell are stunning non-selections in the AFL All-Australian team.

Both made the initial squad of 40 but are the most notable exclusions from the final team of 22 named on Monday night in Melbourne.

Pavlich was a key to Fremantle's revival this season, overcoming hip and Achilles tendon problems to kick 62 goals in 21 home-and-away games.

The Dockers skipper revealed earlier on Monday that he had not received an invitation for the All-Australian dinner, but said it did not concern him.

"Individual awards aren't what I play footy for, it's about the team success," Pavlich said.

"I'm sure externally there might be some comments about it, but I'm just looking forward to having a break and getting ready for next year."

All-Australian selector Luke Darcy said one issue was that Pavlich spent a lot of time in the midfield at the start of the season.

Mitchell also played 21 games and was pivotal as the Hawks won the minor premiership.

The selection of West Coast's Nic Naitanui as the first ruckman will also raise eyebrows.

His team-mate Dean Cox deservedly made the team in a forward pocket, but Naitanui was picked ahead of Adelaide ruckman Sam Jacobs and Richmond's Ivan Maric.

Selector Gerard Healy said six of the seven judges voted for Naitanui.

Cox and Gold Coast captain Gary Ablett made the team for the sixth time.

They join Pavlich, Carlton captain Chris Judd and newly-retired Geelong star Matthew Scarlett as having the most selections among current players.

Incredibly, Ablett has made the past six All-Australian teams.

Eagles captain Darren Glass is the captain and Ablett is the vice-captain.

Selectors broke with the unofficial tradition that the Coleman Medallist as the league's top goalkicker always makes the team.

Richmond's Jack Riewoldt took that honour this season with 65 goals, but he was overlooked for the two key forward positions in favour of Hawthorn star Lance Franklin and Tom Hawkins of Geelong.

The last Coleman Medallist not to make the All-Australian team was St Kilda's Fraser Gehrig in 2005.

Franklin kicked 59 goals despite missing six games because of injury and Hawkins blossomed this season, finishing with 62 goals.

Adelaide defender Brent Reilly and North Melbourne captain Andrew Swallow are two other players who are unlucky not to make the team.

But all the Brownlow Medal favourites - Jobe Watson (Essendon), Trent Cotchin (Richmond), Gary Ablett (Gold Coast), Josh Kennedy (Sydney) and Patrick Dangerfield (Adelaide) - were picked.

West Coast led the selections with four, while Collingwood and Hawthorn had three apiece.

North Melbourne were the only finalists not to have a player in this year's team.

There are 15 first-time selections, the most since the then-VFL first picked an All-Australian team in 1982.

2012 team:

B: Sean Dempster (StK) Luke McPharlin (Fre) Darren Glass (WC capt)

HB: Beau Waters (WC) Ted Richards (Syd) Grant Birchall (Haw)

C: Trent Cotchin (Rich) Jobe Watson (Ess) Dayne Beams (Coll)

R: Nic Naitanui (WC) Scott Thompson (Adel) Gary Ablett (GC v capt)

HF: Patrick Dangerfield (Adel) Lance Franklin (Haw) Cyril Rioli (Haw)

F: Stephen Milne (StK) Tom Hawkins (Geel) Dean Cox (WC)

I: Brett Deledio (Rich) Josh Kennedy (Syd) Scott Pendlebury (Coll) Dane Swan (Coll)


Should Pavlich and Mitchell have been included?
Which other players were unlucky to miss out on selection?

User comments
To behonest a champion team will beat a team of champions any day.To me the team that holds up the holy grail is the team of the yr. As is the coach of the yr.And as far as the sellection panel being quote 6 out of 7 voted for poor young eagles gun as first ruck then it puts the entire team sellected as pretty ordinary. It beggers belief what a player has to do to qualify for selection.
How does the coleman medalist miss out on the team of the year?
How can Darcy be on this panel, he was an absolute SPUD
There is no bigger fan of Naitanui than me but he is too inconsistent and does not deserve his spot. There is only one spot for Rioli and Milne with either Jack or Pav to come in. Dempster? I don't think so! Mitchell is unlucky but who are you taking out?
What is all the niose about who is in who is out all supporters wat to see their players in as for I dont give a hoot Being in the All Australian team is a joke they dont pick players on position just names. Your Coleman medallist is automatic selection ad what about Buddy and cyril and mitchell we can go on and on and we will never be happy. If ou where to pick the team then you will be questioned about your selection. All I say pick players on their positions not who they are OK
The selecters need replacing, top ruckman Cox,if there was a second it had to be Maric or Jacobs, Nic Nat did not deserve a run. Mitchell had a better year than Thompson. Pav a better year than Hawkins, Fraklin and Cyril. How can the leading goal kicker not get a spot. Captain had to be Watson or Ablett. Watson voted best captain by his fellow players(not team mates), and glass hardley got a vote. Selectors picking a politicly correct team not the players who deserve the prize.
Hey mate. Not sure how good your memory is but to call Gerard Healy an average footballer obviously its not real good. He won a Brownlow and not many "Average" footballers do that.
well that's a pretty average list!
There should be a fan based All Australian team selected by votes and they could play the AFL selected team. I know who would win and it ain't the AFL team.
It's all subjective and comes down to opnions of 9 people. All reporting to do with AFL, after the facts are stated the 'journos' who are mostly media commentators then give their opinion. That is all it is - an opinion - not a fact at all but once it's out there they carry on as though it's fact. Well done to the guys selected and yes there are some that are unlucky not to have made it but when all is said and done it's just a list of guys drawn up by another bunch of guys. AFL is taken far too seriously by far too many people.
Oh no, some bogans missed out on making the AFL Australian team that doesn't play anyone. How tragic. Seriously what is the point of this team if they don't play anyone?
Good Judge, you may want to rethink that comment about Gerard Healy being an average footballer. Still, Sam Mitchell definately hard done by - he had a super year.
This has to be the worst All Aussie team to be selected..probably finish 9th if playing in the competition. How on earth can the selections of Milne and Hawkins be justified...Crap,Crap,Crap. New selectors needed.
Why the debate over nothing..who are they playing in the first test? pffttt AFL
This team is so incorrect, how Nic Nat can get 6 out of 7 votes for leading Ruckman is a joke over someone like Jacobs, yes Nic Nat has the x factor but its about consistency through the year and Jacobs (And Maric) in fact had a more consistent year then him. There is only one spot for Cyril or Milne, this spot should be taken by Pavilch or Reiwoldt, Pav getting the vote for being more consistent and versatile. Not a fan of the back 6 either, I think there could be 2 to 3 changes here!
Healy average footballer and Darcy very average footballer shows they are very average selectors as well as very average commentators. Have a look at the side they picked. Pavlich, Mitchell, Murphy, Riewoldt etc, missing. There are plenty of better footballers than some of their selections. How in the hell did Franklyn ( Very good footballer ) get in when he missed so much footy. It shows how poor judges they are.
firstly, i dont follow any team in the AFL, i am a purest, i have played the game and love the athleticism and strategy of beating your opponent on any given day. secondly, any committee or selection panel will never appease the general populas or minority. i feel its time to dispurse with positional selection, the game has changed so much that no individual on any given team is purely a one dimensional positional player, it maybe time for the Selection committee to evolve with the pace of the game also. just a thought.
Surely they could have squeezed Jack Riewoldt in there somewhere... hope it doesn't cost us when the World Cup rolls around.
I think Luke Darcy & Gerard Healy should stick to getting there mugs in front of the TV camera,This is a pretty ordinary side


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