AFL names preliminary 40-man squad for honour teamCOLLINGWOOD'S Leon Davis would be desperately unlucky to miss out on his first AFL All-Australian guernsey after being named in a preliminary squad of 40 for this year's merit side, he being one of three Indigenous players named yesterday.
Davis, one feels, is primed for September. His 20 games this season have yielded some serious numbers. Try these: 34 goals, an average of 16 possessions, 42 clearances, 70 inside forward 50s and 39 rebounds from the defensive 50.
Davis is joined in the potential forwards by Sydney's Adam Goodes and Hawthorn's Lance Franklin, both of whom have won All-Australian honours previously.
As always, there is contention with these selections. Why, for example, was there no room for Brisbane's Ashley McGrath in the backline?
All-Australian potential selectionsForwards
Leon Davis, CollingwoodNever previously selected. 20 games in 2009. 326 kicks, 98 marks, 105 handballs, averaging 16.3 kicks, 4.9 marks, 5.3 handballs. 34 Goals 22 Behinds. 42 Clearances, 70 Inside 50m, 39 Rebound 50m.
Lance Franklin, HawthornPreviously selected 2008. 21 games in 2009. 187 kicks, 109 marks, 129 handballs, averaging 8.9 kicks, 5.2 marks, 6.1 handballs. 67 Goals 46 Behinds. 15 Clearances, 42 Inside 50m, 12 Rebound 50m.
Adam Goodes, Sydney SwansPreviously selected 2003, 2006. 22 games in 2009. 294 kicks, 135 marks,175 handballs, averaging 13.4 kicks, 6.1 marks, 8.0 handballs. 38 Goals 17 Behinds. 72 Clearances, 111 Inside 50m, 32 Rebound 50m.
DARREN MONCRIEFF
Darren@AboriginalFootball.com.au
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Last Modified on 15/09/2009 19:31