Four Crows have been selected in the All Australian squad for Season 2015.
Forwards Eddie Betts and Taylor Walker, midfielder Patrick Dangerfield and defender Rory Laird were all named in the squad of 40 released on Tuesday afternoon.
The All Australian team will be finalised at a presentation in Melbourne on Tuesday, September 22.
Betts, 28, has been nominated for the fourth time. The exciting goalkicker was included in the All Australian squads of 2011, 2012 and 2014, but is yet to be recognised with a place in the 22.
Betts kicked acareer-high 58 goals in the home and away season to finish third in the ColemanMedal, and was second in the AFL in scoreboard impact behind Coleman Medalwinner Josh Kennedy according to Champion Data. He boasted the best accuracy ofany of the top 10 leading goalkickers and ranked sixth in forward 50m tackles.
Dangerfield, 25, is a two-time All Australian (2012 and 2013), while Walker was nominated but not selected in the final team in 2012. A revelation this season, Laird has been nominated for the first time. Ruckman Sam Jacobs and 2014 All Australian defender Daniel Talia are among the unlucky omissions from the squad of 40.
In arguably his mostconsistent season yet, Dangerfield averaged a career-high 26.8 possessions anda goal a game. He ranked second in hard-ball gets on average per game, third incontested possessions, fourth for inside 50ms and ninth for clearances onaverage.
Walker, 25, finishedfourth in the Coleman Medal with 55 goals and ranked third in scoreboard impactaccording to Champion Data. He also took 155 marks – ranked sixth in the AFL.
Laird, 21, averaged apersonal-best average of 24.3 disposals per game. Of all defenders, onlyGWS veteran Heath Shaw amassed more possessions (517) than Laird (510). He wasseventh in the League for ground-ball gets in defensive 50m and interceptpossessions (possession gains). As well as providing good run,Laird conceded an average of only 0.7 goals per game to his directopponents.
The All Australian selectors were not asked to nominate the leading players in each section of the field (forwards, defenders and midfielders/ruckmen), but simply to name the best players of the season. However, the final team of 22 is selected to best fit team balance as if to play a match.
Reigning back-to-back premiers, Hawthorn supplied the most players (six). Fremantle, West Coast and the Western Bulldogs each had five players nominated.
A total of 21 players were nominated for a potential first-ever All Australian selection while only six players from last year's best team were again nominated as potential selections this year –Nat Fyfe, Robbie Gray, Sydney’s Josh Kennedy, Jordan Lewis, Alex Rance and Scott Pendlebury.
In contrast to the 21 potential debutants, Collingwood pair Scott Pendlebury and Dane Swan are each in line for their sixth selection as an All Australian player.
The All Australian selection panel is Gillon McLachlan (chairman), Kevin Bartlett, Luke Darcy, Mark Evans, Danny Frawley, Glen Jakovich, Cameron Ling, Matthew Richardson and Warren Tredrea, while the All Australian selectors, along with Kevin Sheehan, also choose the winner of the NAB AFL Rising Star Award.
All Australian squad selections by club
Adelaide: Eddie Betts, Patrick Dangerfield, Rory Laird and Taylor Walker
Brisbane Lions: Nil
Carlton: Nil
Collingwood: Scott Pendlebury and Dane Swan
Essendon: Michael Hurley
Fremantle: Nat Fyfe, Stephen Hill, Garrick Ibbotson, David Mundy and Lachie Neale
Geelong: Nil
Gold Coast: Nil
GWS Giants: Jeremy Cameron and Heath Shaw
Hawthorn: Shaun Burgoyne, Josh Gibson, Jack Gunston, Jordan Lewis, Sam Mitchell and Cyril Rioli
Melbourne: Nil
North Melbourne: Todd Goldstein and Shaun Higgins
Port Adelaide: Robbie Gray and Chad Wingard
Richmond: Brett Deledio, Dustin Martin, Alex Rance and Jack Riewoldt
St Kilda: Nil
Sydney Swans: Dan Hannebery and Josh Kennedy
West Coast: Andrew Gaff, Josh Kennedy, Jeremy McGovern, Nic Naitanui and Matt Priddis
Western Bulldogs: Matthew Boyd, Luke Dalhaus, Robert Murphy, Jake Stringer and Easton Wood
More to come …
