THE FINAL instalment of AFL.com.au's All Australian team looks at the forward line.
It's not surprising that the best attacking team in the competition, Hawthorn, has a big influence here.
There are one or two unlucky omissions, but we think these players almost pick themselves after super seasons.
Half-forward flank: Robbie Gray (Port Adelaide)
The AFLCA player of the year was a unanimous choice. Gray has had a phenomenal season, averaging 25 disposals, finishing second in goal assists (28), and kicking 34 goals of his own. Creative and with a team-first mentality, his selection was a no-brainer.
Centre half-forward: Lance Franklin (Sydney Swans)
The Coleman medalist was another easy choice. Franklin started the year slowly but quickly found his stride to finish with 67 goals. Showing his best form for a number of years, Buddy almost single-handedly won games against Port Adelaide, Richmond and the Western Bulldogs, as Sydney quickly became a comfortable new home.
Half-forward flank: Dustin Martin (Richmond)
The Tiger won a close call from Swan Luke Parker. On raw stats they're almost dead even – Martin's 25.5 disposals, 27 goals and 17 goal assists to Parker's 26, 21 and 15. But it was Martin's game-breaking ability that shifted the vote his way. The 23-year-old was incredibly consistent in a rollercoaster Richmond season and kicked game-sealing goals in the final two rounds against Adelaide and the Swans.
Forward pocket: Luke Breust (Hawthorn)
The first of three Hawks picked as the reigning premiers dominate the full-forward line, Breust was a walk-up start as small forward. Not only did he kick an amazing 53.10 – including an equal AFL record 29 goals straight at one point – he also joined Gray with 28 goal assists to finish equal second in that category. He also laid 69 tackles to show the defensive side of his game was first rate.
Full forward: Jarryd Roughead (Hawthorn)
The departure of his good mate Franklin to the Swans did little to slow Roughead down. His 62 goals in 20 games is the third most productive season of his career. Roughead is strong both in the air and on the ground and will pinch-hit in the ruck in our team to give Jacobs a five-minute rest each quarter.
Forward pocket: Jack Gunston (Hawthorn)
Gunston was expected to cop a better defender each week with Franklin's departure, but like Roughead, it did little to curtail his influence. The perfect third tall, he kicked a career-best 51 goals through the regular season. Tom Hawkins was a serious consideration for this position, but with Roughead and Franklin already in the forward line, we thought the more mobile Hawk was the better, more balanced option.
It's not surprising that the best attacking team in the competition, Hawthorn, has a big influence here.
There are one or two unlucky omissions, but we think these players almost pick themselves after super seasons.
Half-forward flank: Robbie Gray (Port Adelaide)
The AFLCA player of the year was a unanimous choice. Gray has had a phenomenal season, averaging 25 disposals, finishing second in goal assists (28), and kicking 34 goals of his own. Creative and with a team-first mentality, his selection was a no-brainer.
Centre half-forward: Lance Franklin (Sydney Swans)
The Coleman medalist was another easy choice. Franklin started the year slowly but quickly found his stride to finish with 67 goals. Showing his best form for a number of years, Buddy almost single-handedly won games against Port Adelaide, Richmond and the Western Bulldogs, as Sydney quickly became a comfortable new home.
Half-forward flank: Dustin Martin (Richmond)
The Tiger won a close call from Swan Luke Parker. On raw stats they're almost dead even – Martin's 25.5 disposals, 27 goals and 17 goal assists to Parker's 26, 21 and 15. But it was Martin's game-breaking ability that shifted the vote his way. The 23-year-old was incredibly consistent in a rollercoaster Richmond season and kicked game-sealing goals in the final two rounds against Adelaide and the Swans.
Forward pocket: Luke Breust (Hawthorn)
The first of three Hawks picked as the reigning premiers dominate the full-forward line, Breust was a walk-up start as small forward. Not only did he kick an amazing 53.10 – including an equal AFL record 29 goals straight at one point – he also joined Gray with 28 goal assists to finish equal second in that category. He also laid 69 tackles to show the defensive side of his game was first rate.
Full forward: Jarryd Roughead (Hawthorn)
The departure of his good mate Franklin to the Swans did little to slow Roughead down. His 62 goals in 20 games is the third most productive season of his career. Roughead is strong both in the air and on the ground and will pinch-hit in the ruck in our team to give Jacobs a five-minute rest each quarter.
Forward pocket: Jack Gunston (Hawthorn)
Gunston was expected to cop a better defender each week with Franklin's departure, but like Roughead, it did little to curtail his influence. The perfect third tall, he kicked a career-best 51 goals through the regular season. Tom Hawkins was a serious consideration for this position, but with Roughead and Franklin already in the forward line, we thought the more mobile Hawk was the better, more balanced option.
