True ‘elite performers’, big calls and snubs as greats name AFL’s best 22… with a twist

Jacob Weitering or Jeremy McGovern?

Massimo D’Ambrosio on the wing or Zach Merrett?

Max Gawn or Tristan Xerri?

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AFL greats David King and Leigh Montagna have made the big calls in naming their All-Australian teams ahead of the official unveiling on Thursday night following the release of the 44-man squad.

King rewarded players who have played in teams that “have really battled but been elite performers” and “carried the load” in “more challenging situations”.

“Guys like Zach Merrett, who’s had an unbelievable year with his leadership and defensive side of the game … Merrett got in my team ahead of guys like (Zak) Butters or (Caleb) Serong. I think Hayden Young has had more influence than Serong, so I put him in.”

King went with Sydney’s Errol Gulden (spent over 50 per cent on the wing) and Hawthorn’s D’Ambrosio (nearly 90 per cent) on the wings given he wanted to pick players that “played large chunks” in the position in a “requirement” for the current day, while Montagna left out D’Ambrosio and put Merrett on his wing.

While both King and Montagna opted for Melbourne’s Max Gawn over North Melbourne’s Tristan Xerri, only King chose second-year Kangaroos star Harry Sheezel.

“Sheezel I think has had an All-Australian year. I don’t know if he gets in or not, but there was games when he had 14 score involvements for a team hardly functioning.”

Montagna added: “I agree that Sheezel has had an All-Australian year, but I thought Treloar has never made it, he’s been consistent start to finish and his Western Bulldogs are a big chance to try and make the grand final.”

The Saints legend took a unique – but more contemporary – approach to the actual structure of his side in a “shift” to the norm.

“We haven’t had a centre-half forward play for 10 years or back pockets. We have high forwards and high defenders and deep forwards and deep defenders,” he said.

“So the deep defenders should be the last line and your high half forwards, who go up to centre bounces and stoppages, go higher.”

Montagna also “rewarded players that have led to their team’s success” including picking James Sicily over Jeremy McGovern, noting Hawthorn had the best defence since around Round 6.

“Sicily, who in the first three rounds had 11 goals against him, ended up having 17 goals kicked on him in the last 17 games and we know what he did from an offensive point of view.

“Same as Max Holmes. That’s the (Jack) Sinclair or (Dan) Houston role. Holmes is probably going to win Geelong’s best and fairest and they’re finished fourth, so I think he deserves some recognition for his sensational season.

“I went with Dylan Moore over Brent Daniels. Daniels came home like a steam train the last five weeks, but he’d only had 14 goals in 17 games up until the end of the year and Moore has certainly been more consistent.”

See their full teams below …

King’s All-Australian Team

B: J.Sicily, H.Andrews, D.Houston

HB: J.Sinclair, J.McGovern, L.Whitfield

C: E.Gulden, M.Bontempelli, M.D’Ambrosio

HF: C.Warner, J.Cameron, H.Young

F: T.Stengle, J.Hogan, D.Moore

FOLL: M.Gawn, I.Heeney, P.Cripps

I/C: Z.Merrett, A.Treloar, N.Daicos, H.Sheezel

Montagna’s All-Australian Team

B: H.Andrews, J.Weitering J.Sicily

HB: L.Whitfield, M.Holmes, D.Zorko

C: Z.Merrett, P.Cripps, E.Gulden,

HF: D.Moore, C.Warner, M.Bontempelli

F: C.Curnow, J.Hogan, J.Cameron

FOLL: M.Gawn, C.Serong, N.Daicos

I/C: L.Neale, I.Heeney, Z.Butters, A.Treloar