Apologies to your club’s star midfielder(s), they probably missed this team.
Picking the AFLW All-Australian team after five rounds proved to be a serious challenge, highlighting the increasing depth at the top end of the competition.
Standout performances across the league’s star forwards and defenders made those selections simple for the most part, but the midfield was another matter altogether.
The starting on-ball unit picked itself, with Kiara Bowers, Brianna Davey and Ellie Blackburn the clear dominant midfield trio after five weeks, assuming you’re parking Erin Phillips at half forward, where she has spent a fair chunk of the season.
Beyond those three, Alyce Parker, Brittany Bonnici, Jasmine Garner, Monique Conti and Ebony Marinoff make the cut, but throw a blanket over a dozen more.
Georgia Patrikios, Karen Paxman, Emma Kearney, Jaimee Lambert, Madison Prespakis, Rebecca Beeson, Emily Bates and Tyla Hanks among others can consider themselves very unlucky – there are only so many spots.
Stephanie Cain claims the dedicated wing spot ahead of Sophie Conway and Kaitlyn Ashmore.
Down back, key defenders Tahlia Randall, Stacey Livingstone and Kate Lutkins were tough to deny, while Ruby Schleicher and Janelle Cuthbertson are two of the competition’s breakout stars of 2021.
Carlton’s Breanna Moody wins the ruck race based on her work around the ground and tap work, but only narrowly from Lauren Pearce, Emma King and Parris Laurie.
The top of the 2017 AFLW Draft features heavily and not just with Cain and Conti. Isabel Huntington and Chloe Molloy make the team as deep forwards thanks to their brilliance and goal nous.
Molloy and Huntington have both previously made All-Australian teams as defenders.
Gemma Houghton, Greta Bodey and Dakota Davidson round out the forward line, with the first two heavily influential both on the scoreboard and around the ground, while Davidson has kicked eight goals and hangs on to a spot in the team at the halfway point.
Phillips speaks for herself.
The undefeated Magpies have five players in the 21, while the Dockers have four and Brisbane three.
See SEN’s AFLW All-Australian team below
