SEN host Dwayne Russell has named his candidates to make this year’s All-Australian squad.
Conversation around who will make the final team is set to ramp up once the 2021 home and away season nears its conclusion.
Russell has several names in mind if he was selecting his initial All-Australian squad of 40 after 14 rounds.
“I had a look at the All-Australian team and thought of the names that are automatics for me at this stage,” Russell told SEN’s Dwayne’s World.
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“Marcus Bontempelli has obviously got to be in, Darcy Parish has got to be in.
“It will be interesting to see how many Melbourne defenders get in – Steven May, Jake Lever, Christian Salem are all having really good seasons.
“But so are guys like Jacob Weitering and Liam Jones. They would be contenders from a team like Carlton. The numbers for Jacob Weitering and Liam Jones aren’t too bad, so they’ve got to be contenders for at least the All-Australian squad of 40.
“You’ve got some other guys in the midfield like Hugh McCluggage and Clayton Oliver.
“The ruck spot … a few people saying on the text (machine) Max Gawn, but Tom Hickey’s had a pretty good season as well. Tom Hickey with a big finish to the season might be a contender for a bench ruck spot.
“Tom Liberatore has been the clearance specialist. Jack Macrae has been mentioned on the text.
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“Harry McKay has to be there – he’s going to win the Coleman (Medal) – so you’d think Harry would absolutely be there. Taylor Walker’s having a great resurrection season. Christian Petracca is just about a lock to be in that forward line. You can put him as a 100 per cent certainty unless something goes completely awry in the second half of the year.
“Ollie Wines … and I would have Shai Bolton in there. Tom Stewart has to be a lock, he is having that kind of season.”