Overlooked 23: Lyon & Watson’s All-Australian ‘thirds’ team

The All-Australian squad of 46 was named by the AFL on Monday and as always it has divided opinion.

One key name missing from the selected squad was that of North Melbourne’s Harry Sheezel who was again overlooked.

The SEN Breakfast team of Garry Lyon, Tim Watson and Sam Edmund discussed why the star Roo might have been left out.

Lyon: “Why didn’t Harry Sheezel make the All-Australian squad?”

Watson: “Because there’s so many great midfielders in this game, that’s why. You can’t fit them all in.”

Edmund: “Unlucky, stiff.”

Lyon: “Have you lost faith in the selectors?”

Edmund: “No, because whether they name 46 or 86 we’ll always be having a conversation about the player who missed out.”

Lyon: “Sheezel couldn’t make the 46… what do you say to that?”

Watson: “I say that he’s very unlucky.

“But Harry plays in a position where we are spoiled for choice.”

Edmund: “There’s also a lot more seats at the table in that position. We stuff them on a wing, we stuff them in a pocket.”

Lyon: “It doesn’t matter who the selectors are, there’s always going to be these conversations had. It’s not personal.”

Another selection that caused surprise was that of Hawthorn’s James Sicily.

Some believes Collingwood’s Billy Frampton should have been included in the squad instead of the Hawks co-captain.

Lyon: “James Sicily got in. That’s the other talking point.”

Watson: “I haven’t examined this forensically but I don’t think James Sicily has had a great year.

“Correct me if I’m wrong, I don’t think he’s had a great year.”

Edmund: “Should Billy Frampton have been in?”

Lyon: “My word Billy Frampton should have been in. He should have been in the squad of 46. I’m prepared to say it - I’m a James Sicily fan, I like the way he plays his footy - but he’s had a very ordinary year.

“He hasn’t had a year anywhere near Billy Frampton.”

With all this in mind, we’ve named an All-Australian ‘thirds’ side of the players who missed out on the initial 46-man squad.

SEN Breakfast’s All-Australian ‘thirds’

See the AFL's official 46-man All-Australian squad below:

ADE: Jordan Dawson, Wayne Milera, Izak Rankine
BRI: Harris Andrews, Will Ashcroft, Zac Bailey, Charlie Cameron, Logan Morris, Lachie Neale
CAR: Patrick Cripps
COL: Josh Daicos, Nick Daicos
ESS: Nil
FRE: Jye Amiss, Shai Bolton, Jordan Clark, Luke Jackson, Alex Pearce, Murphy Reid, Caleb Serong, Josh Treacy
GEE: Oliver Dempsey, Max Holmes, Connor O'Sullivan, Bailey Smith
GCS: Ben King, Bodhi Uwland
GWS: Lachie Ash, Clayton Oliver
HAW: Jack Gunston, Jarman Impey, Jai Newcombe, James Sicily, Nick Watson
MEL: Max Gawn, Kysaiah Pickett
NM: Luke Davies-Uniacke
PA: Aliir Aliir, Zak Butters, Mitch Georgiades, Jason Horne-Francis
RIC: Nil
STK: Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera, Callum Wilkie
SYD: Charlie Curnow, Brodie Grundy
WCE: Nil
WB: Marcus Bontempelli, Ed Richards