TEN CATS IN LINE FOR 2008 AFL ALL AUSTRALIAN HONOURS
Ben Jensen 3 September 2008

By Ben Jensen GEELONG has 'only' ten nominations out of fourty for this year's AFL All Australian side. In shock omissions, 2007 All Australians and Premiership players Cameron Mooney and Cameorn Ling were not nominated. Corey Enright, Captain Tom Harley and Joel Selwood were nominated for the first time. Geelong's nominations are:

• Defenders - Corey Enright, Tom Harley, Andrew Mackie, Darren Milburn, Matthew Scarlett (5 out of 12)
• Forwards - Steve Johnson, (1 out of 12) Geelong won 21 of 22 games, one of the highest percentages ever
• Midfielders / Ruckman - Gary Ablett, Jimmy Bartel, Joel Corey, Joel Selwood (4 out of 16)

While the likes of Scarlett, Ablett and Bartel were assured, it is a fantastic effort for the likes of Enright, Mackie and Selwood to be recognised for their efforts in the season so far. Again Brad Ottens was not nominated, the selectors preferring Aaron Sandilands, Dean Cox and pinch hitter Drew Petrie.

Ottens faces Kangaroo Petrie this weekend while Cox and Sandilands get over their Mad Monday hangovers (as do forwards Richo, Pavlich, Motlop, Fev, Bradshaw and Jonathan Brown).

Under a the same format as last this year, the All Australian selectors were asked to nominate the leading players in each section of the field - forwards, defenders and midfielders / ruckmen - with the final team of 22 to be named on Monday September 17. The final team would comprise six of the 12 forwards named in the squad, six of the 12 defenders named in the squad and six of the 16 midfielders / ruckmen named in the squad. The four interchange positions would come from the remaining players not selected in the starting 18, to best fit team balance as if to play a match.

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