IT'S only Round 14 and there are already a few locks for the All-Australian team.
Barring suspension the league may as well hand Patrick Dangerfield the Brownlow Medal as well as an All-Australian jumper. He has been best on ground six times in Geelong's wins and would have been in the votes in a couple of the Cats' other triumphs. My estimates had him at 22 votes entering last night's game.
In the midfield, his teammate Joel Selwood would not be far behind. At Sydney Daniel Hannebery and Josh Kennedy have been keys to their success and pick themselves, while Crow Rory Sloane is a must. He is so smart, reads the play better than most and is a relentless worker.
Of the younger brigade, Fremantle's Lachie Neale, St Kilda's Jack Steven and Greater Western Sydney's Dylan Shiel's numbers and effectiveness get the nod ahead of other well qualified candidates.
Players to consider themselves unlucky include Lachie Hunter (Western Bulldogs), Dayne Zorko (Brisbane), Sam Mitchell (Hawthorn) and Zach Merrett (Essendon), who have all had A-grade seasons.
I've picked a team of my best 22 with all bench players midfielders as this is where the game for the most part is won and lost.
Starting on the bench are Melbourne ruckman Max Gawn, Swan Kennedy, Sloane and Neale.
Gawn and North Melbourne's Todd Goldstein, with West Coast's Nic Naitanui injured, are a lock for the ruck combination and they have both been playing well enough to be in the 22.
My back six include some wily veterans, Heath Shaw (GWS), Kade Simpson (Carlton) and Matthew Boyd (Western Bulldogs). They are efficient with hand or foot and good marks.
Adelaide's Daniel Talia, Richmond's Alex Rance and Carlton's Sam Docherty have the key defensive posts to lose.
The key forwards are West Coast's Josh Kennedy, Sydney's Lance Franklin and Tom Lynch from the Gold Coast.
Adelaide marvel Eddie Betts and Hawks duo Jack Gunston and Luke Breust feature in my front six.
All are right up there in scoring this season, feature prominently in goal assists and have flexibility.
My team: B: Heath Shaw, Alex Rance, Sam Docherty.HB: Kade Simpson, Daniel Talia, Matthew Boyd.C: Jack Steven, Joel Selwood, Dylan Shiel.HF: Jack Gunston, Josh Kennedy (WC), Luke Breust.F: Tom Lynch, Lance Franklin, Eddie Betts.Rucks: Todd Goldstein, Patrick Dangerfield, Daniel Hannebery.Inter: Max Gawn, Lachie Neale, Josh Kennedy (S), Rory Sloane.Karl Langdon can be heard on 6PR's Sports Tonight weeknights from 6pm.