Gaff set for second AFL All-Australian nod

Suspended West Coast midfielder Andrew Gaff would be a controversial omission from the All-Australian team.

West Coast star Andrew Gaff will be thrust back into the spotlight on Wednesday when the AFL All-Australian team is named.

Either Gaff is named and probably makes his first public appearance since the AFL tribunal hearing earlier this month, or he is a controversial omission from the final team of 22.

The Eagles midfielder was in career-best form when he punched Fremantle opponent Andrew Brayshaw in the round-20 Western Derby.

Brayshaw's jaw was broken and Gaff was hit with an eight-game suspension, ruling him out of West Coast's finals campaign.

Eagles coach Adam Simpson said on Monday that Gaff's second All-Australian selection should be a "no-brainer".

Gaff finished 12th in the AFL Coaches player of the year voting, despite missing the last three games of the season because of his suspension.

He averaged 30 disposals and five marks per game.

Gaff has been staying in Melbourne with his ill father.

Wednesday night's All-Australian function in Melbourne will also feature two specialist ruckmen in the 22 for the first time since 2012.

Melbourne's Max Gawn probably will be named the No.1 ruckman and Collingwood star Brodie Grundy also will be in the lineup.

The last time two specialist ruckmen made the All-Australian lineup was 2012, when West Coast ruckman Nic Naitanui was first ruck and teammate Dean Dox was named in the forward pocket.

On Monday, Gawn became the first ruckman to win the AFL Coaches player of the year award and Collingwood's Grundy finished fourth in the voting.

No ruckman has won the Brownlow Medal since Footscray's Scott Wynd in 1992, but this year Gawn and Brundy are among the top half dozen in betting.

The 40-man All-Australian squad was named on Monday and as always, there were some controversial omissions.

Hawthorn defender Ben Stratton and Fremantle captain Nat Fyfe are unlucky not to be named and Gawn said on Tuesday that teammate Neville Jetta is also stiff.

"You hear from a couple of people, Eddie Betts hates playing on Neville Jetta," Gawn told RSN.

Another big call for the All-Australian selectors is the key forwards.

It was a tight race for the Coleman Medal, with Richmond's Jack Riewoldt winning for the third time on 65 goals.

He is a lock for full forward and Riewoldt also could be named All-Australian captain.

North Melbourne spearhead Ben Brown finished four goals behind Riewoldt with Geelong's Tom Hawkins on 58, while Sydney star Lance Franklin kicked 57.

But can all four fit into the final 22?

The Tigers have the most nominations in their premiership defence with eight.

Riewoldt and Brownlow Medallist Dustin Martin are the two certain selections.


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Source: AAP



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