By hook or by crook we’ve reached the quarter-pole of this most bizarre of AFL seasons.

No, we haven’t achieved symmetry upon all 18 clubs having played an equal amount of games, and we face even greater fixture uncertainty owing to Victoria’s health crisis, yet the AFL has been able to at least put out its stand, plug in, and deliver 35 games of footy.

Last week, we checked in on some of the findings from our Shot Charting Explorer, while today we turn our attention to our rolling All-Australian team, powered by our own in-house Player Ratings.

Let’s check in on our All-Australian team through the first four rounds. 

BACKLINE

JEREMY HOWE - COLLINGWOOD

Over the league’s first quarter, few players have been as impactful as Jeremy Howe, with the 30-year old working as a veritable forcefield against opposition attacks. While the Pie’s star has torn his PCL and is set to miss a significant amount of time, he leads his club with 27 intercept possessions on the season, along with 11 contested one-on-ones. He’ll be sorely missed.

ROBBIE TARRANT - NORTH MELBOURNE

There are few players in the league so perpetually under-appreciated than North’s Robbie Tarrant. The Roos' boast the league’s 5th best points against this season, with the 2007 first-round pick a major reason why. As always, Tarrant is absolutely bossing the North defence, leading the Roos for one percenters (27) and spoils (22) all the while operating at a magnificent 82.2% efficiency by foot.

NICK HAYNES - GWS GIANTS

Best not kick the ball in Nick Haynes’ vicinity. This Frankston-raised Giant leads the AFL with 33 marks, while he sits 4th in the competition with 32 intercept possessions. While he doesn’t always get the opposition’s best forward, Haynes’ athleticism and know-how have him regarded as one of the competitions most disruptive players. 

CALEB DANIEL - BULLDOGS

In the aftermath of so much Bulldogs turnover in defence, Caleb Daniel has acted as a security blanket for the club. He’s one of just three defenders in the league (along with Howe and Brayden Maynard) who are averaging at least 18 touches per game while still operating at at least 80% efficiency by foot. Most incredibly, Daniel leads the Bulldogs in both rebound-50s (15) and score involvements (15).

JACOB WEITERING - CARLTON

Weitering has been at the forefront of Carlton’s mini resurgence, anchoring the Blue’s defence, while emerging as the league’s premier one-on-one defender. The 2015 #1 pick is averaging 7.3 contested one-on-ones per game, 2 more than the league’s next best (Dane Rampe) winning, or breaking even, in 79.3% of those contests. 

SAM DOCHERTY - CARLTON

Sam Docherty’s return from two full seasons on the sidelines has been one of the league’s very best stories this season. The Carlton co-captain has stepped back into the side and doesn’t seem to have missed a beat, patrolling the Blue’s halfback line with his trademark class and composure. Docherty’s one of only 4 players in the league to have amassed at least 100 possessions on the season, all the while operating at an obscene 80% disposal efficiency.

RELATED: Carlton: Honeymoon Period or Return to Prominence?

MIDFIELD

TODD GOLDSTEIN - NORTH MELBOURNE

32-year old Todd Goldstein is producing a remarkable season, even taking the first-ruck spot out of the hands of Brodie Grundy and Max Gawn. His 46 hit-outs to advantage are a full 10 more than the league’s next best (Grundy). Most impressively, Goldstein leads the entire competition having provided 16 score launches for his club. 

TRAVIS BOAK - PORT ADELAIDE

Speaking of veterans, this 2-time All-Australian and Port Adelaide Best and Fairest winner is dialling up one hell of a season, leading the midfield of perhaps the league’s very best team. Travis Boak's 94 total disposals and 78 pressure acts lead the club, while his 29 total score involvements is a number bettered only by Brisbane’s Lachie Neale (32) and Hugh McCluggage (30).

MATT ROWELL - GOLD COAST

If you haven’t heard about Matt Rowell’s truly phenomenal first four games you’ve probably been reading too much about the coronavirus. This 18-year old rookie has been an absolute sensation this season and is now the third favourite for the Brownlow medal. Only West Coast’s Tim Kelly (95) and St Kilda’s Jack Steele (93) have produced more pressure acts than Rowell’s 90 this season. Along with Michael Walters, last year's #1 pick is the only player in the league to have accumulated at least 80 possessions and kicked at least 6 goals. 

HUGH MCCLUGGAGE - BRISBANE

Funny name, brilliant player. 2016’s #3 pick is getting better by the year, building on his third place finish in last year’s Brisbane Best and Fairest. Hugh McCluggage leads the Lions with 20 inside-50s and 5 score involvements, averaging at least 14 kicks per game for the first time in his career. 

LACHIE NEALE - BRISBANE

The pint-sized, 58th pick in the 2011 draft is now the Brownlow medal favourite. Lachie Neale’s rise to stardom following his defection from the Ross Lyon regime in Fremantle has been one of footy’s most remarkable stories. The South Australian leads the AFL for both total disposals (118) and scored involvements (32), while his 22 tackles also leads the way for Brisbane. He’s a ripper. 

ANDREW GAFF - WEST COAST

Another year, another season with Andrew Gaff on top of the pile where uncontested disposals are concerned. His 78 so far on the season are 10 more than the league’s next best (former basketballer, Scott Pendlebury). Gaff’s 1,894 metres gained place him 5th in the league, while his 38 defensive half pressure acts are rankled 3rd on the struggling Eagles. 

RELATED: The Unrecognisable Eagles Are Running Out Of Time

FORWARD LINE

MICHAEL WALTERS - FREMANTLE

The Dockers mightn’t have won a game so far in 2020, but at least they have the services of the incredible Michael Walters. The 5-time club leading goal kicker is the only player leading his team in both disposals (87) and goals (6) while his 26 total score involvements place him 6th in the league.

LEVI CASBOULT - CARLTON

Another heart-warming tale can be found at Princes Park with Levi Casboult rediscovering his mojo, and securing a place in our All-Australian team at the quarter mark of the season. You could have written your own ticket about this possibility in the pre-season, yet here with are with ‘Big Levi’ commanding the Blue’s forward line, hauling in 11 contested marks and slotting a team-high 8 goals.

CHAD WINGARD - HAWTHORN

If you were one of the people who initially scoffed at the generous trade package the Hawks sent Port Adelaide to secure Chad Wingard, you’re now beginning to understand why. Wingard’s been the Hawks best player through 4 rounds and a big reason why they currently occupy a top-4 spot. He leads the club with 9 goals and 21 inside-50s, all the while averaging a massive 424.3 metres gained per game. 

RELATED: Hawthorn keep destroying great teams but are they a legitimate threat?

TOBY GREENE - GWS GIANTS

Love him or loathe him, Toby Greene is one of the league’s premier small forwards and resides, seemingly, in perpetual All-Australian contention. At 26, Greene’s already been crowed All-Australian, Giant’s Best and Fairest Winner and club leading goal kicker, while this season he’s the only player in the entire league averaging at least 2 goals and a dozen possessions per game. 

CHARLIE DIXON - PORT ADELAIDE

A healthy Charlie Dixon means a very healthy Port Adelaide. The big Queenslander has been pivotal in Port’s blistering 4-0 start, slotting 11 goals on the season and claiming Coleman medal favouritism. Not only is Dixon one of just 6 players to have taken at least 10 marks inside 50 this season, but a staggering 75.8% of his possessions have been won in the contest, which is indicative of this guy’s tenacity.

DAN BUTLER - ST KILDA

Through 4 games, there hasn’t been a more astute pick-up than St Kilda’s Dan Butler, with the former Tiger premiership player absolutely thriving in his first season at Moorabbin. The Ballarat boy leads the competition with 12 tackles inside-50 while he’s the St Kilda clubhouse leader for goals, having slotted 7 on the season to go along with his 24 score involvements. 

INTERCHANGE

BRODIE GRUNDY - COLLINGWOOD

The Magpies haven’t lost the hit out count in ten straight matches, while their +20.2 hit-out differential leads the league in 2020. As it did in 2019, as it did in 2018, and as it did in 2017 as well. Brodie Grundy is an absolute freak of a player and is the driving force behind a squad hell-bent on a premiership run this season. His 73 total disposals is the most among all ruckman, as too are his 20 score involvements.

SCOTT PENDLEBURY - COLLINGWOOD

The Collingwood captain has slam-dunked his way into our rolling All-Australian team as he bids for an incredible 7th All-Australian crown. Only Neale and Gaff have amassed more touches this season than Pendlebury, with the 32-year old averaging 27 touches on the season. This in fact marks the 12th consecutive campaign where the Pie’s legend has averaged at least 25 disposals per match.

LUKE PARKER - SYDNEY 

Luke Parker remains one of the league’s pre-eminent ‘cement heads’ ranked second in the league for both stoppage clearances (17) and overall clearances (31). His 99 total disposals places him 5th in the league, while this is the 8th straight season the veteran Swan is averaging at least 4 tackles per match. 

TAYLOR ADAMS - COLLINGWOOD

At 26 years old we’re perhaps finally witnessing the most complete and healthy version of Taylor Adams. He’s averaging a goal a game for the first time in his career this season, complimenting his 21 touches per match. His always reliable defensive tenacity is vital for the Pies, with Adams already registering 24 tackles on the season which is the 6th best figure in the AFL.

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