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The five biggest All Australian snubs

The following stars could consider themselves most unlucky of not getting a gig in the 40-man squad.

Published by
Ben Cotton

The 40-man All Australian has been released, and as always, there were a number of snubs.

While there will be even greater snubs in the final 22, there were some glaring omissions in the short-listed pool.

You can't please everyone, but these five could consider themselves the most unlucky.

Here are our five biggest All Australian snubs:

Lachie Whitfield (GWS)

The untaggable utility had a dominant season and was arguably the best player in the competition over the opening 10 rounds, with an ability to play all over the field.

If not for missing six games through injury, he would have been one of the first picked in the 40-man squad.

Regardless, Whitfield averaged 28.6 disposals, 8.4 marks and ranked in the top 10 for effective disposals, meters gained and uncontested possessions. 16 games of Whitfield were more valuable than a number of players who featured in the squad.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 24: Lachie Whitfield of the Giantslu during the round one AFL match between the Greater Western Sydney Giants and the Essendon Bombers at GIANTS Stadium on March 24, 2019 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

Zach Merrett (Essendon)

One of the most dominant midfielders in the competition, Merrett rarely plays a bad game and has improved his much-maligned ball use out of sight.

The star onballer broke his bad trait of not being able to shake a tag in 2019 too, averaging 28.5 disposals, 5.3 tackles and 4.7 clearances despite opposition sides trying to lock him down the most out of any Bomber.

Merrett appeared in all 22 games for Essendon and certainly deserved a gig in the extended squad.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 13: Zach Merrett of the Bombers celebrates a goal during the 2019 AFL round 04 match between the Essendon Bombers and the Brisbane Lions at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on April 13, 2019 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos/Getty Images)

Brad Hill (Fremantle)

Hill was picked on the wing in a number of experts' final line-ups, so his omission in the extended squad is a genuine head-scratcher.

The 26-year old took his game to new heights in 2019 to become a genuine A-grade midfielder, averaging 25.1 disposals and ranking in the top 10 for uncontested possessions, meters gained and kicks while playing all 22 games.

Hill was likely a victim of Fremantle's poor finish to the season, but stands as one of the remaining few true wingmen left in the game and deserving of selection.

PERTH, AUSTRALIA - MAY 21: Bradley Hill of the Dockers celebrates a goal during the 2017 AFL round 09 match between the Fremantle Dockers and the Carlton Blues at Domain Stadium on May 21, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Carson/AFL Media/Getty Images)

Tom Lynch (Richmond)

Kicking a team-high 54 goals for the third-placed Tigers automatically makes Lynch a major snub.

Not to mention he finished third in the Coleman and ranked second in the league for total contested marks and marks inside 50.

It's easy to say he was the beneficiary of Richmond's good play - Lynch was a genuine game-changer for this team. With Jack Riewoldt playing just the 10 games this season, it's hard to envision Richmond finishing in the top four if not for Lynch's good work.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 28: Tom Lynch of the Tigers celebrates a goal during the 2019 AFL round 02 match between the Richmond Tigers and the Collingwood Magpies at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on March 28, 2019 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos)

Zac Williams (GWS)

One of the most underrated players in the game, Williams was the biggest snub of the 40-man All Australian squad.

The raking right-footer is as dangerous as any player with the ball in hand, often setting up his side's offence with his pinpoint field kicking.

Williams averaged 24.2 disposals off 73 per cent efficiency, 5.3 marks, 4.5 rebound 50s per game and ranked top 10 in the league for kicks and meters gained.

Pencilled in on the half-back flank by many, Williams' snub from the 40-man squad was the biggest snub of them all.

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 20: Zac Williams of the Giants looks upfield during the round 5 AFL match between the Greater Western Sydney Giants and Fremantle Dockers at UNSW Canberra Oval on April 20, 2019 in Canberra, Australia. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
Published by
Ben Cotton