CATS SCOOP THE POOL WITH AFL ALL AUSTRALIAN NOMINATIONS
Ben Jensen 4 September 2007

By Ben Jensen GEELONG has scooped the pool with an amazing nine out of fourty All Australian squad nominations. Next best represented were Hawthorn and Port Adelaide with four apiece. Led by midfield 'fab four', Geelong's nominations are:

• Defenders - Matthew Egan, Darren Milburn, Matthew Scarlett (3 out of 12)
• Forwards - Steve Johnson, Cameron Mooney (2 out of 12)
• Midfielders / Ruckman - Gary Ablett, Jimmy Bartel, Joel Corey, Cameron Ling (4 out of 16)

UPDATE: 17 SEPTEMBER 2007 AFL ALL AUSTRALIAN TEAM ANNOUNCED

While the likes of Scarlett, Ablett and Bartel were assured, it is a fantastic effort for the likes of Egan, Milburn, Johnson and Mooney to be recognised for their efforts in the season so far. Joel Corey and Cameron Ling have had as much an impact in the midfield as Ablett and Bartel. Ruckman and pinch hitting forward Brad Ottens was not nominated, the selectors preferring Hamish McIntosh, Dean Cox and Brendan Lade.

Ottens faces Kangaroo McIntosh this weekend while Premiership duo Cox and Lade are keys to their sides, West Coast and Port Adelaide, chase for a second premiership cup.

Under a new format introduced 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.

The All Australian selection panel is AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou (chairman), AFL Football Operations GM Adrian Anderson, Rod Austin, Kevin Bartlett, Mark Bickley, Gerard Healy, Chris Mainwaring and Robert Walls.

FULL SQUAD:

EGAN TO HAVE SURGERY, SLIGHT CHANCE TO RETURN FOR GRAND FINAL

ALL AUSTRALIAN nominated defender Matthew Egan remains a slim chance to return this season, should surgery to insert screws into his broken foot succeed. Egan broke his foot after landing awkwardly in Saturday night's win over Brisbane, and will miss at least the next three weeks' worth of football after playing every game the past two seasons.

CLUB MEDIA RELEASE

Geelong defender Matthew Egan has undergone surgery to insert three screws into the navicular in his right foot. Matthew will begin non-weight bearing training this week with a view to getting back onto the training track in two-three weeks. The club will monitor his progress and will not jeopardise Matthew's long term health.