Scarlett set for AFL All-Australian team

Star Geelong defender Matthew Scarlett will earn selection in his fifth AFL
All-Australian team on Monday night, even if it is out of position.
His usual role of fullback is likely to go to Western Bulldogs backman Brian Lake
after the pair were the standout key defenders this season.
Scarlett is set to be the only five-time All-Australian in the 2009 team, as
Adelaide's Simon Goodwin is the only other member of the 40-man squad with four
selections and he is unlikely to make the final cut.
Not surprisingly, this week's four preliminary finalists should all have multiple
selections, with the Cats and minor premiers St Kilda set to figure most heavily.
The final team will come from a squad of 12 forwards, 12 defenders and 16
midfielders and ruckmen.
Brisbane's Brownlow Medallist Simon Black was the most curious omission from the
original squad.
Reflecting their decline this season, last year's premiers Hawthorn are unlikely to
have any representatives in the team.
Carlton full-forward Brendan Fevola has won the Coleman Medal as the league's top
goalkicker and he will probably take full-forward, while players such as Scarlett
and Lake would also have been easy picks for the selection panel.
St Kilda's most likely selections are key forward Nick Riewoldt, defender Brendon
Goddard and midfielders Lenny Hayes and Brownlow Medal fancy Leigh Montagna.
This would be Riewoldt's fourth All-Australian team and he could be named captain
for the first time.
Geelong might have the most selections with five - Corey Enright, Andrew Mackie,
Gary Ablett and Joel Selwood have strong claims.
This will be Ablett's third-straight All-Australian team.
Collingwood have been unimpressed with their All-Australian representation over the
last few years, but they should enjoy multiple selections this time.
Captain Nick Maxwell, Alan Didak, Dane Swan and possibly Leon Davis are in contention.
Apart from Lake, midfielder Matthew Boyd is a strong chance to represent the `Dogs
in the team.
The only finalists unlikely to have a player in the team are Essendon, with veteran
defender Dustin Fletcher their only squad nomination.
Injuries this year have made the ruck pool surprisingly thin but Brisbane's Mitch
Clark and Fremantle's Aaron Sandilands are the popular contenders.
As usual, there will be plenty of turnover from last year's selections, with strong
cases for around half the team to be first-time picks.