With eighteen defenders on the shortlist to make the All Stars team, Isuzu UTE A-League fans are spoilt for choice when voting for the backline they would like to see take on FC Barcelona in May.
Former A-Leagues defender Daniel Georgievski has had his say, picking four players from different clubs as his preferred quartet to marshal the blaugrana attack at Accor Stadium on May 25.
WHO MAKES YOUR ALL STARS XI? IT’S TIME TO VOTE: HERE’S HOW
The shortlist
- Javi Lopez (Adelaide United)
- Tom Aldred (Brisbane Roar)
- Scott Neville (Brisbane Roar)
- Lewis Miller (Central Coast)
- Kye Rowles (Central Coast)
- Adrian Mariappa (Macarthur FC)
- Curtis Good (Melbourne City)
- Jason Davidson (Melbourne Victory)
- Jason Hoffman (Newcastle Jets)
- Jonathan Aspropotamitis (Perth Glory)
- Darryl Lachman (Perth Glory)
- Rhyan Grant (Sydney FC)
- Sam Sutton (Wellington)
- Scott Wootton (Wellington)
- Adama Traore (Western Sydney)
- Ben Garuccio (Western United)
- Leo Lacroix (Western United)
- Nikolai Topor Stanley (Western United)
Georgievski: What to look for when selecting your All Star defenders
“I would say consistency,” Georgievski said. “Who has been consistently good?
“Regardless of where the team is on the table, or how the team’s performance has been, it should be solely based on the individual’s talent and the consistency they played with.
“For example, Darryl Lachman’s played for Perth – who were shocking – but if it wasn’t for him they would have conceded many more goals. For me, he’s one of the best players of the season.
“We’re talking individual players. Individually, how were they? That’s why I’m saying look at those players, regardless of what team they played for. Don’t look at who they play for – look at the talent.”
Fullbacks and central defenders
“I think with centre backs it’s purely how they read the ball, how they win the ball, how they distribute the ball,” Georgievski said.
“But with fullbacks it’s different. It really depends on how the coach wants to play; if he’s playing with a plain back four, fullbacks that don’t bomb on too much, then you’re looking at one type of player, if you’re looking for someone that does bomb on then you’ve got to base it on that.”
Georgievski’s picks
Left-back: Lewis Miller
“I don’t see any right-back that’s actually performed better,” Georgievski said. “There’s no-one who has been as consistent. I can see a future for that kid if he continues that way.”
Right-back: Jason Davidson
“Either Garrucio or Davidson,” Georgievski said. “I would put Davidson, but it’s very, very tight between Garuccio and Davidson.
“They will be extremely close in the vote.”
Centre-backs: Leo Lacroix and Darryl Lachman
“I would put Kye Rowles, Leo Lacroix, Darryl Lachman and Curtis Good as the best four,” Georgievski said. “If I was going for two I’d put Lacroix and Lachman to be honest – they’re just so good on the ball.
“If you look at the way Lachman plays, he’s a monster.”
The stats
Javi Lopez (Adelaide United)
24 games, two goals, two assists, six clean sheets, 25 chances created, 86 tackles, 327 duels, 191 recoveries.
Tom Aldred (Brisbane Roar)
11 games, one clean sheet, 84.9% pass accuracy, 68 duels, 55 recoveries.
Scott Neville (Brisbane Roar)
25 games, one goal, one assist, five clean sheets, 29 shots, 45 tackles, 180 duels.
Lewis Miller (Central Coast)
20 games, one goal, two assists, four clean sheets, 1109 touches, 208 duels, 111 recoveries.
Kye Rowles (Central Coast)
23 games, two assists, seven clean sheets, 1953 touches, 88.6% pass accuracy, 140 duels.
Adrian Mariappa (Macarthur FC)
18 games, three goals, 84% pass accuracy, 90 duels, 75 recoveries.
Curtis Good (Melbourne City)
20 games, three goals, one assist, 1896 touches,89.6% pass accuracy, 133 duels, 72.2% aerial duels won.
Jason Davidson (Melbourne Victory)
22 games, one goal, three assists, seven clean sheets, 49 chances created, 21 shots, 229 duels.
Jason Hoffman (Newcastle Jets)
24 games, one goal, three assists, four clean sheets, 152 tackles, 115 recoveries
Jonathan Aspropotamitis (Perth Glory)
13 games, two clean sheets, 89.7% pass accuracy, 66 duels, 46 recoveries.
Darryl Lachman (Perth Glory)
26 games, five clean sheets, 91.8% pass accuracy, 10 chances created, 37 tackles, 133 recoveries.
Rhyan Grant (Sydney FC)
19 games, one goal, three assists, five clean sheets, 20 chances created.
Sam Sutton (Wellington)
20 games, one goal, two assists, four clean sheets, 85.6% pass accuracy, 18 chances created.
Scott Wootton (Wellington)
17 games, two goals, five clean sheets, 90.8% pass accuracy, 67 recoveries.
Adama Traore (Western Sydney)
24 games, one assist, 1758 touches, 84.3% pass accuracy, 201 duels, 183 recoveries.
Ben Garuccio (Western United)
23 games, two goals, six assists, nine clean sheets.
Leo Lacroix (Western United)
23 games, three goals, one assist, nine clean sheets, 148 duels
Nikolai Topor Stanley (Western United)
20 games, one goal, one assist, eight clean sheets, 98 duels, 81 recoveries.
