They are staggering omissions in the eyes of many. Lloyd kicked one goal fewer than Gehrig but did so in a team that kicked 30 goals less for the season. On top of this the Essendon midfield didn’t dominate like the Saints’ did at times during the home and away rounds. The obvious conclusion is that Lloyd had to work harder for his goals in a lesser performed team and as such deserved the nod ahead of Gehrig.
But it is the omission of Hird that is even more startling. His first half of the season was awesome - many commentators arguing he was playing the best football of his career. That is some sort of statement when you consider his stellar career. He averaged in excess of 20 possessions per game and kicked 24 goals. The final third of his season was quieter but he had done enough to warrant selection.
While Bomber fans will be shaking their heads, neither Hird nor Lloyd will dwell on their omission. They have been there and done that. It would be extra icing on the cake at the end of their careers but it isn’t the making or breaking of great players. In fact there may be a significant positive to come out of their non-selection.
The best players perform on the biggest stage and that stage is the MCG in September. How you play in the games biggest games is the measure of the game’s best players and both players have the chance to set the record straight against Geelong this weekend.
Lloyd will line up on the All Australian full back in Matthew Scarlett and that is always an intriguing duel. Who knows where Hird will wind up or who gets the job on him? Hird and Lloyd would have been primed for this weekend’s semi-final but the All Australian selectors might just have given them the extra spur for this weekend.
We might be disappointed the selectors didn’t consider them to be among Australia’s best 22 but by 11pm Saturday night we might just be penning them a thank you letter for providing the spur that carried Essendon into a Preliminary Final.
