The AFL wishes to advise the All Australian selection panel has confirmed the 40-man squad that is in contention for selection for the 2019 Virgin Australia AFL All Australian Team.
Under the format introduced in 2007, the All Australian selectors were not asked to nominate the leading players in each section of the field – forwards, defenders and midfielders / ruckmen – but simply to name the best players of the season.
However, the final team of 22, to be named later this week on Wednesday August 28 in Melbourne, is selected as if to play a match.
Reigning premiers the West Coast Eagles (seven) led the competition with the most representatives in this year’s squad, with 15 different clubs having at least one player nominated from their list.
A total of 20 players were nominated for a potential first-ever All Australian selection while nine players from last year's best team were again nominated as potential selections this year – Patrick Cripps, Brodie Grundy, Patrick Dangerfield, Tom Stewart, Max Gawn, Dustin Martin, Andrew Gaff, Shannon Hurn and Jeremy McGovern.
Geelong Cats’ Gary Ablett could receive his ninth separate All Australian blazer later this week and break the record for All Australian honours for players who did not play in the carnival era. Teammate Dangerfield is in line for his seventh blazer while Collingwood’s Scott Pendlebury is line for his sixth selection as an All Australian respectively.
For players who did not play in the carnival era, eight separate years chosen for All Australian honours has only been achieved by four players - Gary Ablett senior (1984, 1986, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995), Gary Ablett junior (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014), Robert Harvey (1992, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2003) and Mark Ricciuto (1994, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005).
Separately, there are a further eight players from the yearly carnival era, where it was possible to receive both a mid-year and end-of-season All Australian selection, who have eight or more All Australian blazers to their names – Craig Bradley, Terry Daniher, Gerard Healy, Stephen Kernahan, Simon Madden, John Platten, Paul Roos and Greg Williams.
The All Australian selection panel is Gillon McLachlan (chairman), Kevin Bartlett, Luke Darcy, Danny Frawley, Steve Hocking, Glen Jakovich, Chris Johnson, Cameron Ling, Matthew Richardson and Warren Tredrea, while the All Australian selectors, along with Kevin Sheehan, also choose the winner of the NAB AFL Rising Star Award.
The squad members named are in order of club representation is as follows:
Brisbane Lions
Harris Andrews
19 games in 2019. 250 disposals. 152 kicks, 112 marks, 98 handballs averaging 13.2 disposals, 8 kicks, 5.9 marks, 5.2 handballs. 20 Inside 50m, 47 Rebound 50m. 28 tackles.
Charlie Cameron
22 games in 2019.
277 disposals. 204 kicks, 75 marks, 73 handballs averaging 12.6 disposals, 9.3 kicks, 3.4 marks, 3.3 handballs. 53 Goals, 29 Behinds (Equal third in the AFL in goals). 53 Inside 50m, 4 Rebound 50m. 47 tackles.
Hugh McCluggage
21 games in 2019.
475 disposals. 294 kicks, 81 marks, 181 handballs averaging 22.6 disposals, 14 kicks, 3.9 marks, 8.6 handballs. 22 Goals, 11 Behinds. 90 Inside 50m, 36 Rebound 50m. 77 tackles.
Lachie Neale
22 games in 2019.
688 disposals (Third in the AFL in total disposals), 275 kicks, 91 marks, 413 handballs (Third in the AFL in handballs), averaging 31.3 disposals, 12.5 kicks, 4.1 marks, 18.8 handballs. 10 Goals, 6 Behinds. 174 clearances (First in the AFL in total clearances), 78 Inside 50m, 36 Rebound 50m. 86 tackles.
Dayne Zorko
All Australian 2017. 22 games in 2019.
490 disposals. 368 kicks, 86 marks, 122 handballs averaging 22.3 disposals, 16.7 kicks, 3.9 marks, 5.5 handballs. 22 Goals, 15 Behinds. 142 Inside 50m, 26 Rebound 50m. 147 tackles (Third in the AFL in tackles).
Adelaide
Daniel Talia
Carlton
Patrick Cripps
Collingwood
Brodie Grundy
Scott Pendlebury
Adam Treloar
Fremantle
Nat Fyfe
Michael Walters
Geelong Cats
Gary Ablett
Mark Blicavs
Patrick Dangerfield
Tom Hawkins
Tim Kelly
Tom Stewart
GWS GIANTS
Jeremy Cameron
Nick Haynes
Hawthorn
James Sicily
Melbourne
Max Gawn
North Melbourne
Ben Brown
Ben Cunnington
Port Adelaide
Travis Boak
Richmond
Bachar Houli
Dylan Grimes
Dustin Martin
Dion Prestia
Sydney
Dane Rampe
West Coast
Jack Darling
Andrew Gaff
Shannon Hurn
Jeremy McGovern
Brad Sheppard
Luke Shuey
Elliot Yeo
Western Bulldogs
Marcus Bontempelli
Josh Dunkley
Jack Macrae