Izak Rankine will be a hot topic of discussion at the AFL awards, even though he is on the other side of the world. The star onballer is among five Adelaide players named in the 44-player squad, with the final team to be unveiled at Thursday night’s awards function in Melbourne.
A homophobic slur cost him a four-week ban last week and he is now holidaying and training in Europe, his season potentially over.
Intense competition for ruck and key defensive spots have cost Darcy Cameron, Tristan Xerri and Cal Wilkie their shots at All-Australian selection. They were among the main omissions from the squad announced on Tuesday, with the final team to be picked after Wednesday night’s season-ending game between Gold Coast and Essendon.
Melbourne captain and ruckman Max Gawn is set to become just the seventh player to have eight All-Australian selections. Gawn, Sydney’s Brodie Grundy, Fremantle big man Luke Jackson, Xerri (North Melbourne) and Cameron (Collingwood) have been the standout ruckmen all season.
But Grundy’s late-season form surge and Gawn’s relentless consistency earned them their nods, along with Jackson. Gawn, who was named captain of the All-Australian team when the Demons won the 2021 premiership, is a strong candidate for that honour again.
Adelaide’s Jordan Dawson, Brisbane defender Harris Andrews, Gold Coast midfield bull Noah Anderson and Western Bulldogs great Marcus Bontempelli, who skippered last year’s All-Australian team, are the other captains in the squad.
St Kilda fans will be doubly aggrieved that Wilkie missed out on the 44. He enjoyed another consistent season, while fellow defender Josh Battle is in the squad for the first time after leaving the Saints to join Hawthorn this season.
Andrews, Battle, Adelaide duo Mark Keane and Josh Worrell, Gold Coast’s Sam Collins, Sam Taylor from GWS and Richmond veteran Nick Vlastuin form a solid group of key backmen.
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Vlastuin and Hawthorn forward Jack Gunston would be the sentimental picks. Vlastuin is yet to make an All-Australian team, despite being a three-time Richmond premiership player. Gunston has enjoyed a stunning season at 33, kicking a career-best 62 goals.
Adelaide, Brisbane, Gold Coast and the Bulldogs have the most nominees, with five apiece. It is an indictment on Carlton’s tumble out of the top eight that despite having an elite bracket of star players, they were among four clubs without a player in the squad, along with North Melbourne, West Coast and Essendon.
AFL All-Australian squad
Adelaide: Jordan Dawson, Mark Keane, Izak Rankine, Riley Thilthorpe, Josh Worrell
Brisbane: Harris Andrews, Zac Bailey, Josh Dunkley, Hugh McCluggage, Dayne Zorko
Collingwood: Josh Daicos, Nick Daicos, Jamie Elliott
Fremantle: Andrew Brayshaw, Jordan Clark, Luke Jackson, Caleb Serong
Geelong: Jeremy Cameron, Max Holmes, Bailey Smith
Gold Coast: Noah Anderson, Sam Collins, Ben King, Ben Long, Matt Rowell
GWS: Lachie Ash, Finn Callaghan, Tom Green, Sam Taylor
Hawthorn: Josh Battle, Jack Gunston
Melbourne: Max Gawn, Kozzy Pickett
Port Adelaide: Zak Butters, Mitch Georgiades
Richmond: Nick Vlastuin
St Kilda: Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera
Sydney: Brodie Grundy, Isaac Heeney
Western Bulldogs: Marcus Bontempelli, Bailey Dale, Sam Darcy, Tom Liberatore, Ed Richards.
