A number of stars continue to strut their stuff in the AFL and are likely headed for another All-Australian jacket.
Others, however, have come from the clouds to put their name in lights and push for a maiden berth.
Foxfooty.com.au analyses the All-Australian contenders at every club for 2021.
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ADELAIDE
One of the big improvers this season, Adelaide could get rewarded with multiple All-Australians. Arguably no Crow has been more impressive than Jordan Dawson, who’s never previously been an All-Australian, flourishing in the captaincy role and with increased midfield duties in his second season at the club. Off-season recruit Izak Rankine has been excellent too as the No. 9 ranked general forward, with 21 goals to his name and providing a buzz up forward the club hasn’t had since Eddie Betts’ glory days. Rory Laird has backed up his brilliant 2023 with another huge season as a pure on-baller, ranked second in the competition in tackles. Nick Murray would also be in contention for a spot in the backline in a breakout season from the 22-year old, while the evergreen Taylor Walker has kicked 28 goals in another strong campaign from the veteran.
BRISBANE LIONS
There’s just about no better small forward in the game than Charlie Cameron, who’s on track for his fifth All-Australian blazer amid another elite season with 32 goals – the sixth-most of any player in the competition – as the No. 4 rated general forward. Fellow star forward Joe Daniher has also had a stellar year, booting 30 goals to rediscover his best form as the No. 2 rated key forward – second only to Charlie Curnow. Harris Andrews has similarly gotten back to some of his elite defensive best, with the star fullback the 11th highest-rated rated key defender and ranked fourth in the competition in one percenters. Midfield duo Lachie Neale and Josh Dunkley have also had tremendous impact, albeit playing more team-orientated roles for the surging Lions.
CARLTON
This time last year, there were several Blues putting their hands up for a spot, but there’s very few this season. Equal Coleman Medal leader Charlie Curnow however can’t be denied, having booted 38 goals and ranked first in the competition in contested marks and second in score involvements as the No. 1 rated key forward of 2023. You fear where the Blues would be right now if not for Curnow’s efforts. Jacob Weitering is putting together another consistent campaign and is simply rarely beaten, having lost just five of 44 contested defensive one-on-ones in 2023. Beyond the aforementioned duo, there’s not many other Carlton players putting their hand up in a showing of where the club is at.
‘I think West Coast would regret this’ | 00:47
COLLINGWOOD
The top-of-the-ladder Magpies would probably have the most All-Australians of any side right now if the team was picked this week. After taking over the captaincy duties, Darcy Moore has taken his game to another level in a career-best season as the No. 1 rated key defender and ranked second in the competition for intercept marks. So impressive has he been that Moore would probably get the nod as the All-Australian skipper right now. Nick Daicos’ (No. 1 rated general defender) meteoric rise to superstardom as the Brownlow Medal favourite and equal Coaches Votes Award leader makers him a virtual lock for his first All-Australian in just his second season, while older brother Josh Daicos (No. 6 rated winger) has also been exceptional and deserves a spot on field right now. Jordan De Goey has put together his own superb season, finally fulfilling his potential despite his looming ban. Brody Mihocek continues to go under the radar, on track for his most ever goals in a season with 31 majors through 12 games. Veteran duo Scott Pendlebury and Steele Sidebottom (No. 4 rated winger) might be in the twilight of their careers, but they’re still playing as well as they ever have, although the latter’s MCL injury likely puts him out of calculations.
ESSENDON
Zach Merrett has thrived as captain and would be well and truly in the mix for the All-Australian midfield. Darcy Parish was putting together a career-best season, but injury has likely robbed him of being in contention. Mason Redman is the eighth-ranked general defender in the competition, while Kyle Langford is ranked ninth for general forwards and is having a career-best year. Nic Martin is the second-best rated wingman in the AFL, behind only Errol Gulden. That’s assuming the All-Australian selectors actually opt for pure wingers this season.
FREMANTLE
Caleb Serong is having a breakout season and has put himself ahead of Andrew Brayshaw on current form, ranking ninth for midfielders this season in Champion Data’s player ratings. Hayden Young has been more than solid in defence, as has Brennan Cox as a general defender. Sean Darcy was having a great season in the ruck, but Tim English probably had him pipped even before Darcy’s recent injury setback.
GEELONG CATS
He may’ve dropped off a bit after a scintillating start to the season, but Jeremy Cameron is right at the pointy end when it comes to the best players in the competition, let alone the best forwards. Tom Hawkins overcame a sluggish start to the season, but may fall short given the other candidates. He doesn’t win much acclaim, but Gryan Miers is a sneaky chance given his efficiency with the ball and the scores he has helped create this season. Patrick Dangerfield was a virtual lock before his hamstring setback.
‘Buddy’ Franklin set to play 350th game | 01:05
GOLD COAST SUNS
Noah Anderson is elevating himself into the elite category of midfielders. He’s the 10th-best midfielder in the competition right now based on Champion Data player ratings. Matt Rowell isn’t too far behind him, but at the moment it’s Anderson’s year. Jarrod Witts has been brilliant this year and is the third-best ruck in the competition, behind only Todd Goldstein and Tim English in player ratings. Jack Lukosius could make a late run if he keeps up his scintillating form.
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY
Sam Taylor was a shoe-in before his significant hamstring injury. Toby Greene and Brent Daniels are the top two general forwards in the competition based on Champion Data player ratings. Both have been superb. Matt Flynn has been in good form but there are players ahead of him. Callan Ward has had a sneaky good season, ranked the sixth-best mid-forward.
HAWTHORN
James Sicily has been outstanding in his first year as captain and had the game of his life before being suspended for striking. He‘s the second-best key defender in Champion Data ratings behind only Darcy Moore. Very rarely is Sicily out-marked by his direct opponent in a defensive one-on-one contest. He’d be leading the best and fairest count and likely by a fair margin. Jai Newcombe is the seventh-best midfielder according to Champion Data and has made the midfield his own, so should at least be in the mix, albeit Sicily is far more of a sure thing.
MELBOURNE
Death, taxes and Dees duo Clayton Oliver and Christian Petracca in All-Australian contention. Petracca is a lock at this stage of the season. The Norm Smith Medallist has kicked 11 goals and averaged 28.7 disposals, 13.8 contested possessions, 6.1 clearances and 5.8 tackles. But the most impressive Petracca stat is that he’s the No. 1 score involvements player in the competition – an excellent feat considering he’s a midfielder. Oliver is ranked among the top 10 players in the competition for contested possessions (1st), disposals, inside 50s, score involvements and tackles. Jake Lever would be in the mix, while Bayley Fritsch also must be considered with the third-most goals of all general forwards.
Swans preparing for life without Buddy | 00:58
NORTH MELBOURNE
Like Oscar Allen at West Coast, Nick Larkey is playing a lone hand inside 50 amid a disappointing season for North Melbourne. Larkey has kicked 32.11 from 12 games so far this season. The clear standout was Luke Davies-Uniacke prior to his injury in Round 7, but he could be back in contention with a strong back half to the season. Veteran Todd Goldstein has been excellent in his 16th AFL season, averaging 14.6 disposals, 4.5 clearances and a hitout-to-advantage rate of 35.8; he’s in fact second at the position in the AFL Player Ratings. But he might be stuck behind a few in the All-Australian ruck pecking order.
PORT ADELAIDE
Three years after his shock selection in the All-Australian squad, Zak Butters is primed for selection in the final 22 should he maintain his awesome output for the rest of the season. Averaging club-high disposals (27.3) and contested possessions (11.0), Butters is the fourth-highest rated midfielder in the competition – and teammate Connor Rozee is fifth. Rozee was a shock selection in the final 22 last year, but would be deserving of a second straight blazer after averaging 25.4 disposals and ranking fourth in the league for average inside 50s and seventh for tackles. Dan Houston, the third-highest rated general defender in the competition, is also in the midst of a career-best season averaging 21.2 disposals, while Aliir Aliir would be in the key defensive position conversation.
RICHMOND
No standouts at the Tigers, but a few that’ll be around the mark. He was in the 44-man All-Australian squad last year, but Daniel Rioli will be pushing for a spot in the 22 this year, averaging 23.0 disposals per outing. Shai Bolton, according to Champion Data, is the AFL’s No.1 rated mid-forward, booting 15 goals while averaging 21.5 disposals, 6.5 score involvements and 5.3 inside 50s – while Dustin Martin ranks fifth as a general forward. Noah Balta would be a sneaky key defensive chance, while selectors surely have to consider Tim Taranto, who’s ranked fifth for disposals, first for tackles and seventh for clearances; though a lack of damage from said disposals means he doesn’t rank in Champion Data’s top 20 midfielders.
‘I think West Coast would regret this’ | 00:47
ST KILDA
Jack Sinclair is a huge chance to be named in the All-Australian team for a second consecutive season. The 28-year-old is the second-highest rated general defender in the competition – behind Nick Daicos – averaging 27.6 disposals and 4.5 score involvements. Mason Wood, the No. 3 rated wing in the comp, has also been a revelation for the Saints in a breakout, career-best season, booting 10 goals and averaging 21.1 disposals, 7.0 marks and 6.1 marks per match. Callum Wilkie is right in the mix to be an All-Australian key defender, while Rowan Marshall isn’t too far behind Tim English and Sean Darcy in the race for a ruck spot.
SYDNEY SWANS
Amid a disappointing 2023 campaign for the Swans to date, Errol Gulden has been a standout performer. The No. 1 rated wingman according to Champion Data, Gulden is averaging 25.1 disposals and is ranked fifth in the league for average inside 50s. Nick Blakey, who this week signed a seven-year contract extension, would also be in line for a maiden All-Australian blazer. The No. 4 rated general defender in the competition, Blakey has provided terrific run from defence for the Swans while also showing off his ability to play on key forwards amid his club’s injury crisis. Jake Lloyd would also be in the mid-sized defender mix, while Tom Papley’s 20 goals means he’s an outside chance for a small forward spot, although unlikely considering his inconsistency so far this season.
WEST COAST EAGLES
For a team seemingly at its lowest ebb, Oscar Allen is in scintillating form. He’s kicked 32 of West Coast’s 103 goals this season and managed at least two majors in all but one of his 12 games. There’s a lot of key forwards in contention, but Allen has to be near the top of the list. Tom Barrass would be in the conversation for a key defensive post, while Tim Kelly is averaging career-high disposals, contested possessions, clearances and tackles. Although Barrass and Kelly are a few players back in the pecking order for key defensive and midfield spots respectively.
WESTERN BULLDOGS
Tim English is the red-hot favourite to earn a maiden All-Australian blazer as the starting ruck. The No. 1 rated ruck in the AFL, he’s averaging the most disposals, inside 50s, intercepts and marks, while he’s also averaging career-high hit-outs-to-advantage. Marcus Bontempelli is the No. 1 rated midfielder in the competition. Josh Dunkley’s move to Brisbane has allowed Bontempelli to dominate as an inside midfielder this season, averaging career-high contested possessions, tackles and clearances this season. It’s also helped free up Tom Liberatore, who’s averaging career-high uncontested possessions and disposals. And Liam Jones – arguably the biggest bargain recruit of the season – has to be in the mix. He’s among the top 10 players in the competition for intercept marks. More importantly, he’s played a crucial role in helping the Dogs become of the league’s best defensive teams.
