Gary Ablett’s record eighth-straight AFL All-Australian selection will intensify speculation about whether he can earn the rare honour of becoming a triple Brownlow Medallist.
The Gold Coast captain is in the 22-man honorary lineup despite playing only 15 games, thanks to his season-ending shoulder injury in round 16.
The star onballer was named as the All-Australian rover and is the first player to make the team in eight-straight seasons.
“Gary Ablett is the greatest player in the game and arguably the greatest we’ve ever seen,” said All-Australian selector Kevin Bartlett.
Ablett was a unanimous choice by the nine selectors.
Ablett also joins his father Gary Snr and four other players who have eight total selections, while five have nine.
Ablett was a strong favourite for next Monday night’s Brownlow count before his injury.
Players such as Geelong skipper Joel Selwood, who also captains the All-Australian team for the second-straight year, have firmed considerably in betting.
Now it is considered an open field this year for the game’s most prestigious individual award.
There is also speculation that Fremantle star Nat Fyfe, another All-Australian selection, could poll the most votes.
Fyfe is ineligible for the Brownlow because of suspension.
While North Melbourne veteran Brent Harvey won his tribunal case on Tuesday night, he did not make the final 22.
Harvey and Geelong key forward Tom Hawkins were the two most noticeable members of the original 40 nominees not to make the final team.
Harvey was the only nominated player from North, who have made Friday night’s preliminary final against Sydney.
The Swans had the most selections this year with four, including Coleman Medallist Lance Franklin.
Josh Kennedy, Nick Malceski and Nick Smith are the other Sydney selections.
Saturday night’s preliminary finalists Hawthorn had three players picked – forwards Jarryd Roughead and Luke Breust as well as midfielder Jordan Lewis.
Their opponents Port Adelaide have two players in the team, captain Travis Boak and youngster Robbie Gray.
The team features 13 players making their first appearance in the All-Australian 22, the third-most in a year since annual teams were named separate to national carnivals.
There were 15 first timers in 2012 and 14 in 1982.
All this year’s defenders are in the team for the first time.
West Coast key defender Eric Mackenzie was unlucky not to be among them.
St Kilda captain Nick Riewoldt was named vice-captain in the All-Australian team and his selection at centre half-forward probably put Hawkins out of the lineup.
It is also Riewoldt’s first selection since he captained the 2009 team and the fifth of his stellar career.
The other players with previous selections are Selwood (fourth team), Collingwood captain Scott Pendlebury (fifth straight), Franklin (fifth), Kennedy (2012), Roughead (2013), Fremantle ruckman Aaron Sandilands (fourth) and Boak (2013).
2014 ALL AUSTRALIAN TEAM
B: Cale Hooker (Ess) Daniel Talia (Adel) Nick Smith (Syd)
HB: Nick Malceski (Syd) Alex Rance (Rich) Brodie Smith (Adel)
C: Nathan Fyfe (Fre) Josh Kennedy (Syd) Dyson Heppell (Ess)
HF: Robbie Gray (PA) Nick Riewoldt (StK, vice-captain) Luke Breust (Haw)
F: Hayden Ballantyne (Fre) Lance Franklin (Syd) Jarryd Roughead (Haw)
R: Aaron Sandilands (Fre) Joel Selwood (Geel) Gary Ablett (GC)
Inter: Travis Boak (PA) Jordan Lewis (Haw) Scott Pendlebury (Coll) Tom Rockliff (Bris)
Don Freo
Guest
I'm not saying they should be in the team...I'm saying Parker had their kind of season. Excellent but not AA. Parker did not deserve it...neither did Pendlebury. Riewoldt was every bit as good as Franklin. He was a first pick and unlucky not to be captain. Boak is definitely AA.
Michael huston
Guest
Think most people would disagree there. I've not heard one person say Mundy or Hill should be in the AA team, but I've heard plenty say Parker should have been.
Don Freo
Guest
Sandilands was in the best every game all year. Jacobs only some of the games where Crows were good. Sandilands gets typecast a only a tap ruckman. His around the ground marking and his ground work in packs is something above every other ruckman. AS for Parker...Good player but not as good as Mundy, Hil...only as good as Lachie Neale. A parocchial call there Michael.l
Michael huston
Guest
Sorry Don but Jacobs was better than Sandilands this year. But at least that one I could concede: Sandilands was dominant in hit-outs, Jacobs was dominant with his around the ground work, so I can understand why Sandilands was at least selected. But did anyone else get the feeling they were desperate to have some mature, more high profile players who had inferior years compared to others. I'm talking Travis Boak, Scott Pendlebury and Nick Reiwoldt, mainly. Reiwoldt was a sympathy selection, Pendlebury was a teachers pet selection, and Boak was an irrational selection based on the AFL media's current love affair with Port. All three of those players went missing for patches of the season. I truly do believe Pendlebury is in the top 3 in the comp, but he was nowhere near his dominant best this year. Boak is a great captain, no doubt about it, but he simply wasn't good enough IMO. And Reiwoldt tried his hardest, but Gunston and Hawkins had superior years. It seems like the AA selectors voted with what sounded good, because you can't have an AA team without Pendles, right? Now, as for Luke Parker, I think it's criminal that Gray was selected as a forward/mid and Parker wasn't. They're extremely similar players in how they can impact a game. Gray has Parkers number in skills, as he kicked 17 more goals than Parker, but Parker has Grays number in toughness and ferocity at the ball. He averages 2 more disposals than Gray (big woop) but 4 tackles more than Gray. Since it's difficult to separate these two, I thought it only right that they both sit either side of Franklin on the half forward flanks. But nope, they were so desperate to include St Nick that they put Buddy in full forward, Roughead in the pocket and omitted Parker entirely. WTF? How could they get that so wrong. I thought after the QF where Parker proved he could be just as dominant as the likes of Fyfe, Gray etc that he'd be selected. I can take comfort knowing he's only 21 and will no doubt be selected in the future. Great to see the likes of Lewis, Heppell get the recognition they deserve, and Selwoods a deserving captain. Finally big bad Malceski got a selection, how he hasn't been chosen before is beyond me. Glad Nick Smith got the appreciation he deserves, and Kennedy and Franklin were locks. All in all, a good team.
Don Freo
Guest
I have to say it. How anyone could think Jacobs or anyone was close to Sandi is ridiculous. Probably highlights how people formed opinions about Freo without ever really watching them. I expect Sandi to be AA for the next 3 years too and, as he relinquishes ruck duties to Clarke in the next few years, will probably become a two or three time Coleman medalist as a FF. He'll retire at 36 or 37 as an absolute legend with Eastern Staters still saying, "Who?". I expect a Brownlow this year too.