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An extended 44-man All-Australian squad has dropped ahead of Wednesday night’s official team selection for the 2022 season… and boy, was it controversial.
A host of players seen as major contenders for the 22-man team have missed the cut completely, from Carlton’s comeback king Sam Docherty to Rising Star frontrunner Nick Daicos.
It should come as no surprise that wooden spoon winners North Melbourne and the massively disappointing Essendon are the only two teams without a single name in the squad; while Melbourne lead the way with six inclusions, just ahead of minor premiers Geelong (5). The Blues, meanwhile, have also seen five players named, despite missing the finals in heartbreaking fashion.
Here’s every player picked from your team: and who should be writing a very stern letter to the All-Australian panel…
Players named: Rory Laird, Taylor Walker.
Biggest snub: Jordan Dawson.
Considering another bottom-four finish, the Crows did well to see two players named, with star midfielder Laird and spearhead Walker both getting the nod.
Laird averaged 33 disposals a game in 2022, the second-most in the AFL behind Melbourne’s Clayton Oliver; while Walker kicked 47 goals in 17 games after missing the first three rounds due to his suspension for a racist remark.
However, half-back Dawson’s outstanding first season at West Lakes was surprisingly not rewarded with selection in the squad that saw him average 24.6 disposals, 6.8 rebounds 50s and a memorable winning goal after the siren in his first Showdown.
Players named: Charlie Cameron, Hugh McCluggage, Lachie Neale.
Biggest snub: Zac Bailey.
Making the finals for the fourth straight season, the Lions could once again see multiple players named in the 2022 team, with Brownlow Medal favourite Neale and star small forward Cameron both more likely than not to make the team. McCluggage could also be considered on a wing, having been contentiously overlooked in two of the past three seasons.
Kicking 33 goals for the season as a forward-cum-midfielder, Bailey might consider himself a touch unlucky, but a poor finish to the season after a strong start, kicking just five majors in his final seven games, likely cost him.
Players named: Patrick Cripps, Charlie Curnow, Adam Saad, Sam Walsh, Jacob Weitering.
Biggest snub: Sam Docherty.
After the heartbreak of their finals near-miss, the Blues will have to content themselves with watching several of their stars rewarded for outstanding seasons. Coleman Medal winner Curnow, gun rebounding defender Saad and inspirational captain Cripps can just about submit their blazer sizes to the AFL already; while Weitering would also be close to a sure thing had he not missed a spate of games mid-season with a shoulder injury.
One of the most controversial absences across the whole squad, though, is that of Sam Docherty, whose incredible return from an off-season battle with cancer was one of the stories of the year. Averaging 28.4 disposals across half-back and even moving into the midfield when required, his omission is sure to sting Blues fans just a little more.
Players named: Jack Crisp, Josh Daicos, Brayden Maynard.
Biggest snub: Nick Daicos.
Pies fans will be rejoicing at news that underrated defender Maynard has been rewarded for an exceptional campaign with an appearance in the 44-man squad. Joining him are breakout winger Josh Daicos and midfielder Crisp, whose successful move on ball has been crucial to the Magpes’ surge up the ladder.
However, first-year sensation Nick Daicos has been shockingly overlooked, despite what has been frequently described as one of the greatest debut seasons in AFL history. Seen as a frontrunner for a half-back spot, his omission from the starting 44 will leave many in black and white baffled.
Players named: Nil.
Biggest snub: Peter Wright.
With just seven wins for the season and a coach out the door, this was a dismal year for the Bombers, and their lack of any players chosen in the 44-man squad shouldn’t come as a surprise.
Key forward Wright, who finished fifth in the Coleman Medal with 53 goals for the year, the most of any non-finalist, is the most unlucky to be overlooked, but even he was only ever a 50-50 chance to be included.
Players named: Andrew Brayshaw, Brennan Cox.
Biggest snub: Blake Acres.
One of the AFL’s most even teams, the Dockers’ surge back into finals has come despite having only two players, defensive lynchpin Cox and star midfielder Brayshaw, deemed to have had AA-worthy seasons.
The absence of Acres despite a stellar season on the wing seems to confirm a long-standing belief among footy fans – that pure wingers are unlikely to ever be rewarded for their tireless running in the final team.
Players named: Mark Blicavs, Jeremy Cameron, Tom Hawkins, Tyson Stengle, Tom Stewart.
Biggest snub: Sam De Koning.
With 18 wins and the minor premiership, it’s easy to see why the Cats have the equal second-most players included in the 44-man squad – and all five are in red-hot contention to be included in the team.
Cameron and Hawkins, who finished equal third in the Coleman Medal with 59 goals apiece, are all but guarantees; Stengle is in serious contention for a small forward spot, while it will be fascinating to see whether Blicavs’ versatility is valued enough for an interchange position ahead of statistically superior, single-role players. Stewart’s four-week absence for his hit on Dion Prestia might also cost him his spot.
These five were always the frontrunners for All-Australian honours at the Cats, but youngster Sam De Koning, following a titanic season as the team’s number one key defender, would have been a worthy inclusion as well.
Players named: Touk Miller, Jarrod Witts.
Biggest snub: Sam Collins.
The Suns’ co-captains are both in the mix for a second and first All-Australian blazer respectively, with Miller eyeing off a midfield spot while Witts is battling with Melbourne’s Max Gawn for first ruck honours.
However, with many key defenders battling for positions, there was no room for Collins, despite another superb campaign as the number one stopper in an at-times miserly backline.
Players named: Josh Kelly, Sam Taylor.
Biggest snub: Stephen Coniglio.
The Giants’ worst season with 2014 was unlikely to result in bulk squad selections, let alone in the team; but Taylor’s incredible season at full back, leading the AFL in intercepts and finishing third in one-percenters, is a serious contender to be named in the starting backline. Kelly is more unlikely to add a second All-Australian blazer, with midfield spots extremely tight.
Coniglio’s end to the year was an excellent return to form, having been slotted back into the midfield mix on a permanent basis by caretaker coach Mark McVeigh; but ultimately, it’s no surprise to see him not named. For the Giants this year, it really deserves to be Taylor or no one in the final 22.
Players named: James Sicily.
Biggest snub: Mitch Lewis.
An intercept king, Sicily’s extraordinary return from 18 months out of the game with a serious knee injury has been recognised with a call-up to the preliminary squad – and a 33-disposal, 17-mark effort in the final round against the Western Bulldogs is sure to be front of mind among the selectors as they whittle the team down.
The Hawks had few other outstanding contributors in a developing season, but averaging 2.5 goals a game, Lewis could easily have pushed for selection had he managed more than 15 games.
Players named: Angus Brayshaw, Bayley Fritsch, Max Gawn, Steven May, Clayton Oliver, Christian Petracca
Biggest snub: Jack Viney.
After an AFL-high five players made the team last season, four of them – Gawn, May, Oliver and Petracca – are right in the frame for honours again after being named to the 44-man squad.
Joining them are Brayshaw, who starred across both half-back and the midfield and earned a six-year contract extension for his troubles, and sharpshooter Bayley Fritsch, who will be hoping the selectors consider his snub last year despite a 59-goal season after another 50 majors to this point of 2022.
Midfield bull Viney’s exceptional back end of the season could easily have seen him crack the squad as well.
Players named: Nil.
Biggest snub: Luke Davies-Uniacke.
The wooden spooner rarely gets a look in for All-Australian honours, for good reason.
Only two Kangaroos would even have been in contention for spots in the 44, let alone the final 22. Davies-Uniacke’s end to the season was superb as he officially arrived as an elite midfielder; while defender Ben McKay led the AFL in average intercept marks with 4.1, and could have been in contention too had he not missed seven games through various injuries.
Players named: Connor Rozee.
Biggest snub: Jeremy Finlayson.
Rozee’s move to the midfield has finally seen him explode as an elite AFL talent, with the fourth-year Power gun averaging 25.7 disposals and almost a goal a game after Round 4, finishing off with a Showdown Medal.
You couldn’t exactly call him a snub, but Finlayson’s season as a makeshift ruckman in the absence of Scott Lycett was outstanding, and even saw him ranked among the game’s elite rucks in the AFL Player Ratings system over the last few months.
Players named: Shai Bolton, Tom Lynch, Daniel Rioli.
Biggest snub: Nick Vlastuin.
A trio of Tigers have been named to the 44-man squad, and all are in serious contention for even higher honours. Rioli’s first season as a half-back has been an unqualified success, with the one-time forward’s dashing runs and elite kicking setting up many a Richmond forward foray. Shai Bolton is as close to a lock as you can get, with only inaccuracy keeping him to 41 goals and 41 behinds for the season; while Lynch surely must force his way in despite missing four games, having finished second in the Coleman Medal with 60 goals.
Vlastuin could also have been named without raising any eyebrows, having stepped up to become Richmond’s leading intercept defender with Dylan Grimes often injured.
Players named: Jack Sinclair, Callum Wilkie.
Biggest snub: Max King.
Two Saints’ defenders have been included in the 44-man squad, with Sinclair among the frontrunners for a half-back role after an exceptional season in which his lethal right foot has been put to good use. Wilkie has taken smalls and talls in equal measure all year – even standing Lance Franklin in Round 23 – and has seldom been beaten, to continue his rapid rise into the game’s elite since beginning as a mature-aged rookie in 2019.
King has seemingly paid the price for his inaccuracy; the spearhead’s 52-goal season could have been even more impressive without 41 behinds, equal-second in the AFL this season alongside Bolton and behind Curnow (42).
Players named: Isaac Heeney, Callum Mills, Tom Papley, Chad Warner.
Biggest snub: Paddy McCartin.
Third on the ladder heading into the finals, four Swans have been given the honour of a place in the year’s best squad. Heeney’s 46-goal season would be well worth a small forward position, but he faces a fight with Stengle and Cameron for spots; while midfielders Warner and Mills could easily crack the 22, though Warner would seem to be a better chance in years to come.
Papley’s season as a forward-midfielder was good enough that he has still been named despite missing the first six rounds of the season through injury; but comeback king McCartin’s incredible return from the concussion woes that saw the former number one draft pick’s time at St Kilda end haven’t been enough for a spot, despite finishing second in the AFL for intercept marks in 2022.
Players named: Tom Barrass.
Biggest snub: Josh Kennedy.
Let’s be honest – it was Barrass and then daylight as the Eagles’ best player in a season from the blackest depths of hell. That the key defender isn’t just a contender for a spot in the 22, but is arguably the frontrunner for the full back spot, says plenty about his incredible campaign, particularly towards the back end of the season.
He was never going to be picked, but Kennedy’s effort to bag 37 goals – including a farewell haul of eight – in a team getting regularly belted, all the while practically on one leg, was an extraordinary performance.
Players named: Marcus Bontempelli, Jack Macrae.
Biggest snub: Bailey Dale.
That the Dogs sneaked into finals at the last minute doesn’t take away from a disappointing season, and as such, they are thinly represented for spots in the 44-man squad.
Dale’s great start to the season at half-back, averaging nearly 27 disposals at 81.1 per cent efficiency, could have seen him named – but the only Dog in contention for a place in the final 22 is captain Bontempelli.
Despite a lean season by his lofty standards, Bontempelli has still averaged a goal a game, is fourth in the AFL for inside 50s and fifth for score involvements, despite missing a game – only Petracca is ahead of him on both counts.
Only time will tell, however, whether the Bont adds a fifth All-Australian blazer to his trophy cabinet.
Backs: Tom Barrass (West Coast), Steven May (Melbourne), James Sicily (Hawthorn)
Half-backs: Adam Saad (Carlton), Sam Taylor (GWS), Angus Brayshaw (Melbourne)
Centres: Andrew Brayshaw (Fremantle), Clayton Oliver (Melbourne), Touk Miller (Gold Coast)
Half-forwards: Christian Petracca (Melbourne), Jeremy Cameron (Geelong), Shai Bolton (Richmond)
Forwards: Isaac Heeney (Sydney), Tom Hawkins (Geelong), Charlie Curnow (Carlton)
Followers: Max Gawn (Melbourne, vice-captain), Patrick Cripps (Carlton, captain), Lachie Neale (Brisbane)
Interchange: Tom Lynch (Richmond), Callum Mills (Sydney), Marcus Bontempelli (Western Bulldogs), Jack Sinclair (St Kilda)
Medi-sub (just for fun): Tyson Stengle (Geelong)
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