The highly-scrutinised All-Australian team will be unveiled on Tuesday night as part of a mega AFL awards night that will celebrate the league’s best players.
The 44-man squad, announced earlier this week, will be halved and a 22-man team unveiled at the climax of the AFL Awards night, which will take place at Centrepiece in Melbourne.
The awards show will be broadcast live and exclusively on Fox Footy — via Foxtel and Kayo Sports — from 7.30pm (AEST).
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Giants forward Jesse Hogan is the biggest All-Australian certainty after claiming this year’s Coleman Medal.
Swans star Errol Gulden is also expected to occupy one of the wing spots, but whether selectors opt for the only other pure wingman — Hawthorn’s Massimo D’Ambrosio — or another midfielder on the opposite side remains to be seen.
Dual All-Australian David King said he’s keen to see D’Ambrosio rewarded, but fears selectors will instead opt for an on-baller on the wing.
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“I’ll guarantee they’ll put a wingman in that has played one per cent wing for the year,” King told Fox Footy’s AFL 360 on Wednesday night.
“What is that? Let’s just list the top 25 performed players and not put them in position if we’re going to do that.”
Melbourne star Max Gawn has the chance to become a seven-time All-Australian, but will have competition from first-time squad members Tristan Xerri (North Melbourne) and Darcy Cameron (Collingwood) for the starting ruck spot.
There’ll also be ample intrigue around the backline, with key defenders Harris Andrews (Brisbane), Jeremy McGovern (West Coast), Jacob Weitering (Carlton), James Sicily (Hawthorn) and Luke Ryan (Fremantle) all vying for spots.
Weitering on Monday night made the All-Australian squad for a fifth consecutive season, but has never previously made the final 22-man team.
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Dual All-Australian Leigh Montagna said Weitering deserved to be selected this year.
“He doesn’t have the sexy offensive numbers, but he’s the best one-on-one player in the competition of losing one-on-ones … and he only had 34 goals kicked on him in 21 games playing as that No. 1 defender,” Montagna told AFL 360.
Elsewhere, Geelong’s Ollie Dempsey is the hot favourite to be named the AFL Rising Star.
The AFL Players’ Association awards will also be presented, including the Leigh Matthews Trophy for the Most Valuable Player. And the 2024 AFL Coaches Association Champion Player of the Year will be crowned.
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