THE AFL wishes to advise the All Australian selection panel has confirmed the 40-man squad that is in contention for selection for the 2019 Virgin Australia AFL All Australian Team.
Under the format introduced in 2007, the All Australian selectors were not asked to nominate the leading players in each section of the field – forwards, defenders and midfielders / ruckmen – but simply to name the best players of the season.
However, the final team of 22, to be named later this week on Wednesday August 28 in Melbourne, is selected as if to play a match.
Reigning premiers the West Coast Eagles (seven) led the competition with the most representatives in this year’s squad, with 15 different clubs having at least one player nominated from their list.
A total of 20 players were nominated for a potential first-ever All Australian selection while nine players from last year's best team were again nominated as potential selections this year – Patrick Cripps, Brodie Grundy, Patrick Dangerfield, Tom Stewart, Max Gawn, Dustin Martin, Andrew Gaff, Shannon Hurn and Jeremy McGovern.