2018 All-Australian team
The 2018 Virgin Australia All-Australian team represents the best performed Australian Football League (AFL) players during the 2018 season. It was announced on 29 August as a complete Australian rules football team of 22 players. The team is honorary and does not play any games.
Selection process
The selection panel for the 2018 All-Australian team consisted of chairman Gillon McLachlan, Kevin Bartlett, Luke Darcy, Danny Frawley, Steve Hocking, Glen Jakovich, Chris Johnson, Cameron Ling, Matthew Richardson and Warren Tredrea.[1]
Team
Minor premiers Richmond had the most selections with four. Sydney forward Lance Franklin, who achieved selection for the record-equalling eighth time, was announced as the All-Australian captain, with Geelong midfielder and six-time All-Australian Patrick Dangerfield announced as vice-captain. The team saw ten players selected in an All-Australian team for the first time in their careers and included only four players from clubs not competing in that year's finals series.[2]
| B: | Tom Stewart (Geelong) | Alex Rance (Richmond) | Rory Laird (Adelaide) |
| HB: | Shannon Hurn (West Coast) | Jeremy McGovern (West Coast) | Lachie Whitfield (Greater Western Sydney) |
| C: | Andrew Gaff (West Coast) | Dustin Martin (Richmond) | Steele Sidebottom (Collingwood) |
| HF: | Patrick Dangerfield (Geelong) (vice-captain) | Lance Franklin (Sydney) (captain) | Robbie Gray (Port Adelaide) |
| F: | Jack Gunston (Hawthorn) | Jack Riewoldt (Richmond) | Luke Breust (Hawthorn) |
| Foll: | Max Gawn (Melbourne) | Patrick Cripps (Carlton) | Tom Mitchell (Hawthorn) |
| Int: | Brodie Grundy (Collingwood) | Clayton Oliver (Melbourne) | Shaun Higgins (North Melbourne) |
| Shane Edwards (Richmond) | |||
| Coach: | Adam Simpson (West Coast) | ||
Note: the position of coach in the All-Australian team is traditionally awarded to the coach of the premiership team.
Initial squad
The initial 40-man All-Australian squad was announced on 27 August. Minor premiers Richmond had the most players selected in the initial squad with eight, while Gold Coast and St Kilda were the only clubs not to have a single player nominated in the squad.[1]
- Adelaide: Rory Laird
- Brisbane Lions: Harris Andrews, Dayne Beams
- Carlton: Patrick Cripps
- Collingwood: Jordan De Goey, Brodie Grundy, Scott Pendlebury, Steele Sidebottom
- Essendon: Devon Smith
- Fremantle: Lachie Neale
- Geelong: Mark Blicavs, Patrick Dangerfield, Tom Hawkins, Tom Stewart
- Gold Coast: N/A
- Greater Western Sydney: Callan Ward, Lachie Whitfield
- Hawthorn: Luke Breust, Jack Gunston, Tom Mitchell
- Melbourne: Max Gawn, Clayton Oliver
- North Melbourne: Ben Brown, Shaun Higgins
- Port Adelaide: Robbie Gray, Tom Jonas
- Richmond: Josh Caddy, Trent Cotchin, Shane Edwards, Dylan Grimes, Kane Lambert, Dustin Martin, Alex Rance, Jack Riewoldt
- St Kilda: N/A
- Sydney: Lance Franklin, Jake Lloyd
- West Coast: Andrew Gaff, Shannon Hurn, Jeremy McGovern, Elliot Yeo
- Western Bulldogs: Jack Macrae
References
- Beveridge, Riley (27 August 2018). "Revealed: The All Australian squad for 2018". afl.com.au. Retrieved 27 August 2018.
- Beveridge, Riley (29 August 2018). "Shock skipper as All Australian team revealed". afl.com.au. Retrieved 29 August 2018.