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 panel

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

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]

ClubTotalPlayer(s)
Adelaide1Rory Laird
Brisbane Lions2Harris Andrews, Dayne Beams
Carlton1Patrick Cripps
Collingwood4Jordan De Goey, Brodie Grundy, Scott Pendlebury, Steele Sidebottom
Essendon1Devon Smith
Fremantle1Lachie Neale
Geelong4Mark Blicavs, Patrick Dangerfield, Tom Hawkins, Tom Stewart
Gold Coast0
Greater Western Sydney2Callan Ward, Lachie Whitfield
Hawthorn3Luke Breust, Jack Gunston, Tom Mitchell
Melbourne2Max Gawn, Clayton Oliver
North Melbourne2Ben Brown, Shaun Higgins
Port Adelaide2Robbie Gray, Tom Jonas
Richmond8Josh Caddy, Trent Cotchin, Shane Edwards, Dylan Grimes, Kane Lambert, Dustin Martin, Alex Rance, Jack Riewoldt
St Kilda0
Sydney2Lance Franklin, Jake Lloyd
West Coast4Andrew Gaff, Shannon Hurn, Jeremy McGovern, Elliot Yeo
Western Bulldogs1Jack Macrae

Final team

Minor premiers Richmond had the most selections with four. Sydney forward Lance Franklin, who achieved selection for a 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]

2018 All-Australian team
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.

References