The 2021 All-Australian team represents the best performed Australian Football League (AFL) players during the 2021 season. It was announced on 26 August as a complete Australian rules football team of 22 players. The team is honorary and does not play any games.
Selection panel
editThe selection panel for the 2021 All-Australian team consisted of chairman Gillon McLachlan, Kevin Bartlett, Jude Bolton, Andrew Dillon, Glen Jakovich, Chris Johnson, Cameron Ling, Matthew Richardson, Nick Riewoldt and Warren Tredrea.[1]
Team
editInitial squad
editThe initial 40-man All-Australian squad was announced on 21 August. Minor premiers Melbourne had the most players selected in the initial squad with seven, while the Brisbane Lions had five. Collingwood, North Melbourne and Richmond were the only clubs not to have a single player nominated in the squad. Seven players from the 2020 team were among those selected.[1]
Final team
editMelbourne had the most selections with five, with twelve clubs represented overall. Melbourne captain Max Gawn was announced as the All-Australian captain, with Western Bulldogs captain Marcus Bontempelli announced as vice-captain. The team saw eleven players selected in an All-Australian team for the first time in their careers, while seven players from the 2020 team were among those selected.[2][3][4]
| B: | Jake Lever (Melbourne) | Steven May (Melbourne) | Tom Stewart (Geelong) |
| HB: | Daniel Rich (Brisbane Lions) | Aliir Aliir (Port Adelaide) | Bailey Dale (Western Bulldogs) |
| C: | Zach Merrett (Essendon) | Ollie Wines (Port Adelaide) | Sam Walsh (Carlton) |
| HF: | Marcus Bontempelli (Western Bulldogs) (vice-captain) | Tom Hawkins (Geelong) | Christian Petracca (Melbourne) |
| F: | Toby Greene (Greater Western Sydney) | Harry McKay (Carlton) | Tom Papley (Sydney) |
| Foll: | Max Gawn (Melbourne) (captain) | Jack Macrae (Western Bulldogs) | Clayton Oliver (Melbourne) |
| Int: | Darcy Parish (Essendon) | Nic Naitanui (West Coast) | Touk Miller (Gold Coast) |
| Jack Steele (St Kilda) | | ||
| Coach: | Simon Goodwin (Melbourne) | ||
Note: the position of coach in the All-Australian team is traditionally awarded to the coach of the premiership team.
References
edit- ^ a b "40-person squad for Therabody All-Australian team named". afl.com.au. 21 August 2021. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
- ^ Whiting, Michael (26 August 2021). "ALL-AUSTRALIAN TEAM: Dees dominate, 11 new faces, first-time captain". afl.com.au. Retrieved 27 August 2021.
- ^ Laughton, Max (26 August 2021). "Demons' stunning 10-year All-Australian first as entire position ignored AGAIN: AFL Awards wrap". Fox Sports (Australia). Retrieved 27 August 2021.
- ^ Bruce, Jasper (26 August 2021). "AFL Awards: Max Gawn named skipper of 2021 All-Australian Team". News.com.au. Retrieved 27 August 2021.