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The All-Australian team is an all-star team of
Australian rules football Australian football, also called Australian rules football or Aussie rules, or more simply football or footy, is a contact sport played between two teams of 18 players on an oval field, often a modified cricket ground. Points are scored by k ...
ers, selected by a panel at the end of each season. It represents a complete team, including an interchange bench, of the best-performed players during the season, led by that season's premiership coach. Despite its nature, the All-Australian team is only ceremonial. Though the AFL played an All-Star match in 2020, it was the first in 12 years, and the difference in skill level between the All-Australian team and the nearest international competitor is currently too large for any contest to be competitive. Despite this, some of these players have represented Australia in AFL Academy junior teams up to the age of 18, as more than two-thirds of all AFL Academy representatives have gone on to play at senior AFL level.Selection to the AIS/AFL Academy
/ref> From 1998 to 2004, the
Australian international rules team :''This article concerns the men's team; for information on the Australian women's team, see Australia women's international rules football team.'' The Australia international rules football team is Australia's senior representative team in Inte ...
was mainly composed of All-Australians, and from 2005 to 2013 the team for the annual
International Rules Series The International Rules Series is a senior men's international rules football competition between the Australia international rules football team (selected by the Australian Football League) and the Ireland international rules football team (s ...
was selected according to the quite different requirements of
International rules football International rules football ( ga, Peil na rialacha idirnáisiunta; also known as international rules in Australia and compromise rules or Aussie rules in Ireland) is a team sport consisting of a hybrid of football codes, which was develope ...
. This change was reverted ahead of the 2014 series, with any player who had been selected at least once in ''any'' All-Australian team being eligible for selection.


History

The earliest concept considered to be a precursor to the All-Australian team was an annual team selected by ''Sporting Life'' magazine between 1947 and 1955. A panel of sportswriters at the magazine selected a full team of eighteen from all ANFC-affiliated competitions. For a time, AFL historians considered these teams to be official All-Australian teams, but no longer recognises them as such. The first official All-Australian team was selected in 1953, immediately after the Australian Football Carnival, which was held in
Adelaide Adelaide ( ) is the capital city of South Australia, the state's largest city and the fifth-most populous city in Australia. "Adelaide" may refer to either Greater Adelaide (including the Adelaide Hills) or the Adelaide city centre. The dem ...
on that occasion. Based solely upon performances at the carnival, the All-Australian team was selected by representatives of the various state teams. This tradition continued at all subsequent interstate carnivals until 1988. In 1991, following the VFL's conversion to a national competition and its renaming as the
Australian Football League The Australian Football League (AFL) is the only fully professional competition of Australian rules football. Through the AFL Commission, the AFL also serves as the sport's governing body and is responsible for controlling the laws of the gam ...
(AFL), an annual All-Australian team based on performances during the AFL premiership season was introduced. Since 1999, the All-Australian coach is the coach of the premiership-winning side that year. Prior to 2007, only the final selections in the All-Australian team were announced. Since 2007, the All-Australian selection committee has nominated the 40 leading players of the year in their playing positions at the conclusion of the home and away season, before announcing the final 22 at a later date during the All-Australian Presentation Dinner. The squad was increased to 44 in 2022. The current All-Australian selection panel consists of chairman
Gillon McLachlan Gillon McLachlan (born 1973) is the chief executive officer of the Australian Football League (AFL). He was appointed to the role in 2014, succeeding Andrew Demetriou, having previously served as his deputy. In 2022 he announced his resignation ...
,
Kane Cornes Kane Graham Cornes (born 5 January 1983) is a former Australian rules footballer who played for the Port Adelaide Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). Early life A product of Sacred Heart College and Glenelg in the SANFL, ...
,
Glen Jakovich Glen Darren Jakovich (born 24 March 1973) is a former Australian rules footballer who played for the West Coast Eagles in the Australian Football League (AFL). Jakovich was recruited from South Fremantle in the West Australian Football Leag ...
, Chris Johnson,
Cameron Ling Cameron Ling (born 27 February 1981) is a former Australian rules footballer who played for the Geelong Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). A tagger at and , Ling is a premiership-winning captain at the club. He is now a c ...
, Brad Scott,
Gerard Healy Gerard Healy (born 1 March 1961) is a former Australian rules footballer and commentator. Healy attended St Bede's College in Mentone, where he was the senior football captain. Gerard is a trained physiotherapist. VFL career Melbourne Dem ...
,
Nick Riewoldt Nicholas Fredrick Riewoldt ( ; born 17 October 1982) is a former Australian rules footballer who played for the St Kilda Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). He was the first draft selection in the 2000 AFL draft. He was the ...
,
Jude Bolton Jude Bolton (born 15 March 1980) is a former professional Australian rules football player who played for the Sydney Swans in the Australian Football League (AFL) between 1999 and 2013. Early life Growing up, he supported the St Kilda Footbal ...
, and Andrew Dillon. In addition to the senior All-Australian team, each year an All-Australian is announced based on the
AFL National Under 18 Championships The AFL Under-19 Championships (for sponsorship reasons, the NAB AFL Under-19 Championships) is an annual Australian national underage representative championship in Australian rules football tournament. It is seen as one of the main pathways ...
and the
AFL National Under 16 Championships Australian rules football is the most watched and attended sport and the second most participated code of football in Australia. Since originating in Victoria in 1858 and spreading elsewhere from 1866, it has been played continuously in every ...
. The following lists are for senior teams only.


Teams


AFL era: 1991–present


2022


2021


2020


2019


2018


2017


2016


2015


2014

Notes: * Despite winning the
Brownlow Medal The Charles Brownlow Trophy, better known as the Brownlow Medal (and informally as "Charlie"), is awarded to the " best and fairest" player in the Australian Football League (AFL) during the home-and-away season, as determined by votes cast by ...
,
Matt Priddis Matthew Harley Priddis (born 21 March 1985) is a former professional Australian rules footballer who played for the West Coast Eagles in the Australian Football League (AFL). Prior to being drafted, Priddis won two premierships with the Subia ...
was not selected in the team, but was selected in the initial squad of 40 like Sam Mitchell and
Jack Riewoldt Jack Riewoldt ( ; born 31 October 1988) is a professional Australian rules footballer who plays for the Richmond Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). He is a three-time premiership player, a three-time Coleman Medallist, a ...
were two years earlier.


2013

} •Despite winning the Coleman Medal, Jarryd Roughead was not named at full forward, the position he played all season.


2012

Notes:'' * Despite being awarded the
Brownlow Medal The Charles Brownlow Trophy, better known as the Brownlow Medal (and informally as "Charlie"), is awarded to the " best and fairest" player in the Australian Football League (AFL) during the home-and-away season, as determined by votes cast by ...
retrospectively alongside
Trent Cotchin Trent William Cotchin (born 7 April 1990) is an Australian rules footballer who plays for the Richmond Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). He is a Brownlow Medallist, an All-Australian, a three-time Richmond best and fairest ...
over four years later in November 2016, Sam Mitchell was not selected in the team, but was selected in the initial squad of 40. * Despite winning the
Coleman Medal The Coleman Medal is an Australian rules football award given annually to the Australian Football League (AFL) player who kicks the most goals in the home-and-away season. It is named after Essendon full-forward John Coleman, one of the most ...
,
Jack Riewoldt Jack Riewoldt ( ; born 31 October 1988) is a professional Australian rules footballer who plays for the Richmond Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). He is a three-time premiership player, a three-time Coleman Medallist, a ...
was also not selected in the team, but was selected in the initial squad of 40 as well.


2011


2010


2009


2008


2007

Notes: * For the first occasion, a preliminary squad of 40 was announced.


2006


2005


2004


2003


2002


2001


2000

Notes: * Despite winning the
Brownlow Medal The Charles Brownlow Trophy, better known as the Brownlow Medal (and informally as "Charlie"), is awarded to the " best and fairest" player in the Australian Football League (AFL) during the home-and-away season, as determined by votes cast by ...
and club best and fairest in a grand final year,
Shane Woewodin Shane Woewodin (born 12 July 1976) is a retired Australian rules football player who played 200 games with the Melbourne and Collingwood Football Clubs. He was the recipient of the Brownlow Medal in 2000. He formerly served as the Offensive ...
was not selected in the team. Notably three
Adelaide Adelaide ( ) is the capital city of South Australia, the state's largest city and the fifth-most populous city in Australia. "Adelaide" may refer to either Greater Adelaide (including the Adelaide Hills) or the Adelaide city centre. The dem ...
midfielders were selected despite that club missing the finals with a 9-13 win-loss record.


1999

Notes: * Despite winning the
Coleman Medal The Coleman Medal is an Australian rules football award given annually to the Australian Football League (AFL) player who kicks the most goals in the home-and-away season. It is named after Essendon full-forward John Coleman, one of the most ...
, Scott Cummings was not selected in the team.


1998

Notes: *1998 was the final season in which the coach of the All-Australian team was not necessarily the premiership coach.


1997


1996


1995


1994


1993


1992


1991

Notes: * Despite winning that season's
Grand Final Primarily in Australian sports, a grand final (sometimes colloquially abbreviated to "grannie") is a game that decides a sports league's premiership (or championship) winning team, i.e. the conclusive game of a finals (or play-off) series. Sy ...
,
Hawthorn Hawthorn or Hawthorns may refer to: Plants * '' Crataegus'' (hawthorn), a large genus of shrubs and trees in the family Rosaceae * ''Rhaphiolepis'' (hawthorn), a genus of about 15 species of evergreen shrubs and small trees in the family Rosace ...
did not supply one player in the team of the year.


VFL Team of the Year: 1982–1990

The AFL website recognizes players who were named in the VFL Team of the Year from 1982 to 1990 as having All-Australian status. This was a team picked by Victorian selectors.


Australian Football Carnival era: 1953–1988

;State of origin era


1988


1987


1986


1985


1983


1980


1979

;Pre-State of Origin era


1972


1969


1966


1961


1958


1956


1953


''Sporting Life'' Team of the Year: 1947–1955

These teams were once considered to be equivalent to All-Australian selection, but are no longer recognised as such.


1955


1954


1953


1952


1951


1950


1949


1948


1947


Records


Most times selected overall

Qualification: Selection in seven or more teams from 1953 to 2020. * 8 –
Gary Ablett Jr. Gary Ablett Jr. (born 14 May 1984) is a former professional Australian rules footballer who played for the Geelong Football Club and Gold Coast Suns in the Australian Football League (AFL). The eldest son of Australian Football Hall of Fam ...
, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 * 8 –
Patrick Dangerfield Patrick Dangerfield (born 5 April 1990) is an Australian rules footballer playing for the Geelong Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). He previously played for the Adelaide Football Club. Drafted by Adelaide in 2007, Dangerfi ...
, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 * 8 –
Lance Franklin Lance Franklin (born 30 January 1987), also known as Buddy Franklin, is a professional Australian rules footballer playing for the Sydney Swans in the Australian Football League (AFL). He previously played for the Hawthorn Football Club from 20 ...
, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018 * 8 – Robert Harvey , 1992, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2003 * 8 –
Mark Ricciuto Mark Anthony Ricciuto ( ; born 8 June 1975) is a former Australian rules footballer who played for the Adelaide Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). From Ramco, South Australia, Ricciuto started as a junior with the local Waike ...
, 1994, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 * 7 –
Craig Bradley Craig Edwin Bradley (born 23 October 1963) is a former Australian rules footballer and first-class cricketer. He is the games record holder at Carlton in the AFL/VFL, and in elite Australian rules football (the AFL/VFL, SANFL and WAFL). Early ...
, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997 * 7 –
Nathan Buckley Nathan Charles Buckley (born 26 July 1972) is a former professional Australian rules football coach, player and commentator. He is listed by journalist Mike Sheahan as one of the top 50 players of all time. Buckley won the inaugural Rising St ...
, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003 * 7 –
Wayne Carey Wayne Francis Carey (born 27 May 1971) is a former Australian rules footballer who played with the North Melbourne Football Club and Adelaide Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). A dual-premiership captain at North Melbou ...
, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000 * 7 – Paul Roos , 1985, 1987, 1988, 1991, 1992, 1996, 1997


Most times selected in Carnivals era

Qualification: Selection in three or more teams from 1953 to 1980 and 1988. * 4 – Jack Clarke (Western Australia / East Fremantle) , 1953, 1956, 1958, 1961 * 3 –
John Abley John Abley (18 October 1930 – 19 August 2011) was an Australian rules footballer who played with Port Adelaide in the South Australian National Football League (SANFL) between 1950 and 1961. Hawthorn reserves (1949) John Abley grew up in M ...
(South Australia / Port Adelaide) , 1956, 1958, 1961 * 3 –
Ron Barassi Ronald Dale Barassi Jr. (born 27 February 1936) is a former Australian rules footballer, coach and media personality. Regarded as one of the most important figures in the history of the game, Barassi was the first player to be inaugurated into ...
(Victoria / Melbourne) , 1956, 1958, 1961 * 3 – Jack Clarke (Victoria / Essendon) , 1953, 1956, 1958 * 3 –
Graham Farmer Graham Vivian "Polly" Farmer (10 March 1935 14 August 2019) was an Australian rules footballer who played for the Geelong Football Club in the Victorian Football League (VFL) and the East Perth Football Club and West Perth Football Club in th ...
(Western Australia / East Perth) , 1956, 1958, 1961 * 3 –
Ted Whitten Edward James Whitten Sr. OAM (27 July 1933 – 17 August 1995) was an Australian rules footballer who played for the Footscray Football Club in the Victorian Football League (VFL). Born and raised into a working-class family in Footscray, Whit ...
(Victoria / Footscray) , 1956, 1958, 1961


See also

*
AFL Women's All-Australian team The AFL Women's All-Australian team is an all-star team of women's Australian rules footballers playing in the AFL Women's (AFLW), selected by a panel at the end of each season. It represents a complete team, including interchange players and ...


References


External links


All-Australian Team on official AFL website
* Sporting Life Teams 1947–1955

* All-Australian Teams 1953–1988

* All-Australian Teams 1991–2004
Official AFL website
{{DEFAULTSORT:All Australian Australian Football League awards Australian rules football awards National Australian rules football teams Men's national sports teams of Australia