The All-Australian team is an all-star team of Australian rules footballers, selected by a panel at the end of each Australian Football League (AFL) season. It represents a complete team, including an interchange bench, of the best-performed players during the season, traditionally led by that season's premiership coach.
The concept of an All-Australian team originated as recognition of performance in interstate football. They were named after each Australian National Football Carnival, beginning with the 1953 Adelaide Carnival. In the 1980s All-Australian teams were named annually to recognise the best performers in State of Origin series. Following the AFL's expansion to a national competition with teams in multiple states, the first AFL All-Australian team was named in 1991.
Despite the name's implication, the All-Australian team is usually ceremonial in modern times. 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.
From 1998 to 2004, the Australian international rules team was mainly composed of All-Australians, and from 2005 to 2013 the team for the annual International Rules Series was selected according to the quite different requirements of International rules football. 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 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 (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 2023 All-Australian selection panel consists of chairperson Gillon McLachlan, Kevin Bartlett, Eddie Betts, Jude Bolton, Nathan Buckley, Kane Cornes, Andrew Dillon, Glen Jakovich, Laura Kane, Cameron Ling, and Matthew Pavlich.
In addition to the senior All-Australian team, each year an All-Australian line-up is announced based on the AFL National Under 18 Championships and the AFL National Under 16 Championships. The following lists are for senior teams only.
Members of the All-Australian team are awarded a team blazer, reminiscent of the formal wear traditionally worn by travelling members of national sports teams. Blazers have become synonymous with the identity of the honour.
Teams
AFL era: 1991–present
2026
2025
2024
2023
Notes: Despite winning the Brownlow Medal for the second time, Lachie Neale was not selected in the team, but was included in the initial 44 man squad.
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
Notes: Despite winning the Brownlow Medal, Matt Priddis was not selected in the team, but was selected in the initial squad of 40 like Sam Mitchell and Jack Riewoldt were two years earlier.
2013
2012
Notes: Despite being awarded the Brownlow Medal retrospectively alongside Trent Cotchin over four years later in November 2016, Sam Mitchell was not selected in the team. However, he was selected in the initial squad of 40. Cotchin was named in the team alongside Jobe Watson, who received the most Brownlow votes and was initially awarded the medal before being stripped of it due to the Essendon supplements saga. Despite winning the Coleman Medal, Jack Riewoldt was also not selected in the team. He, too, was selected in the initial squad of 40.
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
Notes: For the first occasion, a preliminary squad of 40 was announced. With nine players selected, set a record for most players from one club in an All-Australian team, a record which stands to this day.
2006
2005
Notes: Despite winning the Coleman Medal, Fraser Gehrig was not selected in the team.
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
Notes: Despite winning the Brownlow Medal and club best and fairest in a grand final year, Shane Woewodin was not selected in the team. Notably three Adelaide midfielders were selected despite that club missing the finals with a 9–13 win–loss record, although none of the three selected were positioned in midfield or onballer positions.
1999
Notes: Despite winning the Coleman Medal, 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. Indeed, premiership-winning coach Malcolm Blight was not included in the team.
1997
1996
1995
1994
1993
1992
1991
Notes: Despite winning that season's Grand Final, Hawthorn did not supply one player in the team of the year.
VFL/AFL Team of the Year: 1982–1990 The AFL website recognises players who were named in the VFL/AFL Team of the Year from 1982 to 1990 as having All-Australian status. This was a team picked by Victorian selectors. Teams were named every season from 1982 to 1990, except 1985.
1990
1989
1988
1987
1986
1984
1983
1982
Australian Football Carnival era: 1953–1988 State of origin era
1988 1988 All-Australian Team"Boos Greet Salmon's Medal" The Australian, 7 March 1988 p. 25 Adelaide Bicentennial Carnival Name State/League Club Terry Daniher New South Wales Essendon David Murphy New South Wales Sydney Michael Long Northern Territory St Mary's Michael McLean Northern Territory Footscray Maurice Rioli Northern Territory St Mary's Tony Hall South Australia Glenelg Danny Hughes South Australia Melbourne Stephen Kernahan South Australia Carlton (captain) Martin Leslie South Australia Port Adelaide Bruce Lindner South Australia Geelong Tony McGuinness South Australia Footscray Mark Mickan South Australia Brisbane Bears John Platten South Australia Hawthorn Greg Whittlesea South Australia Sturt Graham Cornes South Australia Glenelg (coach) Terry Wallace Victorian Football Association Richmond Danny Frawley Victorian Football League St Kilda Gerard Healy Victorian Football League Sydney Simon Madden Victorian Football League Essendon Paul Roos Victorian Football League Fitzroy Paul Salmon Victorian Football League Essendon Dale Weightman Victorian Football League Richmond Steve Malaxos Western Australia West Coast
1987 1987 All-Australian Team"Croweaters Rewarded For Title Success" The Australian, 24 July 1987, p. 24 Name State/League Current Club Matthew Campbell South Australia Brisbane Bears Andrew Jarman South Australia North Adelaide Bruce Lindner South Australia Geelong Chris McDermott South Australia Glenelg (captain) Mark Naley South Australia Carlton John Platten South Australia Hawthorn Matt Rendell South Australia Fitzroy Andrew Rogers South Australia Woodville Scott Salisbury South Australia Glenelg Graham Cornes South Australia Glenelg (coach) Andrew Bews Victoria Geelong Gerard Healy Victoria Sydney Chris Langford Victoria Hawthorn Simon Madden Victoria Essendon Russell Morris Victoria Hawthorn Paul Roos Victoria Fitzroy Paul Salmon Victoria Essendon Bernard Toohey Victoria Sydney Greg Williams Victoria Sydney Mark Bairstow Western Australia Geelong Craig Holden Western Australia Sydney Phil Narkle Western Australia West Coast
1986 1986 All-Australian Team Name State of Origin Current Club Michael Aish South Australia Norwood Craig Bradley South Australia Carlton Andrew Jarman South Australia North Adelaide Stephen Kernahan South Australia Carlton Chris McDermott South Australia Glenelg Mark Naley South Australia South Adelaide John Platten South Australia Hawthorn Gerard Healy Victoria Sydney Brian Royal Victoria Footscray Kevin Walsh Victoria Essendon Dale Weightman Victoria Richmond Greg Williams Victoria Sydney Gary Buckenara Western Australia Hawthorn Brad Hardie Western Australia Footscray Laurie Keene Western Australia Subiaco Andrew Macnish Western Australia Subiaco Steve Malaxos Western Australia Claremont Michael Mitchell Western Australia Claremont Phil Narkle Western Australia St Kilda Brian Peake Western Australia East Fremantle (captain) Maurice Rioli Western Australia Richmond Robert Wiley Western Australia Perth Peter Wilson Western Australia East Fremantle Ron Alexander Western Australia East Fremantle (coach)
1985 1985 All-Australian Teamhttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=gVBVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=iJUDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6254%2C1398581 The Age, 18 July 1985, p. 30 Coach: Kevin Sheedy Name State Club Malcolm Blight South Australia Woodville Craig Bradley South Australia Port Adelaide Stephen Kernahan South Australia Glenelg Peter Motley South Australia Sturt John Platten South Australia Central District Dermott Brereton Victoria Hawthorn Terry Daniher Victoria Essendon (captain) Garry Foulds Victoria Essendon Russell Greene Victoria Hawthorn Mark Harvey Victoria Essendon Mark Lee Victoria Richmond Roger Merrett Victoria Essendon Gary Pert Victoria Fitzroy Geoff Raines Victoria Collingwood Paul Roos Victoria Fitzroy Dale Weightman Victoria Richmond Leon Baker Western Australia Essendon Gary Buckenara Western Australia Hawthorn Rod Lester-Smith Western Australia Hawthorn Michael Mitchell Western Australia Claremont
1983 1983 All-Australian Team Coach: John Todd Name State Club Michael Aish South Australia Norwood Craig Bradley South Australia Port Adelaide Stephen Curtis South Australia Port Adelaide Tony Giles South Australia Port Adelaide Peter Motley South Australia Sturt Matt Rendell South Australia Fitzroy Craig Williams South Australia West Adelaide Terry Daniher Victoria Essendon Robert Flower Victoria Melbourne Keith Greig Victoria North Melbourne Mark Lee Victoria Richmond Simon Madden Victoria Essendon Stephen McCann Victoria North Melbourne Michael Tuck Victoria Hawthorn Gary Buckenara Western Australia Hawthorn Ross Glendinning Western Australia North Melbourne Stephen Michael Western Australia South Fremantle (captain) Mike Richardson Western Australia Collingwood Maurice Rioli Western Australia Richmond Kevin Taylor Western Australia East Fremantle
1980 1980 All-Australian Team Adelaide Carnival