Todd Goldstein, Drew Petrie, Andrew Swallow and Daniel Wells are all chances to win their first All-Australian honours having been named in the squad of 40 on Tuesday.
Facing strong competition for the number-one ruck spot, Goldstein finished the season as the league's leading hit-out winner.
Just getting back out on the field was an achievement in itself for Drew Petrie but by year's end, he had some fine individual performances and won games off his own boot.
Petrie's tally of 48 goals ranks him in the top ten and he also averaged six marks a game.
For Swallow it could be a case of second-time lucky following his first nomination in 2010. With 148 clearances, he ranked third in the AFL and averaged a career-high disposal average of more than 25 a match. Highlighting his work going both ways was the fact he finished fifth for tackles.
In arguably his best year since his debut back in 2003, Daniel Wells was another who at times, dragged his team over the line when games were in the balance.
A quiet patch towards the end of the year did little to overshadow a wonderful season and he averaged 24 disposals, got the ball into his forwards more than 100 times and even slipped forward to kick 17 goals.
The final team of 22 will be announced on Monday September 19.
The nominees:
Todd Goldstein, North Melbourne. Never previously selected.
21 games in 2011. 151 kicks, 73 marks, 137 handballs, averaging 7.2 kicks, 3.5 marks, 659 handballs. 13 goals six behinds. 741 hits outs averaging 35.3 per game. 84 clearances, 52 inside 50m, 19 rebound 50m.
Drew Petrie, North Melbourne. Never Previously selected.
21 games in 2011. 222 kicks, 129 marks, 72 handballs, averaging 10.6 kicks, 6.1 marks, 3.4 handballs. 48 goals 41 behinds. 98 hit outs averaging 4.7 per game. 22 clearances, 41 inside 50m, five rebound 50m.
Andrew Swallow, North Melbourne. Never Previously selected.
22 games in 2011. 268 kicks, 69 marks, 294 handballs, averaging 12.2 kicks, 3.1 marks, 13.4 handballs. 11 goals seven behinds. 148 clearances (third in the AFL), 95 inside 50m, 40 rebound 50m.
Daniel Wells, North Melbourne. Never previously selected.
22 games in 2011. 312 kicks, 80 marks, 180 handballs, averaging 14.9 kicks, 3.8 marks, 8.6 handballs. 17 goals 15 behinds. 94 clearances, 101 inside 50m, 37 rebound 50m.
Scott Thompson, Adelaide. Never previously selected.
22 games in 2011. 343 kicks, 94 marks, 330 handballs (second in the AFL), averaging 15.6 kicks, 4.3 marks, 15.0 handballs. Second in the AFL in total disposals. eight goals, six behinds. 136 clearances, 84 inside 50m, 46 rebound 50m
Eddie Betts, Carlton. Never previously selected.
22 games in 2011. 161 kicks, 84 marks, 113 handballs, averaging 7.3 kicks, 3.8 marks, 5.1 handballs. 45 goals 19 behinds. 16 clearances, 38 inside 50m, one rebound 50m
Chris Judd, Carlton. Previously selected 2004, 2006, 2008 (captain), 2009, 2010.
22 games in 2011. 281 kicks, 64 marks, 316 handballs (fourth in the AFL), averaging 12.8 kicks, 2.9 marks, 14.4 handballs. 13 goals 15 behinds. 148 clearances (fourth in the AFL), 101 inside 50m, 28 rebound 50m.
Marc Murphy, Carlton. Never Previously selected.
22 games in 2011. 356 kicks, 102 marks, 283 handballs, averaging 16.2 kicks, 4.6 marks, 12.9 handballs. fourth in the AFL in total disposals. 19 goals 10 behinds. 117 clearances, 99 inside 50m, 38 rebound 50m.
Heath Scotland, Carlton. Never Previously selected.
22 games in 2011. 324 kicks, 150 marks (fourth in the AFL), 249 handballs, averaging 14.7 kicks, 6.8 marks, 11.3 handballs. four goals four behinds. 52 clearances, 86 inside 50m, 51 rebound 50m.
Travis Cloke, Collingwood. Never previously selected.
22 games in 2011. 281 kicks, 170 marks (equal first in the AFL), 69 handballs, averaging 12.8 kicks, 7.7 marks, 3.1 handballs. 62 goals (second in the AFL) 43 behinds. six clearances, 111 inside 50m (fifth in the AFL), two rebound 50m
Leon Davis, Collingwood. Previously selected 2009.
18 games in 2011. 283 kicks, 72 marks, 103 handballs, averaging 15.7 kicks, 4.0 marks, 5.7 handballs. six goals eight behinds. 21 clearances, 52 inside 50m, 80 rebound 50m
Scott Pendlebury, Collingwood. Previously selected 2010.
22 games in 2011. 328 kicks, 95 marks, 311 handballs (fifth in the AFL), averaging 14.9 kicks, 4.3 marks, 14.1 handballs. 24 goals eight behinds. 111 clearances, 92 inside 50m, 27 rebound 50m.
Ben Reid, Collingwood. Never previously selected.
22 games in 2011. 230 kicks, 156 marks (third in the AFL), 118 handballs, averaging 10.4 kicks, 7.1 marks, 5.4 handballs. one goal zero behinds. four clearances, 31 inside 50m, 84 rebound 50m.
Dane Swan, Collingwood. Previously selected 2009, 2010.
21 games in 2011. 419 kicks (first in the AFL), 117 marks, 246 handballs, averaging 20.0 kicks, 5.6 marks, 11.7 handballs. Third in the AFL in total disposals. 30 goals 21 behinds. 123 clearances, 109 inside 50m, 38 rebound 50m.
Dale Thomas, Collingwood. Never previously selected.
19 games in 2011. 309 kicks, 118 marks, 168 handballs, averaging 16.3 kicks, 6.2 marks, 8.8 handballs. 13 goals, 13 behinds. 64 clearances, 77 inside 50m, 40 rebound 50m
Nat Fyfe, Fremantle. Never previously selected.
21 games in 2011. 253 kicks, 111 marks, 274 handballs, averaging 12.0 kicks, 5.3 marks, 13.0 handballs. 18 goals 14 behinds. 75 clearances, 79 inside 50m, 33 rebound 50m
Luke McPharlin, Fremantle. Never previously selected.
20 games in 2011. 191 kicks, 129 marks, 116 handballs, averaging 9.6 kicks, 6.4 marks, 5.8 handballs. one goal, one behind. six clearances, 10 inside 50m, 65 rebound 50m
Corey Enright, Geelong. Previously selected 2008, 2009, 2010.
20 games in 2011. 297 kicks, 135 marks, 172 handballs, averaging 14.8 kicks, 6.8 marks, 8.6 handballs. one goal zero behinds. 17 clearances, 51 inside 50m, 71 rebound 50m.
Steve Johnson, Geelong. Previously selected 2007, 2008, 2010.
20 games in 2011. 276 kicks, 130 marks, 182 handballs, averaging 13.8 kicks, 6.5 marks, 9.1 handballs. 44 goals 29 behinds. 50 clearances, 77 inside 50m, 23 rebound 50m.
James Kelly, Geelong. Never previously selected.
21 games in 2011. 272 kicks, 53 marks, 239 handballs, averaging 13.0 kicks, 2.5 marks, 11.4 handballs. five goals 10 behinds. 90 clearances, 92 inside 50m, 31 rebound 50m.
Matthew Scarlett, Geelong. Previously selected 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2009.
19 games in 2011. 196 kicks, 102 marks, 137 handballs, averaging 10.3 kicks, 5.4 marks, 7.2 handballs. one goal, one behind. three clearances, 23 inside 50m, 63 rebound 50m.
Joel Selwood, Geelong. Previously selected 2009, 2010.
17 games in 2011. 249 kicks, 74 marks, 196 handballs, averaging 14.6 kicks, 4.4 marks, 11.5 handballs. 12 goals 12 behinds. 87 clearances, 97 inside 50m, 24 rebound 50m.
Harry Taylor, Geelong. Never Previously selected.
21 games in 2011. 184 kicks, 129 marks, 131 handballs, averaging 8.8 kicks, 6.1 marks, 6.2 handballs. zero goals two behinds. five clearances, 16 inside 50m, 52 rebound 50m.
Gary Ablett, Gold Coast. Previously selected 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 (vice-captain).
20 games in 2011. 304 kicks, 45 marks, 301 handballs, averaging 15.2 kicks, 2.2 marks, 15.0 handballs. 18 goals 17 behinds. 133 clearances, 99 inside 50m, 62 rebound 50m.
Grant Birchall, Hawthorn. Never previously selected.
21 games in 2011. 302 kicks, 147 marks (fifth in the AFL), 197 handballs, averaging 14.4 kicks, 7.0 marks, 9.4 handballs. three goals seven behinds. 11 clearances, 44 inside 50m, 56 rebound 50m.
Lance Franklin, Hawthorn. Previously selected 2008, 2010.
19 games in 2011. 226 kicks, 118 marks, 139 handballs, averaging 11.9 kicks, 6.2 marks, 7.3handballs. 71 goals (first in the AFL) 54 behinds. 15 clearances, 53 inside 50m, seven rebound 50m.
Josh Gibson, Hawthorn. Never previously selected.
22 games in 2011. 210 kicks, 111 marks, 164 handballs, averaging 9.6 kicks, 5.0 marks, 7.4 handballs. zero goals zero behinds. five clearances, 11 inside 50m, 60 rebound 50m.
Sam Mitchell, Hawthorn. Never previously selected.
20 games in 2011. 361 kicks (fifth in the AFL), 88 marks, 261 handballs, averaging 18.0 kicks, 4.4 marks, 13.0 handballs. Fifth in the AFL in total disposals. 11 goals six behinds. 115 clearances, 95 inside 50m, 32 rebound 50m.
Brett Deledio, Richmond. Never previously selected.
22 games in 2011. 281 kicks, 91 marks, 282 handballs, averaging 12.8 kicks, 4.1 marks, 12.8 handballs. Nine goals 11 behinds. 56 clearances, 85 inside 50m, 82 rebound 50m (fifth in the AFL).
Nick Dal Santo, St Kilda. Previously selected 2005, 2009.
22 games in 2011. 320 kicks, 74 marks, 262 handballs, averaging 14.6 kicks, 3.4 marks, 11.9 handballs. 13 goals eight behinds. 111 clearances, 76 inside 50m, 67 rebound 50m.
Sam Fisher, St Kilda. Never previously selected.
22 games in 2011. 277 kicks, 146 marks, 188 handballs, averaging 12.6 kicks, 6.6 marks, 8.6 handballs. two goals three behinds. 17 clearances, 43 inside 50m, 70 rebound 50m.
Stephen Milne, St Kilda. Never previously selected.
22 games in 2011. 220 kicks, 90 marks, 74 handballs, averaging 10.0 kicks, 4.1 marks, 3.4 handballs. 55 goals (fourth in the AFL) 32 behinds. 21 clearances, 64 inside 50m, 13 rebound 50m.
Adam Goodes, Sydney Swans. Previously selected 2003, 2006, 2009.
22 games in 2011. 293 kicks, 138 marks, 173 handballs, averaging 13.3 kicks, 6.3 marks, 7.9 handballs. 36 goals 31 behinds. 69 clearances, 124 inside 50m (second in the AFL), 12 rebound 50m.
Dean Cox, West Coast. Previously selected 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008.
22 games in 2011. 249 kicks, 128 marks, 154 handballs, averaging 11.3 kicks, 5.8 marks, 7.0 handballs. 19 goals 17 behinds. 657 hit outs averaging 29.9 hit outs per game. 85 clearances, 58 inside 50m, 24 rebound 50m.
Andrew Embley, West Coast. Never previously selected.
21 games in 2011. 274 kicks, 102 marks, 185 handballs, averaging 13.0 kicks, 4.9 marks, 8.8 handballs. 17 goals 17 behinds. 44 clearances, 94 inside 50m, 39 rebound 50m.
Darren Glass, West Coast. Previously selected 2006, 2007.
21 games in 2011. 115 kicks, 84 marks, 122 handballs, averaging 5.5 kicks, 4.0 marks, 5.8 handballs. zero goals zero behinds. four clearances, four inside 50m, 40 rebound 50m.
Josh Kennedy, West Coast. Never previously selected.
20 games in 2011. 186 kicks, 129 marks, 53 handballs, averaging 9.3 kicks, 6.4 marks, 2.6 handballs. 52 goals 33 behinds. four clearances, 60 inside 50m, zero rebound 50m.
Matt Priddis, West Coast. Never previously selected.
22 games in 2011. 242 kicks, 73 marks, 344 handballs (first in the AFL), averaging 11.0 kicks, 3.3 marks, 15.6 handballs. seven goals five behinds. 137 clearances, 80 inside 50m, 24 rebound 50m.
Matthew Boyd, Western Bulldogs. Previously selected 2009.
22 games in 2011. 398 kicks (second in the AFL, 85 marks, 303 handballs, averaging 18.1 kicks, 3.9 marks, 13.8 handballs. First in the AFL in total disposals. eight goals five behinds. 154 clearances (first in the AFL), 115 inside 50m (fourth in the AFL), 75 rebound 50m.
Robert Murphy, Western Bulldogs. Never previously selected.
21 games in 2011. 306 kicks, 77 marks, 128 handballs, averaging 14.6 kicks, 3.7 marks, 6.1 handballs. six goals four behinds. 10 clearances, 44 inside 50m, 111 rebound 50m (third in the AFL).
