CHANGE has been a constant in the history of the game’s All Australian concept.

This 2016 Virgin Australia AFL All Australian team will be announced at a function in Melbourne on Thursday, September 1. The initial 40-player squad will be released on Sunday, August 28, at the completion of the final round 23 match. Here’s a quick look back at how the All Australian concept has evolved. 

The first known ‘best of’ teams was named in 1947, after the magazine Sporting Life pioneered the idea of engaging a panel of experts to pick the nation’s in-form footballers. The Sporting Life team continued to be picked until 1955.

In 1953, the game’s governing state bodies agreed to take part in a regular national carnival, with the first official All Australian team selected, in state groups, at the end of the series. In all, eight so-called Carnival All Australian teams were chosen, through to 1979. The last of the squads featured a (non-playing) coach for the first time.

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The team was renamed in 1980, when the first of seven national All Australian squads was announced. Players were nominated after national carnivals and represented their states or leagues – Terry Wallace was named after representing the then-Victorian Football Association at the 1988 Bicentenary Carnival in 1988.

From 1982-90, the then-VFL released its annual team of the year. Each team was named in position and included interchange players and a coach.

From 1991, the season’s best players were recognised with selection in the AFL All Australian team. Players were selected in position, with the team also including a coach (the premiership coach since 1999). Since 1991, an All Australian umpire has also been named.

DID YOU KNOW? 

Three South Australians – Craig Bradley, Stephen Kernahan and John Platten – are tied for most All Australian selections. They were each picked 10 times in various ‘best of’ squads. Gary Ablett leads current players with eight appearances, followed by Matthew Pavlich (six). 

Pavlich has been named at full-back (2002), half-forward (2003), centre half-forward (2005), interchange (2006 and 2008) and full-forward (2007).

Five current players – Nick Riewoldt, Luke Hodge, Gary Ablett, Joel Selwood (twice) and Robert Murphy have been named All Australian skipper.