THIS appears to be one of the most wide-open All Australian fields in years, and we're just talking about the captaincy.

There are eight club captains among the 40-player squad, which will be whittled down to the final team on Monday night.

And AFL.com.au believes there are five candidates who have genuine claims be named All Australian captain at the end of the evening.


Joel Selwood (Geelong): If the selectors agree with the AFLPA, then the Geelong skipper will be named captain for the first time tonight. Hard, creative and skillful, Selwood oozes leadership and to be named captain would add another line in a footballing resume that is already chock full of team and individual honours.

Luke Hodge (Hawthorn): Hodge was named All Australian skipper in 2010 and would join Paul Roos, Wayne Carey, Paul Kelly, Michael Voss and Mark Ricciuto as a multiple skipper if he gets the nod. As the on-field general for the Hawks, Hodge has taken control of several games this year, and perhaps even saved a couple, the hallmark of an outstanding captain.

Jobe Watson (Essendon): No AFL captain experienced a more trying year this season than Watson. His work in keeping the Bombers united and focused for so much of the year was exceptional. And it is because of these exceptional circumstances that few would begrudge him being named All Australian captain ahead of some candidates who, at least on paper, have had better seasons.  

Gary Ablett (Gold Coast): Like Hodge, he is bidding to join the join the dual All Australian captain group, having led the team in 2011 - his first year with Gold Coast. Ablett has developed into an outstanding leader with the Suns and in 2013 took his game to another level. He was named the AFLPA's MVP last week and is the raging favourite to win his second Brownlow Medal.

Jarrad McVeigh (Sydney Swans): McVeigh is a classic example of a captain whose actions count for as much as his dynamic play. The Swans are flint hard, come to play every week and much of that is due to the selfless work ethic of McVeigh, who has taken his own game to new heights this year through the midfield to be in the running for an All Australian jumper for the first time. To be named captain would be a fitting tribute to a sider and club that goes about its football consistently well.  

 

AFL.com.au journalists assessed the top performers in the first half of the season and submitted their own All Australian teams at the midway point.

We compiled each journalists' selections and arrived at a collective All Australian line-up with players from 13 teams.

Now we brace ourselves to take the hits.

No Joel Selwood and Jeff Garlet was a questionable selection ahead of Chad Wingard, Michael Walters and Steven Motlop.

Also, the Eagles' Josh Kennedy just held off Travis Cloke and Jarryd Roughead for the full-forward spot. At the time Kennedy was perceived to have done more with less opportunity. It's fair to say there is no right or wrong in that call, just a decision that is certainly debatable.

Check out the full squad below.



ALL AUSTRALIAN SQUAD

Patrick Dangerfield, Adelaide
All Australian 2012. 20 games in 2013. 302 kicks, 84 marks, 164handballs, averaging 14.8 kicks, 5.3 marks, 8.0 handballs. 31 Goals, 18Behinds. 111 Clearances, 102 Inside 50m (Eighth in the AFL), 31 Rebound50m. 64 Tackles.

Richard Douglas, Adelaide
Never previously selected. 22 games in 2013. 326 kicks, 116 marks, 175handballs, averaging 14.8 kicks, 4.9 marks, 6.7 handballs. 20 Goals, 17Behinds. 76 Clearances, 117 Inside 50m (Third in the AFL), 42 Rebound50m. 86 Tackles.

Travis Cloke, Collingwood 
All Australian 2011. 21 games in 2013. 248 kicks, 183 marks (Second inthe AFL), 64 handballs, averaging 11.8 kicks, 8.7 marks, 3.0 handballs.66 Goals (Second in the AFL), 50 Behinds. Zero Clearances, 68 Inside50m, Zero Rebound 50m. 27 Tackles.

Scott Pendlebury, Collingwood 
All Australian 2010, 2011, 2012. 22 games in 2013. 312 kicks, 85 marks,352 handballs (Second in the AFL), averaging 14.2 kicks, 3.9 marks, 16.0handballs. 18 Goals, Nine Behinds. 122 Clearances (Seventh in the AFL),89 Inside 50m, 40 Rebound 50m. 114 Tackles.

Dane Swan, Collingwood 
All Australian 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012. 22 games in 2013. 421 kicks(First in the AFL), 120 marks, 274 handballs, averaging 19.1 kicks, 5.5marks, 12.5 handballs. First in the AFL in total disposals. 18 Goals, 18Behinds. 111 Clearances, 116 Inside 50m (Fourth in the AFL), 47 Rebound50m. 76 Tackles.

Jobe Watson, Essendon 
All Australian 2012. 19 games in 2013. 259 kicks, 74 marks, 264handballs, averaging 13.6 kicks, 3.9 marks, 13.9 handballs. 16 Goals, 18Behinds. 97 Clearances, 67 Inside 50m, 27 Rebound 50m. 61 Tackles.

Nathan Fyfe, Fremantle
Never previously selected. 19 games in 2013. 300 kicks, 87 marks, 188handballs, averaging 15.8 kicks, 4.6 marks, 9.9 handballs. 16 Goals, 11Behinds. 110 Clearances, 85 Inside 50m, 23 Rebound 50m. 60 Tackles.

Michael Johnson, Fremantle 
Never previously selected. 21 games in 2013. 291 kicks, 143 marks (Ninthin the AFL), 116 handballs, averaging 13.9 kicks, 6.8 marks, 5.5handballs. Five Goals, Two Behinds. Two Clearances, 32 Inside 50m, 72Rebound 50m. 41 Tackles.

Chris Mayne, Fremantle
Never previously selected. 21 games in 2013. 175 kicks, 127 marks, 170handballs, averaging 8.3 kicks, 6.0 marks, 8.1 handballs. 35 Goals, NineBehinds. 13 Clearances, 40 Inside 50m, Four Rebound 50m. 90 Tackles.

David Mundy, Fremantle 
Never previously selected. 19 games in 2013. 272 kicks, 80 marks, 185handballs, averaging 14.3 kicks, 4.2 marks, 9.7 handballs. Seven Goals,Seven Behinds. 114 Clearances, 81 Inside 50m, 36 Rebound 50m. 101Tackles.

Michael Walters, Fremantle
Never previously selected. 18 games in 2013. 203 kicks, 96 marks, 81handballs, averaging 11.3 kicks, 5.3 marks, 4.5 handballs. 40 Goals, 20Behinds. 17 Clearances, 57 Inside 50m, 11 Rebound 50m. 47 Tackles.

Corey Enright, Geelong  
All Australian 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011. 21 games in 2013. 314 kicks, 151marks (Fifth in the AFL), 164 handballs, averaging 15.0 kicks, 7.2marks, 7.8 handballs. One Goal, Four Behinds. 19 Clearances, 62 Inside50m, 77 Rebound 50m. 39 Tackles.

Andrew Mackie, Geelong 
Never previously selected. 22 games in 2013. 314 kicks, 141 marks, 210handballs, averaging 14.3 kicks, 6.4 marks, 6.8 handballs. Five Goals,Five Behinds. 10 Clearances, 79 Inside 50m, 59 Rebound 50m. 37 Tackles.

Steve Motlop, Geelong 
Never previously selected. 21 games in 2013. 240 kicks, 72 marks, 129handballs, averaging 11.4 kicks, 3.4 marks, 6.1 handballs. 39 Goals, 22Behinds. 12 Clearances, 86 Inside 50m, 26 Rebound 50m. 38 Tackles.

Joel Selwood, Geelong  
All Australian 2009, 2010. 22 games in 2013. 278 kicks, 91 marks, 266handballs, averaging 12.6 kicks, 4.1 marks, 12.1 handballs. 28 Goals, 16Behinds. 112 Clearances, 93 Inside 50m, 24 Rebound 50m. 127 Tackles(Ninth in the AFL).

Harry Taylor, Geelong  
All Australian 2010. 21 games in 2013. 246 kicks, 158 marks (Third inthe AFL), 116 handballs, averaging 11.7 kicks, 7.5 marks, 5.5 handballs.14 Goals, Nine Behinds. Six Clearances, 40 Inside 50m, 87 Rebound 50m.32 Tackles.

Gary Ablett, Gold Coast 
All Australian 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 (vice-captain), 2011 (captain),2012. 21 games in 2013. 343 kicks (Ninth in the AFL), 73 marks, 312handballs (Fourth in the AFL), averaging 16.3 kicks, 3.5 marks, 14.9handballs. Third in the AFL in total disposals. 28 Goals, 23 Behinds.124 Clearances (Sixth in the AFL), 113 Inside 50m (Sixth in the AFL), 39Rebound 50m. 96 Tackles.

Jeremy Cameron, Greater Western Sydney
Never previously selected. 21 games in 2013. 170 kicks, 106 marks, 54handballs, averaging 8.1 kicks, 5.0 marks, 2.6 handballs. 62 Goals(Third in the AFL), 27 Behinds. One Clearances, 62 Inside 50m, FourRebound 50m. 27 Tackles.

Lance Franklin, Hawthorn 
All Australian 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012. 19 games in 2013. 195 kicks, 76marks, 100 handballs, averaging 10.3 kicks, 4.0 marks, 5.36 handballs.55 Goals (Fifth in the AFL), 36 Behinds. 13 Clearances, 59 Inside 50m,Four Rebound 50m. 46 Tackles.

Josh Gibson, Hawthorn 
Never previously selected. 21 games in 2013. 164 kicks, 88 marks, 209handballs, averaging 7.8 kicks, 4.2 marks, 10.0 handballs. FiveClearances, 17 Inside 50m, 67 Rebound 50m. 39 Tackles.

Luke Hodge, Hawthorn 
All Australian 2005, 2008, 2010 (captain). 20 games in 2013. 303 kicks,99 marks, 138 handballs, averaging 15.1 kicks, 4.9 marks, 6.9 handballs.11 Goals, 10 Behinds. 54 Clearances, 83 Inside 50m, 47 Rebound 50m. 74Tackles.

Sam Mitchell, Hawthorn
All Australian 2011. 21 games in 2013. 326 kicks, 75 marks, 268handballs, averaging 15.5 kicks, 3.6 marks, 12.8 handballs. Seventh inthe AFL in Total Disposals. Five Goals, Five Behinds. 89 Clearances, 71Inside 50m, 62 Rebound 50m. 67 Tackles.

Jarryd Roughead, Hawthorn
Never previously selected. 22 games in 2013. 231 kicks, 102 marks, 127handballs, averaging 10.5 kicks, 4.6 marks, 5.8 handballs. 53 Hit Outs,averaging 2.4 per game. 68 Goals (First in the AFL), 28 Behinds. 53Clearances, 49 Inside 50m, Six Rebound 50m. 55 Tackles.

Todd Goldstein, North Melbourne
Never previously selected. 22 games in 2013. 113 kicks, 66 marks, 150handballs, averaging 5.1 kicks, 3.0 marks, 6.8 handballs. 822 hit outs(Second in the AFL), averaging 37.4 hit outs. 13 Goals, Four Behinds. 55Clearances, 32 Inside 50m, 14 Rebound 50m. 65 Tackles.

Lindsay Thomas, North Melbourne
Never previously selected. 20 games in 2013. 168 kicks, 53 marks, 43handballs, averaging 8.4 kicks, 2.6 marks, 2.6 handballs. 53 Goals(Seventh in the AFL), 23 Behinds. 12 Clearances, 50 Inside 50m, ThreeRebound 50m. 53 Tackles.

Scott Thompson, North Melbourne
Never previously selected. 19 games in 2013. 228 kicks, 124 marks, 144handballs, averaging 12.0 kicks, 6.5 marks, 7.6 handballs. Two Goals,Zero Behinds. Six Clearances, 35 Inside 50m, 80 Rebound 50m. 42 Tackles.

Daniel Wells, North Melbourne
Never previously selected. 22 games in 2013. 291 kicks, 80 marks, 177handballs, averaging 13.2 kicks, 3.6 marks, 8.0 handballs. 25 Goals, 10Behinds. 98 Clearances, 101 Inside 50m (Ninth in the AFL), 29 Rebound50m. 52 Tackles.

Travis Boak, Port Adelaide
Never previously selected. 21 games in 2013. 297 kicks, 91 marks, 244handballs, averaging 14.1 kicks, 4.3 marks, 11.6 handballs. 18 Goals, 11Behinds. 117 Clearances, 116 Inside 50m (Fourth in the AFL), 26 Rebound50m. 88 Tackles.

Chad Wingard, Port Adelaide
Never previously selected. 22 games in 2013. 288 kicks, 95 marks, 183handballs, averaging 13.1 kicks, 4.3 marks, 8.3 handballs. 40 Goals, 19Behinds. 55 Clearances, 101 Inside 50m (Ninth in the AFL), 27 Rebound50m. 45 Tackles.

Nick Riewoldt, St Kilda 
All Australian 2004, 2006, 2008, 2009 (Captain). 21 games in 2013. 281kicks, 202 marks (First in the AFL), 109 handballs, averaging 13.4kicks, 9.6 marks, 5.2 handballs. 50 Goals (Eighth in the AFL), 36Behinds. Four Clearances, 71 Inside 50m, 10 Rebound 50m. 41 Tackles.

Jack Steven, St Kilda 
Never previously selected. 22 games in 2013. 312 kicks, 83marks, 299handballs (Tenth in the AFL), averaging 14.2 kicks, 3.8 marks, 12.7handballs. Eighth in the AFL in total disposals. 16 Goals, EightBehinds. 118 Clearances (Tenth in the AFL), 85 Inside 50m, 34 Rebound50m. 87 Tackles.

Dan Hannebery, Sydney Swans
Never previously selected. 21 games in 2013. 250 kicks, 70 marks, 297handballs (Sixth in the AFL), averaging 11.9 kicks, 3.3 marks, 14.1handballs. 16 Goals, 13 Behinds. 70 Clearances, 77 Inside 50m, 27Rebound 50m. 59 Tackles.

Kieren Jack, Sydney Swans
Never previously selected. 22 games in 2013. 305 kicks, 45 marks, 253handballs, averaging 13.9 kicks, 2.0 marks, 11.5 handballs. 22 Goals, 14Behinds. 111 Clearances, 126 Inside 50m (First in the AFL), 27 Rebound50m. 145 Tackles (Third in the AFL).

Josh Kennedy, Sydney Swans 
All Australian 2012. 22 games in 2013. 230 kicks, 38 marks, 371handballs (First in the AFL), averaging 10.5 kicks, 1.7 marks, 16.9handballs. Fifth in the AFL in Total Disposals. 13 Goals, 14 Behinds.167 Clearances (Second in the AFL), 71 Inside 50m, 23 Rebound 50m. 101Tackles.

Jarrad McVeigh, Sydney Swans 
Never previously selected. 22 games in 2013. 353 kicks (Seventh in theAFL), 86 marks, 245 handballs, averaging 16.0 kicks, 3.9 marks, 11.1handballs. Sixth in the AFL in total disposals. 13 Goals, Seven Behinds.61 Clearances, 79 Inside 50m, 80 Rebound 50m. 75 Tackles.

Nick Malceski, Sydney Swans
Never previously selected. 22 games in 2013. 392 kicks (Third in theAFL), 92 marks, 109 handballs, averaging 17.8 kicks, 4.2 marks, 5.0handballs. Five Goals, Four Behinds. 16 Clearances, 79 Inside 50m, 177Rebound 50m (First in the AFL). 43 Tackles.

Josh Kennedy, West Coast
Never previously selected. 21 games in 2013. 210 kicks, 143 marks (Ninthin the AFL), 63 handballs, averaging 10.0 kicks, 6.8 marks, 3.0handballs. 60 Goals (Fourth in the AFL), 23 Behinds. One Clearances, 60Inside 50m, Two Rebound 50m. 69 Tackles.

Eric Mackenzie, West Coast
Never previously selected. 20 games in 2013. 146 kicks, 85 marks, 89handballs, averaging 7.3  kicks, 4.2 marks, 4.4 handballs. Three Goals,One Behind. Four Clearances, 22 Inside 50m, 55 Rebound 50m. 52 Tackles.

Ryan Griffen, Western Bulldogs
Never previously selected. 20 games in 2013. 304 kicks, 63 marks, 275handballs, averaging 15.2 kicks, 3.2 marks, 13.8 handballs. Tenth in theAFL in total disposals. 14 Goals, 10 Behinds. 121 Clearances (Eighth inthe AFL), 121 Inside 50m (Second in the AFL), 28 Rebound 50m. 98Tackles.

Will Minson, Western Bulldogs
Never previously selected. 22 games in 2013. 152 kicks, 40 marks, 168handballs, averaging 6.9 kicks, 1.8 marks, 7.6 handballs. 860 hit outs(First in the AFL), averaging 39.1 hit outs. Seven Goals, Five Behinds.105 Clearances, 35 Inside 50m, 25 Rebound 50m. 81 Tackles.