The AFL wishes to advise the Therabody All Australian selection panel has confirmed the 40-person squad that is in contention for selection for the 2021 AFL All Australian Team.

Under the format introduced in 2007, the Therabody All Australian selectors were not asked to nominate the leading players in each section of the field – forwards, defenders and midfielders / rucks – but simply to name the best players of the season.

However, the final team of 22 will be selected as if to play a match and will be named on Thursday, August 26 as part of the AFL Awards.

Melbourne (seven players selected) and the Brisbane Lions (five players selected) lead the competition with the most representatives in this year’s squad, with 15 different clubs having at least one player nominated from their list.

A total of 21 players were nominated for a potential first-ever All Australian selection. The most ever first-time All Australian team selections are as follows: 2012 (15 first-time player, most ever), 1982 (14 first-time players), 2014 (13 first-time players).

Meanwhile, seven players from last year's best team were again nominated as potential selections this year – Marcus Bontempelli, Max Gawn, Tom Hawkins, Jack Macrae, Nic Naitanui, ChristianPetracca and Jack Steele.

Sydney Swans’ Lance Franklin could receive his ninth separate All Australian blazer later this week and become the only person to achieve this mark.

For players who did not play in the carnival era, eight separate years chosen for All Australian honours has only been achieved by six players:
Gary Ablett senior (1984, 1986, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995)
Gary Ablett junior (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014)
Patrick Dangerfield (2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020)
Lance Franklin (2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018)
Robert Harvey (1992, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2003)
Mark Ricciuto (1994, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005).

Separately, there are a further six players from the yearly carnival era, where it was possible to receive both a mid-year and end-of-season All Australian selection, who have nine or more All Australian blazers to their names:
Craig Bradley (10)
Stephen Kernahan (10)
Simon Madden (10)
John Platten (10)
Paul Roos (nine)
Gerard Healy (nine)
Gary Ablett senior (eight and a carnival nomination as well to take him up to nine overall).

Max Gawn, Melbourne, is in line for his fifth selection as an All Australian while Geelong’s Tom Hawkinsand Western Bulldogs’ Marcus Bontempelli are all in line to receive their fourth selections as All Australians respectively.

The Therabody All Australian selection panel is Gillon McLachlan (non-voting Chairman), Andrew Dillon, Chris Johnson, Glen Jakovich, Warren Tredrea, Cameron Ling, Jude Bolton, Matthew Richardson, Nick Riewoldt, Kevin Bartlett, while the All Australian selectors, along with Kevin Sheehan, also choose the winner of the NAB AFL Rising Star Award.

The squad members named are in alphabetical order and are as follows:

Aliir Aliir, Port Adelaide

Never Previously All Australian.
22 games in 2020.
339 disposals. 244 kicks, 142 marks, 95 handballs averaging 15.4 disposals, 11.1 kicks, 6.5 marks, 4.4 handballs. 17 Inside 50m, 86 rebound 50m. 35 tackles. 82 Kick Efficiency. 121 spoils.

Karl Amon, Port Adelaide

Never Previously All Australian.
22 games in 2021.
520 disposals, 343 kicks, 131 marks, 177 handballs, averaging 23.6 disposals, 15.6 kicks, 6 marks, 8 handballs. 11 Goals, 17 Behinds. 42 clearances, 101 Inside 50m, 53 Rebound 50m. 87 tackles.

Marcus Bontempelli, Western Bulldogs

2016, 2019, 2020 All Australian.
22 games in 2021.
598 disposals, 340 kicks, 88 marks, 258 handballs, averaging 27.2 disposals, 15.5 kicks, 4 marks, 11.7 handballs. 26 Goals, 16 Behinds. 120 clearances, 145 Inside 50m, 40 Rebound 50m. 111 tackles.

Charlie Cameron, Brisbane Lions

2019 All Australian.
22 games in 2021.
235 disposals. 177 kicks, 87 marks, 58 handballs averaging 10.7 disposals, 8 kicks, 4 marks. 47 Goals, 31 Behinds. 38 Inside 50m.

Bailey Dale, Western Bulldogs

Never Previously All Australian.
22 games in 2021.
539 disposals. 381 kicks, 84 marks, 158 handballs averaging 24.5 disposals, 17.3 kicks, 84 marks. 59 Inside 50m, 117 rebound 50m. 23 tackles.

Sean Darcy, Fremantle

Never Previously All Australian.
21 games in 2021.
349 disposals. 156 kicks, 90 marks, 193 handballs averaging 16.6 disposals, 7.4 kicks, 4.3 marks. 12 Goals, 12 Behinds. 58 Inside 50m.

Lance Franklin, Sydney Swans

2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018 All Australian.
17 games in 2021.
199 disposals. 148 kicks, 76 marks, 51 handballs averaging 11.7 disposals, 8.7 kicks, 4.5 marks, 3 handballs. 48 Goals, 23 Behinds. 51 Inside 50m.

Bayley Fritsch, Melbourne

Never Previously All Australian.
21 games in 2021. 
211 disposals. 160 kicks, 98 marks, 51 handballs averaging 10 disposals, 7.6 kicks, 4.7 marks, 2 handballs. 47 Goals, 20 Behinds. 43 Inside 50m.

Max Gawn, Melbourne

2016, 2018, 2019, 2020 All Australian.
22 games in 2021.
404 disposals. 273 kicks, 115 marks, 131 handballs averaging 18.4 disposals,12.4 kicks, 5.2 marks. 11 Goals, 14 Behinds. 68 Inside 50m.

Toby Greene, GWS GIANTS

2016 All Australian.
17 games in 2021.
299 disposals, 223 kicks, 77 marks, 76 handballs, averaging 17.6 disposals, 13.1 kicks, 4.5 marks, 4.5 handballs. 42 Goals, 40 Behinds. 20 clearances, 70 Inside 50m, 36 tackles.

Tom Hawkins, Geelong Cats

2012, 2019, 2020 All Australian.
22 games in 2021. 
298 disposals. 190 kicks, 116 marks, 108 handballs averaging 13.5 disposals, 8.6 kicks, 5.3 marks, 4.9 handballs. 54 Goals, 33 Behinds. 33 Inside 50m.

Jacob Hopper, GWS GIANTS

Never Previously All Australian.
21 games in 2021.
557 disposals, 289 kicks, 66 marks, 268 handballs, averaging 26.5 disposals, 13.8 kicks, 3.1 marks, 12.8 handballs. 10 Goals. 137 clearances, 93 Inside 50m, 72 tackles.

Rory Laird, Adelaide Crows

2017, 2018 All Australian.
22 games in 2021.
704 disposals, 314 kicks, 82 marks, 390 handballs, averaging 32 disposals, 14.3 kicks, 82 marks, 17.7 handballs. 81 Inside 50m, 130 tackles.

Jake Lever, Melbourne

Never Previously All Australian.
22 games in 2020.
342 disposals. 215 kicks, 124 marks, 127 handballs averaging 15.5 disposals, 9.8 kicks, 5.6 marks, 5.8 handballs. 27 Inside 50m, 94 rebound 50m. 41 tackles. 80.5 Kick Efficiency. 130 spoils.

Jarryd Lyons, Brisbane Lions

Never Previously All Australian.
22 games in 2021.
620 disposals, 362 kicks, 112 marks, 258 handballs, averaging 28.2 disposals, 16.5 kicks, 112 marks, 11.7 handballs. 98 Inside 50m, 143 tackles.

Jack Macrae, Western Bulldogs

2019, 2020 All Australian
22 games in 2021.
743 disposals, 359 kicks, 92 marks, 384 handballs, averaging 33.8 disposals, 16.3 kicks, 92 marks, 17.5 handballs. 110 Inside 50m, 106 tackles.

Steven May, Melbourne

Never Previously All Australian
20 games in 2021.
368 disposals. 111 kicks, 116 marks, 57 handballs averaging 18.4 disposals, 15.8 kicks, 5.8 marks, 2.9 handballs. 17 Inside 50m, 128 rebound 50m. 23 tackles. 84.9 Kick Efficiency. 119 spoils.

Hugh McCluggage, Brisbane Lions

Never Previously All Australian.
22 games in 2021.
548 disposals, 373 kicks, 113 marks, 175 handballs, averaging 24.9 disposals, 17 kicks, 113 marks, 8 handballs. 99 Inside 50m, 82 tackles.

Harry McKay, Carlton

Never Previously All Australian.
19 games in 2021. 
185 disposals. 154 kicks, 113 marks, 31 handballs averaging 9.7 disposals, 8.1 kicks, 5.9 marks, 1.6 handballs. 58 Goals, 33 Behinds. 26 Inside 50m. 27 tackles.

Zach Merrett, Essendon

2017 All Australian.
22 games in 2021.
694 disposals, 345 kicks, 94 marks, 349 handballs, averaging 31.5 disposals, 15.7 kicks, 4.3 marks, 15.9 handballs. 82 clearances, 122 Inside 50m, 52 Rebound 50m. 103 tackles.

Touk Miller, Gold Coast Suns

Never Previously All Australian.
21 games in 2021.
668 disposals, 334 kicks, 95 marks, 334 handballs, 91 inside-50m, 263 contested possessions, 416 uncontested possessions, 149 tackles, 185 ground-ball gets, 71.6 disposal efficiency, 73 stoppage clearances, 117 score involvements. Averaging 31.8 disposals, 15.9 kicks, 15.9 handballs, 4.3 inside-50m, 12.5 contested possessions, 7.1 tackles, 3.5 stoppage clearances, 5.6 score involvements.

Callum Mills, Sydney Swans

Never Previously All Australian.
18 games in 2021.
495 disposals, 256 kicks, 239 handballs, 75 inside-50m, 187 contested possessions, 86 clearances, 95 tackles, 107 marks. Averaging 27.5 disposals per game, 13.3 handballs, 14.2 kicks, 4.2 inside-50m, 10.4 contested possessions, 5.3 tackles, 5.9 marks.

Tom Mitchell, Hawthorn

2017, 2018 All Australian.
22 games in 2021.
754 disposals (First in AFL for total disposals), 321 kicks, 433 handballs, 91 inside-50m, 41 centre clearances, 63 stoppage clearances, 105 tackles, 254 contested possessions, 504 uncontested possessions, 118 score involvements.
Averaging, 34.3 disposals, 14.6 kicks, 19.7 handballs, 4.1 inside-50m, 11.5 contested possessions, 22.9 uncontested possessions, 2.9 stoppage clearances, 5.4 score involvements.

David Mundy, Fremantle

2015 All Australian.
22 games in 2021.
553 disposals, 248 kicks, 305 handballs, 97 inside-50m, 400 effective disposals, 87 tackles, 75 stoppage clearances, 42 centre clearances, 244 contested possessions.
Averaging 25.1 disposals, 11.3 kicks, 13.9 handballs, 4.4 inside-50m, 14.9 uncontested possessions, 11.1 contested possessions, 18.2 effective disposals, 3.4 stoppage clearances, 1.9 centre clearances.

Nic Naitanui, West Coast

2012, 2020 All Australian.
22 games in 2021.
687 hit outs, 270 hit outs to advantage, 54 centre clearances, 104 stoppage clearances, 335 disposals, 154 kicks, 181 handballs, 77 inside-50m, 273 contested possessions, 118 ground-ball gets, 118 score involvements. Averaging 31.2 hit outs, 12.3 hit outs to advantage, 2.5 centre clearances, 4.7 stoppage clearances, 15.2 disposals, 7 kicks, 8.2 handballs, 3.5 inside-50m, 12.4 contested possessions, 5.4 ground-ball gets, 5.4 score involvements.

Clayton Oliver, Melbourne

2018 All Australian.
22 games in 2021.
696 disposals (fifth in AFL for total disposals), 388 contested possessions (first in AFL for total contested possessions), 313 kicks, 383 handballs, 97 intercept possessions, 253 ground-ball gets, 114 inside-50m, 69.8 disposal efficiency, 104 stoppage clearances, 63 centre clearances, 159 score involvements, 522 pressure acts, 116 tackles. Averaging, 31.6 disposals, 17.6 contested possessions, 14.2 kicks, 17.4 handballs, 4.4 intercept possessions, 11.5 ground-ball gets, 5.2 inside-50m, 4.7 stoppage clearances, 2.9 centre clearances, 7.2 score involvements, 23.7 pressure acts, 5.3 tackles.

Tom Papley, Sydney Swans

Never Previously All Australian.
22 games in 2021.
297 disposals, 123 contested possessions, 41 goals, 27 behinds, 21 goal assists, 142 score involvements, 30 marks inside-50m, 218 kicks, 65 inside-50m, 22 tackles inside-50m. Averaging 13.5 disposals, 5.6 contested possessions, 6.5 score involvements, 3.9 marks, three inside-50m.

Darcy Parish, Essendon

Never Previously All Australian.
22 games in 2021.
666 disposals (Eighth in AFL for total disposals), 168 score involvements (Third in AFL for total score involvements), 319 kicks, 347 handballs, 131 inside-50m, 84 centre clearances, 80 stoppage clearances, 10,075 metres gained, 197 ground-ball gets, 72.4 disposal efficiency. Averaging 30.3 disposals, 7.6 score involvements, 14.5 kicks, 15.8 handballs, 6.0 inside-50m, 3.8 centre clearances, 3.6 stoppage clearances, 458 metres gained, 9.0 ground-ball gets.

Luke Parker, Sydney Swans

2016 All Australian.
22 games in 2021.
607 disposals, 293 contested possessions, 73 intercept possessions, 326 handballs, 281 kicks, 91 inside-50m, 81 stoppage clearances, 58 centre clearances, 130 score involvements, 477 pressure acts, 101 tackles. Averaging 27.6 disposals, 13.3 contested possessions, 3.3 intercept possessions, 14.8 handballs, 12.8 kicks, 4.1 inside-50m, 3.7 stoppage clearances, 2.6 centre clearances, 5.9 score involvements, 21.7 pressure acts, 4.6 tackles.

Christian Petracca, Melbourne

2020 All Australian.
22 games in 2021.
629 disposals, 173 score involvements (First in AFL for total score involvements), 24 goals, 14 behinds, 299 contested possessions, 198 ground-ball gets, 355 kicks, 274 handballs, 148 inside-50m, 62 centre clearances, 75 stoppage clearances, 11,411 metres gained, 480 pressure acts, 95 tackles. Averaging 28.6 disposals, 7.9 score involvements, 13.6 contested possessions, 9.0 ground-ball gets, 16.1 kicks, 12.5 handballs, 6.7 Inside-50m, 2.8 centre clearances, 3.4 stoppage clearances, 518.7 metres gained, 21.8 pressure acts.

Daniel Rich, Brisbane Lions

Never Previously All Australian.
22 games in 2021.
575 disposals, 65 inside-50m, 170 rebound-50m, 78.8 disposal efficiency, 475 kicks, 121 contested possessions, 96 ground-ball gets, 20 stoppage clearances, 128 marks. Averaging 26.1 disposals, 3.0 inside-50m, 7.7 rebound-50m, 21.6 kicks, 5.5 contested possessions, 6.0 intercept possessions, 4.4 ground-ball gets, 5.8 marks.

Christian Salem, Melbourne

Never Previously All Australian.
21 games in 2021.
529 disposals, 124 contested possessions, 117 rebound-50m, 130 marks, 347 kicks, 182 handballs, 124 intercept possessions, 249 pressure acts, 46 tackles, 79 score involvements. Averaging 25.2 disposals 5.5 contested possessions, 5.6 rebound-50m, 6.2 marks, 16.5 kicks, 8.7 handballs, 5.9 intercept possessions, 11.9 pressure acts, 2.2 tackles, 3.8 score involvements.

Paul Seedsman, Adelaide Crows

Never Previously All Australian.
22 games in 2021.
547 disposals, 347 kicks, 227 handballs, 125 inside-50m, 135 contested possessions, 72.6 disposal efficiency,13,335 metres gained, 118 marks, 128 score involvements, 61 rebound-50m. Averaging 26.1 disposals, 15.8 kicks, 10.3 handballs, 5.7 inside-50m, 6.1 contested possessions, 2.8 rebound-50m, 606.2 metres gained, 5.4 marks, 5.8 score involvements.

Jack Steele, St Kilda

2020 All Australian.
22 games in 2021.
642 disposals, 185 tackles (First in AFL for total tackles), 311 kicks, 331 handballs, 105 inside-50m, 305 contested possessions, 195 ground-ball gets, 77 intercept possessions, 78 stoppage clearances, 60 centre clearances, 552 pressure acts, 20 tackles inside-50m. Averaging 29.2 disposals, 4.8 inside-50m, 8.4 tackles, 25.1 pressure acts, 14.1 kicks, 15 handballs, 8.9 ground-ball gets.

Tom Stewart, Geelong Cats

2018, 2019 All Australian.
20 games in 2021.
480 disposals, 178 marks (First in AFL for total marks), 122 rebound-50m, 84.8 disposal efficiency, 378 kicks, 102 handballs, 115 contested possessions, 155 intercept possessions, 61 spoils, 76 score involvements, 146 pressure acts. Averaging 24.0 disposals, 8.9 marks, 6.1 rebound-50m, 18.9 kicks, 5.8 contested possessions, 7.8 intercept possessions, 31. Spoils, 7.3 pressure acts, 3.8 score involvements.

Jake Stringer, Essendon

2015 All Australian. 
18 games in 2021.
303 disposals, 201 kicks, 102 handballs, 89 inside-50m, 159 contested possessions, 60 centre clearances, 25 marks inside-50m, 39 goals, 17 behinds, 125 score involvements, 325 pressure acts. Averaging 16.8 disposals, 11.2 kicks, 4.9 inside-50m, 8.8 contested possessions, 3.3 centre clearances, 1.4 marks inside-50m, 6.9 score involvements, 3.8 tackles, 18.1 pressure acts.

Sam Walsh, Carlton

Never Previously All Australian.
22 games in 2021.
656 disposals, 298 kicks, 358 handballs, 194 ground-ball gets, 85 inside-50m, 127 marks, 252 contested possessions, 59 intercept possessions, disposal efficiency 74.4, 100 tackles, 503 pressure acts, 143 score involvements, 12 goals, six behinds. Averaging 29.8 disposals, 13.5 kicks, 16.3 handballs, 8.8 ground-ball gets, 3.9 inside-50m, 5.8 marks, 11.5 contested possessions, 2.7 intercept possessions, 4.5 tackles, 22.9 pressure acts, 6.5 score involvements.

Jacob Weitering, Carlton

Never Previously All Australian.
22 games in 2021.
361 disposals, 139 rebound-50m, 301 kicks, 139 contested possessions, 183 intercept possessions, 78-ground-ball gets, 167 marks, 176 spoils, 70 intercept marks. Averaging 16.4 disposals, 6.3 rebound-50m, 13.7 kicks, 6.3 contested possessions, 8.3 intercept possessions, 3.5 ground-ball gets, 7.6 marks, eight spoils, 3.2 intercept marks.

Ollie Wines, Port Adelaide

Never Previously All Australian.
22 games in 2021.
706 disposals (Third in AFL for total disposals), 337 kicks, 369 handballs, 322 contested possessions, 114 inside-50m, 211 ground-ball gets, 77 stoppage clearances, 140 score involvements, 98 tackles, 421 pressure acts. Averaging 32.1 disposals, 15.3 kicks, 16.8 handballs, 14.6 contested possessions, 5.2 inside-50m, 9.6 ground-ball gets, 3.5 stoppage clearances, 6.4 score involvements, 4.5 tackles, 19.1 pressure acts.

Dayne Zorko, Brisbane Lions

2017 All Australian.
21 games in 2021.
511 disposals, 360 kicks, 139 inside-50m, 207 contested possessions, 87 intercept possessions, 56 stoppage clearances, 42 centre clearances, 113 marks, 11 marks inside-50m, 17 goals, 18 behinds, 172 score involvements, 131 tackles, 533 pressure acts, 24 tackles inside-50m. Averaging 24.3 disposals, 17.1 kicks, 6.6 inside-50m, 9.9 contested possessions, 4.1 intercept possessions, 2.7 stoppage clearances, 2.0 centre clearances, 5.4 marks, 0.5 marks inside-50m, 6.2 tackles, 25.4 pressure acts, 1.1 tackles inside-50m.