A TOTAL of 11 debutants were named tonight as a new breed of stars of the competition took centre stage when the 2021 Therabody AFL All-Australian Team was unveiled during the AFL Awards broadcast tonight, Thursday August 26.
Minor premier Melbourne supplied five members of the side, with three from the Western Bulldogs and two representatives apiece for Carlton, Essendon, the Geelong Cats and Port Adelaide. A total of 11 separate clubs supplied at least one representative. Melbourne captain Max Gawn, who was awarded his fifth blazer, was named All-Australian Captain, and becomes the first Melbourne player to be named All-Australian Captain since Ron Barassi was named Captain at the 1961 Carnival. Western Bulldogs’ captain Marcus Bontempelli, who was chosen in his fourth All-Australian side, was named as Vice-Captain for this team.
Seven players retained their spots from the 22 players named in the 2020 AFL All Australian team – Marcus Bontempelli, Max Gawn, Tom Hawkins, Jack Macrae, Nic Naitanui, Christian Petracca and Jack Steele. Gawn was named for his fifth All Australian honour – the most of any player in the side – while Geelong’s Tom Hawkins and Western Bulldogs’ Marcus Bontempelli have received their fourth selections as All Australians respectively.
The 2021 AFL Therabody All Australian Team:
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.
Please find below the on-field record during the 2021 Home and Away season of those players selected in the 2021 AFL Therabody All Australian team:
Back Pocket
Jake Lever, Melbourne.
Never Previously All Australian.
22 games in 2021.
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.
Full Back
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.
Back Pocket
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.
Half Back
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.
Centre Half Back
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.
Half Back
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.
Wing
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.
Centre
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.
Wing
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.
Half Forward
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.
Centre Half Forward
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.
Half Forward
Marcus Bontempelli, Western Bulldogs (Vice Captain).
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.
Forward Pocket
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.
Full Forward
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.
Forward Pocket
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.
Ruck
Max Gawn, Melbourne (Captain).
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.
Ruck Rover
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.
Rover
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.
Interchange
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.
Interchange
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.
Interchange
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.
Interchange
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.