Matthew’s selection is his sixth selection in the past seven seasons, while Aaron’s selection on the bench was his first inclusion amongst the AFL’s best 22 players.
Under the format introduced in 2007, the All Australian selectors were asked to nominate the leading players in each section of the field -- forwards, defenders and midfielders / ruckmen -- with the final team of 22 named at a function in Melbourne tonight.
Reigning premiers Geelong had 10 players nominated in the squad of 40 and seven of those were chosen in the stand-out team of the year.
Eleven different clubs were represented in all with Fremantle, Carlton, Hawthorn, St Kilda and the Western Bulldogs each having two players named in the final 22.
A total of nine players were named for the first time in an All Australian side – Aaron, Nathan Bock, Adam Cooney, Enright, Sam Fisher, Lance Franklin, Harley, Paul Medhurst and Dale Morris -- while eight players were good enough to retain their places from the 2007 side including Matthew, Ablett, Bartel, Corey, Dean Cox, Brent Harvey, Johnson and Scarlett.
Carlton skipper Chris Judd was named as All Australian captain for the first time, with Harley confirmed as his deputy.
The team was:
Dale Morris (W Bulldogs) Matthew Scarlett (Geelong) Tom Harley (Geelong, vc)
Luke Hodge (Hawthorn) Nathan Bock (Adelaide) Sam Fisher (ST Kilda)
Jimmy Bartel (Geelong) Joel Corey (Geelong) Adam Cooney (W Bulldogs)
Steve Johnson (Geelong) Nick Riewoldt (St Kilda) Brent Harvey (N Melbourne)
Brendan Fevola (Carlton) Lance Franklin (Hawthorn) Paul Medhurst (Collingwood)
Dean Cox (West Coast) Chris Judd (Carlton, c) Gary Ablett (Geelong)
Interchange
Corey Enright (Geelong)
Matthew Pavlich (Fremantle)
Matthew Richardson (Richmond)
Aaron Sandilands (Fremantle)
The All Australian selection panel is: Andrew Demetriou (chairman), Adrian Anderson, Rod Austin, Kevin Bartlett, Mark Bickley, Gerard Healy, Glen Jakovich, Robert Walls.
The 2008 details of the team members named are as follows:
Dale Morris, Western Bulldogs. Never previously selected. 22 games in 2008. 137 kicks, 102 marks, 143 handballs, averaging 6.2 kicks, 4.6 marks, 6.5 handballs. No Goals No Behinds. 11 Clearances, 11 Inside 50m, 36 Rebound 50m.
Matthew Scarlett, Geelong. All Australian 2003, 2004, 2007. 19 games in 2008. 178 kicks, 63 marks, 145 handballs, averaging 9.4 kicks, 3.3 marks, 7.6 handballs. No Goals One Behind. Four Clearances, 22 Inside 50m, 57 Rebound 50m.
Tom Harley, Geelong, vice-captain. Never previously selected. 22 games in 2008. 150 kicks, 117 marks, 184 handballs, averaging 6.8 kicks, 5.3 marks, 8.4 handballs. No Goals No Behinds. Four Clearances, 11 Inside 50m, 45 Rebound 50m.
Luke Hodge, Hawthorn. All Australian 2005. 17 games in 2008. 241 kicks, 90 marks, 155 handballs, averaging 14.2 kicks, 5.3 marks, 9.1 handballs. 19 Goals Eight Behinds. 58 Clearances, 73 Inside 50m, 38 Rebound 50m.
Nathan Bock, Adelaide. Never previously selected. 22 games in 2008. 324 kicks, 159 marks, 158 handballs, averaging 14.7 kicks, 7.2 marks, 7.2 handballs. Two Goals Five Behinds. 11 Clearances, 42 Inside 50m, 79 Rebound 50m.
Sam Fisher, St Kilda. Never previously selected. 22 games in 2008. 303 kicks, 192 marks, 193 handballs, averaging 13.8 kicks, 8.7 marks, 8.8 handballs. Three Goals Two Behinds. 18 Clearances, 43 Inside 50m, 73 Rebound 50m.
Jimmy Bartel, Geelong. All Australian 2007. 22 games in 2008. 339 kicks, 127 marks, 278 handballs, averaging 15.4 kicks, 5.8 marks, 12.6 handballs. 19 Goals 15 Behinds. 78 Clearances, 89 Inside 50m, 44 Rebound 50m.
Joel Corey, Geelong. All Australian 2007. 22 games in 2008. 304 kicks, 104 marks, 336 handballs, averaging 13.8 kicks, 4.7 marks, 15.3 handballs. Six Goals Five Behinds. 100 Clearances, 104 Inside 50m, 34 Rebound 50m.
Adam Cooney, Western Bulldogs. Never previously selected. 22 games in 2008. 283 kicks, 84 marks, 297 handballs, averaging 12.9 kicks, 3.8 marks, 13.5 handballs. 21 Goals Six Behinds. 99 Clearances, 68 Inside 50m, 53 Rebound 50m.
Steve Johnson, Geelong. All Australian 2007. 22 games in 2008. 285 kicks, 128 marks, 150 handballs, averaging 13.0 kicks, 5.8 marks, 6.8 handballs. 49 Goals 28 Behinds. 34 Clearances, 93 Inside 50m, 18 Rebound 50m.
Nick Riewoldt, St Kilda. All Australian 2004, 2006. 21 games in 2008. 256 kicks, 211 marks, 113 handballs, averaging 12.2 kicks, 10.0 marks, 5.4 handballs. 56 Goals 39 Behinds. Six Clearances, 52 Inside 50m, Seven Rebound 50m.
Brent Harvey, North Melbourne. All Australian 2000, 2005, 2007. 22 games in 2008. 322 kicks, 107 marks, 227 handballs, averaging 14.6 kicks, 4.9 marks, 10.3 handballs. 23 Goals 19 Behinds. 46 Clearances, 102 Inside 50m, 30 Rebound 50m.
Brendan Fevola, Carlton. All Australian 2006. 22 games in 2008. 214 kicks, 128 marks, 44 handballs, averaging 9.7 kicks, 5.8 marks, 2.0 handballs. 99 Goals 51 Behinds. Three Clearances, 30 Inside 50m, Two Rebound 50m.
Lance Franklin, Hawthorn. Never previously selected. 22 games in 2008. 281 kicks, 145 marks, 67 handballs, averaging 12.8 kicks, 6.6 marks, 3.0 handballs. 102 Goals 84 Behinds. 13 Clearances, 48 Inside 50m, Seven Rebound 50m.
Paul Medhurst, Collingwood. Never previously selected. 22 games in 2008. 284 kicks, 165 marks, 62 handballs, averaging 12.9 kicks, 7.5 marks, 2.8 handballs. 48 Goals 22 Behinds. 12 Clearances, 90 Inside 50m, 17 Rebound 50m.
Dean Cox, West Coast. All Australian 2005, 2006, 2007. 22 games in 2008. 233 kicks, 125 marks, 253 handballs, averaging 10.6 kicks, 5.7 marks, 11.5 handballs. 571 hit outs averaging 26.0 hit outs. Nine Goals 10 Behinds. 86 Clearances, 61 Inside 50m, 51 Rebound 50m.
Chris Judd, Carlton, captain. All Australian 2004, 2006. 21 games in 2008. 250 kicks, 41 marks, 258 handballs, averaging 11.9 kicks, 2.0 marks, 12.3 handballs. 15 Goals Nine Behinds. 103 Clearances, 83 Inside 50m, 29 Rebound 50m.
Gary Ablett, Geelong. All Australian 2007. 18 games in 2008. 246 kicks, 84 marks, 262 handballs, averaging 13.7 kicks, 4.7 marks, 14.6 handballs. 23 Goals 22 Behinds. 87 Clearances, 101 Inside 50m, 22 Rebound 50m.
Corey Enright, Geelong. Never previously selected. 22 games in 2008. 267 kicks, 118 marks, 250 handballs, averaging 12.1 kicks, 5.4 marks, 11.4 handballs. Six Goals Two Behinds. 39 Clearances, 41 Inside 50m, 64 Rebound 50m.
Matthew Pavlich, Fremantle. All Australian 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007. 19 games in 2008. 263 kicks, 138 marks, 83 handballs, averaging 13.8 kicks, 7.3 marks, 4.4 handballs. 67 Goals 35 Behinds. 38 Clearances, 101 Inside 50m, Five Rebound 50m.
Matthew Richardson, Richmond. All Australian 1996, 1999. 20 games in 2008. 263 kicks, 222 marks, 102 handballs, averaging 13.2 kicks, 11.1 marks, 5.1 handballs. 48 Goals 30 Behinds. Five Clearances, 46 Inside 50m, 19 Rebound 50m.
Aaron Sandilands, Fremantle. Never previously selected. 22 games in 2008. 122 kicks, 77 marks, 208 handballs, averaging 5.5 kicks, 3.5 marks, 9.5 handballs. 646 hit outs averaging 29.4 hit outs. Eight Goals 11 Behinds. 88 Clearances, 45 Inside 50m, 18 Rebound 50m.
