THE AFL wishes to advise the All Australian selection panel has confirmed the 40-man squad that is in contention for selection for the 2019 Virgin Australia AFL All Australian Team.
 
Under the format introduced in 2007, the All Australian selectors were not asked to nominate the leading players in each section of the field – forwards, defenders and midfielders / ruckmen – but simply to name the best players of the season.
 
However, the final team of 22, to be named later this week on Wednesday August 28 in Melbourne, is selected as if to play a match.
 
Reigning premiers the West Coast Eagles (seven) led 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 20 players were nominated for a potential first-ever All Australian selection while nine players from last year's best team were again nominated as potential selections this year – Patrick Cripps, Brodie Grundy, Patrick Dangerfield, Tom Stewart, Max Gawn, Dustin Martin, Andrew Gaff, Shannon Hurn and Jeremy McGovern.
 
Geelong Cats’ Gary Ablett could receive his ninth separate All Australian blazer later this week and break the record for All Australian honours for players who did not play in the carnival era. Teammate Dangerfield is in line for his seventh blazer while Collingwood’s Scott Pendlebury is line for his sixth selection as an All Australian respectively.
 
For players who did not play in the carnival era, eight separate years chosen for All Australian honours has only been achieved by four players - Gary Ablett senior (1984, 1986, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995), Gary Ablett junior (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014), Robert Harvey (1992, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2003) and Mark Ricciuto (1994, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005).
 
Separately, there are a further eight 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 eight or more All Australian blazers to their names – Craig Bradley, Terry Daniher, Gerard Healy, Stephen Kernahan, Simon Madden, John Platten, Paul Roos and Greg Williams.
 
The All Australian selection panel is Gillon McLachlan (chairman), Kevin Bartlett, Luke Darcy, Danny Frawley, Steve Hocking, Glen Jakovich, Chris Johnson, Cameron Ling, Matthew Richardson and Warren Tredrea, 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 order of club representation is as follows:
 
Daniel Talia, Adelaide Crows
All Australian 2014, 2016. 22 games in 2019.
268 disposals. 171 kicks, 120 marks, 97 handballs averaging 12.2 disposals, 7.8 kicks, 5.5 marks, 4.4 handballs. 7 Inside 50m, 67 Rebound 50m. 48 tackles.
 
Harris Andrews, Brisbane Lions
19 games in 2019.
250 disposals. 152 kicks, 112 marks, 98 handballs averaging 13.2 disposals, 8 kicks, 5.9 marks, 5.2 handballs. 20 Inside 50m, 47 Rebound 50m. 28 tackles.
 
Charlie Cameron, Brisbane Lions
22 games in 2019.
277 disposals. 204 kicks, 75 marks, 73 handballs averaging 12.6 disposals, 9.3 kicks, 3.4 marks, 3.3 handballs. 53 Goals, 29 Behinds (Equal third in the AFL in goals). 53 Inside 50m, 4 Rebound 50m. 47 tackles.
 
Hugh McCluggage, Brisbane Lions
21 games in 2019.
475 disposals. 294 kicks, 81 marks, 181 handballs averaging 22.6 disposals, 14 kicks, 3.9 marks, 8.6 handballs. 22 Goals, 11 Behinds. 90 Inside 50m, 36 Rebound 50m. 77 tackles.
 
Lachie Neale, Brisbane Lions
22 games in 2019.
688 disposals (Third in the AFL in total disposals), 275 kicks, 91 marks, 413 handballs (Third in the AFL in handballs),  averaging 31.3 disposals, 12.5 kicks, 4.1 marks, 18.8 handballs. 10 Goals, 6 Behinds. 174 clearances (First in the AFL in total clearances), 78 Inside 50m, 36 Rebound 50m. 86 tackles.
 
Dayne Zorko, Brisbane Lions
All Australian 2017. 22 games in 2019.
490 disposals. 368 kicks, 86 marks, 122 handballs averaging 22.3 disposals, 16.7 kicks, 3.9 marks, 5.5 handballs. 22 Goals, 15 Behinds. 142 Inside 50m, 26 Rebound 50m. 147 tackles (Third in the AFL in tackles).
 
Patrick Cripps, Carlton
All Australian 2018. 20 games in 2019.
560 disposals. 212 kicks, 62 marks, 348 handballs averaging 28 disposals, 10.6 kicks, 3.1 marks, 17.4 handballs. 13 Goals, 6 Behinds. 170 clearances (Second in the AFL in total clearances), 62 Inside 50m, 23 Rebound 50m. 123 tackles.
 
Brodie Grundy, Collingwood
All Australian 2018. 22 games in 2019.
465 disposals. 215 kicks, 98 marks, 250 handballs averaging 21.1 disposals, 9.8 kicks, 4.5 marks, 11.4 handballs. 7 Goals, 11 Behinds. 902 Hitouts (Second in the AFL in hitouts), 129 clearances, 47 Inside 50m, 27 Rebound 50m. 95 tackles.
 
Scott Pendlebury, Collingwood
All Australian 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014. 22 games in 2019.
613 disposals. 319 kicks, 95 marks, 294 handballs averaging 27.9 disposals, 14.5 kicks, 4.3 marks, 13.4 handballs. 11 Goals, 7 Behinds. 98 clearances, 112 Inside 50m, 29 Rebound 50m. 94 tackles.
 
Adam Treloar, Collingwood
22 games in 2019.
739 disposals (First in the AFL in total disposals). 317 kicks, 90 marks, 422 handballs (First in the AFL in handballs),  averaging 33.6 disposals, 14.4 kicks, 4.1 marks, 19.2 handballs. 10 Goals, 4 Behinds. 132 clearances, 91 Inside 50m, 22 Rebound 50m. 100 tackles.
 
Nat Fyfe, Fremantle
All Australian 2014, 2015. 20 games in 2019.
583 disposals. 279 kicks, 96 marks, 304 handballs averaging 29.2 disposals, 14 kicks, 4.8 marks, 15.2 handballs. 16 Goals, 13 Behinds. 151 clearances, 94 Inside 50m, 20 Rebound 50m. 79 tackles.
 
Michael Walters, Fremantle
22 games in 2019.
479 disposals. 303 kicks, 83 marks, 176 handballs averaging 21.8 disposals, 13.8 kicks, 3.8 marks, 8 handballs. 40 Goals, 17 Behinds. 86 Inside 50m, 24 Rebound 50m. 78 tackles.
 
Gary Ablett, Geelong Cats
All Australian 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011(c), 2012, 2013, 2014.
21 games in 2019.
430 disposals. 264 kicks, 80 marks, 166 handballs averaging 20.5 disposals, 12.6 kicks, 3.8 marks, 7.9 handballs. 33 Goals, 16 Behinds. 108 Inside 50m, 20 Rebound 50m. 94 tackles.
 
Mark Blicavs, Geelong Cats
22 games in 2019.
301 disposals. 172 kicks, 116 marks, 129 handballs averaging 13.7 disposals, 7.8 kicks, 5.3 marks, 5.9 handballs. 21 Inside 50m, 54 Rebound 50m. 76 tackles.
 
Patrick Dangerfield, Geelong Cats
All Australian 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017(vc), 2018. 21 games in 2019. 
573 disposals. 311 kicks, 103 marks, 262 handballs averaging 27.3 disposals, 14.8 kicks, 4.9 marks, 12.5 handballs. 25 Goals, 18 Behinds. 120 clearances, 123 Inside 50m, 18 Rebound 50m. 93 tackles.
 
Tom Hawkins, Geelong Cats
All Australian 2012. 22 games in 2019. 
286 disposals. 185 kicks, 116 marks, 101 handballs averaging 13 disposals, 8.4 kicks, 5.3 marks, 4.6 handballs. 52 Goals, 27 Behinds. 38 Inside 50m.
 
Tim Kelly, Geelong Cats
22 games in 2019.
558 disposals. 331 kicks, 73 marks, 227 handballs averaging 25.4 disposals, 15 kicks, 3.3 marks, 10.3 handballs. 18 Goals, 17 Behinds. 135 clearances, 92 Inside 50m, 39 Rebound 50m. 92 tackles.
 
Tom Stewart, Geelong Cats
All Australian 2018. 22 games in 2019.
514 disposals. 423 kicks (Second in the AFL in kicks), 165 marks (Third in the AFL in marks), 91 handballs averaging 23.4 disposals, 19.2 kicks, 7.5 marks, 4.1 handballs. 34 Inside 50m, 184 Rebound 50m. 41 tackles.
 
Jeremy Cameron, GWS GIANTS
All Australian 2013. 20 games in 2019.
319 disposals. 229 kicks, 130 marks, 90 handballs averaging 16 disposals, 11.5 kicks, 6.5 marks, 4.5 handballs. 67 Goals, 45 Behinds (First in the AFL in goals). 64 Inside 50m. 4 Rebound 50m. 26 tackles.
 
Nick Haynes, GWS GIANTS
19 games in 2019.
346 disposals. 256 kicks, 149 marks, 90 handballs averaging 18.2 disposals, 13.5 kicks, 7.8 marks, 4.7 handballs. 33 Inside 50m, 79 Rebound 50m. 29 tackles.
 
James Sicily, Hawthorn
22 games in 2019.
464 disposals. 352 kicks, 158 marks, 112 handballs averaging 21.1 disposals, 16 kicks, 7.2 marks, 5.1 handballs. 28 Inside 50m, 137 Rebound 50m. 32 tackles.
 
Max Gawn, Melbourne
All Australian 2016, 2018. 21 games in 2019.
372 disposals. 253 kicks, 102 marks, 119 handballs averaging 17.7 disposals, 12 kicks, 4.9 marks, 5.7 handballs. 7 Goals, 7 Behinds. 829 Hitouts (Third in the AFL in hitouts), 104 clearances, 69 Inside 50m, 40 Rebound 50m. 51 tackles.
 
Ben Brown, North Melbourne
22 games in 2019.
244 disposals. 187 kicks, 108 marks, 57 handballs averaging 11.1 disposals, 8.5 kicks, 4.9 marks, 2.6 handballs. 64 Goals, 34 Behinds (Second in the AFL in goals). 36 Inside 50m. 25 tackles.
 
Ben Cunnington, North Melbourne
22 games in 2019.
586 disposals. 189 kicks, 53 marks, 397 handballs averaging 26.6 disposals, 8.6 kicks, 2.4 marks, 18 handballs. 6 Goals, 5 Behinds. 160 clearances (Third in the AFL in total clearances), 43 Inside 50m, 23 Rebound 50m. 78 tackles.
 
Travis Boak, Port Adelaide
All Australian 2013, 2014. 21 games in 2019.
637 disposals. 306 kicks, 70 marks, 331 handballs averaging 30.3 disposals, 14.6 kicks, 3.3 marks, 15.8 handballs. 10 Goals, 13 Behinds. 146 clearances, 97 Inside 50m, 24 Rebound 50m. 102 tackles.
 
Bachar Houli, Richmond
19 games in 2019.
539 disposals. 318 kicks, 120 marks, 221 handballs averaging 28.4 disposals, 16.7 kicks, 6.3 marks, 11.6 handballs. 1 Goal. 59 Inside 50m, 91 Rebound 50m. 49 tackles.
 
Dylan Grimes, Richmond
21 games in 2019.
275 disposals. 148 kicks, 107 marks, 127 handballs averaging 13.1 disposals, 7 kicks, 5.1 marks, 6 handballs. 15 Inside 50m, 58 Rebound 50m. 45 tackles.
 
Dustin Martin, Richmond
All Australian 2016, 2017, 2018. 20 games in 2019.
542 disposals. 339 kicks, 85 marks, 203 handballs averaging 27.1 disposals, 17 kicks, 4.3 marks, 10.2 handballs. 119 Inside 50m, 11 Rebound 50m. 51 tackles.
 
Dion Prestia, Richmond
22 games in 2019.
604 disposals. 333 kicks, 78 marks, 271 handballs averaging 27.5 disposals, 15.1 kicks, 3.5 marks, 12.3 handballs. 106 Inside 50m, 50 Rebound 50m. 105 tackles.
 
Dane Rampe, Sydney Swans
All Australian 2016. 21 games in 2019.
421 disposals. 265 kicks, 123 marks, 156 handballs averaging 20 disposals, 12.6 kicks, 5.9 marks, 7.4 handballs. 31 Inside 50m, 140 Rebound 50m. 60 tackles.
 
Jack Darling, West Coast Eagles
22 games in 2019.
267 disposals. 187 kicks, 103 marks, 80 handballs averaging 12.2 disposals, 8.5 kicks, 4.7 marks, 3.6 handballs. 54 Goals, 18 Behinds (Equal third in the AFL in goals). 38 Inside 50m, 58 tackles. 
 
Andrew Gaff, West Coast Eagles
All Australian 2015, 2018. 20 games in 2019.
638 disposals. 393 kicks, 125 marks, 245 handballs averaging 31.9 disposals, 19.7 kicks, 6.3 marks, 12.3 handballs. 1 Goal. 89 clearances, 84 Inside 50m, 56 Rebound 50m. 50 tackles.
 
Shannon Hurn, West Coast Eagles
All Australian 2018. 19 games in 2019.
449 disposals. 353 kicks, 134 marks, 96 handballs averaging 23.6 disposals, 18.6 kicks, 7.1 marks, 5.1 handballs. 26 Inside 50m, 124 Rebound 50m. 29 tackles.
 
Jeremy McGovern, West Coast Eagles
All Australian 2016, 2017, 2018. 21 games in 2019.
318 disposals. 220 kicks, 152 marks, 98 handballs averaging 15.1 disposals, 10.5 kicks, 7.2 marks, 4.7 handballs. 1 Goal. 19 Inside 50m, 85 Rebound 50m. 33 tackles.
 
Brad Sheppard, West Coast Eagles
22 games in 2019.
430 disposals. 302 kicks, 172 marks (First in the AFL in marks), 128 handballs averaging 19.5 disposals, 13.7 kicks, 7.8 marks, 5.8 handballs. 25 Inside 50m, 94 Rebound 50m. 35 tackles.
 
Luke Shuey, West Coast Eagles
22 games in 2019.
586 disposals. 387 kicks, 71 marks, 219 handballs averaging 26.6 disposals, 16.7 kicks, 3.2 marks, 10 handballs. 117 Inside 50m, 47 Rebound 50m. 123 tackles.
 
Elliot Yeo, West Coast Eagles
All Australian 2017. 21 games in 2019.
499 disposals. 293 kicks, 74 marks, 206 handballs averaging 23.8 disposals, 14 kicks, 3.5 marks, 9.8 handballs. 111 Inside 50m, 29 Rebound 50m. 161 tackles (Second in the AFL in tackles).
 
Marcus Bontempelli, Western Bulldogs
All Australian 2016. 22 games in 2019.
593 disposals. 338 kicks, 92 marks, 255 handballs averaging 27 disposals, 15.4 kicks, 4.2 marks, 11.6 handballs. 15 Goals, 25 Behinds. 135 clearances, 120 Inside 50m, 45 Rebound 50m. 109 tackles.
 
Josh Dunkley, Western Bulldogs
22 games in 2019.
631 disposals. 297 kicks, 93 marks, 334 handballs averaging 28.7 disposals, 13.5 kicks, 4.2 marks, 15.2 handballs. 11 Goals, 8 Behinds. 116 clearances, 83 Inside 50m, 28 Rebound 50m. 134 tackles.
 
Jack Macrae, Western Bulldogs
22 games in 2019.
736 disposals (Second in the AFL in total disposals), 328 kicks, 96 marks, 408 handballs averaging 33.5 disposals, 14.9 kicks, 4.4 marks, 18.5 handballs. 5 Goals, 2 Behinds. 112 clearances, 93 Inside 50m, 31 Rebound 50m. 110 tackles.