Each year, Australian football pauses to ask which players have most fully expressed the game's highest possibilities — and in 2026, that question carries unusual weight. The AFL's 46-player All Australian squad, drawn from a season of shifting club fortunes, places Melbourne's Max Gawn at the edge of history: one selection away from standing alone as the most decorated player in the award's existence. Beyond individual milestones, the squad reflects a broader evolution in the game, with Indigenous representation reaching its greatest height and a wave of first-time contenders signalling that
AFL names 46-player All Australian squad; Gawn poised for historic ninth selection
First player in history to reach nine All Australian honors
Mark
So Fremantle has eight players in a 46-player squad—that's a pretty dominant showing. What does that tell us about their season?
Mimi
It suggests they've had a genuinely strong year across multiple positions. Eight spots out of 46 is roughly one in every five-and-a-half players, so they're punching well above average. But remember, this is just the squad—only 23 will make the final team.
Luke
Right, and we should be careful not to overstate it. The squad is selected by a panel to recognize leading players. It's not a vote or a ranking. Fremantle could have eight in the squad and end up with three or four in the final team, or they could have five. We won't know until Tuesday.
Mark
Fair point. But what about Max Gawn? He's poised for a ninth All Australian selection. How rare is that?
Mimi
It would be unprecedented. He'd be the first player ever to reach nine. Right now he's tied with six other legends—both Abletts, Dangerfield, Franklin, Harvey, Ricciuto. That's genuinely elite company, and he'd be breaking through a ceiling that's stood for decades.
Luke
But again, he's in the squad, not confirmed for the final team. The panel selected him, but the final 23 will be chosen as if to play a match, which means positional balance matters. He's a ruckman, and there are only so many spots for that position.
Mark
Is there any chance he doesn't make it?
Mimi
Unlikely, given his season numbers and his track record. But it's not automatic. The criteria are about recognizing leading players, and the final selection has to work as a functioning team.
Luke
The other thing worth noting: nine Indigenous players in the squad is a historic high. That's a real story, and it's separate from the individual honors. It says something about representation at the elite level.
Mark
Do we know if that's a reflection of better opportunities for Indigenous players, or better recognition of their performances?
Mimi
The source doesn't tell us that. We know it's the most in competition history, but the reasons behind it—whether it's systemic change, demographic shifts, or just this year's cohort being particularly strong—that's not addressed in the information we have.
Luke
Exactly. It's a fact worth reporting, but the explanation requires more reporting. We shouldn't assume.
El Pulso
- Fremantle's eight squad selections announce the club as the season's dominant force, a collective achievement that no single rival club can match.
- Max Gawn's pursuit of a ninth All Australian honor creates a rare moment where individual history hangs on a single panel decision, with Marcus Bontempelli also closing in on the record group.
- Twenty-one players are chasing a first All Australian selection, including thirteen who have never even appeared in a squad — a generational wave pressing against the established order.
- Nine Indigenous players in the squad marks a historic high, a milestone that speaks to both the depth of talent and a growing commitment to recognition at the game's highest level.
- The final 23 will be named August 25 during a live broadcast, when the panel's deliberations collapse into a single definitive list — and history is either made or deferred.
Each year, Australian football pauses to ask which players have most fully expressed the game's highest possibilities — and in 2026, that question carries unusual weight. The AFL's 46-player All Australian squad, drawn from a season of shifting club fortunes, places Melbourne's Max Gawn at the edge of history: one selection away from standing alone as the most decorated player in the award's existence. Beyond individual milestones, the squad reflects a broader evolution in the game, with Indigenous representation reaching its greatest height and a wave of first-time contenders signalling that excellence is being found in new places.
The AFL has named the 46-player squad from which the 2026 All Australian Team of 23 will be drawn, with the final selection announced on Tuesday, August 25 as part of the league's annual awards night. The panel, chaired by AFL chief Andrew Dillon and including former players and media figures, assessed performances across all positions throughout the season.
Fremantle leads all clubs with eight representatives, reflecting a strong collective year, while Brisbane Lions contribute six and Hawthorn five. Adelaide, Geelong, and Port Adelaide each place four players in contention. At the other end, Essendon, Richmond, and West Coast have no representatives at all, and several clubs managed only a single selection.
The squad's most compelling storyline belongs to Max Gawn. The Melbourne ruckman already holds eight All Australian selections — a mark he shares with Gary Ablett Senior, Gary Ablett Junior, Patrick Dangerfield, Lance Franklin, Robert Harvey, and Mark Ricciuto. A ninth selection would make him the outright record holder, the first player in competition history to reach that number. Western Bulldogs captain Marcus Bontempelli is also in contention for an eighth selection, which would place him alongside that same distinguished group.
Twenty-one players are seeking their first All Australian honour, among them Fremantle's Jye Amiss and Josh Treacy, who have combined for 112 goals this season, and Sydney's Charlie Curnow, who has kicked 69 goals across 22 games. The squad also features nine Indigenous players — the highest number ever included — a milestone that reflects both the quality of talent currently performing at the elite level and a meaningful shift in how the game recognises its own.
The final team will be structured as if to play a match, a format in place since 2007 that ensures balanced positional representation. The announcement will be broadcast live on Fox Footy from 7:30pm, hosted by Sarah Jones and three-time All Australian Jack Riewoldt, with coverage also available on Kayo Sports.
The AFL has named its 46-player All Australian squad, the pool from which the final team of 23 will be selected on Tuesday, August 25, as part of the league's annual awards ceremony. The selection panel, chaired by Andrew Dillon and including former players and media figures, was tasked with identifying the leading performers across all positions—forwards, defenders, and midfielders or rucks—based on their 2026 season performances.
Fremantle leads the representation with eight players in contention, a significant showing that reflects the club's competitive year. Brisbane Lions follows with six selections, while Hawthorn brings five. Adelaide Crows, Geelong Cats, and Port Adelaide each have four representatives. The remaining spots are distributed among the other clubs, though Essendon, Richmond, and West Coast Eagles have no players in the squad. Carlton, North Melbourne, and three other clubs managed just one selection each.
The most striking narrative emerging from this year's squad centers on Max Gawn's pursuit of a ninth All Australian honor. The Melbourne ruckman, who has already secured eight selections across his career, stands on the threshold of becoming the first player in competition history to reach that milestone. Currently, he shares the record of eight with an elite group: Gary Ablett Senior, Gary Ablett Junior, Patrick Dangerfield, Lance Franklin, Robert Harvey, and Mark Ricciuto. Should Gawn make the final team, he will stand alone at the top of this particular measure of sustained excellence. Close behind him is Marcus Bontempelli of the Western Bulldogs, who is in line for an eighth selection and would join that same prestigious cohort if selected.
Twenty-one players in this year's squad are vying for their first All Australian selection, including thirteen who have never appeared in an All Australian squad at any level. This infusion of new talent reflects both the natural turnover in elite football and the emergence of a new generation of performers. Among the notable first-time contenders are Jye Amiss and Josh Treacy from Fremantle, who have combined for 112 goals this season, and Charlie Curnow of Sydney, who has kicked 69 goals across 22 matches.
Indigenous representation in the squad has reached a historic high, with nine players included—the most in competition history. This milestone underscores a broader shift in the visibility and recognition of Indigenous talent at the elite level of Australian football. The selection reflects both the quality of Indigenous players currently performing at their peak and a commitment to ensuring their contributions are properly acknowledged within the game's highest honors.
The squad spans the full spectrum of playing styles and positions. Defenders like Harris Andrews of Brisbane and James Sicily of Hawthorn sit alongside prolific forwards such as Logan Morris, who has booted 63 goals this season, and Ben King of Gold Coast, who has managed 60. Midfield workhorses including Lachie Neale of Brisbane, who averages 30 disposals per game, compete for recognition alongside emerging talents like Luke Davies-Uniacke of North Melbourne.
The final All Australian team will be selected according to criteria established in 2007, meaning the 23 players chosen will be named as if to play a match—a structure that ensures balanced representation across all areas of the ground. The announcement will take place during the AFL Awards broadcast, hosted by Fox Footy's Sarah Jones and three-time All Australian Jack Riewoldt, beginning at 7:30pm on Fox Footy and available on Kayo Sports. The selection panel's work in narrowing this 46-player field to the final 23 will determine not only who receives the honor this year, but also whether Gawn achieves his historic ninth selection.
Citas Notables
Max Gawn is in line for a ninth All Australian team selection, making him the first player in the competition's history with nine All Australian blazers.— AFL announcement
Quieres la nota completa?
Lee el original en AFL.com.au ↗
Sports