Unexpected' captaincy call, 'puzzling' omissions and arguable inclusions headline All-Australian selection
Every year the announcement of the AFL's All-Australian team is debated long and loud after its announcement, and this year was no different with an unexpected captaincy call, shock omissions and surprise inclusions.
Melbourne skipper Max Gawn joined elite company, earning his sixth blazer. He achieved that honour after 179 senior games, less appearances than any player to have previously been selected six times.
At the other end of the scale, Geelong recruit Tyson Stengle was the first delisted free agent to to be named in the side.
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Stengle was one of 12 first-time players, with four of the six starting defenders - Brayden Maynard, Jack Sinclair, Sam Taylor and Adam Saad - making their maiden appearance.
Shai Bolton, Callum Mills and Charlie Curnow were also named on the field, while all four players on the interchange bench - Isaac Heeney, Connor Rozee, Andrew Brayshaw and Mark Blicavs - earned their first nod.
The class of 2022: This year's All-Australian team poses for a photo shortly after the selection Getty
2022 ALL-AUSTRALIAN TEAM
B: Tom Stewart (Geelong), Steven May (Melbourne), Brayden Maynard (Collingwood)
HB: Jack Sinclair (St Kilda), Sam Taylor (GWS Giants), Adam Saad (Carlton)
C: Touk Miller (Gold Coast), Clayton Oliver (Melbourne), Callum Mills (Sydney)
HF: Christian Petracca (Melbourne), Jeremy Cameron (Geelong), Shai Bolton (Richmond)
F: Charlie Curnow (Carlton), Tom Hawkins (C) (Geelong), Tyson Stengle (Geelong)
FOLL: Max Gawn (Melbourne), Lachie Neale (Brisbane), Patrick Cripps (VC) (Carlton)
INT: Mark Blicavs (Geelong), Andrew Brayshaw (Fremantle), Isaac Heeney (Sydney), Connor Rozee (Port Adelaide)
James Sicily:
Arguably the biggest snubbing from the team was Sicily in the backline.
Sicily was the No.1 rated key defender this season with the most disposals in the position. He also took the third most intercepts in the competition.
Tom Lynch:
Finishing second in the Coleman Medal with 60 goals, Lynch was incredibly unlucky to miss out on selection. The two-time premiership-winning star could have topped the table had he played a full season, rather than just 18 games.
He was also ranked first for both contested marks and goals per game.
Jarrod Witts:
Witts was in the driver's seat at the halfway point of the season, but after taking his foot off the pedal during the back-end of the season, there wasn't enough room for two pure rucks.
Rory Laird:
With so many ball-winners named in the team Laird didn't make the final cut.
He was classed in the top five players for disposals, clearances, contested possessions, tackles and ranking points.
Nick Daicos:
After storming onto the scene in his first season, punters were left scratching their heads after excitement machine Daicos was left out of the initial squad of 44 on Monday.
At the AFL Awards night, Daicos took out both the AFL Rising Star and the AFLPA Best First Year award after a stunning debut season that has been widely touted as one of the best in the league's recent history.
The father-son draftee played all 22 regular-season games, averaging a club-high 26 disposals.
Collingwood's Nick Daicos won the AFL Rising Star award. Getty
Polarising captaincy call
Geelong veteran Tom Hawkins was recognised with his fifth blazer and the captaincy. Having never captained his team, many were left confused by the selectors' choice - especially with four current club captains featured in the side.
However, as shown through past captains including Patrick Dangerfield, Lance Franklin and Alex Rance, the title can be given to recognise a player's contribution to the game.
"I don't think I've actually ever been captain of a football side before, so to be standing alongside some of the best players of our generation is pretty cool," Hawkins said.
"Very unexpected, but very cool to be identified with."
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