Gold Coast SUNS captain, Gary Ablett is in contention for his fifth All Australian after being selected in the preliminary 40-man All Australian squad.
Previously selected in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, Ablett played 20 games in 2011, averaging 15.2 kicks, 2.2 marks and 15.0 handballs. He kicked a total of 18 Goals 17 Behinds and had 133 Clearances, 99 Inside 50m, 62 Rebound 50m.
Ablett was also selected as Vice Captain of last years All Australian team, and after a more than impressive debut season as GC SUNS skipper, some believe Ablett may be crowned All Australian Captain if selected.
WHAT DO YOU THINK? Should Gary Ablett be selected as the All Australian Captain? Leave your comments below.
The 2011 All Australian team will be announced at a gala event in Melbourne on Monday night.
The squad members named are in order of club representation is as follows:
Scott Thompson, Adelaide
Eddie Betts, Carlton
Chris Judd, Carlton
Marc Murphy, Carlton
Heath Scotland, Carlton
Travis Cloke, Collingwood
Leon Davis, Collingwood
Scott Pendlebury, Collingwood
Ben Reid, Collingwood
Dane Swan, Collingwood
Dale Thomas, Collingwood
Nat Fyfe, Fremantle
Luke McPharlin, Fremantle
Corey Enright, Geelong
Steve Johnson, Geelong
James Kelly, Geelong
Matthew Scarlett, Geelong
Joel Selwood, Geelong
Harry Taylor, Geelong
Gary Ablett, Gold Coast
Grant Birchall, Hawthorn
Lance Franklin, Hawthorn
Josh Gibson, Hawthorn
Sam Mitchell, Hawthorn
Todd Goldstein, North Melbourne
Drew Petrie, North Melbourne
Andrew Swallow, North Melbourne
Daniel Wells, North Melbourne
Brett Deledio, Richmond
Nick Dal Santo, St Kilda
Sam Fisher, St Kilda
Stephen Milne, St Kilda
Adam Goodes, Sydney Swans.
Dean Cox, West Coast
Andrew Embley, West Coast
Darren Glass, West Coast
Josh Kennedy, West Coast
Matt Priddis, West Coast
Matthew Boyd, Western Bulldogs
Robert Murphy, Western Bulldogs
All Australian History
The first All Australian concept was pioneered by Sporting Life magazine. A squad from all footballing states was selected annually in October from 1947 until 1955 by a panel of experts. Respected South Australian Peter Argent has researched the information.
At the conclusion of the 1953 Australian Football Carnival held in Adelaide, the first official All Australian team was selected from the best performed players. The practice continued until the 1988 Bicentenary Carnival in Adelaide.
In 1982, the first AFL team of the year was chosen by the Victorian selectors. With the development of the national competition, the concept was changed slightly and in 1991, the first AFL All Australian Team was selected.
