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Ablett set for AFL All Australian record

3 minute read

Geelong champion Gary Ablett is poised for a modern-day record ninth All Australian selection when the ceremonial team is named on Wednesday night.

GARY ABLETT of the Cats in action during the AFL match between the Collingwood Magpies and the Geelong Cats at the MCG in Melbourne, Australia.
GARY ABLETT of the Cats in action during the AFL match between the Collingwood Magpies and the Geelong Cats at the MCG in Melbourne, Australia. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos

Geelong megastar Gary Ablett is expected to set an AFL modern-day record for the most All Australian jumpers after inclusion in the 40-man squad.

Ablett is in line for his ninth All Australian selection when the final 22 players are announced on Wednesday night.

Ablett, his father Gary, Sydney's Lance Franklin, Adelaide's Mark Ricciuto and St Kilda great Robert Harvey are the only players with eight All Australian jumpers in the modern era.

They sit above the pack since the All Australian team wasn't chosen from performances at the the now-defunct national carnivals held from 1953 to 1988.

From the carnival era, when it was possible to earn mid-season and post-season All Australian selection, eight players have eight or more jumpers - Craig Bradley, Terry Daniher, Gerard Healy, Stephen Kernahan, Simon Madden, John Platten, Paul Roos and Greg Williams.

This year, West Coast have a league-high seven representatives in the 40 names released by the AFL on Monday.

Eagles Jack Darling, Andrew Gaff, Shannon Hurn, Jeremy McGovern, Brad Sheppard, Luke Shuey and Elliot Yeo are candidates.

Gold Coast, St Kilda and Essendon are the only clubs without a player nominated.

A total of 20 players have been nominated for a potential first All Australian jumper.

And nine players from last year's ceremonial team - Patrick Cripps, Brodie Grundy, Patrick Dangerfield, Tom Stewart, Max Gawn, Dustin Martin, Gaff, Hurn and McGovern - have been nominated again.

The 40-man squad is: Adelaide: Daniel Talia; Brisbane: Harris Andrews, Charlie Cameron, Hugh McCluggage, Lachie Neale, Dayne Zorko; Carlton: Patrick Cripps; Collingwood: Brodie Grundy, Scott Pendlebury, Adam Treloar; Fremantle: Nat Fyfe, Michael Walters; Geelong: Gary Ablett, Mark Blicavs, Patrick Dangerfield, Tom Hawkins, Tim Kelly, Tom Stewart; GWS Giants: Jeremy Cameron, Nick Haynes; Hawthorn: James Sicily; Melbourne: Max Gawn; North Melbourne: Ben Brown, Ben Cunnington; Port Adelaide: Travis Boak; Richmond: Bachar Houli, Dylan Grimes, Dustin Martin, Dion Prestia; Sydney: Dane Rampe; West Coast: Jack Darling, Andrew Gaff, Shannon Hurn, Jeremy McGovern, Brad Sheppard, Luke Shuey, Elliot Yeo; Western Bulldogs: Marcus Bontempelli, Josh Dunkley, Jack Macrae.

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