AFL 2021 All-Australian 40-man squad: Demons dominate, Richmond miss out

Kieran Francis

AFL 2021 All-Australian 40-man squad: Demons dominate, Richmond miss out image

Reigning AFL premiers Richmond were one of three clubs to miss out on a player in the All-Australian 40-man squad, which was named on Monday night.

The Tigers, who missed the finals this season after winning the premiership in 2020, failed to get a selection in the prestigious list, along with Collingwood and North Melbourne.

Minor premiers Melbourne had seven players picked in the squad, including midfield stars Clayton Oliver and Christian Petracca, while Max Gawn will be hoping to win his fifth All-Australian honour.

Demon defenders Steven May, Jake Lever and Christian Salem were also named, as was forward Bailey Fritsch.

Twenty one players from the list will be hoping to win their first All Australian selection, with the 40-man squad trimmed to 22 at the AFL Awards night on August 26.

Sydney star Lance Franklin will be shooting for a record ninth inclusion in the All-Australian, with the forward currently tied on eight honours alongside Gary Ablett Jnr, Patrick Dangerfield, Robert Harvey and Mark Ricciuto.

Port Adelaide veteran Travis Boak and Geelong accumulator Cameron Guthrie could be considered unlucky to miss selection in the squad after solid seasons, while Richmond forward Jack Riewoldt was overlooked despite finishing third in the Coleman Medal.

Only seven players who were named in the final 2020 All-Australian squad will get the opportunity to back up this season, including Gawn, Marcus Bontempelli, Tom Hawkins, Jack Macrae, Nic Naitanui, Petracca and Jack Steele.

Who was named in the AFL 2021 All-Australian 40-man squad

Adelaide Crows: Rory Laird, Paul Seedsman

Brisbane Lions: Charlie Cameron, Jarryd Lyons, Hugh McCluggage, Daniel Rich, Dayne Zorko

Carlton: Harry McKay, Sam Walsh, Jacob Weitering

Collingwood: Nil

Essendon: Zach Merrett, Darcy Parish, Jake Stringer

Fremantle: Sean Darcy, David Mundy

Geelong Cats: Tom Stewart, Tom Hawkins

Gold Coast Suns: Touk Miller

GWS Giants: Toby Greene, Jacob Hopper

Hawthorn: Tom Mitchell

Melbourne: Bayley Fritsch, Max Gawn, Jake Lever, Steven May, Clayton Oliver, Christian Petracca, Christian Salem

North Melbourne: Nil

Port Adelaide: Aliir Aliir, Karl Amon, Ollie Wines

Richmond: Nil

St Kilda: Jack Steele

Sydney Swans: Lance Franklin, Callum Mills, Tom Papley, Luke Parker

West Coast Eagles: Nic Naitanui

Western Bulldogs: Marcus Bontempelli, Bailey Dale, Jack Macrae

Kieran Francis

Kieran Francis Photo

Kieran Francis is a senior editor at The Sporting News based in Melbourne, Australia. He started at Sportal.com.au before being a part of the transition to Sporting News in 2015. Just prior to the 2018 World Cup, he was appointed chief editor of Goal.com in Australia. He has now returned to The Sporting News where his passions lay in football, AFL, poker and cricket - when he is not on holiday.