AFL Awards: All Australian, MVP and Rising Star crowned for 2020

Tom Naghten

AFL Awards: All Australian, MVP and Rising Star crowned for 2020 image

12 players were named in their first All Australian team at the AFL's condensed 2020 awards ceremony on Thursday night.

Meanwhile, Brisbane midfielder Lachie Neale has taken out the AFLPA MVP award, while Fremantle youngster Caleb Serong has claimed the Rising Star.

In light of the restrictions on travel and gatherings due to COVID-19, the AFL opted to combine several of the annual awards into one virtual event.

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The always controversial All Australian team didn't disappoint, with plenty of debate over who was stiff to miss out and who got lucky.

Geelong superstar Patrick Dangerfield became just the sixth person to be selected in a record eight All Australian teams, while he was also named captain for the first time.

Dangerfield was among three Cats named in the team, while his vice-captain, Port Adelaide's Travis Boak, also had two club teammates alongside him.

West Coast and the Bulldogs were the other two clubs with three representatives.

Check out the full team below.

2020 All Australian team.

Dangerfield joins Gary Ablett snr, Gary Ablett jnr, Lance Franklin, Robert Harvey and Mark Ricciuto as the only eight-time All Australians.

As for the individual honours, Lions star Neale cleaned up, taking out both the Players' Association and Coaches Association top gongs.

Neale comfortably beat out Boak in the AFLPA award, while Melbourne midfielder Christian Petracca was runner-up in the coaches association gong.

AFLPA MVP

1120 votes: Lachie Neale (Brisbane)
419 votes: Travis Boak (Port Adelaide)
398 votes: Christian Petracca (Melbourne)
370 votes: Tom Hawkins (Geelong)
207 votes: Jack Steele (St Kilda)

AFLCA player of the year

93 votes: Lachie Neale (Brisbane)
78 votes: Christian Petracca (Melbourne)
77 votes: Travis Boak (Port Adelaide)
72 votes: Jack Steele (St Kilda)
60 votes: Taylor Adams (Collingwood)

Finally, Serong claimed the honour for the competition's best youngster, edging out Gold Coast number two pick Noah Anderson.

The diminutive onballer played 13 games in his first season, averagin 17 disposals.

2020 AFL Rising Star votes

48 votes: Caleb Serong (Fremantle) 
39 votes: Noah Anderson (Gold Coast) 
28 votes: Max King (St Kilda) 
19 votesL Izak Rankine (Gold Coast) 
12 votes: Will Day (Hawthorn) 
6 votes: Brandon Starcevich (Brisbane) 
1 vote: Kysaiah Pickett (Melbourne) 

Tom Naghten

Tom Naghten Photo

Tom Naghten is a senior editor at The Sporting News Australia where he's been part of the team since 2017. He predominantly covers boxing and MMA. In his spare time, he likes to watch Robbie Ahmat's goal against the Kangaroos at the SCG in 2000.