Only Wayne Carey has been named All-Australian captain more times than Joel Selwood after the Geelong was skipper was named AA skipper for a third time on Thursday night at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre.
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Having previously been given the nod as captain in 2013 and 2014, Selwood, 28, was selected in his fifth All-Australian team, again in the leadership role. It means only North Melbourne great Carey has been named as All-Australian captain more times than the three-time Geelong premiership player.
Named as rover in this year's team, Selwood had also been named in the side in 2009 and 2010.
Buoyed by the addition of former Adelaide star Patrick Dangerfield at Geelong, Selwood returned to near his best in 2016, averaging nearly 28 disposals per game as he helped catapult his side back into the top eight and into premiership calculations despite a significantly restricted pre-season. The courageous midfielder finished 15th in the AFL for disposals this year, 18th for handballs, 10th for inside 50s, equal fourth for clearances, and won more free kicks than any other player in the league.
Adelaide's Rory Sloane was rewarded for a stellar season, named as vice-captain. There were nine first-time All-Australians picked: Dane Rampe (Sydney), Jeremy McGovern (West Coast), Sloane, Toby Greene (Greater Western Sydney), Tom Lynch (Gold Coast), Max Gawn (Melbourne), Marcus Bontempelli (Western Bulldogs), Dustin Martin (Richmond) and Luke Parker (Sydney).
Having finished top of the ladder, the Swans had five players picked in the team, more than any other club. The Brisbane Lions, Carlton, Collingwood, Essendon, Fremantle, Port Adelaide and St Kilda all went unrepresented, as did North Melbourne – the sole finalist without a player in the team.
Cats veteran Corey Enright – who turns 35 later this month – was named in his sixth AA team.
Carey was a seven-time All-Australian, and prior to his ignominious exit from Arden Street had been named All-Australian captain four times: as a 22-year-old in 1993, and then consecutively from 1998 to 2000.
