Talented Richmond playmaker Shane Edwards has capped the best season of his AFL career by being selected in the All Australian team for the first time.
He joins Tiger teammates Alex Rance, Jack Riewoldt and Dustin Martin in the 2018 All Australian line-up, which was announced this evening.
Edwards, who averaged 19.7 disposals, 3.6 inside-50s, 2.8 clearances, kicked 13 goals, and was ranked second in the competition for goal assists during the home-and-away season, has been named on the interchange bench.
Rance enters an exclusive group of AFL players with his 2018 All Australian selection.
It’s a fifth consecutive All Australian blazer for the competition’s premier key defender, placing him alongside Geelong champion Gary Ablett junior and Collingwood’s captain Scott Pendlebury as the only current-day league players to achieve such a feat.
Ablett gained All-Australian selection eight years in-a-row, while Pendlebury was an All Australian five years on-the-trot.
Rance, full-back in this year’s AA line-up, averaged 16.0 disposals, 5.5 marks and 3.4 rebound-50s in the 2018 home-and-away season. He was ranked first in the competition for total intercepts and third for one-percenters.
Martin made it three All Australian blazers in-a-row, being named as centreman in this year’s team.
The dynamic midfielder and reigning Brownlow Medallist averaged 25.5 disposals, 6.0 inside-50s, 5.4 clearances and kicked 30 goals during the home-and-away season.
He was ranked first in the competition for inside-50s, first for score involvements, second for centre clearances and fifth for goal assists.
Riewoldt is now an All Australian representative for a third time (2010 and 2015 previously). He slots into this year’s AA side at full-forward.
The star key forward and 2018 Coleman Medallist averaged 14.2 disposals, 6.2 marks, 3.2 inside-50s and kicked 65 goals in the home-and-away season.
He was ranked first in the competition for goals, first for marks inside-50, second for score involvements, fourth for contested marks and fifth for tackles inside 50.
The All-Australian selection panel comprises Gillon McLachlan (chairman), Kevin Bartlett, Luke Darcy, Steve Hocking, Danny Frawley, Glen Jakovich, Chris Johnson, Cameron Ling, Matthew Richardson and Warren Tredrea.
