All-Australian squad: Eight Fremantle Dockers players named on shortlist

Fremantle are in line to have their biggest-ever representation in an All-Australian team, with a whopping eight Dockers named on the shortlist for this year’s side.

Luke Jackson, Shai Bolton, Alex Pearce, Josh Treacy, Jye Amiss, Murphy Reid, Caleb Serong and Jordan Clark were all named on a 46-man extended list in the wake of Freo’s superb minor premiership campaign.

It marked the largest amount of Dockers named in the wider squad since the shortlist concept was introduced in 2007, and leaves Fremantle firmly in the frame to have a quartet of players – or more – make the side in the same year for the first time.

Fremantle have twice had a trio of players earn All-Australian selection in the same season. Matthew Pavlich, Peter Bell and Paul Hasleby made the side in 2003, and Nat Fyfe, Aaron Sandilands and Hayden Ballantyne were all picked in 2014.

The Dockers’ eight nominations marked the most of any club this season, and the most of any club in a single season since Richmond’s eight in 2018.

Reigning premiers Brisbane had six players named in this year’s squad, while Freo’s quarter-final opponents Hawthorn had five.

Sydney had two players picked - Charlie Curnow and Brodie Grundy - amid last week’s ruling that likely candidates Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner and Nick Blakey would all be ineligible for selection following the Pullman Hotel investigation.

West Coast failed to have a single nominee, alongside fellow bottom-three clubs Essendon and Richmond.

Jackson is widely considered to be a lock to earn his maiden All-Australian blazer on the back of a brilliant campaign, while Bolton should join him in the final side to add to his 2022 nod from when he was at Richmond.

Three-time All-Australian Serong will be looking to emulate Matthew Pavlich (2005-08) as the only Dockers to achieve selection in the side across four consecutive seasons.

The All-Australian line-up will be unveiled at an AFL awards night on Tuesday, along with this year’s Rising Star winner and AFL Coaches Association’s Champion Player of the Year award.

FREMANTLE : Luke Jackson, Shai Bolton, Alex Pearce, Josh Treacy, Jye Amiss, Murphy Reid, Caleb Serong, Jordan Clark

BRISBANE : Harris Andrews, Will Ashcroft, Zac Bailey, Charlie Cameron, Logan Morris, Lachie Neale

HAWTHORN : Jack Gunston, Jarman Impey, Jai Newcombe, James Sicily, Nick Watson