Max Gawn Makes History With Ninth All-Australian Team, August 25

Melbourne captain Max Gawn etched his name into AFL history on Tuesday night, becoming the first player ever to make nine All-Australian teams. The 34-year-old ruckman was named captain of the 23-man All-Australian side at the AFL Awards in Melbourne. Carlton’s Jagga Smith, 20, won the Rising Star with 54 votes, while Collingwood’s Nick Daicos claimed his second AFLPA MVP award.

Gawn breaks the all-time record

Max Gawn surpassed the previous record of eight All-Australian selections, held by Gary Ablett Snr, Gary Ablett Jnr, Patrick Dangerfield, Lance Franklin, Robert Harvey, Mark Ricciuto, and Marcus Bontempelli. The Melbourne skipper has dominated the ruck position since 2016, missing selection only twice: in 2017 due to injury and in 2023 when he shared ruck duties with Brodie Grundy. Gawn was named captain of the inaugural 23-man All-Australian team at the Centrepiece Melbourne venue.

Smith becomes second Carlton Rising Star winner

Carlton’s Jagga Smith won the Telstra AFL Rising Star award with 54 votes out of a possible 55, joining Sam Walsh as the only Blues to claim the honour. The 20-year-old midfielder, who missed the entire 2025 season with an ACL injury, averaged 25 disposals across all but one of Carlton’s home and away games in 2026. Smith received the Ron Evans Medal and $20,000 from Telstra after polling maximum votes from 10 of the 11-member All Australian panel.

Daicos completes rare double as AFLPA MVP

Collingwood’s Nick Daicos, 23, became only the eighth player to win the AFLPA MVP award twice, joining an elite group that includes Greg Williams, Michael Voss, Chris Judd, Gary Ablett Jr., Nat Fyfe, and Marcus Bontempelli. Daicos was also named a four-time All-Australian, cementing his status as one of the competition’s brightest stars. His second MVP award came after an outstanding 2026 campaign.

Sydney Swans drama overshadows the night

Sydney’s Charlie Curnow, who won the Coleman Medal with 69 goals for the third time, did not attend the ceremony to receive his award or All-Australian blazer. Five Swans players were suspended for the remainder of the season following a late-night incident in Melbourne, with allegations of sexual assault made to Victoria Police. Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner, and Nick Blakey were deemed ineligible for All-Australian selection due to their suspensions, though they remain eligible for the Brownlow Medal but will not receive invites to that ceremony.

Nine first-timers join the All-Australian ranks

The 2026 All-Australian team included nine first-time selections: Wayne Milera, Logan Morris, Luke Jackson, Murphy Reid, Josh Treacy, Ollie Dempsey, Lachie Ash, Jarman Impey, and Nick Watson. Luke Jackson of Fremantle joined Gawn as the two ruckmen selected, with Brodie Grundy notably omitted. The 46-player squad was named on Monday, with the final 23-man team revealed at Tuesday night’s ceremony.

Final Thoughts

Gawn’s ninth All-Australian selection cements his legacy as the game’s greatest ruckman, while Smith’s Rising Star win signals Carlton’s midfield depth. The night highlighted both excellence and controversy, with the Swans scandal casting a shadow over Sydney’s Coleman Medal success.

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