PRIZED Fremantle recruit Luke Jackson has emerged as an outside chance for an All-Australian berth after edging his former mentor Max Gawn for a spot in the extended forty four-player squad.<\/p>\n
Gawn, GWS defender Sam Taylor and Richmond midfielder Tim Taranto were conspicuous exclusions when the extended All-Australian squad was unveiled on Monday.<\/p>\n
Minor premiers Collingwood were best represented with five players – Jordan De Goey, Nick Daicos, Josh Daicos, Darcy Moore and Isaac Quaynor.<\/p>\n
Western Bulldogs captain Marcus Bontempelli, Richmond veteran Dustin Martin and Geelong defender Tom Stewart are each in line for a potential fifth All-Australian selection.<\/p>\n
Every team had at least one representative, with wooden spooners West Coast represented by Oscar Allen (53 goals) and cellar dwellers North Melbourne by Nick Larkey (71 goals).<\/p>\n
Melbourne’s ruck experiment with Gawn and former Magpie Brodie Grundy hasn’t functioned this year, and that may have been what cost Gawn a shot at a sixth All-Australian berth.<\/p>\n
Gawn averaged 16.4 possessions and 24.9 hitouts per game this season to go along with his 10 goals, but it wasn’t enough to earn him a nod.<\/p>\n
Instead, St Kilda’s Rowan Marshall, Western Bulldogs star Tim English, and first-year Docker Jackson will battle it out for what is expected to be two ruck spots.<\/p>\n
Jackson won a premiership at Melbourne playing second fiddle to Gawn.<\/p>\n
The 21-year-old became an integral part of Fremantle’s ruck and forward-line set-up this season, averaging 15 disposals, 17.7 hitouts and 2.6 clearances, to go with his 22 goals.<\/p>\n
Jackson took his game to an even higher level as the team’s No.1 ruckman when Sean Darcy succumbed to a season-ending ankle injury in round 18, producing a series of huge performances.<\/p>\n
Taylor was a rock in defence for GWS this season, but the fact he only played 15 matches counted heavily against him.<\/p>\n
Taranto averaged 28.8 possessions and 6.17 clearances per game in his first season at the Tigers.<\/p>\n
But it wasn’t enough to earn him a berth in the extended squad ahead of players including Bontempelli, Tom Liberatore, Zak Butters, Stephen Coniglio, Patrick Cripps, Nick Daicos, Zach Merrett,<\/p>\n
Lachie Neale, Caleb Serong, Connor Rozee, Christian Petracca, Jordan Dawson, Tom Green, Noah Anderson and Errol Gulden.<\/p>\n
Geelong spearhead Jeremy Cameron (53 goals) and Gryan Miers were also overlooked, as well as Adelaide small forward Izak Rankine.<\/p>\n
The 2023 All-Australian selection panel comprised AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan (chair), Eddie Betts, Jude Bolton, Nathan Buckley, Kane Cornes, Andrew Dillon, Glen Jakovich, Laura Kane, Cameron Ling and Matthew Pavlich.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
ALL-AUSTRALIAN EXTENDED SQUAD<\/p>\n
Adelaide: Jordan Dawson, Taylor Walker<\/p>\n
Brisbane: Harris Andrews, Charlie Cameron, Joe Daniher, Lachie Neale<\/p>\n
Carlton: Patrick Cripps, Charlie Curnow, Jacob Weitering<\/p>\n
Collingwood: Josh Daicos, Nick Daicos, Jordan De Goey, Darcy Moore, Isaac Quaynor<\/p>\n
Essendon: Kyle Langford, Zach Merrett, Mason Redman,<\/p>\n
Fremantle: Luke Jackson, Caleb Serong, Luke Ryan<\/p>\n
Geelong: Tom Stewart<\/p>\n
Gold Coast: Noah Anderson<\/p>\n
GWS: Stephen Coniglio, Tom Green, Toby Greene<\/p>\n
Hawthorn: Luke Breust, Jai Newcombe, James Sicily<\/p>\n
Melbourne: Christian Petracca, Jack Viney<\/p>\n
North Melbourne: Nick Larkey<\/p>\n
Port Adelaide: Zak Butters, Dan Houston, Connor Rozee<\/p>\n
Richmond: Dustin Martin<\/p>\n
St Kilda: Rowan Marshall, Jack Sinclair, Callum Wilkie<\/p>\n
Sydney: Nick Blakey, Errol Gulden<\/p>\n
West Coast: Oscar Allen<\/p>\n
Western Bulldogs: Marcus Bontempelli, Tim English, Tom Liberatore<\/p>\n