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Tom Hawkins named All-Australian captain, Daicos nabs Rising Star

Geelong star Tom Hawkins has added another feather to a very decorated cap after being named captain of the 2022 All-Australian side.

The goal-kicking champion was named at full forward as one of five Cats to make the team, after booting 59 goals and having a hand in more score involvements (191) than any other player across the season.

counterpart Jeremy Cameron and livewire Tyson Stengle were named alongside Hawkins in the forward line, while Tom Stewart (back pocket) and Mark Blicavs (interchanged) also earned a blazer as a nod to the terrific minor premiership-winning campaign the Cats have had.

Seven players retained their places from the 22 players named in the 2021 edition of the team, including Max Gawn -- who was selected for the sixth time -- Hawkins, Steven May, Touk Miller, Clayton Oliver, Christian Petracca and Stewart.

In addition to the Cats and Demons, Carlton (Cripps, Adam Saad and Charlie Curnow) and Sydney (Callum Mills and Isaac Heeney) were the only other teams to have multiple players picked in the team.

Over half of this year's side are made of All-Australian first timers, which include Shai Bolton, Andrew Brayshaw, Brayden Maynard, Connor Rozee, Jack Sinclair, Sam Taylor, Blicavs, Curnow, Heeney, Mills, Saad and Stengle.

Meanwhile, Collingwood's Nick Daicos took out the Rising Star award after a sensational debut season at the top level. The 19-year-old won the award with 60 votes ahead of the Geelong defender Sam De Koning (48 votes) and Hawthorn's Jai Newcombe (35 votes).

All-Australian team:

Backs

Tom Stewart, Geelong
Steven May, Melbourne
Brayden Maynard, Collingwood

Half Backs

Jack Sinclair, St Kilda
Sam Taylor, GWS
Adam Saad, Carlton

Centres

Touk Miller, Gold Coast
Clayton Oliver, Melbourne
Callum Mills, Sydney

Half Forwards

Christian Petracca, Melbourne
Jeremy Cameron, Geelong
Shai Bolton, Richmond

Forwards

Charlie Curnow, Carlton
Tom Hawkins, Geelong (Captain)
Tyson Stengle, Geelong

Rucks

Max Gawn, Melbourne
Patrick Cripps, Carlton (vice-captain)
Lachie Neale, Brisbane

Interchange

Mark Blicavs, Geelong
Andrew Brayshaw, Fremantle
Isaac Heeney, Sydney
Connor Rozee, Port Adelaide