ESPN's 2024 All-Australian team: Who makes the cut? Who misses out?

The 2024 AFL home-and-away season is done and dusted, so it's that time of year when we perform just about the most difficult task in football - settling on 23 AFL players (and a coach!) for our 2024 All-Australian team.

As with our previous All-Australian teams, we have selected a balanced side which we would want competing in a real game.

Every year there are a number of extremely stiff omissions, so shoutouts go to Harry Sheezel, Jake Waterman, Ben Keays, and Rowan Marshall among others.

FULL TEAM AT BOTTOM OF PAGE

Back line:

Luke Ryan (Fremantle): The architect of Fremantle's defence, Ryan has had another standout year, leading the league for marks (198) and rebound 50s (170), and ranking fourth for total metres gained 12,236. His uncontested side of the game is a standout, but he is also able to be called upon to take a man when required. He's a deserving rebounder in this All-Australian team.

Harris Andrews (Brisbane): Reliable and ultra dependable. After a brief down patch, Andrews has once again re-established himself as one of the AFL's premier key defenders. This season, he was the second-best back in one-on-one contests, ranked third in total one percenters, and sixth in intercept possessions. Andrews might not be the first name that springs to mind when listing Brisbane's best players, but he's just about the club's most important. 

Jeremy McGovern (West Coast): Premiership Eagle McGovern averaged career-highs in disposals (20.6), kicks (15.4), rebound 50s (7.3), and metres gained (462.7) in 2024, while he also rated elite for ground ball gets (3.9 per game), intercepts (7.9), score launches (2.1), and kicking efficiency (86.2%). It was such a well-rounded season and, although the ball spent plenty of time in the West Coast defence, McGovern held his own and was clearly one of the strongest defensive performers of the year.

Half-back line:

Dayne Zorko (Brisbane): The emergence of Zorko off half back was an unexpected silver lining to Keidean Coleman's season-ending ACL injury. The Lions veteran set career-highs across the board, including disposals (26), uncontested possessions (17), metres gained (598), and rebound 50s (4). Zorko also rated elite for his position in kicks, marks, tackles, effective disposals, inside 50s, score launces, and score involvements.

Jacob Weitering (Carlton): Weitering might not have the intercept mark numbers of Andrews, but the Carlton star reigns supreme in one key defensive aspect - his one-on-one work. Weitering's contested one-on-one loss percentage is just 11.3 percent, clearly the best in the league for any player with more than 20 contested one-on-ones (there are 60 players with more than 20). He's lockdown beast.

Lachie Whitfield (GWS): Whitfield has been a huge part of the Giants' successful season, often the mastermind behind many offensive thrusts with his poise, composure, and elite skills off a half back flank. The 30-year-old ranked 1st among defenders in the AFL for disposals this season, going at 80.6% by foot, 4th for marks, and 6th for rebound 50s, while he also rated elite for metres gained (508.1) - the most of his career.

Centre:

Errol Gulden (Sydney): Highlighting just how important Gulden is to Sydney's ball movement game is the fact he led the competition for metres gained in 2024. He also averaged 27.4 disposals per game this season (a career high) as well as 6.6 inside 50s (another career high) and 3.9 clearances (equal career high). Deployed on the wing, he's a damaging ball user and a line breaker, and a walk-up start to our All-Australian team.

Patrick Cripps (C) (Carlton): In a few weeks' time, Cripps might very well be a two-time Brownlow medallist. The 2022 winner took his game to even greater heights this campaign, lifting his production across the board as the Blues overcame injuries and form struggles to sneak into finals. Cripps ended the season as the No. 1 rated player in the competition for clearances, centre clearances, handballs and contested possessions. He also ranked top 10 for disposals and score involvements.

Zach Merrett (Essendon): There weren't too many captains who could carry his side on his shoulders when his team was in dire straits quite like the Essendon skipper, who put together a terrific season averaging 28.2 disposals (19.6 effective), and 7.2 score involvements. Yeah, we know, he's not a pure wingman, but he clearly has an elite outside-inside balance to his game that means he doesn't look out of place named where he is. He's had too good a season to leave out.

Half-forward line:

Chad Warner (Sydney): Yeah, yeah, 'Chad is a midfielder'. He also kicked 32 goals in the home-and-away season, more than Eric Hipwood, Bobby Hill, and Tom Papley to name a few. Warner is explosive, damaging, and a threat across all parts of the ground. He would be a walk-up start in most midfield, but we're putting some respect on his goalkicking. He's a star.

Charlie Curnow (Carlton): Two things can be true. Curnow didn't play close to his true potential for large stretches of 2024, yet by season's end he feels a no doubt All-Australian for the third year in succession. The two-time Coleman Medal winner slotted 57 goals, had six games where he booted four plus, and only one where he failed to hit the scoreboard. Curnow also ranked second amongst forwards for score involvements and equal fifth in the league for contested marks.

Isaac Heeney (Sydney): Although he has spent the majority of his Brownlow-esque year as a midfielder, Heeney kicked 28 goals from 21 games to earn a position in the forward line. With his innate goal sense, elite aerial ability, one-on-one strength and trademark burst out of stoppage, Heeney was one of the most impactful players in 2024, and finished the home-and-away season as the third highest rated player in the AFL.

Forward line:

Dylan Moore (Hawthorn): Moore has been banging down the All-Australian door for a few years, but his 2024 was superb. Leading a forward line that really didn't have a massive focal point Moore was a hardened leader who averaged 1.5 goals per game to boot 35 for the year, while also having influential outings further up the ground when required. Crafty, skilled, and dynamic, he's a great addition to this team.

Jesse Hogan (GWS): Not surprising to see the Coleman medallist slot in at full forward. Hogan emerged as one of the premier key talls in the competition this season and spearheaded the GWS attack with a career-high 69 goals. Hogan's accuracy was also eye-catching, kicking only 25 behinds, and his contested marking (56 for the year, 11 more than the next best), was a key feature. He's brutally tough to stop when in full flight and it's been one of the better stories of 2024 to see the former Dee and Docker thrive at his third club.

Jeremy Cameron (Geelong): Is this recency bias after kicking a bag of nine goals to close the season? We think not. Cameron carried the Cats for large stretches of 2024, finishing second in the Coleman Medal with a haul of 58 majors while also averaging 16 disposals and six marks per game. He also led the league in shots at goal, finished fourth for total marks inside 50, and first among key forwards for score involvements.

Ruck:

Max Gawn (Melbourne): People just get bored with the 'same old', but the reality is Gawn has again been the premier ruck in 2024. Already a six-time All-Australian, he's averaging career highs in clearances, rebound 50s, contested possessions, and disposals. One of the competition's best leaders, it's only fitting Gawn gets the nod in this team.

Marcus Bontempelli (Western Bulldogs): Another year, another All-Australian blazer for 'the Bont'. The Bulldogs skipper continued to play superhero all year, finishing the season as Champion Data's No. 1-rated player in the league. Bontempelli averaged 26 disposals, 14 contested possessions, six clearances, five inside 50s, and five tackles per game. Oh yeah, he also kicked a career-best 31 goals in the home and away season. 

Nick Daicos (Collingwood): Daicos' game has gone from strength to strength, the 21-year-old producing another campaign filled with class, unmatched footy IQ and an abundance of quality highlights. Daicos averaged 30.7 disposals (4th in the AFL), 7.7 clearances (3rd), and 13.9 contested possessions (4th), developing his game to win it even more on the inside than he had previously, whilst still being as damaging when in space. There aren't a lot of players you'd want the ball in the hands of anywhere on the field.

Interchange (including sub)

Caleb Serong (Fremantle): It was another excellent year for Serong who was consistently the main cog in a vastly-improved Fremantle engine room. The 23-year-old rated elite for average disposals (29.4 per game), clearances (7.6), contested possessions (13.6), and ground ball gets (9.6) this season, while he also hit the scoreboard more with a career-high 11 goals. He's quickly emerged as one of the premier midfielders in the competition and he hadn't dropped below 20 disposals in a game until the final round of the season -- disappointing, but a sign of his incredible consistency.

Adam Treloar (Western Bulldogs): He's never been All-Australian, but 2024 is the year Treloar should be presented with a blazer. The 31-year-old was one of the most consistent players this season, finishing fourth in the league for total disposals and tallying 30+ in 15 games. Treloar also ranked fifth for uncontested possessions and booted 15 goals for the year.

Lachie Neale (Brisbane): Neale isn't just in the conversation for another All-Australian blazer, he's a very legitimate chance of winning a third Brownlow Medal. Our predictor has him finishing third after a season in which he averaged 30 disposals, 14 contested possessions, 7.5 clearances, and five inside 50s per game. Neale also kicked 13 goals and had a career-best 24 direct goal assists.

Brent Daniels (GWS): There aren't many players who average 18 disposals and a goal per game, but Daniels' career year ensured he joined the select club. Daniels set the tone for his season in opening round, kicking four goals from 22 touches to help down reigning premier Collingwood. He is one of the competition's best link players between midfield and forward -- as evidenced by his league-leading 33 direct goal assists this season -- and ranked top 10 for tackles inside 50.

Nick Blakey (sub) (Sydney): An elite line breaker who worries opposition teams with his dash and incisive kicking, Blakey has taken his game to another level in 2024. He averaged career highs in disposals per game (21.3), rebound 50s (5.9) and effective kicks (12.7), and was rated elite by Champion Data for metres gained per match (averaging 502). Blakey also averaged two intercept marks a game.

Coach

Sam Mitchell (Hawthorn): From losing their opening five games to becoming arguably the most in form team in the league, Mitchell deserves a huge amount of credit for his side's staggering turnaround. If not for Darcy Byrne-Jones' last gasp winner at Adelaide Oval in Round 11, the Hawks would have finished the home and away season in second place and likely be favourites for the premiership. As it is, they will tackle finals from seventh, and feel as likely as any to lift the cup.

ESPN's 2024 All-Australian team:

FB: Luke Ryan, Harris Andrews, Jeremy McGovern
HB: Dayne Zorko, Jacob Weitering, Lachie Whitfield
C: Errol Gulden, Patick Cripps, Zach Merrett
HF: Chad Warner, Charlie Curnow, Isaac Heeney
FF: Dylan Moore, Jesse Hogan, Jeremy Cameron
R: Max Gawn, Marcus Bontempelli, Nick Daicos
I/C: Caleb Serong, Adam Treloar, Lachie Neale, Brent Daniels
Sub: Nick Blakey
Coach: Sam Mitchell

Official All-Australian team:

FB: Nick Blakey, Jacob Weitering, Luke Ryan
HB: Dayne Zorko, Jeremy McGovern, Dan Houston
C: Errol Gulden, Marcus Bontempelli (c), Nick Daicos
HF: Chad Warner, Jeremy Cameron, Isaac Heeney
FF: Jake Waterman, Jesse Hogan, Dylan Moore
R: Max Gawn, Patrick Cripps (vc), Caleb Serong
I/C: Lachie Whitfield, Lachie Neale, Adam Treloar, Zak Butters