Source :- THE AGE NEWS
Melbourne great Max Gawn has capped a record ninth All-Australian selection by being named captain, but the biggest moment of the AFL Awards came when Gawn’s Adelaide counterpart Jordan Dawson was named as his deputy.
On the field, the Crows skipper had a year to remember, but off-field he endured unimaginable heartbreak with the loss of his elder brother, Jaryd.
In paying tribute to Dawson, Gawn said he knew who showed the most leadership this season – the No.12 for Adelaide.
“There’s a lot of captains in the team, [but] to be honest I think we probably saw one of the better captains speeches here tonight already,” Gawn said.
“I think we saw some leadership tonight. For Jordan to get up and do what he did, to speak about mental health, to lead his side through the tragedy that happened with his family, and then to show vulnerability in front of a group of strangers, that he hasn’t got it right, he hasn’t got it perfect [in] his battle right now in asking for help – that’s a captain that I want to be behind.”
Just minutes earlier at Centrepiece at Melbourne Park, Dawson – this year’s All-Australian vice captain – gave a spine-tingling speech about the importance of speaking up when times are tough.
“It’s been a struggle,” he said of his 2026 campaign.
“It’s not easy – it’s a range of emotions. They come at different times, and for me it was just about creating a safe place within the footy club, within home and understanding that there’s going to be times where I’ll struggle to come into work, but the footy club’s been awesome in that space.
“[It’s] also me understanding that it’s OK to feel a certain type of way, and to also talk to the people that are close to me and the ones I love, and make sure we’re having ongoing conversations about how we’re all dealing with the events that’ve happened. It’s still pretty raw … it’s always going to be hard to talk about, I think.
“I just want to wish anyone who’s struggled with mental health out there, or who is struggling with mental health, to know that you are definitely loved, and the world is a better place with you in it, and that you are enough, and that we all love you, and that you have beautiful family and friends around you.”
On the football front, there were several controversial omissions in the 23-man team unveiled on Tuesday night.
Gawn became the first man to earn nine green blazers and was honoured to also assume the captaincy, a role Demons coach Steven King last week said he deserved. Gawn had captained the All-Australian side once before, in 2021.
Western Bulldogs counterpart Marcus Bontempelli joined a select group – also including Gary Ablett snr, Gary Ablett jnr, Patrick Dangerfield, Lance Franklin, Robert Harvey and Mark Ricciuto – to have enjoyed the top honour eight times.
A record five Indigenous players were named – Wayne Milera, Jarman Impey, Kysaiah Pickett, Shai Bolton and Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera. The record had been four players in 2006, when Shaun Burgoyne, Lindsay Gilbee, Adam Goodes and Andrew McLeod were honoured.
The club-imposed suspension of Sydney players Nick Blakey, Isaac Heeney and Chad Warner – almost certainly all would have been selected – opened up three spots, but there were still contentious selections.
Zak Butters, despite playing only 17 games because of injury, was chosen ahead of Hawthorn co-captain Jai Newcombe, and Carlton superstar Patrick Cripps, who has been integral to the Blues’ rise under Josh Fraser.
Port Adelaide defender Aliir Aliir was also a surprise omission, while teammate Jason Horne-Francis also had strong claims.
Geelong wingman Oliver Dempsey was one of nine maiden All-Australians, the young star redefining how his role is played through his ability to push forward and kick goals. However, Dempsey was chosen ahead of star teammate Max Holmes, who was in superb touch, averaging 29 disposals, before a right ankle fracture and syndesmosis injury in July.
Emerging Fremantle gun Murphy Reid donned a blazer in just his second year in the AFL, an outstanding achievement.
All told, 10 players retained their spots from the 2025 team – Gawn, Bontempelli, Dawson, Wanganeen-Milera, Pickett, Jordan Clark, Harris Andrews, Bailey Smith, Zac Bailey and Nick Daicos.
The full list of club representation was: Adelaide (two), Brisbane Lions (three), Collingwood (one), Fremantle (five), Geelong (two), GWS (one), Hawthorn (two), Melbourne (two), Port Adelaide (one), St Kilda (two), Sydney Swans (one) and Western Bulldogs (one).
The selection panel included AFL CEO Andrew Dillon (chair), Eddie Betts, Simon Black, Jude Bolton, Abbey Holmes, Glen Jakovich, Laura Kane, David Mundy, Joel Selwood and Greg Swann.
Meanwhile, Daicos, now a three-time All Australian, was crowned the AFL Players’ Association most valuable player for a second time, capping a fine season in which he polled 147 votes – a new benchmark.
Daicos, having averaged a whopping 35 disposals per game, beat Bontempelli (109 votes) and Gawn (99) to the honour. He also won the award in 2024. He surpassed Richmond champion Dustin Martin’s previous benchmark of 122 votes in 2017.
“We are incredibly proud of what he has achieved and even more so for the way he approaches his game in all phases. On-field and off-field, Nick sets the standard at our club and is a wonderful leader. We want our program not just to develop great players, but incredible people and Nick really represents that,” Magpies coach Craig McRae said.
St Kilda co-captain Callum Wilkie claimed the inaugural AFL Coaches Association defensive player of the year.
Wilkie finished the home-and-away season with 42 votes, ahead of Brisbane’s Andrews, Sydney’s Tom McCartin and Geelong’s Connor O’Sullivan, who each polled 30 votes.
Dockers star Reid and St Kilda’s Max Hall shared the AFLCA’s best emerging player award.
Jon Pierik is a sports journalist at The Age. He covers AFL and has won awards for his cricket and basketball writing.Connect via X or email.
