A total of 12 debutantes were named tonight as a new breed of stars of the competition took centre stage when the 2017 Virgin Australia AFL All Australian Team was unveiled in Melbourne.

The new-look elite side of the AFL saw the fourth-most All Australians capped in a single year, behind only the 15 named for the first time in 2012, 14 in 1982 and 13 in 2014.

The Adelaide Crows, Essendon and West Coast each supplied three players with 12 separate clubs represented. Richmond’s Alex Rance, who won selection for the fourth consecutive year, was named All Australian captain and West Coast’s Josh Kennedy as his deputy, who was in his third consecutive side.

The 2017 Virgin Australia AFL All Australian Team was named from the backline as:

Michael Hibberd (Melb) Alex Rance (capt, Rich) Jeremy McGovern (WCoast)
Rory Laird (Adel) Michael Hurley (Ess) Sam Docherty (Carl)
Josh Kelly (GWS) Dustin Martin (Rich) Zach Merrett (Ess)
Robbie Gray (PAdel) Lance Franklin (Syd) Dayne Zorko (Bris)
Joe Daniher (Ess) Josh Kennedy (v-capt, WCoast) Eddie Betts (Adel)
Paddy Ryder (PAdel) Patrick Dangerfield (Geel Cats) Tom Mitchell (Haw)
Interchange: – Matt Crouch (Adel Crows) Joel Selwood (Geel Cats)
Dylan Shiel (GWS) Elliott Yeo (WCoast)

Eight players retained their spots from the 22 players named in the 2016 Virgin Australia AFL All Australian team – Betts, Dangerfield, Franklin, Kennedy, McGovern, Martin, Rance and Selwood, while Franklin was named for his seventh All Australian honour – the most of any players in the side.

The All Australian selection panel is Gillon McLachlan (chairman), Kevin Bartlett, Luke Darcy, Andrew Dillon, Danny Frawley, Glen Jakovich, Chris Johnson, Cameron Ling, Matthew Richardson and Warren Tredrea.

Please find below the on-field record during the 2017 Home and Away season of those players selected in the Virgin Australia AFL All Australian team:

Please find below the 2017 season record of each player selected (to be included and updated off squad release after final round this weekend):
Back Pocket
Michael Hibberd, Melbourne. Never previously All Australian. 18 games in 2017. 305 kicks, 97 marks, 188 handballs averaging 16.9 kicks, 5.4 marks, 10.4 handballs. One Goal, One Behind. 16 clearances, 48 Inside 50m, 123 Rebound 50m (fourth in the AFL). 23 tackles.

Full Back
Alex Rance, Richmond (captain). All Australian 2014, 2015 and 2016. 22 games in 2017. 196 kicks, 111 marks, 161 handballs averaging 8.9 kicks, 5.0 marks, 7.3 handballs. One Goal, zero Behinds. Three clearances, one hit out, 18 Inside 50m, 83 Rebound 50m. 54 tackles.

Back Pocket
Jeremy McGovern, West Coast Eagles. All Australian 2016. 22 games in 2017. 236 kicks, 169 marks (third in the AFL), 125 handballs averaging 10.7 kicks, 7.7 marks, 5.7 handballs. 10 Goals, 14 Behinds. 11 clearances, 50 Hit outs averaging 2.3 hit outs per game, 50 Inside 50m, 52 Rebound 50m. 40 tackles.

Half Back
Rory Laird, Adelaide Crows. Never previously All Australian. 22 games in 2017. 325 kicks, 117 marks, 337 (ninth in the AFL) handballs averaging 14.8 kicks, 5.3 marks, 15.4 handballs. Three Goals, One Behind. 25 clearances, 55 Inside 50m, 107 Rebound 50m (equal sixth in the AFL). 50 tackles.

Centre Half Back
Michael Hurley, Essendon. All Australian 2015. 20 games in 2017. 339 kicks, 151 marks (equal sixth in the AFL), 168 handballs averaging 16.9 kicks, 7.5 marks, 8.4 handballs. Three Goals, one Behind. Four clearances, 24 Inside 50m, 141 Rebound 50m (first in the AFL). 21 tackles.

Half Back
Sam Docherty, Carlton. Never previously All Australian. 22 games in 2017. 460 kicks (first in the AFL), 199 marks (first in the AFL), 153 handballs averaging 20.9 kicks, 9.0 marks, 7.0 handballs. Three Goals, three Behinds. 25 clearances, 43 Inside 50m, 126 Rebound 50m (second in the AFL). 72 tackles.

Wing
Josh Kelly, GWS Giants. Never previously All Australian. 21 games in 2017. 294 kicks, 72 marks, 320 handballs averaging 14.0 kicks, 3.4 marks, 15.2 handballs. 18 Goals, 20 Behinds. 106 clearances, 102 Inside 50m (eighth in the AFL), 32 Rebound 50m. 133 tackles (equal tenth in the AFL).

Centre
Dustin Martin, Richmond. All Australian 2016. 22 games in 2017. 434 kicks (second in the AFL), 97 marks, 233 handballs averaging 19.7 kicks, 4.4 marks, 10.6 handballs. 32 Goals, 23 Behinds. 146 clearances (equal third in the AFL), 137 Inside 50m (first in the AFL), 22 Rebound 50m. 78 tackles.

Wing
Zach Merrett, Essendon. Never previously All Australian. 21 games in 2017. 370 kicks (sixth in the AFL), 93 marks, 268 handballs averaging 17.6 kicks, 4.4 marks, 12.8 handballs. Nine Goals, Eight Behinds. 91 clearances, 86 Inside 50m, 63 Rebound 50m. 116 tackles.

Half Forward
Robbie Gray, Port Adelaide. All Australian 2014 and 2015. 22 games in 2017. 220 kicks, 93 marks, 186 handballs averaging 10.0 kicks, 4.2 marks, 8.5 handballs. 47 Goals (ninth in the AFL), 28 Behinds. 61 clearances, 60 Inside 50m, 18 Rebound 50m. 52 tackles.

Centre Half Forward
Lance Franklin, Sydney Swans. All Australian 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014 and 2016. 22 games in 2017. 299 kicks, 151 marks (equal sixth in the AFL), 84 handballs averaging 13.6 kicks, 6.9 marks, 3.8 handballs. 69 Goals (first in the AFL), 56 Behinds. 10 clearances, Two hit outs, 118 Inside 50m (fourth in the AFL), Five Rebound 50m. 51 tackles.

Half Forward
Dayne Zorko, Brisbane Lions. Never previously All Australian. 21 games in 2017. 341 kicks, 79 marks, 185 handballs averaging 16.2 kicks, 3.8 marks, 8.8 handballs. 34 Goals, 27 Behinds. 112 clearances, 104 Inside 50m (sixth in the AFL), 44 Rebound 50m. 147 tackles (fifth in the AFL).

Forward Pocket
Joe Daniher, Essendon. Never previously All Australian. 22 games in 2017. 235 kicks, 147 marks (tenth in the AFL), 100 handballs averaging 10.7 kicks, 6.7 marks, 4.5 handballs. 62 Goals (fourth in the AFL), 37 Behinds. 19 clearances, 77 hit outs averaging 3.5 hit outs per game, 69 Inside 50m, 11 Rebound 50m. 30 tackles.

Full Forward
Josh Kennedy, West Coast Eagles (vice-captain). All Australian 2015 (vice-captain) and 2016. 17 games in 2017. 154 kicks, 107 marks, 52 handballs averaging 9.1 kicks, 6.3 marks, 3.1 handballs. 65 Goals (second in the AFL), 38 Behinds. Five hit outs, 27 Inside 50m, 0 Rebound 50m, 24 tackles.

Forward Pocket
Eddie Betts, Adelaide Crows. All Australian 2015 and 2016. 21 games in 2017. 192 kicks, 71 marks, 93 handballs averaging 9.1 kicks, 3.4 marks, 4.4 handballs. 49 Goals (equal sixth in the AFL), 30 Behinds. 26 clearances, 50 Inside 50m, one Rebound 50m. 71 tackles.

Ruck
Paddy Ryder, Port Adelaide. Never previously All Australian. 21 games in 2017. 167 kicks, 71 marks, 104 handballs averaging 8.0 kicks, 3.4 marks, 5.0 handballs. 11 Goals, seven Behinds. 88 clearances, 777 hit outs (second in the AFL) averaging 37.0 hit outs per game, 67 Inside 50m, 14 Rebound 50m. 58 tackles.

Ruck Rover
Patrick Dangerfield, Geelong Cats. All Australian 2012, 2013, 2015 and 2016. 21 games in 2017. 277 kicks, 93 marks, 360 handballs (fourth in the AFL) averaging 13.2 kicks, 4.4 marks, 17.1 handballs. 38 Goals, 24 Behinds. 162 clearances (first in the AFL), 119 Inside 50m (equal second in the AFL), 19 Rebound 50m. 123 tackles.

Rover
Tom Mitchell, Hawthorn. Never previously All Australian. 22 games in 2017. 307 kicks, 117 marks, 480 handballs (second in the AFL) averaging 13.9 kicks, 5.3 marks, 21.9 handballs. 10 Goals, 10 Behinds. 137 clearances (tenth in the AFL), 76 Inside 50m, 46 Rebound 50m. 143 tackles (seventh in the AFL).

Interchange
Matt Crouch, Adelaide Crows. Never previously All Australian. 22 games in 2017. 295 kicks, 63 marks, 431 handballs (third in the AFL) averaging 13.4 kicks, 2.9 marks, 19.6 handballs. Six Goals, Seven Behinds. 126 clearances, 69 Inside 50m, 43 Rebound 50m. 102 tackles.

Interchange
Joel Selwood, Geelong Cats. All Australian 2009, 2010, 2013 (captain), 2014 (captain), 2016 (captain). 18 games in 2017. 217 kicks, 61 marks, 248 handballs, averaging 12.1 kicks, 3.4 marks, 13.8 handballs. Six goals, Three Behinds. 114 Clearances, 73 Inside 50m, 28 Rebound 50m. 90 Tackles.

Interchange
Dylan Shiel, GWS Giants. Never previously All Australian. 22 games in 2017. 306 kicks, 64 marks, 300 handballs averaging 13.9 kicks, 2.9 marks, 13.6 handballs. 11 Goals, 13 Behinds. 146 clearances (equal third in the AFL), 96 Inside 50m, 33 Rebound 50m. 83 tackles.

Interchange
Elliot Yeo, West Coast Eagles. Never previously All Australian. 21 games in 2017. 319 kicks, 148 marks (ninth in the AFL), 178 handballs averaging 15.2 kicks, 7.0 marks, 8.5 handballs. Eight Goals, Seven Behinds. 50 clearances, 83 Inside 50m, 66 Rebound 50m. 75 tackles.