The 2025 All-Australian squad of 44 has been announced, with four Indigenous stars vying for their first blazer.
Man of the moment Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera joins Melbourne live wire Kysaiah Pickett, Adelaide's Izak Rankine and Gold Coast's Ben Long - after a breakout year in his ninth season, in the list of names announced Tuesday.
The final side is set to be announced on Thursday evening.
Wanganeen-Milera, who further deepened Saints fans' adorations of him by re-signing with the club last week, is heavily fancied to earn his first All Australian selection after a dominant display in a frustrating campaign for the club.
The 22-year-old collected a fraction under 30 touches on average across 2025, the fourth best in the competition ahead of finals, to go with 17 goals after running out more minutes through the Saints' midfield.
He earned his third selection in the AFLPA's 22under22 team last week, where he was named vice-captain and one of two Indigenous players included, alongside Port Adelaide's Jason Horne-Francis.
NAS WITH ICE IN HIS VEINS!!! 🧊#AFLSaintsDees pic.twitter.com/XtqnMGEasP
— AFL (@AFL) July 27, 2025
Wanganeen-Milera was the most high-profile contract talking point of the year before knocking back rival bids from his home state of South Australia to remain at St Kilda until at least the end of 2027, reportedly penning the AFL's first $2 million-a-year deal in the process.
Rankine's much talked about potential through the early stages of his career at the Suns has gone a long way to being fulfilled in his third year at Adelaide.
Across 22 matches, Rankine slotted 31 goals, averaged 20 disposals and 6.6 score involvements as a mid-forward utility in the Crows' ascension up the ladder to finish minor premiers.
However his season fell into controversy after receiving a four game ban for a homophobic slur in Round 23, which could see him miss a grand final appearance.
Now six seasons in and with a premiership medal already bagged, a less potent year in front of goals hasn't prevented Kozzy Pickett from being selected in the squad for a potential first All-Australian honour.
Pickett averaged two goals a game while also splitting his time between the forward line and Dee's midfield, averaging close to seven score involvements and 20 touches per game.
Mid-way through the year, Melbourne locked in the fan favourite with a mammoth seven-year extension to remain in red and blue through to the end of 2034.
Possibly the biggest improver of 2025, Ben Long slots into the squad of 44.
The former Saint-now key piece of the Suns' push for a maiden finals berth - to be confirmed on Wednesday night against Essendon, Long has gone at two goals a game in a career-best season under Damien Hardwick.
He has at times proved the Gold Coast's barometer and threatened, if not proved, the difference for the Suns on multiple occasions in what appears to be the start of a new era for the club.
The 28-year-old doubled his career-average output in front of goal this year, while improving in numerous other stats.
More than half of the All-Australian squad is in line for their first blazer on Thursday night.
Next step - narrowing it down to 22 🤩
The 2025 AFL All-Australian squad has arrived: https://t.co/fSQGY3VgUn pic.twitter.com/7gpoA9dT62
— AFL (@AFL) August 26, 2025
Brisbane and Adelaide leads the competition for selections, with five from each club in the 44-man squad.
Carlton, North, Essendon and West Coast are the only clubs without an inclusion.
Crows and Blues legend Eddie Betts is one of nine All-Australian selectors.
