Jarman Impey and Wayne Milera have earned their maiden All Australia blazers after standout 2026 seasons, helping set a new record for First Nations players selected in the side.
Five First Nations players were named in the team announced at the AFL Awards on Tuesday, with Kysaiah Pickett, Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera and Shai Bolton each earning the second selection of their careers.
It eclipses the previous record set two decades ago, when Andrew McLeod, Shaun Burgoyne, Lindsay Gilbee and the year's Brownlow medallist, Adam Goodes, earned the honour in 2006.
It follows another record for Indigenous representation with nine players in the extended 46-player squad — Fremantle captain Alex Pearce, Izak Rankine, Charlie Cameron and Jason Horne Francis included.
Speaking at Tuesday's AFL Awards, Impey told the room it wasn't until around his 100th game that he began to feel completely comfortable on an AFL field.
The 31-year-old has put together career-best form in Hawthorn's backline over recent seasons, getting the reward with a first All Australian in his 13th year at the top level.
Crows defender Wayne Milera slotted into the backline alongside Saints skipper Callum Wilkie, GWS's Lachie Ash, premiership Lion Harris Andrews and Docker Jordan Clarke.
Impey averaged 23 touches and six intercept possessions across the year, while Milera, 28, during the best campaign of his career across so far, racked up 25 disposals at 84 per cent efficiency as a key cog for the Crows down back.
With his first selection back in his home state, Shai Bolton is now a two-time All Australian forward.
Bolton was previously selected in 2022 while at the Tigers, and has helped Fremantle to their first minor premiership in over a decade ahead of a blockbuster finals series.
Melbourne gun Kysaiah Pickett and St Kilda main man Nasian Wanganeen-Milera backed up their maiden All Australians last year with selections in the forward line and on the interchange, respectively.
On a night of firsts, Pickett's skipper at the Dees, Max Gawn, set the all-time record with his ninth blazer, while Marcus Bontempelli joined a prestigious group equalying the previous record with his eighth.
Overall, there were 21 players aiming to earn their first All Australian selection, and 13 squad debutants, in the extended 46 squad named on Monday.
The nine First Nations players in the mix represented around 15 per cent of the league's Indigenous players being regarded amongst the strongest performers for the year.
