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The 13 All-Australian nominees that deserve a first-time call-up
SEN • August 26th, 2025 4:30 pm
Who will be named a first-time All-Australian in 2025?
The AFL has released the 44-man squad, featuring 19 players receiving their first ever nomination and 28 pushing for a first-time selection.
With the next generation of footballers evidently upon us, which of the 28 deserve to make the cut in the All-Australian team of 22?
SEN’s Dwayne Russell put forward his thoughts for who should make the team for the first time.
“There are a number of players in there that are going to be – you would think – first time All-Australians,” Russell told SEN’s Dwayne’s World.
“It can almost be guaranteed that they’re going to pick Nick Vlastuin for his first ever All-Australian jumper. They are going to pick Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera for his first ever All-Australian blazer. It’s almost a certainty that those two get in for the first time ever.
“Ed Richards is going to get in for the first time ever – he is a certainty, never previously All-Australian.
“I reckon Tom Liberatore might end up being a bit unlucky. Never been an All-Australian before, but he is at least in the squad.
“Finn Callaghan has to get in for mine, Lachie Ash has to get in for mine and Tom Green has to get in. All of those Giants have never been All-Australians before.
“Matt Rowell has never been All-Australian before – you can put him in in pen. Noah Anderson, he has been in the squad a couple of times, he is going to be a first timer.
“I reckon Max Holmes should get in; he has never been All-Australian. Bailey Smith will get in. I reckon Luke Jackson is a chance for the bench, and maybe even Jamie Elliott, who has never been an All-Australian has a chance to sneak in.
“Hugh McCluggage – never been All-Australian. Five times named in the squad, and he is a certainty as well.”
Assessing the 44-man squad, Russell specified 13 players he believes should receive their first ever All-Australian blazer.
“I think, given what I’ve just seen, that there might be 13 first time selections in this year’s team,” he said.
“Nick Vlastuin, Ed Richards, Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera, Tom Green, Finn Callaghan, Lachie Ash, Matt Rowell, Noah Anderson, Bailey Smith, Luke Jackson, Hugh McCluggage, Josh Worrell and Riley Thilthorpe – I reckon there could be around 13 first-time All-Australians.”
