Cameron’s shock at captaincy nod By Peter Ryan Stunned Geelong star Jeremy Cameron said he had never captained anything in his life after he was named skipper of the 2025 All-Australian team at the awards ceremony tonight.
The 2025 Coleman medallist joked he would defer to the five captains in the team if he actually had to lead them into a match.
Jeremy Cameron was shocked at being named All-Australian captain for 2025. Credit: AFL Photos
“Honestly I’ve never captained anything [before],” the veteran cat and former GWS star said on stage immediately afterwards.
Fellow forward, Adelaide’s Izak Rankine was a notable omission from the team named on Thursday night following his four-match suspension for a homophobic slur last week.
He was one of the 44 nominations named in the squad but was squeezed out of the forward line, with the Brisbane Lions’ Zac Bailey and Melbourne’s Kysaiah Pickett named as the team’s small forwards.
Rankine kicked fewer goals than the pair but had more contested possessions, clearances and metres gained than Bailey, although he turned the ball over more and had more clangers.
Collingwood veteran Jamie Elliott was also unlucky to miss selection after kicking 52 goals.
Two of Rankine’s Crows teammates, Jordan Dawson and Riley Thilthorpe, made the team, with 15 of the 22 players named from sides playing finals.
Kysaiah Pickett and Max Gawn have been shining lights for Melbourne in a disappointing 2025 season. Both made the All-Australian team. Credit: Getty Images
The team of 22 named also saw Geelong’s Bailey Smith and Hawthorn’s Josh Battle become All-Australians for the first time in their first seasons at their new clubs.
Melbourne’s Max Gawn became the seventh player to earn the honour for the eighth time. He joined Gary Ablett snr, Gary Ablett jnr, Patrick Dangerfield, Lance Franklin, Robert Harvey and Mark Ricciuto as players named eight times. Bulldogs skipper Marcus Bontempelli earned selection for the seventh time.
Hawthorn veteran Jack Gunston’s unexpected season was also recognised when he was named in the forward pocket after kicking 62 goals. The 33-year-old was one of three players aged above 30 to make the team.
Jack Gunston’s career had a rebirth this season as he kicked 62 goals. Credit: Getty Images
Smith, one of the Brownlow Medal favourites, made a remarkable return after missing 2024 recovering from an ACL injury, while Battle has been outstanding in defence after departing St Kilda as a free agent last season.
Smith was named on a wing while Brisbane Lions star Hugh McCluggage finally gained an All-Australian spot when he was named on the other wing. The pair were among 11 players named to the side for the first time.
Saints star Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera, who became the game’s first $2 million dollar man when he signed a two-year deal last week, was one of those 11 after being named on the half-back flank.
Fremantle’s Jordan Clark, Brisbane’s Bailey and McCluggage, Suns pair Matt Rowell and Noah Anderson, Melbour
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