Geelong star Tom Hawkins has added another feather to a highly decorated cap after being named captain of the 2022 All-Australian team.
The goal kicking champion was named all-around forward as one of five Cats to make the squad, having scored 59 goals and featured in more scoring appearances (191) than any other player in the league. course of the season.
counterpart Jeremy Cameron and livewire Tyson Stengle were named alongside Hawkins in the front row, while Tom Stewart (back pocket) and Mark Blicavs (interchanged) also picked up a blazer in a nod to the former’s formidable winning campaign minor minister that the Cats had.
Seven players retained their place among the 22 players named in the 2021 edition of the team, including Max Gawn – who was selected for the sixth time – Hawkins, Steven May, Touk Miller, Clayton Oliver, Christian Petracca and Stewart.
Besides the Cats and Demons, Carlton (Cripps, Adam Saad and Charlie Curnow) and Sydney (Callum Mills and Isaac Heeney) were the only other teams to have multiple players picked on the squad.
More than half of this year’s squad are made up of all-Australian debutants, including Shai Bolton, Andrew Brayshaw, Brayden Maynard, Connor Rozee, Jack Sinclair, Sam Taylor, Blicavs, Curnow, Heeney, Mills, Saad and Stengle.
Meanwhile, Collingwood’s Nick Daicos has won the Rising Star award after a sensational debut season at the highest level. The 19-year-old won the award with 60 votes ahead of Geelong defender Sam De Koning (48 votes) and Hawthorn’s Jai Newcombe (35 votes).
All-Australian team:
Back
Tom Stewart, Geelong
Steven May, Melbourne
Brayden Maynard, Collingwood
half back
Jack Sinclair, St Kilda
Sam Taylor, GWS
Adam SaadCarlton
Centers
Touk Miller, Gold Coast
Clayton Oliver, Melbourne
Callum Mills, Sydney
Half forwards
Christian Petracca, Melbourne
Jeremy Cameron, Geelong
Shai Bolton, Richmond
Attackers
Charlie CurnowCarlton
Tom Hawkins, Geelong (Captain)
Tyson Stengle, Geelong
Rucks
Max Gawn, Melbourne
Patrick CrippsCarlton (vice captain)
Lachie Neale, Brisbane
Exchange
Mark Blicavs, Geelong
Andrew Brayshaw, Fremantle
Isaac Heeney, Sydney
Connor Rozee, Port Adelaide
