St Kilda vice-captain Lenny Hayes is the shock omission from this year's All-Australian team.

It was widely assumed that one of the game's toughest and most respected midfielders would make the final 22.

Hayes, a three-time All-Australian, played 21 games this season and was ranked sixth in the league for clearances.

He was one of the keys to the Saints overcoming a succession of obstacles this season to finish third.

They will meet the Western Bulldogs in Saturday night's preliminary final, with Geelong playing Collingwood on Friday night to decide the other grand finalist.

Another interesting aspect of the All-Australian team was Hawthorn onballer and vice-captain Luke Hodge's selection as captain.

Hodge was a certain selection and the captaincy is a worthy honour for another of the game's strong men.

But it follows media speculation earlier this season about whether Hodge or captain Sam Mitchell was the real on-field leader at Hawthorn.

Carlton's Chris Judd was the only club captain named in the team and he was positioned on the bench.

Judd is the most-capped player in this year's team with five selections.

While Hodge and St Kilda's Brendon Goddard were certain picks, they played around the ground this season and could have made the team in the midfield or defence.

Hodge was named in the centre and Goddard was picked on a half-back flank.

Fremantle's Aaron Sandilands was always going to be the first ruckman, but Melbourne's Mark Jamar won the second ruck spot on the bench ahead of Collingwood's Darren Jolly.

The All-Australian selectors picked the final 22 from a squad of 40 and the Cats again led the selections.

They had six players in the team, the fourth-straight year they have had either the most selections or shared the honour.

Gary Ablett was named vice-captain in his fourth All-Australian selection.

Team-mate Harry Taylor was named at centre half-back and was among seven players to make their first All-Australian team.

The other first-timers are Melbourne defender James Frawley, Collingwood backman Harry O'Brien, Richmond's Coleman Medallist Jack Riewoldt, West Coast forward Mark Le Cras, Jamar and Collingwood onballer Scott Pendlebury.

Taylor's team-mates who made the All-Australian 22 were Corey Enright, Joel Selwood, Paul Chapman and Steve Johnson - all of which have made previous All-Australian teams.

Collingwood had the next-most selections with four - O'Brien, Pendlebury, Brownlow Medal favourite Dane Swan and forward Alan Didak.

Goddard and Leigh Montagna were St Kilda's selections and the Bulldogs had Barry Hall and Brian Lake in the team.

The team was announced at a function in Melbourne on Monday night, where Lance Franklin was named as the winner of the goal of the year as well as making the team at centre half-forward.

Melbourne's rising star Liam Jurrah won the mark of the year.

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP