Collingwood are likely to have three first-time All Australians when the AFL announces its team of the season on Monday night.

Big-marking key forward Travis Cloke is a certainty to make his All Australian debut, while it would be a shock if fellow Magpie Ben Reid does not earn one of the defensive key positions.

Dale Thomas should also find a spot, although the depth of players competing for midfield berths makes that harder to predict.

The midfield talent available means stars such as Collingwood's Dane Swan and Geelong's Joel Selwood, both in the team for the past two seasons, will be hard-pressed to make it three in a row.

While Swan's second half of the season was as good as any player in the competition, a modest patch of form earlier in the year, before his mid-season trip to Arizona, puts his potential selection in doubt.

Selwood's four-match mid-season suspension also casts doubt over whether he deserves selection ahead of the likes of teammate and potential All Australian first-timer James Kelly.

The Magpies, the minor premiers, should be rewarded with the highest representation.

Leon Davis is set to be the first-picked running defender, while Scott Pendlebury is one of the AFL's few midfielders who demand selection.

Carlton's Chris Judd, on track for a sixth selection, and Marc Murphy, who has never before made the team, also belong in that category.

Sydney captain Adam Goodes also looms as an automatic inclusion, although he could be slotted into attack, rather than the midfield, given his versatility.

The team is likely to be dominated by sides that made the finals.

From the bottom nine clubs, Gold Coast skipper Gary Ablett demands a berth for a standout year with the wooden spooners.

Likewise, Adelaide's Scott Thompson and Western Bulldogs' skipper Matthew Boyd have had outstanding seasons in struggling sides.

North Melbourne's Todd Goldstein should also gain a bench spot, provided the selectors opt for two genuine ruckmen, with West Coast's Dean Cox, the game's premier big man, in line for the No.1 ruck berth.

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