Midfield duo Marcus Bontempelli and Jack Macrae have both been named in the 2019 Virgin Australia AFL All Australian Team.

Bontempelli was selected on a wing, with Macrae on the interchange.

It is Bontempelli’s second All Australian honour – having been named on the interchange in 2016 – while Macrae has been named in the team for the first time.

Both have enjoyed outstanding 2019 seasons, playing all 22 home-and-away matches to be key factors as the Bulldogs produced a late charge to secure a finals berth.

Bontempelli, 23, was named the AFL Coaches Association player of the year on Tuesday night and has taken his game to another level this season.

The Bulldogs’ vice-captain has averaged a career-high 27 disposals per game and is rated elite for metres gained, with an average of 508 metres per game.

He has also averaged 6.1 clearances, 7.5 score involvements, 5.5 inside-50s and five tackles per game.

Bontempelli is ranked as the seventh-best player in the competition, according to the AFL’s player ratings.

Macrae has been equally prolific, and has had the second-most disposals (736) to average 33.5 disposals per match.

The 25-year-old ball magnet has also arguably enjoyed his best season at AFL level and has been ultra-consistent, collecting 30-or-more disposals in his past 11 outings.

According to the AFL’s player ratings, he is ranked as the 10th-best player in the competition.

Both his contested ball (13.7 per game) and uncontested ball (19.9 per game) winning ability is rated as elite.



