RICHMOND could dominate the 2018 Virgin Australia AFL All Australian team, with eight premiership Tigers included in the 40-man squad released on Monday.

Star quartet Dustin Martin, Jack Riewoldt, Alex Rance and Trent Cotchin lead the list of Richmond players named in the squad, with Josh Caddy, Dylan Grimes, Shane Edwards and Kane Lambert also hoping to earn their first ever All Australian jackets.

A total of 22 players are aiming to join them as first-time All Australians, with nine players looking to earn back-to-back inclusions in the team, which will be named on Wednesday.

Only two clubs are not represented in the squad, with Gold Coast and St Kilda failing to have a single player named in the 40-man group.

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The bottom-placed Carlton had one player named, despite a campaign that yielded just two wins, with Patrick Cripps included.

Collingwood's rise up the ladder has been rewarded with four players named in the squad, led by captain Scott Pendlebury and joined by potential inaugural All Australian trio Jordan De Goey, Brodie Grundy and Steele Sidebottom.

Geelong and West Coast were the only other clubs to have as many as four players chosen in the squad.

Mark Blicavs, Patrick Dangerfield, Tom Hawkins and Tom Stewart are the Cats' representatives, while Andrew Gaff, Shannon Hurn, Jeremy McGovern and Elliot Yeo have been named from the Eagles.

Grundy and Melbourne star Max Gawn are unsurprisingly the only two ruckmen included, with the pair set to battle it out for the starting ruck role.

Among the notable omissions include GWS Giants midfielder Stephen Coniglio, Geelong pair Joel Selwood and Gary Ablett, Hawthorn defenders James Sicily and Ben Stratton, Fremantle captain Nat Fyfe, Melbourne defender Neville Jetta, and Port Adelaide wingman Jared Polec.

The All Australian squad has been selected by Gillon McLachlan (chairman), Kevin Bartlett, Luke Darcy, Danny Frawley, Steve Hocking, Glen Jakovich, Chris Johnson, Cameron Ling, Matthew Richardson and Warren Tredrea.

The final 22 will be revealed on Wednesday evening.

The full All Australian squad

Rory Laird, Adelaide All Australian 2017. 20 games in 2018. 319 kicks, 124 marks, 325 handballs (eighth in the AFL in total handballs and sixth in the AFL in total disposals) averaging 15.9 kicks, 6.2 marks, 16.2 handballs. Three goals, four behinds. 25 clearances, 43 inside 50m, 100 rebound 50m (Tenth in the AFL in R50m). 43 tackles.

Harris Andrews, Brisbane. Never previously All Australian. 18 games in 2018. 168 kicks, 119 marks, 113 handballs averaging 9.3 kicks, 6.6 marks, 6.3 handballs. One goal, one behind. Four clearances, 13 inside 50m, 52 rebound 50m. 39 tackles.

Dayne Beams, Brisbane. All Australian 2012. 21 games in 2018. 330 kicks, 114 marks, 282 handballs averaging 15.7 kicks, 5.4 marks, 13.4 handballs. 18 goals, 13 behinds. 117 clearances, 91 inside 50m, 37 rebound 50m. 62 tackles.

Patrick Cripps, Carlton. Never previously All Australian. 22 games in 2018. 259 kicks, 92 marks, 393 handballs (Fourth in the AFL in total handballs and fourth in the AFL in total disposals) averaging 11.8 kicks, 4.2 marks, 17.9 handballs. 11 goals, 15 behinds. 170 clearances (Second in the AFL in total clearances), 85 inside 50m, 29 rebound 50m. 138 tackles (Equal seventh in the AFL in total tackles).

Patrick Cripps is in the squad despite Carlton's disastrous season. Picture: AFL Photos



Jordan de Goey, Collingwood. Never previously All Australian. 17 games in 2018. 196 kicks, 72 marks, 94 handballs averaging 11.5 kicks, 4.2 marks, 5.5 handballs. 36 goals, 16 behinds. 36 clearances, 65 inside 50m, Nine rebound 50m. 45 tackles.

Brodie Grundy, Collingwood. Never previously All Australian. 22 games in 2018. 174 kicks, 80 marks, 284 handballs averaging 7.9 kicks, 3.6 marks, 12.9 handballs. 847 hit-outs (Second in the AFL in total hit-outs) averaging 38.5 per game. Eight goals, eight behinds. 120 clearances (Tenth in the AFL in total clearances), 56 inside 50m, 25 rebound 50m. 116 tackles.

Scott Pendlebury, Collingwood. All Australian 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014. 21 games in 2018. 256 kicks, 55 marks, 328 handballs (Seventh in the AFL in total handballs) averaging 12.2 kicks, 2.6 marks, 15.6 handballs. Nine goals, Four behinds. 110 clearances, 83 inside 50m, 36 rebound 50m. 124 tackles.

Steele Sidebottom, Collingwood. Never previously All Australian. 22 games in 2018. 296 kicks, 105 marks, 355 handballs (Fifth in the AFL in total handballs and fifth in the AFL in total disposals) averaging 13.4 kicks, 4.8 marks, 16.1 handballs. 12 goals, 13 behinds. 84 clearances, 95 inside 50m, 35 rebound 50m. 84 tackles.

Devon Smith, Essendon. Never previously All Australian. 22 games in 2018. 290 kicks, 83 marks, 194 handballs averaging 13.2 kicks, 3.8 marks, 8.8 handballs. 17 goals, 16 behinds. 72 clearances, 69 inside 50m, 46 rebound 50m. 186 tackles (First in the AFL in total tackles).

Lachie Neale, Fremantle. Never previously All Australian. 22 games in 2018. 251 kicks, 79 marks, 416 handballs (Second in the AFL in total handballs and second in the AFL in total disposals) averaging 11.4 kicks, 3.6 marks, 18.9 handballs. 10 goals, six Behinds. 156 clearances (Third in the AFL in total clearances), 78 inside 50m, 32 rebound 50m. 93 tackles.

Mark Blicavs, Geelong. Never previously All Australian. 22 games in 2018. 147 kicks, 89 marks, 175 handballs averaging 6.7 kicks, 4.0 marks, 8.0 handballs. 75 hit-outs averaging 3.4 hit-outs. One goal, Three behinds. 16 clearances, 20 inside 50m, 57 rebound 50m. 70 tackles.

Patrick Dangerfield, Geelong. All Australian 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017. 21 games in 2018. 294 kicks, 78 marks, 300 handballs averaging 14.0 kicks, 3.7 marks, 14.3 handballs. 24 goals, 22 behinds. 115 clearances, 107 inside 50m (Sixth in the AFL in I50m), 23 rebound 50m. 96 tackles.

Tom Hawkins, Geelong. All Australian 2012. 20 games in 2018. 205 kicks, 146 marks (Seventh in the AFL in marks), 109 handballs averaging 10.2 kicks, 7.3 marks, 5.5 handballs. 58 goals (Third in the AFL in goals), 29 behinds. 10 clearances, 40 inside 50m, Two rebound 50m. 38 tackles.

Tom Stewart, Geelong. Never previously All Australian. 21 games in 2018. 283 kicks, 130 marks, 143 handballs averaging 13.5 kicks, 6.2 marks, 6.8 handballs. One goal, one behind. Nine clearances, 31 inside 50m, 117 rebound 50m (Third in the AFL in R50m). 44 tackles.

Callan Ward, GWS. Never previously All Australian. 22 games in 2018. 296 kicks, 86 marks, 299 handballs averaging 13.4 kicks, 3.9 marks, 13.6 handballs. Seven goals, 13 behinds. 150 clearances (Fourth in the AFL in total clearances), 89 inside 50m, 37 rebound 50m. 87 tackles.

Lachie Whitfield, GWS. Never previously All Australian. 22 games in 2018. 354 kicks (Eighth in the AFL in total kicks), 145 marks (Eighth in the AFL in marks), 228 handballs averaging 16.1 kicks, 6.6 marks, 10.4 handballs. Six goals, seven behinds. 28 clearances, 82 inside 50m, 75 rebound 50m. 69 tackles.

Half-back Lachie Whitfield is in the squad for the first time. Picture: AFL Photos





Luke Breust, Hawthorn. All Australian 2014. 22 games in 2018. 206 kicks, 93 marks, 148 handballs averaging 9.4 kicks, 4.2 marks, 6.7 handballs. 53 goals (Fifth in the AFL in goals), 23 behinds. 31 clearances, 66 inside 50m, 10 rebound 50m. 92 tackles.

Jack Gunston, Hawthorn. Never previously All Australian. 21 games in 2018. 266 kicks, 114 marks, 109 handballs averaging 12.7 kicks, 5.4 marks, 5.2 handballs. 48 goals (Sixth in the AFL in goals), 27 behinds. Seven clearances, 65 inside 50m, 20 rebound 50m. 41 tackles.

Tom Mitchell, Hawthorn. All Australian 2017. 22 games in 2018. 360 kicks (Sixth in the AFL in total kicks), 104 marks, 426 handballs (First in the AFL in total handballs and first in the AFL in total disposals) averaging 16.4 kicks, 4.7 marks, 19.4 handballs. 12 goals, seven behinds. 172 clearances (First in the AFL in total clearances), 111 inside 50m (Fourth in the AFL in I50m), 44 rebound 50m. 138 tackles (Equal seventh in the AFL in total tackles).

Max Gawn, Melbourne. All Australian 2016. 22 games in 2018. 180 kicks, 102 marks, 179 handballs averaging 8.2 kicks, 4.6 marks, 8.1 handballs. 11 goals, 11 behinds, 59 clearances, 53 inside 50m, 30 rebound 50m. 1000 hit-outs (First in the AFL in total hit outs), averaging 45.5 per game. 54 tackles.

Clayton Oliver, Melbourne. Never previously All Australian. 22 games in 2018. 240 kicks, 81 marks, 415 handballs (Third in the AFL in total handballs and third in the AFL in total disposals) averaging 10.9 kicks, 3.7 marks, 18.9 handballs. 11 goals, 10 behinds, 149 clearances (Fifth in the AFL in total clearances), 103 inside 50m (Seventh in the AFL in I50m), 37 rebound 50m. 149 tackles (Third in the AFL in total tackles).

Clayton Oliver is another potential first-time All Australian. Picture: AFL Photos



Ben Brown, North Melbourne. Never previously All Australian. 22 games in 2018. 186 kicks, 100 marks, 60 handballs averaging 8.4 kicks, 4.5 marks, 2.7 handballs. 61 goals (Second in the AFL in goals), 24 behinds, five clearances, 34 inside 50m, nine rebound 50m. 24 tackles.

Shaun Higgins, North Melbourne. Never previously All Australian. 20 games in 2018. 281 kicks, 66 marks, 267 handballs averaging 14.1 kicks, 3.3 marks, 13.3 handballs. 14 goals, 16 behinds, 103 clearances, 118 inside 50m (Second in the AFL in I50m), 27 rebound 50m. 58 tackles.

Robbie Gray, Port Adelaide. All Australian 2014, 2015, 2017. 21 games in 2018. 193 kicks, 74 marks, 246 handballs averaging 9.2 kicks, 3.5 marks, 11.7 handballs. 36 goals, 18 behinds, 86 clearances, 54 inside 50m, 14 rebound 50m. 68 tackles.

Tom Jonas, Port Adelaide. Never previously All Australian. 18 games in 2018. 215 kicks, 141 marks (Ninth in the AFL in marks), 86 handballs averaging 11.9 kicks, 7.8 marks, 4.8 handballs. Three clearances, nine inside 50m, 85 rebound 50m. 35 tackles.

Josh Caddy, Richmond. Never previously All Australian. 20 games in 2018. 195 kicks, 73 marks, 140 handballs averaging 9.8 kicks, 3.6 marks, 7.0 handballs. 44 goals (Tenth in the AFL in goals), 13 behinds, 43 clearances, 64 inside 50m, 10 rebound 50m. 63 tackles.

Trent Cotchin, Richmond. All Australian 2012. 20 games in 2018. 226 kicks, 47 marks, 208 handballs averaging 11.3 kicks, 2.4 marks, 10.4 handballs. Five goals, 12 behinds, 91 clearances, 81 inside 50m, 20 rebound 50m. 91 tackles.

Shane Edwards, Richmond. Never previously All Australian. 22 games in 2018. 175 kicks, 50 marks, 258 handballs averaging 8.0 kicks, 2.3 marks, 11.7 handballs. 13 goals, Six behinds, 61 clearances, 79 inside 50m, 28 rebound 50m. 62 tackles.

Dylan Grimes, Richmond. Never previously All Australian. 21 games in 2018. 135 kicks, 69 marks, 103 handballs averaging 6.4 kicks, 3.3 marks, 4.9 handballs. Five clearances, 21 inside 50m, 33 rebound 50m. 77 tackles.

Dylan Grimes and Jack Riewoldt are together in the squad. Picture: AFL Photos



Kane Lambert, Richmond. Never previously All Australian. 20 games in 2018. 185 kicks, 75 marks, 266 handballs averaging 9.3 kicks, 3.8 marks, 13.3 handballs. 15 goals, 10 behinds, 56 clearances, 76 inside 50m, 28 rebound 50m. 61 tackles.

Dustin Martin, Richmond. All Australian 2016, 2017. 21 games in 2018. 338 kicks, 79 marks, 198 handballs averaging 16.1 kicks, 3.8 marks, 9.4 handballs. 30 goals, 19 behinds, 114 clearances, 127 inside 50m (First in the AFL in I50m), four rebound 50m. 45 tackles.

Alex Rance, Richmond. All Australian 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 (captain). 22 games in 2018. 179 kicks, 122 marks, 173 handballs averaging 8.1 kicks, 5.5 marks, 7.9 handballs. 0 Clearances, 12 inside 50m 74 rebound 50m. 32 tackles.

Jack Riewoldt, Richmond. All Australian 2010, 2015. 22 games in 2018. 232 kicks, 137 marks, 80 handballs averaging 10.6 kicks, 6.2 marks, 3.6 handballs. 65 goals (First in the AFL in goals), 33 behinds, nine clearances, 71 inside 50m, one rebound 50m. 55 tackles.

Lance Franklin, Sydney. All Australian 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2017. 18 games in 2018. 236 kicks, 125 marks, 44 handballs averaging 13.1 kicks, 6.9 marks, 2.4 handballs. 57 goals (Fourth in the AFL in goals), 42 behinds. Two clearances, 89 inside 50m, one rebound 50m. 38 tackles.

Jake Lloyd, Sydney. Never previously All Australian. 22 games in 2018. 405 kicks (First in the AFL in total kicks), 140 marks (Tenth in the AFL in total marks), 217 handballs averaging (Tenth in the AFL in total disposals) 18.4 kicks, 6.4 marks, 9.9 handballs. Three goals, three behinds. 27 clearances, 44 inside 50m, 132 rebound 50m (Second in the AFL in R50m). 37 tackles.

Andrew Gaff, West Coast. All Australian 2015. 19 games played in 2018. 339 kicks, 100 marks, 244 handballs averaging 17.8 kicks, 5.3 marks, 12.8 handballs. 12 goals, four behinds. 69 clearances, 74 inside 50m, 36 rebound 50m. 56 tackles.

Shannon Hurn, West Coast. Never previously All Australian. 22 games played in 2018. 378 kicks (Second in the AFL in total kicks), 174 marks (First in the AFL in marks), 91 handballs averaging 17.2 kicks, 7.9 marks, 4.1 handballs. One goal, two behinds. Four clearances, 44 inside 50m, 102 rebound 50m (Ninth in the AFL in R50m). 37 tackles.

Jeremy McGovern, West Coast. All Australian 2016, 2017. 21 games in 2018. 221 kicks, 147 marks (Sixth in the AFL in marks), 86 handballs averaging 10.5 kicks, 7.0 marks, 4.1 handballs. Six goals, two behinds. Five clearances, 22 inside 50m, 71 rebound 50m. 27 tackles.

Elliot Yeo, West Coast. All Australian 2017. 22 games in 2018. 340 kicks, 114 marks, 197 handballs averaging 15.4 kicks, 5.2 marks, 8.9 handballs. 13 goals, 14 behinds, 97 clearances, 115 inside 50m (Third in the AFL in I50m), 45 rebound 50m. 148 tackles (Fourth in the AFL in total tackles).

Jack Macrae, Western Bulldogs. Never previously All Australian. 19 games in 2018. 299 kicks, 110 marks, 324 handballs (Ninth in the AFL in total handballs and ninth in the AFL in total disposals) averaging 15.7 kicks, 5.8 marks, 17.1 handballs. Eight goals, five behinds, 117 clearances, 83 inside 50m, 45 rebound 50m. 102 tackles.