Two Carlton defenders have been selected in the 40-man All Australian squad, announced by the AFL on Monday morning.
Kade Simpson and Sam Docherty have both made the extended squad with a final team to be named on Thursday night.
Both defenders, who have been vital cogs in the Blues’ backline this year, have been nominated for their potential first-ever All Australian selection.
A total of 16 clubs had at least one player selected in the squad with the Adelaide Crows (six), GWS Giants and Sydney Swans (five players each) with the most representatives.
A total of 24 players were nominated for a potential first-ever All Australian selection while nine players from last year's best team were again nominated as potential selections this year – Eddie Betts, Patrick Dangerfield, Andrew Gaff, Dan Hannebery, West Coast’s Josh Kennedy, Sam Mitchell, Alex Rance, Cyril Rioli and Heath Shaw.
Sam Docherty, Carlton. Never previously All Australian. 22 games in 2016. 359 kicks (fourth in the AFL in kicks), 173 marks (second in the AFL in marks), 207 handballs, averaging 16.3 kicks, 7.9 marks, 9.4 handballs. One goalm two behinds. 14 Clearances, 45 Inside 50m, 119 Rebound 50m (third in the AFL in R50). 57 tackles.
Kade Simpson, Carlton. Never previously All Australian. 22 games in 2016. 383 kicks (third in the AFL in kicks), 152 marks (sixth in the AFL in marks), 214 handballs, averaging 17.4 kicks, 6.9 marks, 9.7 handballs. Three goals, zero behinds. 14 Clearances, 52 Inside 50m, 101 Rebound 50m (fifth in the AFL in R50). 54 tackles.
The All Australian selection panel is Gillon McLachlan (chairman), Kevin Bartlett, Luke Darcy, Mark Evans, Danny Frawley, Glen Jakovich, Cameron Ling, Matthew Richardson and Warren Tredrea, while the All Australian selectors, along with Kevin Sheehan, also choose the winner of the NAB AFL Rising Star Award.
The Blues have not had a representative in the All-Australian team since Marc Murphy and Chris Judd were selected in 2011.
