The2009All-Australian team represents the best-performedAustralian Football League (AFL) players during the2009 season. It was announced on 14 September as a completeAustralian rules football team of 22 players. An initial squad of 40 players was previously announced on 1 September. The team is honorary and does not play any games.
The selection panel for the 2009 All-Australian team consisted of non-voting chairmanAndrew Demetriou, Adrian Anderson,Kevin Bartlett,Gerard Healy,James Hird,Glen Jakovich,Mark Ricciuto andRobert Walls.[1]
A squad of 40 players, consisting of 12 defenders, 12 forwards and 16 midfielders/ruckmen was announced on 1 September. The top four teams after the home-and-away season provided 24 of the 40 players selected in the initial squad, with the bottom eight teams only providing seven players.[2] Three clubs,Melbourne,Port Adelaide andRichmond, did not have any players nominated.[3]
Controversial omissions from the squad include formerBrownlow MedallistsSimon Black andJason Akermanis, as well as prolific midfieldersJobe Watson,Scott Thompson,Bryce Gibbs,Aaron Davey,Joel Corey andDaniel Cross.[3]Dane Swan was surprisingly named as a forward despite playing mainly as a midfielder and only scoring 17 goals during the season.[4]
Nick Riewoldt was named as captain of the All-Australian team for the first time. The top two teams for the season,Geelong andSt Kilda, each had five players selected. Nine players were selected for the first time, withMatthew Scarlett andSimon Goodwin receiving their fifth respective selections.[5]
The most controversial selections were the selection ofCollingwood pairLeon Davis and midfielder Dane Swan as forwards despite kicking only 34 and 18 goals, respectively, ahead ofMark LeCras, who kicked 58 goals for the season, andJason Porplyzia, who kicked 52 goals.[6]
Note: the position of coach in the All-Australian team is traditionally awarded to the coach of the premiership team.