SIX Cats have been recognised by the All Australian selection panel and been named in the 40-man squad for the 2019 side.
Gary Ablett, Mark Blicavs, Patrick Dangerfield, Tom Hawkins, Tim Kelly and Tom Stewart are all in contention to take their place in the side which will be finalised this Wednesday night.
Ablett could break new ground and become the first player who did not play in the carnival era to receive his ninth All-Australian blazer.
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The Little Master is currently one of only four players to have been named in the side on eight occasions, alongside Robert Harvey, Mark Ricciuto and his father Gary Ablett Snr.
During the carnival era players could receive both a mid-year and end-of-season blazer.
Patrick Dangerfield and Tom Stewart are among nine players who could be named for the second consecutive year.
The All Australian selection panel is Gillon McLachlan (chairman), Kevin Bartlett, Luke Darcy, Danny Frawley, Steve Hocking, Glen Jakovich, Chris Johnson, 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.
Gary Ablett, Geelong Cats
All Australian 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011(c), 2012, 2013, 2014.
21 games in 2019.
430 disposals. 264 kicks, 80 marks, 166 handballs averaging 20.5 disposals, 12.6 kicks, 3.8 marks, 7.9 handballs. 33 Goals, 16 Behinds. 108 Inside 50m, 20 Rebound 50m. 94 tackles.
Mark Blicavs, Geelong Cats
22 games in 2019.
301 disposals. 172 kicks, 116 marks, 129 handballs averaging 13.7 disposals, 7.8 kicks, 5.3 marks, 5.9 handballs. 21 Inside 50m, 54 Rebound 50m. 76 tackles.
Patrick Dangerfield, Geelong Cats
All Australian 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017(vc), 2018. 21 games in 2019.
573 disposals. 311 kicks, 103 marks, 262 handballs averaging 27.3 disposals, 14.8 kicks, 4.9 marks, 12.5 handballs. 25 Goals, 18 Behinds. 120 clearances, 123 Inside 50m, 18 Rebound 50m. 93 tackles.
Tom Hawkins, Geelong Cats
All Australian 2012. 22 games in 2019.
286 disposals. 185 kicks, 116 marks, 101 handballs averaging 13 disposals, 8.4 kicks, 5.3 marks, 4.6 handballs. 52 Goals, 27 Behinds. 38 Inside 50m.
Tim Kelly, Geelong Cats
22 games in 2019.
558 disposals. 331 kicks, 73 marks, 227 handballs averaging 25.4 disposals, 15 kicks, 3.3 marks, 10.3 handballs. 18 Goals, 17 Behinds. 135 clearances, 92 Inside 50m, 39 Rebound 50m. 92 tackles.
Tom Stewart, Geelong Cats
All Australian 2018. 22 games in 2019.
514 disposals. 423 kicks (Second in the AFL in kicks), 165 marks (Third in the AFL in marks), 91 handballs averaging 23.4 disposals, 19.2 kicks, 7.5 marks, 4.1 handballs. 34 Inside 50m, 184 Rebound 50m. 41 tackles.
