Five Sydney Swans players have been selected in the 40-man All Australian Squad, announced by the AFL on Monday.
Lance Franklin, Dan Hannebery, Josh Kennedy, Luke Parker and Dane Rampe all made the extended squad with a final team to be named on Thursday night.
Franklin, who already boasts five All Australian caps, will be vying for selection for the second time since joining the Swans.
Hannebery, the Swans' sole All Australian representative last season, will be aiming for his third All Australian honour after a season in which he's averaged 31 disposals per game.
Kennedy will also be aiming for his third selection after another consistent season in the midfield, averaging 31 disposals per game.
This year could be the first All Australian selection for Rampe and Parker.
A total of 16 clubs had at least one player selected in the squad with the Adelaide Crows (six), GWS Giants and Sydney Swans (both five players) supplying 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.
In contrast to the 24 potential debutants, Franklin, Collingwood’s Scott Pendlebury, Geelong’s Corey Enright are each in line for their potential sixth separate selection as an All Australian player.
Lance Franklin, Sydney Swans. All Australian 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014. 22 games in 2016. 276 kicks, 128 marks, 112 handballs, averaging 12.5 kicks, 5.8 marks, 5.1 handballs. 74 Goals (second in the AFL in goals) 49 Behinds. Five Clearances, 101 Inside 50m, Four Rebound 50m. 56 Tackles.
Dan Hannebery, Sydney Swans. All Australian, 2013, 2015. 22 games in 2016. 317 kicks, 83 marks, 371 handballs (sixth in the AFL in handballs, third in the AFL in total disposals), averaging 14.4 kicks, 3.8 marks, 16.9 handballs. 12 Goals 15 Behinds. 114 Clearances, 114 Inside 50m (fourth in the AFL in I50), 33 Rebound 50m. 100 Tackles.
Josh Kennedy, Sydney Swans. All Australian 2012, 2014. 21 games in 2016. 267 kicks, 52 marks, 389 handballs (fourth in the AFL in handballs, seventh in the AFL in total disposals), averaging 12.7 kicks, 2.5 marks, 18.5 handballs. 16 Goals Five Behinds. 163 Clearances (second in the AFL in clearances), 107 Inside 50m (seventh in the AFL in I50), 26 Rebound 50m. 120 Tackles.
Luke Parker, Sydney Swans. Never Previously All Australian. 22 games in 2016. 291 kicks, 82 marks, 326 handballs, averaging 13.2 kicks, 3.7 marks, 14.8 handballs. 21 Goals 17 Behinds. 138 Clearances (eighth in the AFL in clearances), 84 Inside 50m, 34 Rebound 50m. 136 Tackles.
Dane Rampe, Sydney Swans. Never Previously All Australian. 22 games in 2016. 247 kicks, 106 marks, 144 handballs, averaging 11.2 kicks, 4.8 marks, 6.5 handballs. One Goal Two Behinds. One Clearances, 28 Inside 50m, 141 Rebound 50m (second in the AFL in R50). 52 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.
