MELBOURNE’S leaders and young stars have been recognised for their 2023 campaigns, with four Demons selected in the All-Australian squad.

Kate Hore, Tyla Hanks, Eden Zanker and Tahlia Gillard all feature in the 42-player line-up, which looks to acknowledge the best individual talent across the league.

This season has seen Hore take on the new title of captain, embracing the responsibility and allowing it to push her game to another level.

The skipper became the second player in league history to kick 20 goals in a home-and-away season, sharing the leading goal-kicker title with fellow Demon Zanker.

In addition to her own scoring talents, Hore was instrumental in helping her teammates impact in front of goal, leading the league for average score involvements with 6.5 a game.

The 28-year-old will be looking for her third selection in the final team, having featured in the side in 2020 and 2022.

Similar to Hore, Hanks has flourished in her vice-captaincy role this year, stretching herself to new milestones, averaging a career-high 21.7 disposals, 5.6 clearances, 4.4 score involvements and 3.7 inside 50s.

Her impressive performances became a constant for the team, using her footy smarts, natural talent and silky skills to cement herself as one of the competition’s best midfielders.

The 23-year-old will be pushing for her first All-Australian honour, having been selected in the squad in 2021 and 2022.

This squad recognition is the first for Zanker, who has produced a career-best campaign this year.  

After putting in a mountain of work during the off-season, Zanker came into 2023 with perfected forward craft and the ability to compete aerially and at ground-level.

She wrote herself into the history books as the first AFLW player to kick 20 goals in a home-and-away season and was named the league’s leading goal-kicker alongside Hore.

The fourth and final Demon to be selected is Gillard who, at just 19 years old, has become a dangerous defender in a breakout season for the red and blue.

In her third season at the top level, the young Demon has gone from strength to strength, managing to shut down some of the best forwards in the league, while averaging 5.6 intercepts and 5.2 spoils.

Gillard will be looking for her first All-Australian selection, in addition to her first selection in the AFLPA 22Under22 team, which fans can vote for here.

The final team of 21, including a captain and vice-captain, will be announced at the 2023 W Awards on Monday 27^th November.

The 42-player squad was selected by a panel comprising of Nicole Livingstone (Chair), Andrew Dillon, Laura Kane, Jason Bennett, Kelli Underwood, Sarah Black, Katie Loynes, Narelle Smith, Megan Waters.