OUTSTANDING Melbourne pair Max Gawn and Clayton Oliver have been named in the 2018 Virgin Australia All-Australian team.
The duo were the only red and blue players named in the initial squad of 40 on Monday, and they secured spots in the final 22, announced on Wednesday night at the Palais Theatre.
It is the second time Gawn has been named All-Australian, after he was named ruck in 2016. He has been named as the starting ruckman, beating the other ruck fancy in Brodie Grundy.
Oliver, making his debut in the prestigious side, has been named on the interchange.
Earlier in the week, Gawn won the 2018 Shadforth Financial Group AFLCA Champion Player of the Year award.
The ruckman won the award with 97 votes, six ahead of Carlton young-gun Patrick Cripps (91). Hawthorn ball magnet Tom Mitchell (88 votes) and Magpie ruckman Brodie Grundy (82) finished third and fourth respectively.
Oliver came equal fifth with Dayne Beams (Brisbane Lions) and Jack Macrae (Western Bulldogs) on 72 votes each.
Gawn and Oliver have been instrumental in Melbourne making finals for the first time since 2006.
Gawn, 26, was originally drafted from Ormond/Sandringham Dragons at No.34 in the 2009 NAB AFL Draft.
He has played 96 AFL games since making his debut in round 11, 2011 against Essendon at the MCG.
Although injuries have interrupted his career – particularly knee issues early on – ever since the second half of the 2015 season, Gawn has been a mainstay of the Melbourne side.
He has since developed into one of the best rucks of the modern era.
This year, Gawn notched up 1000 hit outs – the best recorded effort by a player in a VFL/AFL home and away season. Only North Melbourne’s Todd Goldstein (1058) has won more in a year, but his count included finals.
Gawn could surpass that number, depending on the rest of Melbourne’s 2018 campaign.
Gawn sports his All-Australian blazer (Photo: Michael Willson)
Oliver, who won Melbourne’s best and fairest award in 2017, had another brilliant home and away season, collecting 655 disposals – four fewer than last year.
The 21-year-old has played 57 games after he was drafted at No.4 in the 2015 NAB AFL Draft.
He made his AFL debut in round one, 2016 against GWS Giants at the MCG.
Oliver was drafted from Mooroopna/Bendigo Pioneers/Murray Bushrangers.
Oliver alongside All-Australian interchange members Brodie Grundy, Shaun Higgins and Shane Edwards (Photo: Michael Willson)
Gawn and Oliver’s key 2018 stats
Clayton Oliver
Disposals: 655 (ranked second in the AFL)
Contested possessions: 360 (ranked second in the AFL)
Inside 50s: 103 (ranked seventh in the AFL)
Tackles: 151 (ranked third in the AFL)
Clearances: 146 (ranked fifth in the AFL)
Max Gawn
Hit-outs: 1000 (ranked first in the AFL; VFL/AFL home and away season record)
Contested marks: 50 (ranked second in the AFL)
Marks: 102
Disposals: 359
The full team
