WEST Coast and Fremantle's strong 2012 form has not gone unnoticed by All-Australian selectors, with six local players chosen in the initial 40-man squad.
The Eagles had four players - skipper Darren Glass, defender Beau Waters, and ruck duo Dean Cox and Nic Naitanui - chosen in the preliminary squad, which will be trimmed to 22 on September 17.
Fremantle captain Matthew Pavlich is in line to receive his seventh All-Australian nod, while injured teammate Luke McPharlin could receive his first call-up.
Though Pavlich enjoyed an impressive purple patch in the second half of the season, he is set to face stiff competition for a forward role against the likes of Hawthorn’s Lance Franklin, Adelaide’s Taylor Walker, Geelong’s Tom Hawkins, North Melbourne’s Drew Petrie and Coleman Medallist Jack Riewoldt (Richmond).
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READ NOWPavlich booted 62 goals - his best haul since 2008 - to finish just three behind Riewoldt.
Cox is chasing his sixth selection in the team after again playing all 22 games in 2012.
The veteran, who plays his 250th game this weekend, finished fifth in the AFL for hitouts with 558 and also booted 26 majors.
Naitanui and Waters are seeking their maiden All-Australian guernseys after playing vital roles in West Coast’s 15-7 season, while McPharlin is considered every chance to make the team after a consistent year deep in the Dockers’ defence.
But there was no room for reinvigorated Fremantle tagger Ryan Crowley or West Coast duo Scott Selwood and Matt Priddis.
Former West Coast captain now Carlton leader Chris Judd and his Blues teammate Marc Murphy were two other notable omissions.
It is the first time in five years that dual Brownlow medallist Judd has been overlooked.
Another notable omission was Hawthorn defender Josh Gibson, with teammate Grant Birchall instead getting the nod.
Adelaide and Geelong each have five members in the squad, while Hawthorn, Richmond, St Kilda, Sydney and the Eagles have four.
Gold Coast captain Gary Ablett has been selected for the fifth consecutive year, while former Geelong teammate earned a fourth successive nomination.
THE 2012 ALL-AUSTRALIAN SQUAD
ADELAIDE
Patrick Dangerfield, Sam Jacobs, Brent Reilly, Scott Thompson, Taylor Walker
CARLTON
Eddie Betts
COLLINGWOOD
Dayne Beams, Scott Pendlebury, Dane Swan
ESSENDON
Jobe Watson
FREMANTLE
Luke McPharlin, Matthew Pavlich
GEELONGCorey Enright, Tom Hawkins, Tom Lonergan, Joel Selwood, Harry Taylor
GOLD COASTGary Ablett
HAWTHORNGrant Birchall, Lance Franklin, Sam Mitchell, Cyril Rioli
NORTH MELBOURNEDrew Petrie, Andrew Swallow
RICHMONDTrent Cotchin, Brett Deledio, Ivan Maric, Jack Riewoldt
ST KILDASean Dempster, Lenny Hayes, Stephen Milne, Nick Riewoldt
SYDNEYKieren Jack, Lewis Jetta, Josh Kennedy, Ted Richards
WEST COASTDean Cox, Darren Glass, Nic Naitanui, Beau Waters