Marcus Bontempelli named captain of 2024 AFL All-Australian team
Western Bulldogs champion Marcus Bontempelli has cleaned up at the AFL Awards, including as being named one of the game’s highest honours.
AFL
Don't miss out on the headlines from AFL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Western Bulldogs skipper Marcus Bontempelli has cleaned up at the AFL Awards, taking home the AFLPA MVP, best captain and being named All-Australian captain.
The 28-year-old Bulldogs champion has claimed his sixth All-Australian blazer but had previously twice been named vice-captain.
However, he has now been elevated to captain for the first time.
Watch every game of every round this Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE with no ad-breaks during play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial today >
The 22-man All-Australian team features seven debutants.
2024 All-Australian 2024 team
B: Nick Blakey (Sydney Swans), Jacob Weitering (Carlton), Luke Ryan (Fremantle)
HB: Dayne Zorko (Brisbane Lions), Jeremy McGovern (West Coast Eagles), Dan Houston (Port Adelaide)
C: Errol Gulden (Sydney Swans), Marcus Bontempelli (Western Bulldogs), Nick Daicos (Collingwood)
HF: Chad Warner (Sydney Swans), Jeremy Cameron (Geelong Cats), Isaac Heeney (Sydney Swans)
F: Jake Waterman (West Coast Eagles), Jesse Hogan (GWS Giants), Dylan Moore (Hawthorn)
FOLL: Max Gawn (Melbourne), Patrick Cripps (Carlton), Caleb Serong (Fremantle)
I/C: Lachie Whitfield (GWS Giants), Lachie Neale (Brisbane Lions), Adam Treloar (Western Bulldogs), Zak Butters (Port Adelaide)
* Debutants in bold.
Captain: Marcus Bontempelli
Vice-captain: Patrick Cripps
Field Umpire: Matt Stevic
Boundary Umpire: Michael Barlow
Goal Umpire: Matthew Dervan
In a team brimming with elite talent, when asked about how he’s go about captaining a side like that, Bontempelli quipped: “I think it would just be ‘get out of their way’ … you’ve got a lot of good footballers sitting before us, I think most of them will know what to do.
“I think it’d be hard to stop - good luck trying to find enough that can compete against it … it’d be a pretty good show.”
It was a big night for Carlton’s Jacob Weitering, who was handed his first All-Australian team blazer after having been named in the 44-man squad for the fifth time.
At the other end, Max Gawn was selected for his seventh All-Australian team.
He joins an elite group including Craig Bradley, Nathan Buckley, Wayne Carey and Paul Roos on seven, while Gary Ablett Jr, Patrick Dangerfield, Lance Franklin, Robert Harvey and Mark Ricciuto all have eight selections.
However, it wouldn’t be the All-Australian without a controversy and this season it was the selection of Daicos on the wing, with Hawthorn’s Massimo D’Ambrosio missing out.
Some fans believed the 21-year-old Hawk was “snubbed”.
One fan wrote: “D’Ambrosio should be on the wing, never seen Daicos play on the wing in my life.”
Another commented: “Nick Daicos didn’t play on the wing this year? If he is not good enough to be put in the midfield then don’t put him on the team at all.”
Speaking on Triple M’s Midweek Rub on Wednesday, Leigh Montagna said: “You’re rewarding the best players in the competition… be fair and reasonable, you don’t just put mids in every position but you’ve got to reward the best players of the year.
“There’s only six good wingmen in the competition. You’re gonna give two wingmen spots?”
Earlier, the AFL Awards were handed out:
Coleman Medallist: Jesse Hogan (GWS Giants)
Hogan has won the award for the first time and becomes the second Giants player to take out the Coleman Medal for most goals in the AFL regular season, booting 69, ahead of Jeremy Cameron and two-time defending champion Charlie Curnow.
The only other Giants player to win the award was actually Cameron back in 2019.
Rising Star Award: Ollie Dempsey (Geelong)
Dempsey took out the best under-21s player (with under 10 games heading into 2024) although it once again highlighted the ineligibility of Harley Reid and Sam Darcy, who were both suspended earlier in the year.
Dempsey became the favourite and he couldn’t help pointing out the elephant in the room.
“It is definitely an honour; (you) look at those names and even thinking about it now, it’s very cool,” Dempsey said.
“Life’s (so good), I can’t complain as an AFL footballer – it’s the best job in the world … I’m loving life at the moment.
“(Jeremy Cameron) told me to thank the Tribunal for ruling out Harley Reid and Sam Darcy, so I thought I might throw that one in there.
“It’s a true blessing to be up here … and also my parents (and) all they’ve done for me.”
Dempsey won by nine votes over George Wardlaw, with the pair the run away leaders.
AFLPA MVP: Marcus Bontempelli (Western Bulldogs)
The Bulldogs skipper has taken out the Leigh Matthews Trophy for the third time, adding to his wins in 2021 and 2023, behind only Gary Ablett Jr., who won the award five times in his career.
Bontempelli said he was “humbled” by the award, which is voted by his peers.
“It’s always hard to stand up here in front of some of the players in the room … it’ll never mean anything less than it does right now,” Bontempelli said.
“It’s still sinking in, and it will beyond that.”
AFLPA Best Captain: Marcus Bontempelli (Western Bulldogs)
This is also the third time Bontempelli has won the award of best captain, honoured ahead of Carlton’s Patrick Cripps and Essendon’s Zach Merrett.
Only Brisbane legend and now Carlton coach Michael Voss has won more, having claimed the honour four times.
AFLPA Most Courageous: Zak Butters (Port Adelaide)
The Port Adelaide star has gone back-to-back, again voted the game’s most courageous.
Up against Liam Baker and James Rowbottom for the award, Butters joined an elite group of seven players to have won the award multiple times.
“I voted for Liam Baker,” Butters revealed.
“I’m very humbled to be up here again and be among that quality of players.
“Thanks to the players for voting and recognising me in this area … thanks to the Port Adelaide Football Club and my teammates; (I’ve) got Dad in the room tonight as well so give him a bit of a shoutout.
“Dan Houston as well, he does my tie every event, so shoutout to him as well.
AFLPA Best First-Year Player: Harley Reid (West Coast Eagles)
In what will have to be a consolation prize for the Rising Star after he was knocked out of contention after he was suspended earlier in the year, it’s just rewards for the No. 1 draft pick who took the game by storm.
“It was a bit of a rollercoaster (this year), but it’s gone so quick – it feels like I’ve just been drafted yesterday,” Reid said.
“I’ve got a great opportunity in the west … for me, it’s just (about) figuring those areas I can keep getting better and improving week-to-week to become the best player I can.”
AFLCA Champion Player of the Year: Nick Daicos (Collingwood)
Daicos won the AFL Coach’s Association gong after coming home strong over the last two games of the season to finish on 117 votes ahead of Carlton’s Patrick Cripps (113) and Sydney’s Isaac Heeney (112).
“There’s so many holes in my game still; running, strength and my skills … I’ll keep delving into those three areas,” Daicos told Fox Footy’s Mark Howard.
“I’m super humbled to win the award, so thank you so much for voting.”
The 21-year-old received votes in 16 of the 24 matches he played this season — and claimed 18 votes in the final two matches to come home over the top of his rivals. He was five votes behind Heeney heading into the final round, but with the Swans star withdrawn late, a perfect 10 points from Daicos took him over the top.
AFLCA Best Young Player: Harry Sheezel (North Melbourne)
The award that goes across the first two seasons of a young player’s career, Sheezel was the runaway winner of the award, finishing with 65 votes, with Brisbane’s Will Ashcroft next back on 38.
Originally published as Marcus Bontempelli named captain of 2024 AFL All-Australian team
Hawkins’ fitting farewell as Cats star claims B&F win
The hot favourite has taken out Geelong’s best and fairest, and Tom Hawkins was recognised for his hefty off-field contributions in his final season. Recap the Carji Greeves Medal night here.
Read more
‘Last year’: Daniher’s shock retirement reveal
Brisbane Lions coach Chris Fagan has revealed Joe Daniher’s retirement was far from a surprise as he exits as a premiership winner.
Read more