All Australian selectors face a significant test separating the stars

Legends Jonathan Brown and Nick Riewoldt believe Scott Pendlebury, Patrick Dangerfield and Travis Boak all have claims to leading the All Australian team.

Collingwood captain Scott Pendlebury is among the candidates to lead the All Australian team.

The All Australian captaincy for 2020 is a choice between three champions according to two of the finest leaders the game has seen.

Former Brisbane captain Jonathan Brown and St Kilda skipper Nick Riewoldt believe Scott Pendlebury, Patrick Dangerfield and Travis Boak are the standouts for leadership honours.

On Tuesday night, the AFL Players Association voted Pendlebury the best captain this year and Riewoldt believes he is capable of securing the All Australian honour as well.

The Collingwood champion passed Nathan Buckley’s record for games captained at the Magpies on Monday night in a week where he also surpassed Tony Shaw’s all-time games record at the club.

“How serendipitous would it be for him to be All Australian captain in the week he moved past two of the great captains of his club?” Riewoldt told The Australian.

Brown, a dual-All Australian who was a vice-captain of the 2007 representative side, said Boak’s late-career surge in form was inspiring.

Boak captained Port Adelaide for six seasons but in the latter stages of his leadership came under scrutiny as his form dipped due to injuries.

After handing over the captaincy, the 32-year-old travelled to America in the off-season for additional training and has regained his best form over the past two years.

Twice an All Australian, Brown described the Power star’s resurgence as a “terrific story of perseverance”.

“I take my hat off to someone like Boak. Everyone in the footy world was questioning where his body was at two or three years ago,” he said.

“We knew his talent, but it is very difficult when the footy world is questioning your ability to continue on. It has been a tremendous effort to get back.

“I think he would be one of the more admired blokes by opponents from around the competition.”

Dangerfield has never captained at AFL level, though his leadership has been clear at both Adelaide and Geelong.

Riewoldt, who is a five-time All Australian, believes his sustained excellence will assist his claims, pointing out that Lance Franklin received the honour in 2018 despite never leading either Hawthorn or Sydney.

Brown described Dangerfield, who is seeking to join Franklin as an eight-time All Australian, as “one of the all time greats”.

There was some controversy over the omission of Todd Goldstein and Steven May from the initial 40-man All Australian squad for 2020 announced on Tuesday.

Further contention is certain when the squad is culled to the best 22 on Thursday night in a made-for-television awards night hosted by On The Couch panellists Brown and Riewoldt for Fox Footy.

The discussion overshadowed the tremendous efforts of the 24 players named in the squad for the first time.

Examples include Dan Butler, a premiership player with the Tigers who was squeezed out of Richmond at the end of last year and has excelled with the Saints.

Sam Menegola did not make it at either Hawthorn or Fremantle but has finally flourished at Geelong.

Eagle Liam Ryan was overlooked in drafts but, after playing in a premiership with the Eagles in his first season, has blossomed into one of the finest forwards in the competition.

All three of those players will be playing finals this year. Others to have caught the eye include Fremantle’s Luke Ryan, who was playing suburban football only five years ago.

“There are a few first times and a lot of good stories,” Brown said.

“A guy like Luke Ryan, who was playing district footy in Essendon and an old North Melbourne fella in Peter German got him up to Coburg, all of a sudden he is in All Australian contention.

“Caleb Daniel has been outstanding. It just shows again that anyone can come in and play, it doesn’t matter your size and shape. Those guys are amazing stories.”

Sam Walsh, who was the Rising Star last year, was announced on Wednesday as the AFL Coaches Association’s Best Young Player for 2020.

“It’s a huge honour,” he said.

“I’ve had great support from my teammates and my coaches all year and to get that recognition from coaches outside the club is also a big honour.”

Congratulations, Sam! ⭐️

— AFL (@AFL) September 23, 2020