Baffling captain call stuns after huge All-Australian snub

Jeremy Cameron was left stunned after being named captain of the 2025 AFL All-Australian team, admitting he had never captained a side in his life.

Despite five team captains being named in the final team of 22 at the AFL Awards night on Thursday night, selectors bestowed the honour on Cameron.

Adelaide's Jordan Dawson was named vice-captain.

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When his name was announced, Cameron raised an eyebrow before giving a bewildered interview with Fox Footy.

"I don't think I've captained any team in my life, mate," he said with a laugh. "Honestly, I've never captained anything.

"Danger (Patrick Dangerfield) has asked me a couple (of) times to do the pre-game speech, and I've knocked him back. I've had absolutely no practice at all. I like sitting back and listening in and then just playing the game.

"It's all new to me."

Asked what he would "bring to the table" to rev up the side before a game, Cameron was at a loss.

"Honestly, I'm not sure," he said to laughs from the audience.

"I'd probably grab the five captains that are actually up there and ask them what I should say.

"It's a wonderful team, it's a privilege to be named the captain. I'm still trying to figure out why."

Earlier, Dawson had been named the AFL Players Association's Best Captain.

This is not the first time the All-Australian team has been named with a non-traditional captain in recognition of their achievements in the game.

Former Cat Tom Hawkins (2022), current Geelong skipper Dangerfield (2020), Swans and Hawks champion Lance Franklin (2018) and ex-Tiger Alex Rance (2017) were previously named captains despite not holding leadership positions at their respective clubs.

Several key players were notably absent from this year's team, the most obvious being Adelaide defender Josh Worrell.

Despite averaging over 20 disposals a game this season, Worrell was overlooked for three first-time selections in the team's back six.

Ranked second in the competition for intercept possessions, Worrell had played a key role in delivering the Crows to the minor premiership.

It came on the same night that Max Gawn added to his case of being the game's best ruckman, equalling the record for the most All-Australian selections in history.

He joins the likes of Robert Harvey, Mark Ricciuto, Gary Ablett Jr., Franklin and Dangerfield to have been selected on eight occasions. 

In the midfield, Gawn was named alongside a cohort of first-timers in Hugh McCluggage, Bailey Smith, Noah Anderson and Ed Richards. Jordan Dawson was also named in what was his second time receiving the blazer.

Josh Battle, Jordan Clark and Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera joined the list of stars receiving their first All-Australian blazers.

Cameron returned to the stage to receive his second Coleman Medal with 83 goals, a new career-high, for what marked his fifth time in the All-Australian team.

Nick Daicos, meanwhile, is wasting no time adding pieces of silverware to his already established collection after being named the 2025 AFLPA's Most Valuable Player.

Voted by his peers, the Collingwood young gun has become the fourth-youngest winner of the Leigh Matthews Trophy, having just fallen short of the honour in previous years.

The 22-year-old became the youngest winner of the award since Nick Riewoldt, at 21 years of age, in 2004. 

Daicos has been instrumental for Collingwood this season, having featured in all 23 games with the club and averaging 30 disposals each game.

The midfielder sits inside the top six across the league for inside 50s and clearances.

Daicos collected the award just moments after being named in his fourth consecutive 22-Under-22 team.

He admitted he was overwhelmed to receive the MVP award. 

"It's a huge honour to be voted this year's MVP," Daicos said.

"There are so many impressive footballers in the game at the moment, people who I get to play both with and against, and the list of previous winners is quite an overwhelming group to join.

"I'm very grateful for what I get to do each week, and to be recognised by my fellow players."

Adelaide Crows captain Dawson was the runner-up for the award, while Wanganeen-Milera also polled close to Daicos.

The last time a Collingwood player received the Leigh Matthews Trophy was in 2010 when Dane Swan was crowned the winner.

It was a tie for AFLCA Champion Player of the Year, with both Anderson and Smith taking out the title. 

Meanwhile, Fremantle youngster Murphy Reid was named as the best young player by his fellow players. Geelong's Shaun Mannagh was crowned the winner of the AFL Coaches' Association's Best Young Player. 

Brisbane's Josh Dunkley was voted by his peers as the most courageous player.

ALL-AUSTRALIAN TEAM:

B: Josh Battle (Hawthorn Hawks), Sam Taylor (GWS Giants), Jordan Clark (Fremantle Dockers)

HB: Bailey Dale (Western Bulldogs), Harris Andrews (Brisbane Lions), Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera (St Kilda Saints)

C: Bailey Smith (Geelong Cats), Jordan Dawson (vc) (Adelaide Crows), Hugh McCluggage (Brisbane Lions)

R: Max Gawn (Melbourne Demons), Noah Anderson (Gold Coast Suns), Ed Richards (Western Bulldogs)

HF: Isaac Heeney (Sydney Swans), Jeremy Cameron (c) (Geelong Cats), Zac Bailey (Brisbane Lions)

F: Jack Gunston (Hawthorn Hawks), Riley Thilthorpe (Adelaide Crows), Kysaiah Pickett (Melbourne Demons)

INT: Nick Daicos (Collingwood Magpies), Marcus Bontempelli (Western Bulldogs), Caleb Serong (Fremantle Dockers), Matt Rowell (Gold Coast Suns)