Jeremy Cameron was left surprised after being named captain of the 2025 AFL All-Australian workforce, admitting he had by no means captained a facet in his life.
Regardless of 5 workforce captains being named within the ultimate workforce of twenty-two on the AFL Awards night time on Thursday night time, selectors bestowed the honour on Cameron.
Adelaide’s Jordan Dawson was named vice-captain.
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When his title was introduced, Cameron raised an eyebrow earlier than giving a bewildered interview with Fox Footy.
Jeremy Cameron of the Cats is called captain of the AFL All-Australian Group. Michael Willson /AFL Photographs by way of Getty Pictures
“I do not assume I’ve captained any workforce in my life, mate,” he mentioned with amusing. “Actually, I’ve by no means captained something.
“Hazard (Patrick Dangerfield) has requested me a pair (of) instances to do the pre-game speech, and I’ve knocked him again. I’ve had completely no apply in any respect. I like sitting again and listening in after which simply taking part in the sport.
“It is all new to me.”
Requested what he would “carry to the desk” to rev up the facet earlier than a recreation, Cameron was at a loss.
“Actually, I am unsure,” he mentioned to laughs from the viewers.
“I might most likely seize the 5 captains which can be really up there and ask them what I ought to say.
“It is a great workforce, it is a privilege to be named the captain. I am nonetheless attempting to determine why.”
Earlier, Dawson had been named the AFL Gamers Affiliation’s Finest Captain.
The 2025 All-Australian workforce. Michael Willson/ AFL Photographs by way of Getty Pictures
This isn’t the primary time the All-Australian workforce has been named with a non-traditional captain in recognition of their achievements within the recreation.
Former Cat Tom Hawkins (2022), present Geelong skipper Dangerfield (2020), Swans and Hawks champion Lance Franklin (2018) and ex-Tiger Alex Rance (2017) had been beforehand named captains regardless of not holding management positions at their respective golf equipment.
A number of key gamers had been notably absent from this yr’s workforce, the obvious being Adelaide defender Josh Worrell.
Regardless of averaging over 20 disposals a recreation this season, Worrell was missed for 3 first-time choices within the workforce’s again six.
Ranked second within the competitors for intercept possessions, Worrell had performed a key position in delivering the Crows to the minor premiership.
It got here on the identical night time that Max Gawn added to his case of being the sport’s greatest ruckman, equalling the document for probably the most All-Australian choices in historical past.
Max Gawn on the 2025 AFL Awards night time. AFL Photographs by way of Getty Pictures
He joins the likes of Robert Harvey, Mark Ricciuto, Gary Ablett Jr., Franklin and Dangerfield to have been chosen on eight events.
Within the midfield, Gawn was named alongside a cohort of first-timers in Hugh McCluggage, Bailey Smith, Noah Anderson and Ed Richards. Jordan Dawson was additionally named in what was his second time receiving the blazer.
Josh Battle, Jordan Clark and Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera joined the checklist of stars receiving their first All-Australian blazers.
Cameron returned to the stage to obtain his second Coleman Medal with 83 targets, a brand new career-high, for what marked his fifth time within the All-Australian workforce.
Nick Daicos, in the meantime, is losing no time including items of silverware to his already established assortment after being named the 2025 AFLPA’s Most Useful Participant.
Voted by his friends, the Collingwood younger gun has turn into the fourth-youngest winner of the Leigh Matthews Trophy, having simply fallen in need of the honour in earlier years.
The 22-year-old grew to become 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 video games with the membership and averaging 30 disposals every recreation.
Mark Howard speaks with Nick Daicos of the Magpies alongside Leigh Matthews. AFL Photographs by way of Getty Pictures
The midfielder sits inside the highest six throughout the league for inside 50s and clearances.
Daicos collected the award simply moments after being named in his fourth consecutive 22-Underneath-22 workforce.
He admitted he was overwhelmed to obtain the MVP award.
“It is an enormous honour to be voted this yr’s MVP,” Daicos mentioned.
“There are such a lot of spectacular footballers within the recreation for the time being, individuals who I get to play each with and in opposition to, and the checklist of earlier winners is sort of an amazing group to hitch.
“I am very grateful for what I get to do every week, and to be recognised by my fellow gamers.”
Adelaide Crows captain Dawson was the runner-up for the award, whereas Wanganeen-Milera additionally polled near Daicos.
Bailey Smith in motion for the Cats this season. AFL Photographs by way of Getty Pictures
The final time a Collingwood participant obtained the Leigh Matthews Trophy was in 2010 when Dane Swan was topped the winner.
It was a tie for AFLCA Champion Participant of the 12 months, with each Anderson and Smith taking out the title.
In the meantime, Fremantle teen Murphy Reid was named as the most effective younger participant by his fellow gamers. Geelong’s Shaun Mannagh was topped the winner of the AFL Coaches’ Affiliation’s Finest Younger Participant.
Brisbane’s Josh Dunkley was voted by his friends as probably the most brave participant.
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)
