Nat Fyfe says the best part of being named in the Virgin Australia 2014 AFL All Australian team for the first time was sharing it with teammates Aaron Sandilands and Hayden Ballantyne.

The superstar Freo midfielder was selected on the centre-line, along with Sydney’s Josh Kennedy and Essendon’s Dyson Heppell.

Ballantyne earned a spot in the forward line, while Sandilands was All Australian for the fourth time.

Fyfe said it was a memorable evening.

“I guess it’s a great recognition of an individual’s season and what’s made it special for me this year is being able to share it Aaron, who I work really closely with, and also Hayden,” he said.

Fyfe has always spoken glowingly of Sandilands’ ability to win the ruck contests and give Freo’s midfielders first use at the stoppages.

Fit Sandilands All Australian again

“I think when he is up and going and fit he’s in a league of his own and I benefit greatly from that and so does the rest of our midfield,” Fyfe said.

“We have a real duty now to take the God-given skills that we’ve got and harness that and really become the elite midfield that we know we can.”

The 22-year-old has enjoyed a sensational 12-months of individual success, winning the Doig Medal in 2013 and being crowned the AFL Players’ Association Most Valuable Player last week.

He still craved team success above anything else.

“Individual accolades are really nice, but they don’t quite hold the same weighting in a team sport,” he said.

“But I’m still certainly very grateful to receive them.”