Fremantle first as five stars make All Australian team

Fremantle has five players named in an All Australian team for the first time with Shai Bolton, Jordan Clark, Luke Jackson, Murphy Reid and Josh Treacy all selected in the star-studded 2026 line-up announced in Melbourne tonight.

Jackson, Reid and Treacy were all presented with their first blazers in front of family and friends at Centrepiece, Melbourne Park.

One of the most dominant big men in the game, Jackson is named on the interchange bench as one of two rucks, joining nine-time All Australian Max Gawn in the final squad of 23.

Reid’s silky skills and creativity have also seen last year’s Rising Star rewarded with a place on the interchange bench, while the imposing figure of Josh Treacy stands tall at centre half-forward.

It’s a second selection each for Bolton and Clark, with Bolton adding another spot at half-forward in 2026 to his first as a Richmond player in 2022.

Clark again takes his place in defence, named on a half back flank 12 months after his maiden All Australian selection in a back pocket.

Speaking to Fox Footy as the All Australian team was revealed, Josh Treacy said he was excited to be sitting beside the competition's best.

"It's not what I play for, but I'm certainly excited to be sitting up here with this calibre of players," Treacy said.

"I do take notes of what other (forwards) are doing and I do enjoy watching other players that's for sure."

Named alongside Treacy in the forward line, Shai Bolton spoke about what it means to be playing back at home in WA.

"I am pumped, obviously coming back home after being at Richmond for eight years, coming back home I feel like it's a bit of my safe place with all my family there," Bolton said.

Fremantle has twice had three players earn All Australian selection before with Peter Bell, Paul Hasleby and Matthew Pavlich all selected in 2003, while Hayden Ballantyne, Nat Fyfe and Aaron Sandilands were honoured in 2014.

In conjunction with his All Australian team selection, 20-year-old Reid was presented with the 2026 AFL Coaches Association Best Emerging Player Award.

Reid shared the award with St Kilda’s Max Hall with the pair finishing level on 66 votes following the conclusion of the home and away season.

The AFL Coaches Association Best Emerging Player Award, formerly known as the Best Young Player Award, is presented in recognition of a player’s performances across their first two AFL seasons following their debut and is determined by the weekly votes of the AFL coaches in the AFLCA Champion Player of the Year Award.

After an impressive debut season in 2025, Reid added more midfield minutes to his forward craft, averaging more than 23 disposals per game and becoming an increasingly influential part of Fremantle's engine room rotation.

Hall also enjoyed a breakout second season at St Kilda, developing into a consistent contributor through the midfield and forward lines.

AFL Coaches Association CEO Alistair Nicholson said Reid and Hall were deserving joint winners.

“Murphy and Max have both made a significant impact in their first two seasons at AFL level and it is fitting that the coaches couldn’t separate them this year,” Nicholson said.

“They have taken different paths and play different styles of football, but what they share is an ability to consistently influence games and contribute strongly to their teams.

“Murphy has continued to develop into an exciting and influential player for Fremantle, while Max has taken another significant step forward and established himself as an important player for St Kilda.

“To be recognised by the coaches across the competition is a significant achievement and both players should be extremely proud of what they have achieved so early in their AFL careers.

“We congratulate Murphy and Max, as well as Justin (Longmuir), Ross (Lyon) and the respective Fremantle and St Kilda coaching groups for the role they have played in their development.”

FREMANTLE'S 2026 ALL AUSTRALIAN TEAM SELECTIONS

Shai Bolton

2022, 2026 All Australian team
22 matches this season, 21 goals, 13 behinds
Averages 22.7 disposals, 73.2% disposal efficiency, 439.5 metres gained, 8.8 contested possessions, 4.1 clearances, 2.0 centre clearances, 3.4 tackles, 7.4 score involvements and 5.9 inside 50s.

In his second season at Fremantle, Bolton starred with more midfield minutes and evasive brilliance all over the ground. One of the hardest players to tackle in the game, Bolton’s playmaking from stoppage made him a key to scoring prowess. Second in competition and set a new Fremantle record for goal assists (28) in a season, while also setting a new Club record for inside 50s with 15 in the Round 23 win over Adelaide.

Jordan Clark

2025, 2026 All Australian team
2024 All Australian squad
23 matches this season, 2 goals, 0 behinds
Averages 22.1 disposals, 83.9% disposal efficiency, 472.2 metres gained, 4.9 marks, 0.9 intercept marks, 1.3 spoils, 10 pressure acts and 4.8 rebound 50s.

Elevated to the leadership group ahead of the season, the hard-running half-back picked up where he left off from a breakout 2025 season which saw Clark awarded his first All Australian selection. The 25-year-old played every game and launched numerous Fremantle attacks off half-back and with his creativity and pace through the middle of the ground.

Luke Jackson

2026 All Australian team
2023, 2025 All Australian squad
23 matches, 24 goals, 17 behinds
Averages 18.3 disposals, 70.8% disposal efficiency, 11.0 contested possessions, 59.2 ruck contests, 25.3 hitouts, 7.4 hitouts to advantage, 4.9 clearances, 7.7 score involvements.

In his fourth season with Fremantle, Jackson played every game and took the competition by storm as the side’s number one ruckman. Taking a liking to the new ruck rules, the 24-year-old’s ability to dominate in the air and at ground level as a 199cm midfielder, regularly gave Fremantle first use of the football. Snared 63 marks and kicked 24 goals as a reliable target when sent into attack.

Murphy Reid

2026 All Australian team
21 matches, 12 goals, 19 behinds
Averages 23.4 disposals, 73.2% disposal efficiency, 3.4 marks, 4.2 inside 50s, 7.3 score involvements, 0.1 contested marks, 1.9 tackles and 0.9 goal assists.

Last year’s AFL Rising Star took his game to another level in his second season of creativity after demanding more midfield minutes to go with his half-forward craft. Displaying decision making beyond his years, the evasive 20-year-old’s silky use of the football by hand or foot lifted teammates around him and often created something out of nothing.

Josh Treacy

2026 All Australian team
23 matches, 54 goals, 38 behinds
Averages 12.9 disposals, 69.0% disposal efficiency, 6.6 marks, 2.7 inside 50s, 6.9 score involvements, 2.0 contested marks, 2.3 tackles and 0.6 goal assists.

Josh Treacy played every game, kicked 54 goals and his vice-like grip snared the most contested marks (47) in the competition as he became a dominant force in attack. The 24-year-old’s fierce attack on the football and opponents saw him lay 53 tackles and his hands saved the day in defence when needed to help Fremantle claim a thrilling Gather Round win in the wet over Collingwood.