Live: AFL's All Australian team and Rising Star to be named

The AFL's All Australian team of 2026 will be unveiled at its official awards night, alongside the crowning of the Rising Star and the league's MVP.Follow updates in our live blog.Tue 25 Aug 2026 at 7:28pmTue 25 Aug 2026 at 7:28pmThe All Australian squadThe announcement of this squad was delayed by a week in light of the Sydney news, but came yesterday afternoon.What do you reckon, who was unlucky to miss out? The name that came up most strongly online was Harry Sheezel, and fair enough too. Who else? Max Hall? Harley Reid? Billy Frampton?That squad will be whittled down to a final 23 tonight.Tue 25 Aug 2026 at 7:19pmTue 25 Aug 2026 at 7:19pmWhen is a rookie not a rookie?Ok Dean, I'll bite. What the heck is the difference between Best Emerging Player, Best First Year and Rising Star?- JennyIt's a good question! And I'm glad someone asked it.Best Emerging Player goes to the player who is in within two years of making his AFL debut (no age limit) who has the most coach's votes at the end of the season. I think this will probably be Jagga Smith.Best First Year player is voted on by the players and, as you can probably imagine, can only go to a player in his first season after being drafted. I imagine this will go to either Harry Dean or Willem Duursma.The Rising Star is voted on by a specific panel and can go to any player who is a) under the age of 21 at the beginning of the year, b) has played 10 games or fewer at the start of the season and c) receives a nomination in one of the rounds of the season. Jagga Smith is the runaway favourite for this award.Of the three, the Rising Star is the most prestigious.Tue 25 Aug 2026 at 7:17pmTue 25 Aug 2026 at 7:17pmA few players are rolling in(Getty Images)Here's Freo duo Josh Treacy and Luke Jackson, both surely locks for All Australian nods this year.Also looks like every Rising Star nominee has received an invite, which explains the pictures of Mitch Edwards and Josh Lindsay I have just seen.Tue 25 Aug 2026 at 7:12pmTue 25 Aug 2026 at 7:12pmAre Sydney's banned players eligible for the All Australian team?(Getty Images)No, they are not.The AFL confirmed last week Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner, Nick Blakey, Riley Bice and James Jordon would not be eligible for selection in this year's All Australian team.Each of Heeney, Warner and Blakey would have been very, very good bets to have made the team otherwise.Meanwhile Charlie Curnow, who won this year's Coleman Medal and is another likely inclusion in the All Australian team, is not expected to attend tonight's ceremony. Nor are coach Dean Cox or CEO Matthew Pavlich.Tue 25 Aug 2026 at 6:59pmTue 25 Aug 2026 at 6:59pmWhich awards are being presented tonight?Carlton's Jagga Smith is the hot favourite to win the Rising Star. (Getty Images)Aside from the All Australian blazers being presented, these nine awards will have winners by the end of the night:Coaches Association Best Emerging PlayerCoaches Association Defensive Player of the YearCoaches Association Champion Player of the YearColeman Medal (won by Charlie Curnow)AFLPA Best CaptainAFLPA Best First Year PlayerRobert Rose Most Courageous Player AwardLeigh Matthews Trophy for Most Valuable PlayerRising StarTue 25 Aug 2026 at 6:46pmTue 25 Aug 2026 at 6:46pmA big night of AFL Awards awaits(Getty Images)Good evening and welcome back to ABC Sport's continuing coverage of the 2026 AFL season. Tonight we gather for the announcing and handing out of the AFL Awards, as well as the naming of the season's All Australian team.No fewer than nine awards will be presented tonight before we get confirmation of 2026's team of the season. There will be snubs, there will be controversy, there will be CONTENT. And the blog will be here to bring you all of it.It all gets underway at 7:30pm AEST, so not too far away. Hit up the comments to get your thoughts in throughout the night.