Geelong spearhead Jeremy Cameron's reaction to being named the 2025 All-Australian captain said it all.
This year's side was littered with club captains, such as Max Gawn, Noah Anderson, Jordan Dawson, Harris Andrews and Marcus Bontempelli.
And yet, the selectors found no issue donning Cameron with the capital C.
"Honestly, I've never captained anything," Cameron said on the night.
"It's a privilege to be named the captain, I'm still trying to figure out why."
However, this isn't a once-off occurrence.
"I'd take a leaf from Scotty's book and throw the magnets around a bit."
Jeremy Cameron on how he'd handle this star-studded lineup.#AFLAwards pic.twitter.com/Di1wBtTxpJ
— AFL (@AFL) August 28, 2025
Cameron's former teammate, Tom Hawkins, was honoured as the 2022 skipper of the All-Australian side, despite the appearance of Patrick Cripps, Callum Mills and Gawn.
In 2020, Patrick Dangerfield, another Cat, was selected as captain, albeit with Gawn on the bench. Joel Selwood was leading Geelong at the time.
Port Adelaide's Travis Boak was named vice-captain, but had previously held the captaincy at the club two years earlier.
Dangerfield's All-Australian captaincy appointment did prove a glimpse into the future, as he took over from Selwood as the Cats' leader.
Lance Franklin will also go down as an All-Australian captain despite never leading his club, with the honour bestowed upon him in 2018.
As was the case for Richmond's Alex Rance 12 months earlier, despite Selwood being in the team.
This quirky selection continued in 2010, when Hawthorn's Luke Hodge was named AA captain, but wasn't the leader for his club. That would be a sign of things to come, given that Sam Mitchell handed the reins over in 2011.
Adelaide's Andrew McLeod (2007) and Carlton's Greg Williams (1994) are also members of the unique group in the AFL.
