Predicting the 2030 AFL All-Australian team

A combination of established AFL stars and youngsters on the rise headline our predicted 2030 All-Australian team. The team has been selected based on current output at AFL level, age profile and scope for improvement. Here's what the All-Australian team could look like in five years... NEW PICK YOUR TEAM: Select your club's best 23 + Origin and custom teams Defenders Generational key defender Sam Taylor shapes as one of the safer future All-Australian projections. Already regarded as the premier key defender in the game at 26, Taylor combines elite one-on-one defending with a strong intercept game and still has plenty of elite football ahead of him. http://gty.im/2231749445 Crows left-footer Josh Worrell enjoyed a breakout 2025 campaign and quickly established himself as one of the competition's most reliable hybrid defenders. Arguably unlucky to miss All-Australian selection in 2025, Worrell's ability to take big matchups, read the play and use the ball well by foot make him an ideal third tall. 22-year-old dual premiership defender Darcy Wilmot has established himself as one of the more reliable defenders across the competition. Courageous, quick and skilful, he has quickly become one of the league's best defensive prospects and looks bound to become an All-Australian calibre defender at some point. Despite emerging as a prominent midfielder in the past two seasons, Bulldog Ed Richards could find himself back across half-back as he approaches his early 30s. His line-breaking speed and lethal left foot could make him a weapon in the Bulldogs' defensive half late in his career. Connor O'Sullivan has become one of the most promising key defenders in the AFL. The 20-year-old played all but one game in 2025 while regularly matching up on the league's best forwards, defending strongly and demonstrating an ability to pick off opposition high balls with his size and athleticism. Dashing defender Archie Roberts enjoyed a superb second season in the AFL system, finishing runner-up in Essendon's best and fairest at just 20. A smooth-moving left footer, he brings composure, class and line-breaking ability out of defence and looms as a future All-Australian rebounding defender. Midfielders Errol Gulden announced himself as one of the competition's elite young midfielders when he earned All-Australian honours at just 21. An endurance beast with a superb left foot, Gulden's running capacity and damaging left foot have already made him one of the most influential players in the competition. Already a two-time All-Australian, ferocious Port Adelaide midfielder Zak Butters looks bound to add a few more jackets to his resume. He has the rare combination of line-breaking speed on the outside to complement his grunt and raw power at stoppage, making him one of the most complete players in the AFL. http://gty.im/2224263642 Hard-running 22-year-old midfielder Finn Callaghan has elevated himself into one of the AFL's most damaging onballers with his sublime ball-use and sheer running power. At his damaging best, Callaghan is one of the most watchable players in the competition and looks destined to feature in the All-Australian team at some point. Docker Luke Jackson is potentially the most versatile player the game has seen and can play any position on the ground. His mobility at ground level and contested marking ability make him potentially the hardest matchup in the competition. When deployed in the ruck, he is effectively a second midfielder. At just 23, son-of-a-gun Nick Daicos has arguably the best CV of all time for a player with just four years of experience at the highest level. Classy, skilful and composed, the young star is already a premiership player, three-time All-Australian and Collingwood best and fairest winner. Could finish his career as the most decorated player of all time. Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera has quickly emerged as one of the game's best midfielders after beginning his career as a rebounding half-back. With potentially the best foot skills in the competition, the young St Kilda star's composure, leg speed and ability to hit the scoreboard make him one of the more exciting prospects in recent memory. Forwards Now 25, Crows livewire Izak Rankine has surprisingly never featured in the All-Australian team. Equally effective inside 50 as he is through the midfield, Rankine's speed, creativity and goal sense make him one of the competition's most damaging players. Will likely still be prominent in 2030. Despite injury troubles in his first few seasons at the highest level, there is little doubt Sam Darcy has the traits to become one of the most destructive key forwards the game has seen. At 208cm, he can mark just about anything with his incredible reach and moves well at ground level. http://gty.im/2229798443 Oliver Dempsey has quickly developed into one of the competition's most exciting high-half-forwards. An elite runner and incredibly strong overhead, Dempsey's work rate and ability to hit the scoreboard have made him a crucial part of Geelong's lineup. At only 23, Geelong fans would be excited by what he could do in the next five years. Diminutive Hawthorn forward Nick Watson has already established himself as one of the game's most dangerous small forwards. His forward pressure, goal sense and ability to create opportunities from nothing make him a constant threat, while his energy and competitiveness ensure he is rarely out of the contest. Riley Thilthorpe continues to emerge as one of the competition's premier key forwards of the next decade after his 2025 All-Australian year. Strong in the air and dangerous at ground level, the Adelaide tall's combination of size, athleticism and finishing ability gives him all the tools to become a dominant focal point in attack. Explosive, speedy and classy, Kysaiah Pickett is one of the competition's few genuine match-winners. Equally effective forward or pinch-hitting through the midfield, his ability to change games in short bursts ensures he will remain a genuine All-Australian contender for years to come. Interchange Young Port Adelaide star Jason Horne-Francis has quickly developed into one of the most powerful players in the competition. He is dangerous at stoppage with his power and cleanliness below his knees, while also providing a genuine threat one-on-one inside 50. Will Ashcroft continues to build one of the most remarkable early careers in recent memory. A two-time Norm Smith medallist by the age of 21, the Brisbane midfielder is an elite clearance player with a proven ability to perform on the big stage. Looks destined for multiple All-Australian selections. http://gty.im/2174184236 Josh Weddle offers enormous flexibility as one of the competition's most versatile players. Capable of playing almost anywhere on the ground, Weddle's rare combination of size, strength, speed and running power makes him an All-Australian contender. Roos vice-captain Harry Sheezel is one of the most reliable and gifted young talents in the AFL. Equally comfortable across half-back or through the midfield, the North Melbourne star rarely plays a poor game and looms as a future captain and long-term star of the competition. Suns captain Noah Anderson has established himself in the top handful of midfielders in the competition. The Gold Coast skipper is a classy onballer who excels at stoppage. Was All-Australian in 2025, and looks set to add to that across the next few seasons. Predicted 2030 All-Australian Team FB: Darcy Wilmot, Sam Taylor, Josh Worrell HB: Ed Richards, Connor O'Sullivan, Archie Roberts C: Errol Gulden, Zak Butters, Finn Callaghan HF: Izak Rankine, Sam Darcy, Oliver Dempsey FF: Nick Watson, Riley Thilthorpe, Kysaiah Pickett FOL: Luke Jackson, Nick Daicos, Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera Int: Jason Horne-Francis, Will Ashcroft, Josh Weddle, Harry Sheezel, Noah Anderson Stiff to miss: Will Day, Bailey Smith, Matt Rowell, Max Holmes, Tristan Xerri, Murphy Reid, Jaspa Fletcher, Harley Reid, Tom Green, Caleb Serong, Logan Morris, Hayden Young

		P	W	L	PTS	%
1	ADEL	23	18	5	72	139.3
2	GEEL	23	17	6	68	141.5
3	BL	23	16	6	66	114.2
4	COLL	23	16	7	64	122.4
5	GWS	23	16	7	64	115.3
6	FRE	23	16	7	64	109
7	GC	23	15	8	60	124.9
8	HAW	23	15	8	60	120.9

Predicting the 2030 AFL All-Australian team

We take a look at what the All-Australian side might look in the next five years.

Predicted 2030 All-Australian Team

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