MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 12: Jack Macrae of the Bulldogs runs with the ball during the round 21 AFL match between the North Melbourne Kangaroos and the Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium on August 12, 2018 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)
Every season a number of a top calibre AFL names are unlucky enough to miss out on All-Australian honours.
You can't please everybody, especially when the already much-debated squad of 40 is trimmed back to a lean 22.
But this year some big guns missed out, so it was only fitting that we made a list of the biggest snubs.
Here are Zero Hanger's Top 10 All-Australian Snubs for 2018.
Reigning premiers Richmond have dominated the best 22 squad with year, with an enormous eight players earning All-Australian stripes. And while this doesn't come as a major surprise, the exclusion of influential and in-form goalkicker Caddy might be.
Continuing on his feats from last season, the former Cat booted 44 goals for the year is should be considered unlucky to miss out. The premiership Tiger averaged 2.2 goals, along with 5.8 score involvements, and was used in forward role second to Coleman medallist Jack Riewoldt.
Despite not even making the squad of 40, the star midfielder went on record to declare that he strongly feels as though season 2018 was the best of his career. With a full pre-season under his belt, the 24-year-old played 21 games through the year and saw an average of 27.9 possessions including 11.4 contested, 5.6 clearances, five tackles and an impressive 21 goals.
These numbers placed him well among the best contested midfielders in the league. One could very easily argue that Coniglio had an overall better season than teammate Callan Ward, who made the squad of 40.
Yet another Tiger, yet another first time nominee, the much-improved, ever-underrated defender featured in the original squad of 40. Grimes would've hoped to join the healthy list of fellow Tigers who made the final squad, but in the end fell short in the final 22 stern backline. His emergence has been nothing short of spectacular - 21 games, 135 kicks, 69 marks, five clearances, 21 marks inside 50 and 77 tackles.
The 24-year-old dashing defender has fast become a core feature in the league's most stingy and unrelenting defense at the Sydney Swans. Ignoring all the speculation over cashed-up offers regarding his signature at season's end, the country Victoria native has entered the prime of his career. He has impressively overtaken captain Josh Kennedy as the Swans' leading possession-gatherer, racking up 27.6 per game on average.
Never previously All-Australian, there is a case to be had over Lloyd's credentials. First in the league of total kicks (405), 140 marks (10th in AFL) 217 handballs, along with 132 rebound 50m (2nd in the AFL). If the All-Australian final 22 were based purely on statistics, Lloyd would be a shoe-in.
The 'Tomahawk' enjoyed a damaging season as the premier forward at Geelong. Through the past decade Hawkins has cemented himself as one of the modern best, despite just having just one All-Australian honour in 2012, when he won the Cats' best and fairest to go alongside his two flags.
Only two key position forwards have been included in this year's 22 - Jack Riewoldt and Lance Franklin, and Hawkins exclusion might be one of the more heavily questioned finals decisions.
The power forward played 20 games in 2018. He had 205 kicks, 146 marks (7th in the AFL) average 10.2 kicks, 7.3 marks and 58 goals (3rd in the AFL) 29 behinds and 38 tackles.
Beams was named captain of the Lions last season, before handling of the reigns to fellow midfielder Dayne Zorko in 2018. His struggles were well documented, as the in-form superstar was forced to come to terms with the passing of his father back in March.
Despite this, Beams fought back valiantly and saw some of his career best numbers right across the season. Given his personal circumstances, both physically and mentally, the ex-skipper could well have a strong case to make the final 22. While the midfield is star-studded, the 2012 All-Australian racked up 330 kicks, 114 marks, 282 handballs, whilst averaging 15.7 kicks, 13.4 handballs, 18 goals, 117 clearances, 91 inside 50m, and a whopping 62 tackles.
Devon Smith has happily stated that moving to the Bombers from the GWS Giants was the best move of his career -- and his stats can certainly back that statement up. Arguably the best recruit of the year, and quite possibly the club's best and fairest winner, the midfield pressure tackling machine has played every game this season and his progress at the Bombers has been phenomenal.
When it comes to securing a spot in the midfield of the 22, Smith is unlucky to miss out. Vital to Essendon's structure, his workrate, determination and aggression at the contest has transformed him into the main cog in the Dons' midfield.
The Bomber averaged 22 disposals, 8.5 tackles, 4.9 score involvements and 31. inside-50's per game. You could argue that his influence is greater than that of All-Australian Tiger Shane Edwards.
In the past, the nickname "Yeo-Yeo" has been well warranted for his up and down form. This season, however, the midfielder has been one of the many West Coast Eagles to find his feet and subsequent resurgence in form. Once more, there are a number of names, such as Shane Edwards or even Lachie Whitfield which could be switched out for the Eagles utility.
Yeo was named All-Australian in 2017, but has failed to back it up in this year's 22. Having played all games in 2018, he's racked up 240 kicks, 114 marks, 197 handballs, having averaged 15.4 kicks, 5.2 marks, 8.9 handballs. 13 goals, 14 behinds, 97 clearances, 115 inside 50m (Third in the AFL in I50m), 45 rebound 50m. 148 tackles (Fourth in the AFL in total tackles).
Western Bulldogs' Macrae was well on pace to be firmly in Brownlow contention before a mid-season injury left him looking on from the outer. Since returning, the midfielder hasn't missed a single beat. The tenacious, classy ball-winner has been the chief among the Bulldogs' midfield brigade. While in the All-Australian best 40, the three games he missed out on may have seen him fall from the end 22.
Never previously named All-Australian, Macrae played 19 games in 2018, took 299 kicks, 110 marks, 324 handballs, while averaging 15.7 kicks, 5.8 marks, 17.1 handballs. Eight goals, five behinds, 117 clearances, 83 inside 50m, 45 rebound 50m. and 102 tackles
It's difficult to fathom that North Melbourne spearhead Brown, who was leading the Coleman Medal race up until a handful of rounds ago, has been left from the final squad. Despite kicking the second-most goals behind Riewoldt, Brown simply couldn't make it in. Much like Hawkins, a previous entry in this list, this comes as a major surprise -- but we figure the case for the two key forwards listed (Franklin and Riewoldt) is stronger, given their elite status in the game.
Never previously All Australian, Brown managed 22 games in 2018.
186 kicks, 100 marks, 60 handballs averaging 8.4 kicks, 4.5 marks, 2.7 handballs. 61 goals (Second in the AFL in goals), 24 behinds, five clearances, 34 inside 50m, nine rebound 50m. and 24 tackles.