Lions trio earns All Australian team honours

THREE Lions can claim to be the best in the business in their position after being named in the All Australian side.

Harris Andrews, Charlie Cameron and Lachie Neale received their first All Australian blazers at a gala function at the Palais Theatre in St Kilda last night.

Lions vice-captain Andrews was unlucky to miss selection last year when he was named in the initial 40-man squad but was robbed of the chance to force himself into the starting full back position when he missed a month because of concussion.

Lachie Neale has also come close before and proved that he has produced the best footy of his career since joining the Lions by finally earning a blazer from his fourth time in the squad.

Cameron has also reached new heights in his second season at the Lions to earn his first selection.

The trio were among nine debutants for the all-star team.

There were also seven players who retained their spots from 2018 – Patrick Cripps, Brodie Grundy, Patrick Dangerfield, Tom Stewart, Max Gawn, Shannon Hurn and Jeremy McGovern.

It was Dangerfield’s fifth consecutive All Australian honour and seventh overall – the most of any player in the side.

Brisbane’s three representatives was the second most behind Collingwood and West Coast, who each supplied four players.

Fremantle’s Nat Fyfe, who was awarded his third blazer, was named captain with West Coast’s Shannon Hurn his deputy.

Andrews missed representative teams until the under-18s but now, at 22, he has established himself as the league’s premier key defender and was thrilled to be recognised alongside the AFL’s biggest stars.

“Very excited, honoured, to be regarded in such a high manner in the league,” said Andrews. “I missed out on a few teams growing up and tried not to get too disheartened.’’