First-year captain, Jordan Dawson, and the Club’s greatest ever goal kicker, Taylor Walker, have been rewarded for their outstanding seasons with All Australian selection for the first time.

Walker was named at centre half-forward and Dawson on the interchange bench of the final team which was announced at the AFL’s 2023 Awards in Melbourne tonight.

The honour comes in the 16^th season of Walker’s AFL career which has seen him kick 612 goals in 260 games since being drafted from Broken Hill in 2007.

Adelaide’s former captain produced a career-best season this year with 76 goals to finish second in the Coleman Medal race and fourth for total score involvements in the competition.

He averaged 13 disposals at 62 per cent efficiency and 5.6 marks (1.9 contested) per game at 33 years of age.

Dawson, 26, enjoyed a breakout season not only stepping up as Crows captain for the first time but moving into the midfield on a permanent basis.

After starting the season across half-back, Dawson was moved onto ball in Round 3 and averaged 27 disposals at 71.3 per cent efficiency, 9.4 contested possessions, 3.8 clearances and 6.7 tackles for the year.

He had 30-plus disposals on eight occasions including in blockbuster games against Port Adelaide, Collingwood, Carlton and Brisbane.

Senior Coach Matthew Nicks praised the pair for their consistent high-level performance all season and the leadership they brought to the team at the same time.

“We are immensely proud of the way Taylor and Jordan have gone about their football this year,” Nicks said.

“For Tex to have a career-best year speaks to the high standards he sets at training, the work he puts into his physical preparation and the class he brings on game day.

“Some of his finishing this year has been outstanding even for a guy who has kicked over 600 career goals.

“But what the stats don’t show is the leadership and impact he has on our young players and the way he makes others around him better.

“To get his first All Australian blazer in his 16^th season of AFL footy is a great reward for years of work and continually striving to get better.

“And I don’t think Jordan could have been more impressive in his first season as captain, he has embraced the role and his game has improved on the back of that.

“He is such a versatile player that last season he played multiple roles each week, but this year we moved him into the midfield and he was phenomenal for us which is a credit to him and our midfield coach Nathan van Berlo.

“Everyone knows his ball use is elite but what shouldn’t go unnoticed is his defensive work and contest which helps set the tone for us week in, week out.

“And he’s proven time and time again that he’s a big-game player who we can rely on.”

Walker and Dawson are Adelaide’s first All Australian representatives since Rory Laird in 2018.

The 2023 All Australian selection panel is Gillon McLachlan (chairperson), Eddie Betts, Jude Bolton, Nathan Buckley, Kane Cornes, Andrew Dillon, Glen Jakovich, Laura Kane, Cameron Ling and Matthew Pavlich.