Four Crows have been included in the 2014 All Australian squad, including three potential first-timers.

Ruckman Sam Jacobs, forward Eddie Betts and defenders Daniel Talia and Brodie Smith were selected in the squad of 40 was released by the AFL on Tuesday. Only top-two teams, Hawthorn and the Sydney Swans (five nominees each) had more players included in the squad than the Crows.

Sam Jacobs, 26, was unlucky to miss out on All-Australian selection in 2012 when he was included in the squad of 40, but overlooked in favour of West Coast forward/ruckman Nic Naitanui.

Jacobs, who played all 22 games, was the No.1 ruckman according to Champion Data Rankings in 2014. The 202cm, 105kg, Crow led the AFL in hit-outs to advantage (257); collected more disposals (358); took more marks (90) and generated more rebound 50ms than any other dedicated ruckman.

He ranked second in the League in total hit-outs (763) behind Fremantle giant Aaron Sandilands; third in clearances and inside 50ms, and fourth in score assists amongst genuine ruckmen. He was involved in 23.5 per cent of Adelaide’s scores this season. Jacobs, who has played 104 career matches, celebrated his 100^th game in Round 19.

Brodie Smith enjoyed a breakout 2014, playing all 22 matches in only his fourth AFL season.

The polished 22-year-old established himself as a damaging player across half-back, averaging a career-high 22.5 possessions and five marks per game.

He ranked No.1 in the AFL for long kicks (136) and second for metres gained (12,131m), rebound 50ms (109), and combined inside and rebound 50ms. The line-breaking Crow’s ball use was a highlight. Of all players to average 22 or more possessions this season, Smith had the second highest disposal efficiency (78.2 per cent) just behind North Melbourne champion Brent Harvey (78.3). He led Adelaide in handball receives (199), kicked 11 goals and assisted in 14 team scores. This is Smith’s first nomination for the All-Australian squad. He’s played 76 career AFL games.

Daniel Talia is also a first-time All-Australian nominee.

Talia was a rock in Adelaide’s inexperienced backline this season, enhancing his reputation as one of the premier defenders in the competition. Still in only his fourth AFL season, the 22-year-old kept star forwards, including Nick Riewoldt (Round 23), Jack Riewoldt (Round 21) and Jarryd Roughead (Round 17), goalless in head-to-head match-ups.

The dedicated defender ranked eighth in the AFL for spoils (135) and also improved the attacking side of his game. He averaged career-high disposals (11.8), rebound 50ms, intercept marks and inside 50ms. Talia has played 76 career games, including the last 44 without miss in a reflection of his professionalism and meticulous preparation.

Boom recruit Eddie Betts has been included in the squad for the third time of his career, but is another Crow aiming for an inaugural All-Australian berth.

Betts, 27, played every game in his first season at Adelaide, kicking a career-high 51 goals – ranked eighth in the AFL. The lively forward led the competition in goal assists (29) and was second in score assists (42). He was ranked third for scoreboard impact according to Champion Data with 515 points behind only Coleman Medallist Lance Franklin (546) and Geelong spearhead Tom Hawkins (516).

Betts’ defensive pressure remained a feature of his game, ranked third in the League for forward 50m tackles. He had more ground-ball gets and the second-most contested possessions inside attacking 50m of any player in the game.

The All Australian selectors were not asked to nominate the leading players in each section of the field -- forwards, defenders and midfielders / ruckmen – but simply to name the best players of the season. However, the final team of 22, to be named on Tuesday September 16 in Melbourne, is selected to best fit team balance as if to play a match.

A total of 26 players were nominated for a potential first-ever All Australian selection while only six players from last year's best team were again nominated as potential selections this year - Gary Ablett, Travis Boak, Scott Pendlebury, Jarryd Roughead, Joel Selwood and Harry Taylor.

In contrast to the 26 potential debutants, Gold Coast Suns skipper Gary Ablett is in line for his eighth consecutive year as an All Australian player while Lance Franklin, Brent Harvey, Nick Riewoldt and Scott Pendlebury are each bidding for their fifth separate selections in an All Australian side.

The All Australian selection panel is Gillon McLachlan (chairman), Kevin Bartlett, Luke Darcy, Mark Evans, Danny Frawley, Glen Jakovich, Cameron Ling, Matthew Richardson and Warren Tredrea, while the All Australian selectors, along with Kevin Sheehan, also choose the winner of the NAB AFL Rising Star Award.

The squad is:
Eddie Betts, Sam Jacobs, Brodie Smith, Daniel Talia (Adelaide)
Tom Rockliff (Brisbane Lions)
Bryce Gibbs (Carlton)
Dayne Beams, Scott Pendlebury (Collingwood)
Dyson Heppell, Cale Hooker (Essendon)
Hayden Ballantyne, Nat Fyfe, Aaron Sandilands (Fremantle)
Tom Hawkins, Tom Lonergan, Joel Selwood, Harry Taylor (Geelong)
Gary Ablett (Gold Coast)
Callan Ward (GWS)
Luke Breust, Shaun Burgoyne, Jack Gunston, Jordan Lewis, Jarryd Roughead (Hawthorn)
Brent Harvey (North Melbourne)
Travis Boak, Robbie Gray, Jay Schulz (Port Adelaide)
Brandon Ellis, Dustin Martin, Alex Rance (Richmond)
Nick Riewoldt (St Kilda)
Lance Franklin, Josh Kennedy, Nick Malceski, Luke Parker, Nick Smith (Sydney)
Eric Mackenzie, Matt Priddis (West Coast)
Tom Liberatore (Western Bulldogs)