Star Crows Patrick Dangerfield and Scott Thompson have become All Australians for the first time, selected in the 2012 team announced in Melbourne on Monday night.

Dangerfield and Thompson were two of five Adelaide players named in the preliminary squad. Ruckman Sam Jacobs, forward Taylor Walker and defender Brent Reilly were also named in the initial squad of 40, but missed out on final selection.

A goalkicking midfielder, Dangerfield was selected on a half-forward flank, while Thompson was named in the ruck-rover position. Dangerfield and Thompson were two of 15 players to receive All-Australian honours for the first time.

It’s further recognition for the Brownlow Medal fancies, who have already collected a swag of awards this season. Thompson took out Victorian radio station SEN’s Player of the Year, while Dangerfield earned top honours in Triple M’s equivalent award.

Dangerfield finished equal-third in the AFL Coaches Association Player of the Year award, and equal-fifth in the peer-voted Players Association MVP. Thompson finished in outright fifth in the Coaches’ award.

Selected by Adelaide with pick No.10 in the 2007 AFL Draft, Dangerfield has excelled in a full-time midfield role this year. The 22-year-old collected 600 disposals across 22 matches in the minor round - ranked 10th in the AFL. Of those 600, 361 were contested (ranked 2nd in the League).

He also won a competition-high 184 hard-ball gets, 147 clearances (ranked 4th) and 128 inside 50ms (ranked 2nd).

All-Australian selector Gerard Healy said Dangerfield had been rewarded for a “breakout” year.

“His ability to win the ball inside and also gain great yardage make him a fantastic nominee for the All-Australian team,” Healy said.

Thompson’s dominance in 2012 is also reflected on the stats sheet. The reigning Crows Club Champion amassed 651 possessions (ranked 4th in the AFL) across 22 minor-round games. He collected 319 contested possessions (ranked 3rd) and 158 clearances to be the second-best clearance player in the competition.

Thompson was included in the preliminary All-Australian squad last year, but missed the final cut.

The ruck position was one of the most hotly debated in the public arena.

Jacobs, who ranked No.1 in the AFL in hit-outs to advantage at the end of the minor round, missed out to West Coast big man Nic Naitanui. Another Eagle, Dean Cox was picked in a forward pocket.

Healy said Naitanui had won the majority vote.

“A vote was taken and it was 6-1 in favour of Naitanui (over Jacobs)," he said.

"Naitanui is an extremely gifted athlete as we all know. He spends 50 per cent of the time in the forward pocket, but when he’s in the ruck he has the highest percentage of all ruckmen in hit-outs to advantage. He has the highest percentage of clearances and pressure acts around the ground. We didn’t get seduced. The numbers don’t lie. For the time he spends in the ruck, Naitanui is the best ruckman.”

Walker missed six games through suspension and injury, but finished with the second-highest goal percentage per game in the competition. Selector Luke Darcy conceded the emerging star was “desperately unlucky” to miss out.

Nominated for the first time, Reilly has enjoyed a career-best year across half-back.

The 28-year-old took more marks (128) than any other Crow in the minor round (ranked 17th in the AFL), with his intercept marking a feature.

Healy said Reilly had been overlooked in favour of St Kilda backman Sean Dempster.

“Brent Reilly played a similar role to Sean Dempster, and could’ve also have played across that half-back line,” Healy said.

“He didn’t quite make it, but it was closely voted.”

The All Australian Selection panel is Andrew Demetriou (chairman), Adrian Anderson, Kevin Bartlett, Luke Darcy, Danny Frawley, Gerard Healy, Glen Jakovich and Mark Ricciuto.

None of the Crows players nominated for All-Australian honours attended Monday night’s ceremony, so as to keep the focus on preparations for the Preliminary Final against Hawthorn on Saturday evening.

The 2012 All-Australian team is:

B: Sean Dempster (St Kilda), Luke McPharlin (Fremantle), Darren Glass (West Coast)

HB: Beau Waters (West Coast), Ted Richards (Sydney), Grant Birchall (Hawthorn)

C: Trent Cotchin (Richmond), Jobe Watson (Essendon), Dayne Beams (Collingwood)

HF: Patrick Dangerfield (Adelaide), Lance Franklin (Hawthorn), Cyril Rioli (Hawthorn)

F: Stephen Milne (St Kilda), Tom Hawkins (Geelong), Dean Cox (West Coast)

FOLL: Nic Naitanui (West Coast), Scott Thompson (Adelaide), Gary Ablett (Gold Coast)

INT: Brett Deledio (Richmond), Josh Kennedy (Sydney), Scott Pendlebury (Collingwood), Dane Swan (Collingwood)

CAPTAIN: Darren Glass (West Coast)
VICE-CAPTAIN: Gary Ablett (Gold Coast)
COACH: TBA (coach of the 2012 premiership team)