Wingmen are the unluckiest players in the AFL. They really shouldn't be.

Written by Lachlan Sherriff

It was a season that even Massimo D'Ambrosio himself couldn't have even dreamed of.

After spending eighteen months at Essendon as a fringe player, only donning the sash sixteen times, D'Ambrosio swapped the Bombers for Hawthorn. All Hawthorn had to give up for his services were pick 61 in last year's draft and a fourth round pick in the upcoming one.

It's why it came as a surprise to many when D'Ambrosio instantly broke out in the brown and gold, playing 22 times and averaging twenty touches a game from the wing, making him arguably the best wingman in the competition.

Being the best player in your position should usually guarantee you a spot in the All-Australian team. Jesse Hogan was the best key forward this season, and was rewarded with his first All-Australian appearance. Max Gawn, at least in the eyes of the selectors, was the best ruckman all year, and subsequently found himself in the team. All the best midfielders and defenders got the respect they deserve with their selections.

But the best wingman in the competition missed out. To a man who doesn't play on the wing.

Above: Nick Daicos was selected on the wing for the 2024 All-Australian squad, despite not being a wingman.

Now, don't get it twisted, Nick Daicos is a better footballer then Massimo D'Ambrosio. Nick Daicos is arguably the best player in the competition.

But that's not the point.

Nick Daicos isn't the first midfielder to be shoved on the wing in the All-Australian team over someone more deserving. In recent years, Zach Merrett, Touk Miller and Marcus Bontempelli were all given All-Australian blazers as wingmen, despite being on-ballers.

Midfielders are not the same as wingers, and AFL fans are sick of seeing them treated as such when it's time to announce the All-Australian team.

If we're simply awarding the players with the best chance of winning the Brownlow instead of actually building a football team, why not stick Zach Merrett in the forward pocket and Harry Sheezel on the back flank?

It makes about as much sense as giving on-ballers spots on the wing.

Nick Daicos is a tremendous footballer, and deserved a spot somewhere in the team. If the selectors didn't fancy him over the impressive midfield trio of Marcus Bontempelli, Patrick Cripps, and Caleb Serong, why not put him on the bench? The reigning Brownlow medalist is sitting there in this team, so there's no shame in it.

Either way, AFL fans have made it clear that they're sick of seeing wingmen snubbed from the All-Australian team, and for good reason.

Massimo D'Ambrosio is only 21. He'll go on to have a magnificent career. He'll probably make one or even multiple All-Australian squads along way. But the fact he wasn't given a blazer in 2024 is, quite simply, a disgrace. And it's time the AFL make sure it doesn't happen again.