The AFL has appointed three AFLW pioneers to the AFLW All-Australian panel ahead of the 2026 season, including champion Geelong player and long-serving captain, Meg McDonald.

McDonald joins the panel alongside Debbie Lee and Kirby Bentley, set to feature alongside established members of the panel such as Andrew Dillion, Laura Kane and Kate McCarthy. 

A two-time AFLW All-Australian, McDonald played 76 games across the Geelong Cats and the Western Bulldogs, including six seasons as Geelong's captain.
 
Since her retirement at the end of the 2025 season, McDonald has joined 3AW Football as Executive Producer.
 
The AFLW All-Australian panel selects the All-Australian squad and final team, determines the Virgin Australia AFLW Mark of the Year and Coles AFLW Goal of the Year, and votes on the Telstra AFLW Rising Star.

GEELONG, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 16: Meghan McDonald of the Cats leads the team out for the AFLW Round one match between Geelong Cats and North Melbourne Kangaroos at GMHBA Stadium on August 16, 2025 in Geelong, Australia. (Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images via AFL Photos)

AFL Executive General Manager of AFLW, Health and Football Operations Laura Kane welcomed Lee, Bentley and McDonald to the AFLW All-Australian selection panel.
 
“The AFLW All-Australian selection panel plays an important role in recognising the competition's best each season, and we're also pleased to bring in three people with the football experience and credentials of Debbie, Kirby and Meghan,” Kane said.

“Each has made an outstanding contribution to women's football, and their perspectives will be a valuable addition to the selection process.”
 
At the conclusion of the 2026 NAB AFLW Season, the AFLW All-Australian panel will vote on the five highest-performing nominees based on their performances across the year.

Geelong will commence their AFLW season with a historic double-header at Marvel Stadium, as the Cats take on North Melbourne in both the AFL and AFLW on Saturday afternoon.

2026 AFLW All-Australian Panel

  • Andrew Dillon, AFL CEO
  • Laura Kane, Executive General Manager of AFLW, Health and Football Operations
  • Gemma Bastiani, AFLW expert and AFL.com.au
  • Kirby Bentley, former AFLW player
  • Debbie Lee, Australian Football Hall of Fame Member
  • Kate McCarthy, Channel 7 and Triple M
  • Meghan McDonald, 3AW
  • Eliza Reilly, CODE Sports
  • Michael Whiting, AFL.com.au