Four young Geelong superstars have received one of the highest honours in the game, with Bailey Smith, Connor O'Sullivan, Max Holmes and Ollie Dempsey all selected in the initial All Australian squad for the 2026 season. 

The AFL announced the squad of 46 players on Monday which features some of the game's biggest names, before the squad is trimmed to a final team of 23 players at the AFL Awards on Tuesday night. 

The 2026 All Australian selection panel comprises of: Andrew Dillon (Chair), Eddie Betts, Jude Bolton, Kane Cornes, Luke Hodge, Abbey Holmes, Glen Jakovich, Laura Kane, David Mundy, Joel Selwood and Greg Swann.

Quickly developing into one of the AFL's best players, Bailey Smith has pieced together another sensational campaign in 2026 as he continues to grow in his second season with Geelong. 

Smith finished second in the competition this year for disposals, with an average of 32.6 per game, while also leading the Cats for clearances, score involvements and contested possessions. 

His consistency has been remarkable, collecting 30 disposals or more in 17 of his 22 games across the regular season, proving nearly impossible to stop with his elite running capacity and ability to find space. 

It follows a sensational debut season with the Cats for Smith, which saw him finish third in the Brownlow Medal, second in the Carji Greeves Medal and he also earned his first All Australian blazer, now vying for his second in 2026. 

Max Holmes has been selected in the All Australian squad for a third consecutive year but will be searching for his first selection in the final team, highlighting his impact this year despite only playing 18 games in the home-and-away season. 

The dashing Cat was averaging 29.2 disposals, 5.9 score involvements and over four clearances per game this year, before an injury in Round 19 interrupted his campaign. 

It again follows an incredible couple of seasons for the 23-year-old, with Holmes claiming the last two Carji Greeves Medals while having a phenomenal impact both through the middle and off half back.

The rapid rise of Connor O'Sullivan continued in 2026 and it did not go unrecognised, establishing himself as one of the AFL's best key defenders and earning his first selection in the All Australian squad. 

O'Sullivan finished seventh in the competition across the regular season for intercept marks, 10th for spoils and fifth for total intercept possessions, often entrusted on the last line of defence and taking on the challenge against some of the game's best forwards. 

It follows the recent announcement that the young defender had earned selection in the AFLPA's 22Under22 team, continuing O'Sullivan's incredible emergence in just his second full season at the elite level. 

Firmly establishing himself as one of the best wingers in the game, Ollie Dempsey has earned his first selection in the All Australian squad after another terrific year. 

Able to showcase his running capacity each and every week, the 23-year-old is averaging a career-high 19.8 disposals per game, continually putting opponents to the sword and finding dangerous positions on the ground. 

But it is in the forward half where Dempsey does his best work, kicking 30 goals which included nine different occasions where he kicked two goals or more in a match, while also finishing fourth at Geelong for total score involvements. 

Oliver Dempsey, Geelong Cats

• Never Previously All Australian.
• 23 matches this season, 30 goals, 13 behinds.
• Averages 19.8 disposals, 73.9% disposal efficiency, 1.9 tackles, 6.0 score involvements and 3.0 inside 50s.

Max Holmes, Geelong Cats

• Never Previously All Australian team.
• 2024, 2025 Extended Squad.
• 18 matches this season, 4 goals, 5 behinds.
• Averages 29.2 disposals, 75.2% disposal efficiency, 9.3 contested possessions, 4.2 clearances, 2.2 centre clearances, 3.1 tackles, 5.9 score involvements and 5.1 inside 50s.

Connor O'Sullivan, Geelong Cats

• Never Previously All Australian.
• 23 matches this season, 1 goal, 2 behinds.
• Averages 15.4 disposals, 81.9% disposal efficiency, 6.7 marks, 2.6 intercept marks, 5.0 spoils and 3.4 rebound 50s.

Bailey Smith, Geelong Cats

• 2025 All Australian Team.
• 22 matches this season, 11 goals, 4 behinds.
• Averages 32.6 disposals, 66.4% disposal efficiency, 11.3 contested possessions, 5.5 clearances, 2.7 centre clearances, 4.7 tackles, 7.2 score involvements and 7.3 inside 50s.