West Coast Eagles Nic Naitanui, Brad Sheppard and Liam Ryan were tonight rewarded for their excellent play throughout the home and away season by earning selection in the 2020 Virgin Australia All Australian team.

Naitanui collected his second All Australian honour, while Sheppard and Ryan made their debut in the representative side.

It has been a long time between slipping on All Australian blazers for West Coast’s marquee big man, who was first selected as an All Australian in 2012.

And although he came close to being formally recognised as the game’s premier ruckman more recently, having been selected in the 40-man squad in 2015, there was no questioning Naitanui’s choice this year.

The 30-year-old mesmerised selectors, experts and fans alike with his work in the air and at ground level throughout the qualifying rounds.

He ranked third in the league for average hitouts (29.44) and fourth for total hitouts (477).

Remarkably, 138 of those 477 hitouts were to his teammates’ advantage, often resulting in clean clearances for West Coast’s onball brigade.

Speaking of clearances, Naitanui himself ranked fourth in overall clearances per game in 2020 – an extraordinary feat for a ruckman.

Much to West Coast fans’ delight, Sheppard slipped on his maiden All Australian blazer after narrowly missing out on selection in the 2019 representative side.

The 29-year-old pieced together a typically consistent season that saw him rank fourth in the competition for total marks, all the while nullifying the opposition’s most dangerous goalsneaks week-in, week-out.

It was a fantastic reward for the dependable defender, who will no doubt feature prominently in this year’s John Worsfold Medal count after polling third in the Club Champion Award last year.

Ryan also received his first All Australian gong following his most productive season in blue and gold.

The third-year Eagle proved he was more than just a highlights machine in 2020 by taking his ball use and the defensive side of his game to another level.

An emerging leader at West Coast, Ryan was particularly influential in the final month of the season, spurring the Eagles to wins in tight contests against Essendon, St Kilda and North Melbourne with his sublime play.

He ranked sixth in the league for total score involvements, 11^th for total marks inside 50 and 12^th in total goals with his 25 majors across 17 games.

Andrew Gaff was the only Eagle to miss out on a spot in the final 22 after being selected in the initial 40-man All Australian squad.

West Coast Eagles 2020 All Australians

Nic Naitanui
2012 All Australian.
Also nominated as a squad member in 2015.
16 games in 2020.
176 disposals. 99 kicks, 11 marks, 77 handballs averaging 11 disposals, 6.2 kicks, 0.7 marks, 4.8 handballs. 471 hitouts (138 to advantage). 89 clearances. 37 tackles. 150 contested possessions. 56 inside 50m. Five goals. Three behinds. 54 score involvements.

Brad Sheppard
Never previously All Australian.
Nominated as a squad member in 2019.
17 games in 2020.
275 disposals. 185 kicks, 107 marks, 90 handballs averaging 16.2 disposals, 10.9 kicks, 6.3 marks, 5.3 handballs. 34 tackles. 63 spoils. Two goals.

Liam Ryan
Never previously All Australian.
17 games in 2020.
178 disposals. 133 kicks, 60 marks, 45 handballs averaging 10.5 disposals, 7.8 kicks, 3.5 marks, 2.6 handballs. 31 tackles. 82 contested possessions. 36 inside 50m. 25 goals. 16 behinds. 95 score involvements.