With an average of 10.6 first-time AFL All-Australians being named each year for the past decade, we can expect almost half of this year's side to be made up of fresh faces.
35 of those debutants came in the past three years alone, with a balance of next-generation sensations and long-serving veterans breaking through to earn their maiden blazers.
Adelaide sharpshooter Taylor Walker became the oldest player to win their first All-Australian nod in the AFL era last year, waiting 16 years to land his maiden selection.
The likes of Nick Daicos, Errol Gulden and Caleb Serong secured their first All-Australian jumpers in 2023 while still in the early stages of their respective careers, with a number of emerging stars likely to follow suit in 2024.
The trio of young stars were among the 12 players to earn their All-Australian debuts last year, with a further 15 among the initial squad but didn't make the final cut for their first blazers.
Looking to the season ahead, we look at 40 players who are yet to earn their first All-Australian selection who could be in contention for a blazer in 2024...
Among the first names that will come to mind is Carlton stopper Jacob Weitering, who has been named in the past four All-Australian squads but has failed to make it through to the final 22.
The Blues' reigning best and fairest will again put his best foot forward as Carlton plans for another deep finals run, however, Weitering will need to overcome pre-season calf concerns that could delay his 2024 campaign.
Collingwood's Isaac Quaynor and Swan Nick Blakey also made last year's 44-man squad but couldn't break into the small forward spots that eventually went to Dan Houston, Tom Stewart and Jack Sinclair.
Both players are sure to be right in the mix again this season with their strong lockdown work and quick-paced rebounding respectively.
Others who have earned squad nods in the past include Richmond's Daniel Rioli, Dockers defender Brennan Cox and premiership Eagle Tom Barrass, all of whom narrowly missed the final cut in 2022.
Cox's teammate Hayden Young looks in line for a breakout season but could be in competition for a midfield spot as the former top 10 draft selection looks to make a full-time move to the middle of the field.
With selectors sometimes deciding to shift midfielders to other sections of the side in recent All-Australian teams, Young could benefit from his defensive-minded role and slot onto a half-back void.
Other rebounding backmen who could push for maiden selections include 2023 Rising Star winner Harry Sheezel, who will look to follow the trail blazed by Collingwood phenom Nick Daicos last year.
Brisbane's Keidean Coleman was among his side's best performers across September last year and will hope to reach similar highs on a consistent basis in 2024, while Richmond's Jayden Short will also be looking to land his maiden blazer.
Partnering Coleman in the Lions' defence is Brandon Starcevich, who would likely be in direct competition with grand final counterpart Quaynor as one of the premier lockdown small defenders.
Geelong's Sam De Koning continues to impress despite being just 22 years of age, with his breakout 2022 premiership season backed up last year despite some injury setbacks.
Sydney's Tom McCartin is another who will be eyeing an uninterrupted year in 2024 after dealing with concussion concerns midway half of last season. A full campaign for McCartin is sure to have the Swans key defender right in All-Australian contention should he reach a career-best year.
The midfield unit is always difficult to reduce to just eight or so names, with the top stars of the completion often calling the middle home.
Six of 2023's midfield cohort were first-time selections, with all of Nick Daicos, Zak Butters, Errol Gulden, Josh Daicos, Jordan Dawson and Caleb Serong being named in the reigning 22-man side.
Their selections came ahead of fellow squad members Noah Anderson, Tom Green, Jai Newcombe and Jordan De Goey, all of whom will be looking to go a step further last year.
Green and Anderson will be among the first players named in conversations around first-time All-Australians this year, with the pair destined for great things at GWS and Gold Coast respectively.
A full season for De Goey would likely see the Magpies midfielder secure his third All-Australian squad nod at the very least, with suspension and injury setting the tattooed match-winner back in recent seasons.
Not many can say they earned an All-Australian squad spot and were elevated onto a senior list in the same year, but that was the case for Newcombe in 2023, with the gritty Hawks midfield an All-Australian chance given his trajectory in rapid time under Sam Mitchell.
Brisbane's Hugh McCluggage made four successive All-Australian squads prior to last year, often missing out on a wing spot to inside ball winners, while Sydney's Chad Warner also earned a squad nod in 2022.
Richmond's Tim Taranto has never been named in an All-Australian squad despite claiming the Giants' best and fairest honours in a grand final year in 2019 and enjoying a stellar 2023 season after making the move to Punt Road.
Along with Gold Coast's Matt Rowell, Roos gun Luke Davies-Uniacke, Hawk Will Day and Lion Josh Dunkley, Taranto is sure to be among the names looking at a maiden squad selection at the very least.
Bulldog Tim English broke through for his maiden All-Australian selection in 2023, with six of the seven prior seasons seeing the ruck spot go to one of Max Gawn, Brodie Grundy or Nic Naitanui.
English was one of three ruckmen to make the squad last year, earning a spot in the final side ahead of St Kilda's Rowan Marshall and Fremantle recruit Luke Jackson.
Those two will again be fighting for a spot in the side against English this season, while Gawn and Grundy are set to be among the leading names as well after going their separate ways over the off-season.
Marshall has gone from strength to strength each season and had a career-best year under Ross Lyon last season in moving to a sole ruck role.
Jackson doesn't have the same benefit, with the premiership ex-Demon set to split his time with Sean Darcy, another All-Australian contender. Darcy earned his sole squad selection in 2021 and will be looking to create a formidable partnership with Jackson as he too is without an All-Australian blazer.
A player whose value is ten-fold compared to this time last year is GWS big man Kieren Briggs, who was a catalyst in the Giants' successes last season. After starting 2023 out of the selection conversation, Briggs cemented his place as Adam Kingsley's go-to ruckman to become arguably the most improved player in the competition.
Should he remain on his current trajectory, Briggs will be in consideration for the All-Australian squad at the very least in 2024.
Among a dozen forwards we've named as first-time All-Australian chances for 2024, only three have been selected into the initial squad in the past.
West Coast spearhead Oscar Allen and Essendon target Kyle Langford were both named in the 44-man squad last year following breakout seasons, with the duo booting north of 50 goals each.
Allen is primed to progress into one of the great forwards of his generation but is lacking the support around him and constant clean delivery from the middle that can only hurt his case.
Langford's frame as a medium-sized forward could see the Bomber be selected on the flank, in a pocket or even as part of an All-Australian spine should his 2024 campaign be his best yet.
The other forward on our list who has been part of an All-Australian squad before is premiership Demon Bayley Fritsch, who was named in the 2021 and 2022 squads.
A foot injury in the second half of last season prevented Fritsch from amassing his third straight 50-goal season, with the Demons sharpshooter a chance of passing the 60-goal mark this year with a full year under his belt.
Teammate Kysaiah Pickett will be among the small forward contingent looking to land an All-Australian nod for the first time, with the Melbourne livewire to be joined by Adelaide's Izak Rankine, Collingwood recruit Lachlan Schultz and Richmond's Liam Baker in this group.
Rankine kicked 36 goals from 20 games in his first year at the Crows and is sure to better that tally in 2024, while Schultz could be in line for his first sniff at an All-Australian after making the move to the title-defending Magpies.
Baker could be one to benefit from more time in midfield, with selectors known to squeeze midfielders onto a half-forward flank in years gone by.
King brothers Max and Ben are primed to reach new heights in 2024 should they get through their fifth year in the AFL unscathed.
With the Suns looking to break into the finals frame for the first time, Ben King will be the main man in attack for a September-challenging club under new coach Damien Hardwick, who managed to get the most out of premiership duo Tom Lynch and Jack Riewoldt during his time with Richmond.
Max King ranked among the top six for goals per game last year, playing just 11 games for a return of 28 goals. A full season for the Saints spearhead is sure to see King kick over 50 goals for the second time in his career.
An All-Australian smokey that a few might have in mind heading into the new season is St Kilda's Mitch Owens, who grew into a versatile weapon for the Saints last year in King's absence and should benefit from his fellow forward's return and needed attention from the opposition.
Like Baker, with more midfield minutes Owens could earn plenty of plaudits as a utility player that is sure to please All-Australian selectors.
Western Bulldogs pair Aaron Naughton and Jamarra Ugle-Hagan will also be in conversation for tall forward spots in 2024, with the duo just needing to sharpen their goalkicking to break into the next echelon of forward targets in the AFL.