Hurn “disrespected” by All-Australian selectors: King

Former Kangaroos great David King believes West Coast premiership captain Shannon Hurn was "disrespected" after Nat Fyfe was named captain of the All-Australian team.

Hurn missed out on a leadership role in the 2018 side to Lance Franklin and Patrick Dangerfield, but after leading the Eagles to a flag and earning another All-Australian selection, he was the hot favourite to take the role of skipper in this year's team.

But instead it was Fyfe who was given the captaincy, with Hurn, who was absent from the ceremony due to prior commitments, handed the vice-captaincy.

King was disappointed in the selection, saying that Fyfe was chosen because of his superstar reputation, while Hurn was more deserving.

“If we’re just going to give it to the best player, let’s call it that,” he said on Fox Footy.

“To, in my opinion, disrespect Shannon Hurn and what he’s done the last 12 months, whether it be Rounds 1 to 23 this year playing with absolute excellence, or what he did last finals campaign which we haven’t touched on, to take a club like that, a strong club, to be that leader of the West Australian contingent. What’s he done wrong?

“I just think that you have to acknowledge what’s happened the previous year a little bit through the finals.”

Former Carlton captain agreed with King during Fox Footy's coverage on Wednesday night, saying Hurn's snub was disrespectful to the club and the player.

“He’s a premiership captain, and Nat Fyfe is not. He’s miles away from that, haven’t made the finals, they’re miles away from it,” he said.

“West Coast is disrespected. They won the premiership. He’s the captain. He’s in the side. Why couldn’t he captain this?”

West Coast defender Will Schofield was also bemused by the decision, posting "Lol" on Twitter after the announcement of Fyfe as skipper.