The All-Australian team is (usually) comprised of the best 22 players each season. With a league littered with stars, every season a few unlucky players are left off the list. While not all snubs are as egregious as Brownlow Medal-winning pait Shane Woewoden and Matthew Priddis, there are some excellent performances that have been left out of the team.

Some players are disappointed for missing out on one standout season. While others have had a whole career of missing the cut for the All-Australian team.

We take a look at six players who have had exceptional careers, filled with accomplishments and accolades, and despite those careers, only one thing has eluded them... an All-Australian selection.

2. Mark Blicavs

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 08: Mark Blicavs of the Cats celebrates a goal during the round 16 AFL match between the Brisbane Lions and the Geelong Cats at The Gabba on July 8, 2017, in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

The Geelong utility made his way to football in an unconventional manner. Blicavs just fell short of qualifying for the 2012 Summer Olympics, and was eventually taken by the Cats in the 2012 rookie draft.

Since being drafted, Blicavs has played at least 20 games in every season, proving to be a reliable and versatile player throughout his career. Blicavs started his career off slowly. In 2013, he broke onto the scene dominating in defence, on the wing and in the ruck.

Winning two club best and fairest in 2015 and 2018, he has been an excellent player for the Cats. Internally in those two seasons, Blicavs edged out Patrick Dangerfield and Tom Stewart, who both made the All-Australian team, despite finishing second and seventh respectively.

While it is one of the factors that makes him such a good player, that versatility has often cost him from the selection. It has resulted in him not spending enough time in a single position to warrant All-Australian selection.

AFL Rd 9 - West Coast v Geelong
PERTH, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 01: Mark Blicavs of the Cats and Nic Naitanui of the Eagles contest the ruck during the round nine AFL match between West Coast Eagles and the Geelong Cats at Optus Stadium on August 01, 2020 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

The other factor is the improvements of players around the league, with competition for All-Australian selection becoming increasingly difficult.

In defence, he now has to compete with Steven May, Jake Lever, Aliir Aliir, Jacob Weitering and Harris Andrews for one of the lockdown defendersโ€™ spots. The rise of Tom Stewart has also taken away some of the limelight from Blicavs, who is now not the team's most important defender.

In the ruck, Max Gawn and Nic Naitanui are difficult to displace from an All-Australian position if healthy. Just behind them are Brodie Grundy and Sean Darcy, who are also capable of playing at an elite level.

Along the wing, there is similar stiff competition. ย Paul Seedsman, Hugh McCluggage, Zach Merrett, Sam Walsh and Karl Amon all made the All-Australian squad and are all primed for improved seasons in the upcoming years.

Not spending enough time in any of those positions will result in Blicavs not getting earning genuine consideration.

Turning 31 in the opening few rounds of the season, time is starting to run out for Blicavs. While he still has the talent of All-Australian selection, competition and his versatility will likely cost him from making the team before his career is over.