An All-Australian selector has revealed the toughest selection made ahead of Thursday night’s confirmation of the 2024 side, noting the ‘hours’ of back-and-forth.

Kane Cornes shared the 50-50 choice he found most difficult to make — and it was a contentious point of debate after the team’s unveiling.

Carlton key defender Jacob Weitering earned his maiden All-Australian nod following a season that saw him post a staggeringly low defensive one-on-one loss percentage of just 11.3 — the stingiest 2024 figure among key defenders.

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However, some pundits believed the spot in the side should have been awarded to Brisbane co-captain Harris Andrews.

Speaking on SEN Breakfast on Friday morning, Cornes detailed the difficulty behind the decision.

“The discussion around Andrews and Weitering is certainly one that we went in depth (on) and spent hours (trying to decide).

“That was the hardest one, Andrews versus Weitering, and largely pretty similar in every aspect.

“It was a collective decision that we went with Jacob Weitering, but I can understand that (questioning of the decision).”

Alongside the Blues’ dependable stopper, long-time West Coast star Jeremy McGovern donned his fifth All-Australian blazer — with Cornes asserting the Eagle’s selection shouldn’t be questioned — and Fremantle’s Luke Ryan, who was a 2020 All-Australian.

“I think that would have been the wrong decision,” the 300-game Port Adelaide great said of potentially leaving McGovern out.

The West Coast veteran averaged 3.2 intercept marks in 2024, ranking sixth among key defenders for the season.

“So, the Weitering-Andrews one was a tough one, and Harris is incredibly unlucky, let me just say that,” Cornes concluded.

Without disregarding Weitering’s stellar campaign, Andrews’ efforts certainly deserve recognition — the 27-year-old notched 3.9 intercept marks per game this year, which was best among key defenders.

Andrews’ 2.0 contested marks were also league-best among key-position stoppers, while his one-on-one loss percentage of 14.1 sat just four spots behind Weitering.

Among the other notable snubs from Thursday night were Carlton forward Charlie Curnow, Essendon captain Zach Merrett, North Melbourne pair Harry Sheezel and Tristan Xerri, and Hawthorn duo James Sicily and Massimo D’Ambrosio.

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