Career-best seasons by Seb Ross and Dylan Roberton have propelled them into the All-Australian 40-man squad, but will they make the final 22 when the team is announced on Wednesday night?

Ross, 23, is one of 14 midfielders in the squad, including reigning Brownlow medallist, Patrick Dangerfield, and this year’s raging favourite, Dustin Martin, who are considered automatic selections.

After producing a breakout season in 2016, Ross rose to another level in 2017, establishing himself amongst the upper echelon of midfielders in the competition and emerging as one of the favourites for this year’s Trevor Barker Award.

Ball magnets Tom Mitchell – who broke the record for most disposals in a home and away season this year – and Matt Crouch have also been nominated for the first time in their short careers, along with three Giants, Josh Kelly, Tom Scully and Dylan Shiel, who are fighting for their first All-Australian berth.

Geelong skipper Joel Selwood, Essendon young gun Zach Merrett, Brisbane goal kicking midfielder Dayne Zorko, Collingwood game breaker Adam Treloar, Sydney captain Josh Kennedy and Western Bulldogs premiership star Marcus Bontempelli are the other midfielders in the squad.

While Ross is facing an imposing challenge to be included in the final 22, Roberton is facing an equally difficult task to find a spot in the back six.

The 26-year-old is one of six players in contention for a spot at half-back or in a back pocket, with Carlton’s Sam Docherty, Collingwood’s Jeremy Howe, West Coast’s Elliot Yeo and Melbourne pair Michael Hibberd and Neville Jetta in the squad.

The former Docker burst out of the blocks in the first half of the season, amassing 25 or more touches in seven of the first 11 games.

Roberton wasn’t quite as consistent in the back end of the year, but still produced a handful of impressive performances, providing plenty of drive out of the back half.

The final team will be announced on Wednesday night and selected around the guideline of selecting the best team to perform in a match.

The Numbers:

Seb Ross: 22 games, 29.9 disposals (No. 9), 9.8 contested possessions, 5.1 clearances, 4.3 tackles, 4.0 inside 50s.

Dylan Roberton: 22 games, 23.1 disposals, 464.2 metres gained (No. 18), 6.2 marks, 5.6 rebound 50s.