PRIOR to 2025, Tyla Hanks had been named in the All-Australian squad three times, so when a fourth selection came around, the Melbourne midfielder thought “I’ll just make the squad again.”
But after an individual campaign that saw her put up career-best numbers and performances, her named was ready to be etched into an All Australian jacket.
It was announced during Monday night’s W Awards that Hanks, alongside teammates Kate Hore and Maeve Chaplin, had officially been named in the All-Australian team for the first time.
“Mick [Stinear] had actually Facetimed Maeve, Kate and I in the morning, before the awards, so that was pretty cool to find out that it’d actually happened,” Hanks said.
“It’s really nice recognition and [to see Kate and Maeve selected] was really special.
“We'd actually done a lot of training in the off-season together, I’m lucky that I live near Kate, so we did a lot of running and a lot of sessions together.
“Then for Kate to get the All Australia vice-captain as well, that was really nice to see.”
Although this selection felt like a long time coming, Hanks is no stranger to accolades and has been the recipient of many starting from as early as 2017.
Throughout her junior career she was named in the 2017 and 2018 U18 Championship All Australian team, in addition to the 2018 TAC Cup Girls Team of the Year.
At the end of 2018, she was drafted to the Dees with pick No.6 and then just a few years later was named the 2021 Rising Star, while making the All-Australian squad.
Add another two squad selections and an All Australian jacket and you’ve got a midfielder who’s well and truly made a name for herself in the AFLW world.
All this and Hanks is only 25, meaning there’s plenty more of her best footy ahead of her.
“I think I was a bit more consistent this year,” Hanks said when asked about her step up in 2025.
“It was sad seeing [Liv Purcell] go down earlier in the year because we felt like we’d built a really good connection, and our midfield numbers were up more than they had been.
"Then obviously the team playing a lot better this year was a lot better for us. Those All Australian selections, the three of us aren't up there without the team."
While she’s quite a reserved person from the outside looking in, Hanks is laser focused on her footy, her development and how the team can get better.
Taking on more responsibility in the last few seasons, both in her on-field role and as vice-captain, Hanks is learning more and more about how her mindset can help shape her performance.
“It's something that evolves every year, you think you’ve figured it all out and then something else pops up,” Hanks said.
“I learn a lot from her, especially being a lot closer with her this year, that's helped me a lot.
“I’m just trying to be consistent, and play well or at least just play my role, that gives me a good platform to then lead.
“When you're not playing your role, it's hard to then hold standards and demand more of other people, so week to week, I want to make sure that I'm ticking off all the things that I need to.
“That gives me a lot of confidence to perform well and then be a good leader.”
Hanks' All Australian selection came as bittersweet news, the announcement just two days after Melbourne’s season-ending loss to North Melbourne in the preliminary final.
While it was a devastating end to strong campaign for the Dees, their competitive edge during the match was something both the team and the fans hold faith in for 2026.
“I’m really proud of the game we played on the weekend against North Melbourne,” Hanks said.
"Throughout the year, we had plenty of challenges with losses to Fremantle, Port Adelaide, Brisbane and a tough game against Collingwood, it wasn't a perfect year...I think a lot of growth will come out of that.
"The Adelaide final showed us what our youth can do and we feel a lot stronger now that those players have stood up.
"I think it gives us a lot of confidence…and losing closely like that in a prelim, it makes you really know that you can be there and we know we'd like to be there again next year.”
