Melbourne, Brisbane and the Western Bulldogs make up more than half of AFL.com.au's best team at the midway point of the 2021 campaign.

Eight journalists across four states voted on the mid-year All-Australian team over the weekend, recognising 13 players who could become potential first-time members at season's end.

Three Bulldogs players feature - skipper Marcus Bontempelli, Jack Macrae and Tom Liberatore.

The ladder-leading Dees have the most mid-year All-Australians with six, while the Lions have four.

There was no room for forward-turned-defender Bailey Dale, who featured in Herald Sun journalist Mark Robinson’s mid-year team alongside the midfield trio.

More than half of the fresh-faced side would be earning their first ever All-Australian blazers, with Melbourne's defensive trio of Jake Lever, Steven May and Christian Salem all tipped to win their maiden spots in the side.

Youngsters like Jacob Weitering, Hugh McCluggage, Darcy Parish and Harry McKay are also included for the first time, as well as more senior heads like Liberatore, Taylor Walker, Daniel Rich, Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti, Ollie Wines and Jarryd Lyons.

Just six players from last year's official 2020 AFL All-Australian side have been tipped to remain in the team this season – Macrae, Bontempelli, Max Gawn, Christian Petracca, Harris Andrews and Tom Hawkins.

Gawn has been named captain, having been voted as the starting ruckman in all eight teams and having successfully skippered an in-form Melbourne side to its blistering 11-1 start to the season.