The Canberra junior was named on the interchange bench after a stellar season where he has helped St Kilda to its first finals series since 2011.

In his fourth season at the club, Steele hailed the influence of first-year coach Brett Ratten.

"That's been a focus off field and on game day, just to become a leader for this young group," Steele said on Friday.

"Ratts [Ratten] came to me about it and it's something I've been working towards. I feel like that weight on my shoulders has definitely helped my performance.

"One part of my game that I just wanted to get better at was just my consistent performance and I feel like I did that this year and I was lucky enough to be rewarded with the honours.

"Going back through the years if you'd have told me I was going to be in the All Australian side I probably wouldn't have believed you. I'm pretty honoured.

"I haven't had a real chance to reflect on it just yet I feel like that'll happen when the season's over with. Now we're looking forward to next week against the Doggies [Western Bulldogs], first final the club's had in nine years."

Steele has played 78 games for the Saints after 17 with the GWS Giants.

Meanwhile, All-Australian selectors have come under fire for their decision to overlook genuine small forwards and wingmen in favour of gun midfielders in the AFL team of the year.

Superstar trio Patrick Dangerfield, Marcus Bontempelli and Dustin Martin were all picked as forwards by a selection panel chaired by AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan, despite spending the majority of their time through the midfield.

Their selection in the front six meant goal sneaks Dan Butler and Tom Papley, who both ranked in the top-10 for goals kicked this season, missed out.

Prolific midfielders Jack Macrae and Cameron Guthrie were named on the wings ahead of initial 40-man squad members Hugh McCluggage and Sam Menegola.

"It's a bloody hard team to pick and even fitting 50 blokes into 40 is a hard job," Macrae said on Friday.

"I'm just glad to be in the 22 and I don't feel too envious of the selectors each year trying to fit everyone in.

"I'm not too sure (how much time I spent on the wing this season), you'd have to ask Champion Data.

"Society is always quick to look at the people that miss out and I always just try to enjoy making the team and leave all the commentary to other people."