22 Under 22 team

The 22 Under 22 team (stylised as 22under22) is an honorary representative Australian rules football team created by the AFL Players' Association that seeks to recognise the best young talent in the Australian Football League (AFL) competition each year.[1] To be eligible for selection, players must be aged 22 or under for the entire AFL season (including finals). An initial squad of 40 is selected by the AFL Players' Board, before fans select a final team of 22 by voting via social media.[2]

Selection process

The 22 Under 22 team is the only AFL award decided by fans. Supporters were asked to pick their best teams via Facebook, or vote for individual players via Twitter.

The concept proved to be popular amongst AFL players, with many high-profile footballers voting and sharing their teams on social media.[3] Current stars Gary Ablett, Drew Petrie, Brad Sewell, Luke Ball, Andrew Swallow and Isaac Smith all selected sides, as did former players Cameron Mooney, Daniel Harford and Warwick Capper.

Several AFL journalists, including Mick Warner and Warwick Green, also voted and shared their teams.

2012 team

In the lead-up to the first 22 Under 22 team being announced, the AFL Players' Association selected a retrospective side from the 2012 season. Adelaide's Patrick Dangerfield was named captain, while young stars Trent Cotchin, Dayne Beams and Nic Naitanui were amongst those selected.[4]

B Phil Davis (Greater Western Sydney) Daniel Talia (Adelaide) Alex Rance (Richmond)
HB Dyson Heppell (Essendon) Jackson Trengove (Port Adelaide) Callan Ward (Greater Western Sydney)
C Steele Sidebottom (Collingwood) Patrick Dangerfield (Adelaide) Daniel Hannebery (Sydney)
HF David Zaharakis (Essendon) Jack Darling (West Coast) Dustin Martin (Richmond)
F Luke Breust (Hawthorn) Taylor Walker (Adelaide) Steven Motlop (Geelong)
R Nic Naitanui (West Coast) Trent Cotchin (Richmond) Dayne Beams (Collingwood)
I/C Michael Hurley (Essendon) Jack Redden (Brisbane Lions)
Rory Sloane (Adelaide) Jeremy Howe (Melbourne)

2013 team

The inaugural 22 Under 22 team was announced at the 2013 "Be the Influence" AFL Players' MVP Awards on September 10.[5] Essendon midfielder Dyson Heppell was named as the side's captain, with North Melbourne's Jack Ziebell selected as the vice-captain.[6]

Gold Coast had the most players selected of any club, with five Suns being picked in the final team – Jaeger O'Meara, Dion Prestia, Rory Thompson, Tom Nicholls and Trent McKenzie.

Rather than being awarded a medal or trophy, each player selected was presented with a New Era 22 Under 22 cap, designed by former North Melbourne player Daniel Pratt.[7]

B Brandon Ellis (Richmond) Rory Thompson (Gold Coast) Daniel Talia (Adelaide)
HB Steele Sidebottom (Collingwood) Jake Carlisle (Essendon) Trent McKenzie (Gold Coast)
C Nathan Fyfe (Fremantle) Dyson Heppell (Essendon) (c) Daniel Hannebery (Sydney)
HF Dustin Martin (Richmond) Jack Darling (West Coast) Chad Wingard (Port Adelaide)
F Luke Breust (Hawthorn) Jeremy Cameron (Greater Western Sydney) Steven Motlop (Geelong)
R Tom Nicholls (Gold Coast) Jaeger O'Meara (Gold Coast) Tom Liberatore (Western Bulldogs)
I/C Aaron Mullett (North Melbourne) Dion Prestia (Gold Coast)
Jack Ziebell (North Melbourne) (vc) Michael Walters (Fremantle)

2014 team

The 2014 22 Under 22 team was announced at the 2014 AFL Players' MVP Awards on September 9. Essendon midfielder Dyson Heppell was named as the side's captain for the second year in a row, with Hawthorn forward Jack Gunston selected as the vice-captain.[8]

Gold Coast had the most players represented in the side, for the second year in a row, with six representatives – Harley Bennell, Kade Kolodjashnij, Steven May, Trent McKenzie, Dion Prestia, and David Swallow.

B Tom Langdon (Collingwood) Daniel Talia (Adelaide) Trent McKenzie (Gold Coast)
HB Brodie Smith (Adelaide) Steven May (Gold Coast) Kade Kolodjashnij (Gold Coast)
C Luke Parker (Sydney) Dyson Heppell (Essendon) (c) Harley Bennell (Gold Coast)
HF Adam Treloar (Greater Western Sydney) Jack Darling (West Coast) Marcus Bontempelli (Western Bulldogs)
F Chad Wingard (Port Adelaide) Jack Gunston (Hawthorn) (vc) Jamie Elliott (Collingwood)
R Jarrod Witts (Collingwood) Tom Liberatore (Western Bulldogs) Dion Prestia (Gold Coast)
I/C Luke McDonald (North Melbourne) David Swallow (Gold Coast)
Brandon Ellis (Richmond) Jake Carlisle (Essendon)

2015 team

The 2015 22 Under 22 team was announced at the 2015 AFL Players' MVP Awards on September 15. Western Bulldogs forward Jake Stringer was named as the side's captain, with Sydney midfielder Luke Parker selected as the vice-captain.[9]

Greater Western Sydney had the most players represented in the side, with four selections – Jeremy Cameron, Dylan Shiel, Devon Smith, and Adam Treloar.

B Rory Laird (Adelaide) Jack Hombsch (Port Adelaide) Kade Kolodjashnij (Gold Coast)
HB Adam Saad (Gold Coast) Jake Lever (Adelaide) Elliot Yeo (West Coast)
C Lachie Neale (Fremantle) Patrick Cripps (Carlton) Adam Treloar (Greater Western Sydney)
HF Jake Stringer (Western Bulldogs) (c) Jesse Hogan (Melbourne) Luke Parker (Sydney) (vc)
F Chad Wingard (Port Adelaide) Jeremy Cameron (Greater Western Sydney) Tom Lynch (Gold Coast)
R Brodie Grundy (Collingwood) Marcus Bontempelli (Western Bulldogs) Ollie Wines (Port Adelaide)
I/C Tom Langdon (Collingwood) Dylan Shiel (Greater Western Sydney)
Brandon Ellis (Richmond) Devon Smith (Greater Western Sydney)

References

  1. ↑ Rynne, Nick. "Here are 22 reasons future is bright". The West Australian. The West Australian. Retrieved 18 September 2013.
  2. ↑ Baldwin, Adam. "22under22 is here". AFL Players' Official Website. AFL Players' Association. Retrieved 18 September 2013.
  3. ↑ AFL Players'. "AFL Players' Facebook page". AFL Players' Official site. AFL Players' Association. Retrieved 18 September 2013.
  4. ↑ Baldwin, Adam. "22under22 is here". AFL Players' Official site. AFL Players' Association. Retrieved 18 September 2013.
  5. ↑ McInerney, Sam. "2013 22under22 Team Announced". AFL Players' Official Website. AFL Players' Association. Retrieved 18 September 2013.
  6. ↑ Baldwin, Adam. "2013 22under22 Team" (PDF). AFL Players' Official Website. AFL Players' Association. Retrieved 18 September 2013.
  7. ↑ McInerney, Sam. "22under22 team announced". Retrieved 18 September 2013.
  8. ↑ Baldwin, Adam (9 September 2014). "Dyson Heppell named captain of 2014 AFL Players’ Association 22Under22 team". Herald Sun.
  9. ↑ Beveridge, Riley (15 September 2015). "Jake Stringer named captain of the AFLPA’S ‘22under22’ team". Fox Sports Australia (News Corp Australia). Retrieved 15 September 2015.
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