In the wake of the AFLPA announcing this season's 22under22 squad, former AFL greats Garry Lyon, Tim Watson and Nick Dal Santo have listed their best 10 players in the competition under the age of 22.
The 40-man 22under22 squad is chosen by the AFLPA board before fans vote for the final team.
“There’s quality in every position and, given the impact some of these players are already having on the competition, it’s hard to believe they are still in the infancy of their careers,” former Fremantle champion and now AFLPA president Matthew Pavlich said.
“This concept gives us the opportunity to recognise the young players across the competition who are the next generation of stars.”
Western Bulldogs star Marcus Bontempelli was named captain of last year's team, whiel teammate Jake Stringer skippered the team in 2015.
Tim’s Top 10 Players Under 22...
- Marcus Bontempelli (Western Bulldogs)
- Josh Kelly (Greater Western Sydney)
- Zach Merrett (Essendon)
- Clayton Oliver (Melbourne)
- Patrick Cripps (Carlton)
- Jake Lever (Adelaide)
- Isaac Heeney (Sydney)
- Matt Crouch (Adelaide)
- Jack Billings (St Kilda)
- Charlie Curnow (Carlton)
Gaz’s Top 10 Players Under 22...
- Marcus Bontempelli (Western Bulldogs)
- Josh Kelly (Greater Western Sydney)
- Isaac Heeney (Sydney)
- Clayton Oliver (Melbourne)
- Matt Crouch (Adelaide)
- Patrick Cripps (Carlton)
- Jake Lever (Adelaide)
- Callum Mills (Sydney)
- Zach Merrett (Essendon)
- Charlie Curnow (Carlton)
Dal’s Top 10 Players Under 22...
- Josh Kelly (Greater Western Sydney)
- Marcus Bontempelli (Western Bulldogs)
- Zach Merrett (Essendon)
- Isaac Heeney (Sydney)
- Clayton Oliver (Melbourne)
- Patrick Cripps (Carlton)
- Ollie Wines (Port Adelaide)
- Jake Lever (Adelaide)
- Jack Billings (St Kilda)
- Eric Hipwood (Brisbane)
AFLPA’S 40-MAN 22Under22 Squad
DEFENDERS: Jake Lever (Adelaide), Harris Andrews (Brisbane), Oscar McDonald (Melbourne), Jayden Hunt (Melbourne), Callum Mills (Sydney), Ryan Burton (Hawthorn), Andrew McGrath (Essendon), James Sicily (Hawthorn), Connor Blakely (Fremantle), Luke McDonald (North Melbourne), Tom Barrass (West Coast).
FORWARDS: Orazio Fantasia (Essendon), Jack Billings (St Kilda), Lewis Taylor (Brisbane), Jack Martin (Gold Coast), Dan Butler (Richmond), Peter Wright (Gold Coast/DP), Charlie Curnow (Carlton), Darcy Moore (Collingwood), Eric Hipwood (Brisbane), Daniel Rioli (Richmond), Tom Papley (Sydney), Cam McCarthy (Fremantle).
MIDFIELDERS: Marcus Bontempelli (Western Bulldogs), Zach Merrett (Essendon), Patrick Cripps (Carlton), Isaac Heeney (Sydney), Christian Petracca (Melbourne), Ollie Wines (Port Adelaide), Clayton Oliver (Melbourne), Josh Kelly (GWS Giants), Matt Crouch (Adelaide), Jack Sinclair (St Kilda), Jack Steele (St Kilda), Zak Jones (Sydney), Caleb Daniel (Western Bulldogs), Dom Sheed (West Coast), Lachie Hunter (Western Bulldogs), Toby McLean (Western Bulldogs).
RUCKS: Peter Wright (Gold Coast), Sean Darcy (Fremantle)
To be eligible players must be 22 or under for the entire 2017 season