The22 Under 22 team (stylised as22under22) is an honorary representativeAustralian rules football team created by theAFL Players' Association that seeks to recognise the best young talent in theAustralian Football League (AFL) andAFL Women's (AFLW) competitions each year.[1] To be eligible for selection, players must be aged 22 or under for the entire 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]
The 22 Under 22 team is the only AFL award decided by fans. Supporters were asked to pick their best teams viaFacebook, or vote for individual players viaTwitter.
The concept proved to be popular amongst AFL players, with many high-profile footballers voting and sharing their teams on social media.[3] Current starsGary Ablett,Drew Petrie,Brad Sewell,Luke Ball,Andrew Swallow andIsaac Smith all selected sides, as did former playersCameron Mooney,Daniel Harford andWarwick Capper.
Several AFL journalists, including Mick Warner and Warwick Green, also voted and shared their teams.
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'sPatrick Dangerfield was named captain, while young starsTrent Cotchin,Dayne Beams andNic Naitanui were amongst those selected.[4]
The inaugural 22 Under 22 team was announced at the 2013 "Be the Influence" AFL Players'MVP Awards on 10 September.[5]Essendon midfielderDyson Heppell was named as the side's captain, withNorth Melbourne'sJack 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 andTrent McKenzie.
Rather than being awarded a medal or trophy, each player selected was presented with aNew Era 22 Under 22 cap, designed by former North Melbourne playerDaniel Pratt.[7]
The 2014 22 Under 22 team was announced at the 2014AFL Players Association awards on 9 September.Essendon midfielderDyson Heppell was named as the side's captain for the second year in a row, withHawthorn forwardJack 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, andDavid Swallow.
The 2015 22 Under 22 team was announced at the 2015AFL Players Association awards on 15 September.Western Bulldogs forwardJake Stringer was named as the side's captain, withSydney midfielderLuke 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, andAdam Treloar.
The 2016 22 Under 22 team was announced on 13 September.Western Bulldogs midfielderMarcus Bontempelli was named as the side's captain, withEssendon midfielderZach Merrett selected as the vice-captain.[10]
The 2017 22 Under 22 team was announced on 12 September.Western Bulldogs midfielderMarcus Bontempelli was named as the side's captain for the second consecutive season, withEssendon midfielderZach Merrett selected as the vice-captain also for the second consecutive season.[11]
The 2018 22 Under 22 team was announced on 30 August.Western Bulldogs midfielderMarcus Bontempelli was named as the side's captain for the third consecutive season, withMelbourne midfielderClayton Oliver selected as the vice-captain.[12]
The 2019 22 Under 22 team was announced on 29 August.Brisbane Lions key defenderHarris Andrews was named as the side's captain, withWestern Bulldogs midfielderJosh Dunkley selected as the vice-captain.[13]
The 2020 22 Under 22 team was announced on 22 September.Essendon midfielderAndrew McGrath was named as the side's captain, withCarlton key defenderJacob Weitering selected as the vice-captain.[14]
The 2021 22 Under 22 team was announced on 26 August.Carlton midfielderSam Walsh was named as the side's captain, withFremantle midfielderAndrew Brayshaw selected as the vice-captain.[15]
The 2022 22 Under 22 team was announced on 23 August.Fremantle midfielderAndrew Brayshaw was named as the side's captain, withCarlton midfielderSam Walsh selected as the vice-captain.[16]
The 2023 22 Under 22 team was announced on 23 August.Collingwood midfielderNick Daicos was named as the side's captain, withHawthorn midfielderJai Newcombe selected as the vice-captain.[17]
The 2024 22 Under 22 team was announced on 22 August.Collingwood midfielderNick Daicos was named as the side's captain for the second year running, withNorth Melbourne midfielderHarry Sheezel selected as the vice-captain.[18]
The 2025 22 Under 22 team was announced on 20 August.Collingwood midfielderNick Daicos was named as the side's captain for the third year running, withSt Kilda defenderNasiah Wanganeen-Milera selected as the vice-captain.[19]
| Selections | Player | Seasons |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Marcus Bontempelli | 2014, 2015, 2016 (c), 2017 (c), 2018 (c) |
| 4 | Andrew McGrath | 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 (c) |
| Aaron Naughton | 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 | |
| Nick Daicos | 2022, 2023 (c), 2024 (c), 2025 (c) | |
| Bailey Smith | 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 | |
| Luke Jackson | 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 | |
| 3 | Jack Darling | 2012, 2013, 2014 |
| Daniel Talia | 2012, 2013, 2014 | |
| Chad Wingard | 2013, 2014, 2015 | |
| Jake Lever | 2015, 2016, 2017 | |
| Ollie Wines | 2015, 2016, 2017 | |
| Isaac Heeney | 2016, 2017, 2018 | |
| Zach Merrett | 2016 (vc), 2017 (vc), 2018 | |
| Harris Andrews | 2017, 2018, 2019 (c) | |
| Callum Mills | 2016, 2017, 2019 | |
| Clayton Oliver | 2017, 2018 (vc), 2019 | |
| Jacob Weitering | 2016, 2019, 2020 (vc) | |
| Andrew Brayshaw | 2020, 2021 (vc), 2022 (c) | |
| Adam Cerra | 2020, 2021, 2022 | |
| Max King | 2020, 2021, 2022 | |
| Kysaiah Pickett | 2021, 2022, 2023 | |
| Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera | 2023, 2024, 2025 (vc) | |
| Harry Sheezel | 2023, 2024, 2025 | |
| Josh Rachele | 2023, 2024, 2025 |
No AFLW 22 Under 22 teams were awarded in the 2017 to 2019 seasons. On March 24 the AFLPA announced a retrospective team covering those three seasons.[20]
The 2020 AFLW 22 Under 22 team was announced on 20 April.Collingwood defenderChloe Molloy was named as the side's captain, withCarlton midfielderMaddy Prespakis selected as the vice-captain.[21]
The 2021 AFLW 22 Under 22 team was announced on 20 April.Collingwood defenderChloe Molloy was named as the side's captain for the second consecutive year, withCarlton midfielderMaddy Prespakis once more selected as the vice-captain.[22]
The 2022 (S6) AFLW 22 Under 22 team was announced on 29 March.Richmond midfielderMonique Conti was named as the side's captain, withCarlton midfielderMaddy Prespakis once more selected as the vice-captain.[23]
The 2022 (S7) AFLW 22 Under 22 team was announced on 22 November.Richmond midfielderMonique Conti andEssendon midfielderMaddy Prespakis were once again named as the side's captain and vice-captain.[24][25]
The 2023 AFLW 22 Under 22 team was announced on 22 November.Gold Coast midfielderCharlie Rowbottom was named the side's captain, withGeelong midfielderGeorgie Prespakis named the side's vice-captain.[26]
The 2024 AFLW 22 Under 22 team was announced on 20 November.Georgie Prespakis andCharlie Rowbottom, captain and vice-captain respectively, became the fourth and fifth players to be selected in four or more squads.Port Adelaide had the most representatives (four) and three 22under22 debutants.[27]
The 2025 AFLW 22 under 22 team was announced on 12 November. Excluding the retrospective selections of 2017–2019,Georgie Prespakis andCharlie Rowbottom became the first female players to be selected in five squads, joiningMarcus Bontempelli as the only three players to achieve the feat.West Coast had the most representatives in the final team with four, whilePort Adelaide had six players in the extended squad.[28]
| Selections | Player | Seasons |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Monique Conti | 2017–2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 (S6) (c), 2022 (S7) (c) |
| Georgie Prespakis | 2022 (S6), 2022 (S7), 2023 (vc), 2024 (c), 2025 (vc) | |
| Maddy Prespakis | 2017–2019, 2020 (vc), 2021 (vc), 2022 (S6) (vc), 2022 (S7) (vc) | |
| Charlie Rowbottom | 2022 (S6), 2022 (S7), 2023 (c), 2024 (vc), 2025 (c) | |
| 4 | Alyce Parker | 2017–2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 (S6) |
| 3 | Jordyn Allen | 2021, 2022 (S6), 2022 (S7) |
| Eleanor Brown | 2021, 2022 (S6), 2022 (S7) | |
| Tarni Evans | 2022 (S7), 2023, 2024 | |
| Jasmine Fleming | 2022 (S7), 2024, 2025 | |
| Georgia Gee | 2020, 2021, 2022 (S6) | |
| Zarlie Goldsworthy | 2023, 2024, 2025 | |
| Nat Grider | 2021, 2022 (S6), 2022 (S7) | |
| Chloe Molloy | 2017–2019, 2020 (c), 2021 (c) | |
| Nina Morrison | 2020, 2022 (S7), 2023 | |
| Emma O'Driscoll | 2021, 2022 (S6), 2022 (S7) | |
| Danielle Ponter | 2017–2019, 2022 (S6), 2022 (S7) | |
| Ella Roberts | 2023, 2024, 2025 | |
| Matilda Scholz | 2023, 2024, 2025 | |
| Jesse Wardlaw | 2020, 2022 (S6), 2022 (S7) |