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) and AFL Women's (AFLW) competitions each year. 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.
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. Current stars Gary Ablett Jr., 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.
AFL teams 2012 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.
B Phil Davis () Daniel Talia () Alex Rance () HB Dyson Heppell () Jackson Trengove () Callan Ward () C Steele Sidebottom () Patrick Dangerfield () (c) Dan Hannebery () HF David Zaharakis () Jack Darling () Dustin Martin () F Luke Breust () Taylor Walker () Steven Motlop () R Nic Naitanui () Trent Cotchin () Dayne Beams () I/C Michael Hurley () Jack Redden () Rory Sloane () Jeremy Howe ()
2013 The inaugural 22 Under 22 team was announced at the 2013 "Be the Influence" AFL Players' MVP Awards on 10 September. Essendon midfielder Dyson Heppell was named as the side's captain, with North Melbourne's Jack Ziebell selected as the vice-captain.
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.
B Brandon Ellis () Rory Thompson () Daniel Talia () HB Steele Sidebottom () Jake Carlisle () Trent McKenzie () C Nat Fyfe () Dyson Heppell () (c) Dan Hannebery () HF Dustin Martin () Jack Darling () Chad Wingard () F Luke Breust () Jeremy Cameron () Steven Motlop () R Tom Nicholls () Jaeger O'Meara () Tom Liberatore () I/C Aaron Mullett () Dion Prestia () Jack Ziebell () (vc) Michael Walters ()
2014 The 2014 22 Under 22 team was announced at the 2014 AFL Players Association awards on 9 September. midfielder Dyson Heppell was named as the side's captain for the second year in a row, with forward Jack Gunston selected as the vice-captain.
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 () Daniel Talia () Trent McKenzie () HB Brodie Smith () Steven May () Kade Kolodjashnij () C Luke Parker () Dyson Heppell () (c) Harley Bennell () HF Adam Treloar () Jack Darling () Marcus Bontempelli () F Chad Wingard () Jack Gunston () (vc) Jamie Elliott () R Jarrod Witts () Tom Liberatore () Dion Prestia () I/C Luke McDonald () David Swallow () Brandon Ellis () Jake Carlisle ()
2015 The 2015 22 Under 22 team was announced at the 2015 AFL Players Association awards on 15 September. forward Jake Stringer was named as the side's captain, with midfielder Luke Parker selected as the vice-captain.
had the most players represented in the side, with four selections – Jeremy Cameron, Dylan Shiel, Devon Smith, and Adam Treloar.
B Rory Laird () Jack Hombsch () Kade Kolodjashnij () HB Adam Saad () Jake Lever () Elliot Yeo () C Lachie Neale () Patrick Cripps () Adam Treloar () HF Jake Stringer () (c) Jesse Hogan () Luke Parker () (vc) F Chad Wingard () Jeremy Cameron () Tom Lynch () R Brodie Grundy () Marcus Bontempelli () Ollie Wines () I/C Tom Langdon () Dylan Shiel () Brandon Ellis () Devon Smith ()
2016 The 2016 22 Under 22 team was announced on 13 September. midfielder Marcus Bontempelli was named as the side's captain, with midfielder Zach Merrett selected as the vice-captain.
B Rory Laird () Jacob Weitering () Sam Docherty () HB Callum Mills () Jake Lever () Zac Williams () C Zach Merrett () (vc) Patrick Cripps () Stephen Coniglio () HF Isaac Heeney () Jesse Hogan () Christian Petracca () F Jake Stringer () Joe Daniher () Darcy Moore () R Brodie Grundy () Marcus Bontempelli () (c) Jack Viney () I/C Jack Martin () Tim Membrey () Ollie Wines () Lachie Hunter ()
2017 The 2017 22 Under 22 team was announced on 12 September. midfielder Marcus Bontempelli was named as the side's captain for the second consecutive season, with midfielder Zach Merrett selected as the vice-captain also for the second consecutive season.
B Andrew McGrath () Harris Andrews () Callum Mills () HB Jayden Hunt () Jake Lever () Ryan Burton () C Marcus Bontempelli () (c) Clayton Oliver () Josh Kelly () HF Jack Billings () Charlie Curnow () Jack Martin () F Orazio Fantasia () Eric Hipwood () Tom Papley () R Peter Wright () Zach Merrett () (vc) Matt Crouch () I/C James Sicily () Isaac Heeney () Ollie Wines () Daniel Rioli ()
2018 The 2018 22 Under 22 team was announced on 30 August. midfielder Marcus Bontempelli was named as the side's captain for the third consecutive season, with midfielder Clayton Oliver selected as the vice-captain.
B Alex Witherden () Harris Andrews () Andrew McGrath () HB Conor McKenna () Tom Doedee () Jayden Short () C Angus Brayshaw () Clayton Oliver () (vc) Isaac Heeney () HF Jade Gresham () Charlie Curnow () Jordan De Goey () F Ben Ronke () Eric Hipwood () Jaidyn Stephenson () R Sean Darcy () Marcus Bontempelli () (c) Zach Merrett () I/C Ed Langdon () Christian Petracca () Tom Phillips () Dan Butler ()
2019 The 2019 22 Under 22 team was announced on 29 August. key defender Harris Andrews was named as the side's captain, with midfielder Josh Dunkley selected as the vice-captain.
B Sydney Stack () Harris Andrews () (c) Callum Mills () HB Alex Witherden () Jacob Weitering () Dan Houston () C Hugh McCluggage () Clayton Oliver () Sam Walsh () HF Connor Rozee () Eric Hipwood () Liam Ryan () F Jade Gresham () Aaron Naughton () Harry McKay () R Tim English () Tim Taranto () Josh Dunkley () (vc) I/C Wayne Milera () James Worpel () Andrew McGrath () Cameron Zurhaar ()
2020 The 2020 22 Under 22 team was announced on 22 September. midfielder Andrew McGrath was named as the side's captain, with key defender Jacob Weitering selected as the vice-captain.
B Jack Lukosius () Jacob Weitering () (vc) Jordan Ridley () HB Hunter Clark () Noah Balta () Liam Baker () C Hugh McCluggage () Andrew McGrath () (c) Sam Walsh () HF Zak Butters () Aaron Naughton () Gryan Miers () F Izak Rankine () Max King () Josh Daicos () R Sean Darcy () Bailey Smith () Tim Taranto () I/C Nick Coffield () Andrew Brayshaw () Adam Cerra () Ben King ()
2021 The 2021 22 Under 22 team was announced on 26 August. midfielder Sam Walsh was named as the side's captain, with midfielder Andrew Brayshaw selected as the vice-captain.
B Brandon Starcevich () Sam Taylor () Wil Powell () HB Changkuoth Jiath () Jordan Ridley () Isaac Quaynor () C Bailey Smith () Sam Walsh () (c) Jack Lukosius () HF Shai Bolton () Aaron Naughton () Zac Bailey () F Kysaiah Pickett () Ben King () Max King () R Luke Jackson () Andrew Brayshaw () (vc) Adam Cerra () I/C Jaidyn Stephenson () Oscar Allen () Tom McCartin () Trent Rivers ()
2022 The 2022 22 Under 22 team was announced on 23 August. midfielder Andrew Brayshaw was named as the side's captain, with midfielder Sam Walsh selected as the vice-captain.
B Hayden Young () Sam De Koning () Nick Blakey () HB Nick Daicos () Tom McCartin () Jordan Clark () C Noah Anderson () Andrew Brayshaw () (c) Adam Cerra () HF Connor Rozee () Aaron Naughton () Jack Ginnivan () F Kysaiah Pickett () Max King () Izak Rankine () R Luke Jackson () Sam Walsh () (vc) Bailey Smith () I/C Chad Warner () Caleb Serong () Isaac Quaynor () Keidean Coleman ()
2023 The 2023 22 Under 22 team was announced on 23 August. midfielder Nick Daicos was named as the side's captain, with midfielder Jai Newcombe selected as the vice-captain.
B Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera () Sam De Koning () Miles Bergman () HB Nick Daicos () (c) Hayden Young () Harry Sheezel () C Errol Gulden () Caleb Serong () Will Ashcroft () HF Mitch Owens () Jamarra Ugle-Hagan () Cody Weightman () F Kysaiah Pickett () Jye Amiss () Josh Rachele () R Luke Jackson () Tom Green () Jai Newcombe () (vc) I/C Bailey Smith () Chad Warner () Will Day () Noah Anderson ()
2024 The 2024 22 Under 22 team was announced on 22 August. midfielder Nick Daicos was named as the side's captain for the second year running, with midfielder Harry Sheezel selected as the vice-captain.
B Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera () Mac Andrew () Darcy Wilmot () HB Max Holmes () Josh Weddle () Colby McKercher () C Errol Gulden () Harley Reid () Jason Horne-Francis () HF Jack Ginnivan () Sam Darcy () Oliver Dempsey () F Josh Treacy () Jamarra Ugle-Hagan () Jye Amiss () R Luke Jackson () Harry Sheezel () (vc) Nick Daicos () (c) I/C Massimo D'Ambrosio () George Wardlaw () Josh Rachele () Josh Draper () 2025 The 2025 22 Under 22 team was announced on 20 August. midfielder Nick Daicos was named as the side's captain for the third year running, with defender Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera selected as the vice-captain.
B Max Michalanney () Mac Andrew () Darcy Wilmot () HB Jaspa Fletcher () Josh Weddle () Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera () (vc) C Harry Sheezel () Harley Reid () Finn Callaghan () HF Josh Rachele () Logan Morris () Jason Horne-Francis () F Murphy Reid () Aaron Cadman () Nate Caddy () R Sam Darcy () Will Ashcroft () Nick Daicos () (c) I/C Oliver Dempsey () Levi Ashcroft () Dan Curtin () Nick Watson () 2026 The 2026 22 Under 22 team was announced on 19 August. midfielder Harry Sheezel was named as the side's captain, with midfielder Will Ashcroft selected as the vice-captain.
B Josh Weddle () Harry Dean () Darcy Wilmot () HB Connor O'Sullivan () Reuben Ginbey () Jaspa Fletcher () C Murphy Reid () Will Ashcroft () (vc) Jagga Smith () HF Darcy Wilson () Aaron Cadman () Colby McKercher () F Nick Watson () Logan Morris () Nate Caddy () R Cooper Trembath () Harry Sheezel () (c) Harley Reid () I/C Mac Andrew () Willem Duursma () Archie Roberts () Ryley Sanders ()
Most selections Selections Player Seasons 5 2014, 2015, 2016 (c), 2017 (c), 2018 (c) 4 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 (c) 2019, 2020, 2021 (c), 2022 (vc) 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 2022, 2023 (c), 2024 (c), 2025 (c) 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 2023, 2024, 2025 2026 (c) 3 2012, 2013, 2014 2012, 2013, 2014 2013, 2014, 2015 2015, 2016, 2017 2015, 2016, 2017 2016, 2017, 2018 2016 (vc), 2017 (vc), 2018 2017, 2018, 2019 (c) 2016, 2017, 2019 2017, 2018 (vc), 2019 2017, 2018, 2019 2016, 2019, 2020 (vc) 2020, 2021 (vc), 2022 (c) 2020, 2021, 2022 2020, 2021, 2022 2021, 2022, 2023 2023, 2024, 2025 (vc) 2023, 2024, 2025 2023, 2025, 2026 (vc) 2024, 2025, 2026 2024, 2025, 2026 2024, 2025, 2026 2024, 2025, 2026
AFLW teams 2017–2019 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.