Defenders Rory Laird and Jake Lever have earned back-to-back selections in the 22Under22 team.
An AFL-high seven Adelaide players were selected in the squad of 50: Laird and Lever, midfielders Matt Crouch, Rory Atkins and Brad Crouch, and forwards Mitch McGovern and Charlie Cameron.
Laird and Lever, who were both named in last year’s 22Under22 team, were recognised again this season following a fan vote.
Laird, 22, has built on a breakout 2015 season.
The courageous and creative small defender was selected in the All Australian squad of 40 for the second-consecutive season despite missing five matches through injury. He’s averaging a career-high 27.4 possessions, including 7.7 intercept possessions – ranked top 10 in the AFL.
Lever, 20, has played every game in only his second season at the Club. The composed key-defender ranked equal-fifth in the AFL for intercept marks in the home and away season, and is averaging 16.2 possessions.
The Crows pair joined budding Carlton star Patrick Cripps, 2015 Rising Star Jesse Hogan, Western Bulldogs forward Jake Stringer and Port Adelaide midfielder Ollie Wines in being selected in the 22Under22 team for a second straight year.
Bulldog Marcus Bontempelli, who was named captain of the side, has been included for a third time. Richmond wingman Brandon Ellis and Power goalkicker Chad Wingard are the only other players to have achieved this feat.
Rising Star winner Callum Mills and No.1 draft pick Jacob Weitering are the only first-year players included in the team.
Eleven clubs had at least representative in the team. The Blues, Bulldogs and Melbourne led the way with three players selected in the 22.
The 22Under22 squad is selected by the AFL Players’ Association Board with the final team decided by fans. To be eligible for the squad players must be 22 or under for the length of the AFL season including finals.
Now in its fourth year, 22Under22 is the industry’s only recognised fan-voted award and provides the footy public with the authority to select the final team.
The 2016 22Under22 team is:
Back: Rory Laird (Adelaide),Jacob Weitering (Carlton), Sam Docherty (Carlton)
Half-back: Callum Mills (Sydney), Jake Lever (Adelaide), Zac Williams (GWS Giants)
Mids: Zach Merrett (Essendon), Patrick Cripps (Carlton), Stephen Coniglio (GWS Giants)
Half-forward: Isaac Heeney (Sydney), Jesse Hogan (Melbourne), Christian Petracca (Melbourne)
Full-forward: Jake Stringer (Western Bulldogs), Joe Daniher (Essendon), Darcy Moore (Collingwood)
FOLL: Brodie Grundy (Collingwood), Marcus Bontempelli (Western Bulldogs), Jack Viney (Melbourne)
Interchange: Jack Martin (Gold Coast), Tim Membrey (St Kilda), Ollie Wines (Port Adelaide), Lachie Hunter (Western Bulldogs)
Captain: Marcus Bontempelli (Western Bulldogs)
Vice-captain: Zach Merrett (Essendon)
