Jaeger O’Meara, Trent McKenzie, Dion Prestia, Tom Nicholls and Rory Thompson have been named in the inaugural AFL Players’ Association 22under22 squad.
22under22 is a new concept that recognises the best 22 young players in the competition.
O’Meara, McKenzie, Prestia, Nicholls and Thompson have been nominated for the 40-man squad by the AFL Players’ Association Board and fans will decide the final team by voting via social media.
AFL Players’ Association CEO Matt Finnis says the 22under22 concept celebrates the abundance of young talent across the competition.
“The average age of the All-Australian team was 27 last year so this concept provides these young players with a rite of passage and acts as a form guide for who those future stars of the competition might be,” Finnis said.
AFL Players’ Association President Luke Ball agrees.
“Guys that have managed to have a consistent impact on the competition at such a young age should be duly recognised,” he said.
Gold Coast is the only club to have five players nominated in the 22under22 squad.
O’Meara has taken the competition by storm in his debut season, averaging more than 20 possessions, five tackles and four clearances per game. His ability to win the ball both inside and outside the contest has been compared to that of a young Chris Judd.
It’s no secret McKenzie’s best asset is his kicking and this year he has had plenty of opportunity to unload on his left foot, averaging more than 14 kicks per game. He played a crucial role in the Round 17 win over Collingwood, racking up 24 possessions and 10 marks across half back.
After managing just 14 matches last season, Prestia has been outstanding in 2013, producing the type of football the Suns had hoped for when they selected him at Pick 9 in the 2010 draft. The 175cm midfielder has averaged more than 25 possessions – his 42 possessions against Adelaide in Round 14 signaled his coming of age.
Nicholls played just one match in his first two years at the club, but has looked assured at AFL level since coming into the side for the Suns’ Round 10 clash with the Cats this season. The agile 21-year-old has shown to be a clever tap ruckman, as well as a handy contributor around the ground.
When footy scribes sat down to pick their All Australian teams at the halfway point of the season Rory Thompson was a popular choice and at just 22 years of age, he’s a player Gold Coast can build a backline around for the next decade.
The 2013 22under22 team will be announced at the Be The Influence AFL Players’ MVP awards on September 10.
Players must be aged 22 or under for the entire AFL season in order to be eligible and those selected in the final team will be presented with a 22under22 New Era hat in a Perspex case.
Fans can vote via Facebook and Twitter from August 14 to September 4.
To vote for Jaeger, Trent, Dion, Tom and Rory go to the AFL Players Facebook page or the AFL Players Twitter:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AFLPlayers
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AFLPlayers
