The emerging talent at Brisbane has dominated the 2025 AFL Players’ Association’s 22Under22 squad, as Collingwood superstar Nick Daicos looks to join rare air.
All of Darcy Wilmot, Jaspa Fletcher, Levi Ashcroft, Will Ashcroft and Logan Morris are a live chance of making the final cut for the annual side, with the reigning premiers’ five players selected in the 40-man squad the most of any club.
Rising contenders Adelaide and Hawthorn each had four of their own young guns make the preliminary listing, while a handful of other clubs had three players named.
FOX FOOTY, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every match of every round in the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE in 4K, with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer.
Carlton and Sydney were the only two clubs without a nominee, having had three between them in last year’s 40-man squad.
16 midfielders, 11 defenders, 11 forwards and two rucks make up the squad, with seven of those players eligible to be selected in one of two positions.
Harry Sheezel, Jason Horne-Francis, Joel Freijah, Ryley Sanders and Bailey Humphrey can be selected as either a midfielder or forward, while talls Patrick Voss and Sam Darcy are eligible as a designated ruck or forward.
Daicos is vying for his fourth selection in the final 22, the previous two of which have been as the team’s captain. Jack Ginnivan, Josh Rachele, Harry Sheezel and Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera are available to be selected in the final team for the third time.
Intriguingly also, addition, Daicos, Sheezel, and Harley Reid are the three most recent recipients of the AFLPA Best First-Year Player Award.
The 40-person squad was assembled by St Kilda legend Leigh Montagna as Chair of Selectors, with support from the AFLPA and Champion Data.
“We are spoiled for talented youngsters in the game at the moment, and it was no easy feat to put the 2025 squad together,” Montagna said.
“So many of these players are already taking on essential roles for their teams and having a huge impact on games each weekend, so early in their careers.
“This group of players represents the future of footy, which is clearly looking very bright.”
For a player to be eligible for selection in the squad, they must be 22 and under for the entirety of the season (including Grand Final Day, 27 September) and have played a minimum of 12 games in 2025.
Fans will now decide the final 22Under22 team, with voting officially open at vote.22under22.com.au until Wednesday, 13 August.
2025 AFLPA 22Under22 40-man squad (club-by-club)
Adelaide (4): Max Michalanney, Dan Curtin, Jake Soligo, Josh Rachele
Brisbane (5): Darcy Wilmot, Jaspa Fletcher, Levi Ashcroft, Will Ashcroft, Logan Morris
Carlton (0): N/A
Collingwood (2): Nick Daicos, Ned Long
Essendon (2): Archie Roberts, Nate Caddy
Fremantle (2): Patrick Voss, Murphy Reid
Geelong (3): Lawson Humphries, Connor O’Sullivan, Ollie Dempsey
Gold Coast (3): Mac Andrew, Bohdi Uwland, Bailey Humphrey
GWS (3): Finn Callaghan, Aaron Cadman, Darcy Jones
Hawthorn (4): Josh Weddle, Josh Ward, Jack Ginnivan, Nick Watson
Melbourne (1): Harvey Langford
North Melbourne (3): Colby McKercher, Harry Sheezel, Paul Curtis
Port Adelaide (1): Jason Horne-Francis
Richmond (1): Seth Campbell
St Kilda (2): Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera, Marcus Windhager
Sydney (0): N/A
West Coast (1): Harley Reid
Western Bulldogs (3): Joel Freijah, Ryley Sanders, Sam Darcy
Discussion about this post