Selecting the 22under22 side for 2024

With the 40-player squad for this year's 22under22 side revealed this week, Zero Hanger has had a crack at reducing the long list of young stars to a 22-man team.

Selecting six backs, six midfielders, one ruck, six forwards and a four-man interchange was no easy task, with many emerging guns missing the final cut.

The selected side was selected in a bid to find balance across the 22, while the interchange looked to cover at least one of each position.

Here is our 22under22 team for 2024...

Defenders

Suns tall Mac Andrew was arguably the easiest selection of the entire side. Not only because of his aerial dominance, clean ball movement and breakout campaign under Damien Hardwick, but perhaps also due to being the only key position defender.

That sees Hawks young gun Josh Weddle take the second-tall role, a position he has proven to handle at times across his short career, with the rest of the rearguard mostly made up of smaller-framed stoppers.

Geelong speedster Max Holmes is selected at half-back to offer some run and midfield rotation, while the clean kicking of Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera and the dash of Darcy Wilmot are too good to ignore.

West Coast backman Brady Hough is selected as a lockdown defender for the 'opposition's small forward threats, while Andrew's teammate Bodhi Uwland can provide a similar service off the bench.

MISSED: Joshua Draper, Colby McKercher, Judd McVee, Max Michalanney

Midfielders

A truly star-studded engine room that shows the AFL is well-sorted for the future.

Collingwood ace Nick Daicos and Sydney wingman Errol Gulden are the first two picks and would likely land selections unanimously across any fan's best 22under22 side.

Daicos takes a central role in the middle alongside fellow 2021 draft selections Jason Horne-Francis, who was Pick 1 that year, and Adelaide's Jake Soligo, who was selected 25 spots later.

Gulden commands one wing, while the other goes to Hawthorn recruit Massimo D'Ambrosio as he continues to have a stellar first season in the brown and gold since crossing from Essendon over the off-season.

Fremantle tall Luke Jackson is selected as the ruckman ahead of Western Bulldogs youngster Sam Darcy, who takes a spot in the forward line alongside reigning North Melbourne best and fairest Harry Sheezel.

West Coast teen sensation Harley Reid, who is the only first-year player to make the side, is joined by GWS midfielder Finn Callaghan on the bench.

MISSED: Tanner Bruhn, Jase Burgoyne, Sam Clohesy, Reuben Ginbey, Tom Powell, George Wardlaw, Caleb Windsor

Forwards

The aforementioned Harry Sheezel slots into a half-forward role given his eligibility as a dual-position player. Had he solely been a midfield option then he would've been one of the first picked for the engine room.

Geelong livewire and Rising Star favourite Ollie Dempsey takes the other flank, with he and Sheezel positioned on either side of high-leaping Bulldogs spearhead Jamarra Ugle-Hagan.

His teammate Sam Darcy takes one forward pocket to help make up a commanding front half, which also boasts the height and aerial dominance of Fremantle breakout forward Josh Treacy.

Hawthorn goalsneak Jack Ginnivan takes the other pocket amid his sensation first year at the Hawks, while midfield-eligible Blues recruit Elijah Hollands mans an interchange spot.

MISSED: Jye Amiss, Paul Curtis, Kai Lohmann, Connor MacDonald, Logan McDonald, Josh Rachele, Jacob van Rooyen

FULL TEAM

FB: Brady Hough, Mac Andrew, Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera
HB: Max Holmes, Josh Weddle, Darcy Wilmot
C: Errol Gulden, Jason Horne-Francis, Massimo D'Ambrosio
HF: Oliver Dempsey, Jamarra Ugle-Hagan, Harry Sheezel
FF: Jack Ginnivan, Josh Treacy, Sam Darcy
FO: Luke Jackson, Nick Daicos, Jake Soligo
I/C: Harley Reid, Elijah Hollands, Finn Callaghan, Bodhi Uwland