With the 2019 AFL Draft in the books, we've seen clubs hedge their bets on the next crop of football superstars, with the hope that they can make an instant impact on their side's performances.
In the past few years, we have seen so many talented youngsters make a splash just a couple seasons into their AFL careers and become bonafide superstars.
Here is Zero Hanger's top 10 players aged 22 and under heading into the 2020 season.
The only dual premiership player on this list comes in at number 10. Daniel Rioli has played 77 games for Richmond since being drafted in 2015 and has already played an important part of two premiership sides. Much like his cousin Cyril, Daniel is a talented small forward who can create goals almost out of nothing, as seen through his 2017 Goal of the Year award.
The 22-year-old is a valued member of the Tigers' forward line, with 68 goals in his four seasons, and he also finished third at the club for goal assists in 2019. Rioli featured in the AFL Players' Association 22under22 side in 2017 and deserves his spot on this list for his role in both Richmond flags.
With the likes of Josh Kelly, Stephen Coniglio and Toby Greene roaming the GWS midfield, it's easy to forget about Jacob Hopper. The young midfielder was selected by the Giants with pick seven in 2015 and has developed into a strong, contested midfielder. In 2019, the New South Welshman tallied 26.1 disposals per game and also gathered a club-high 13.9 contested possessions a game.
Hopper may lack the star power of his higher-profile teammates, but he remained an integral part of their run to the Grand Final in 2019. Hopper led the midfield in handballs, with 12.9 per game and clearances with 6.2, thriving off the attention drawn to his counterparts. With GWS expected to dominate the competition for years to come, you can guarantee Jacob Hopper will soon become a household name.
The fifth selection in the 2018 Draft had a superb debut year which saw him finish second in the Rising Star behind Sam Walsh. Rozee kicked a club-high 29 goals from half-forward, the most out of any Rising Star candidate, including a five-goal haul against Brisbane in round three. Rozee's impact wasn't just limited to his goal-kicking however, with the 19-year-old finishing fifth in the competition for tackles inside 50.
The North Adelaide product was rewarded for his strong performances with a berth in the 22under22 side and also took home Port Adelaide's Gavin Wanganeen award for the best under 21 player. With Rozee expected to transition into a midfielder in the future, Port Adelaide will be hoping the youngster can help fill the gap left when superstars Travis Boak and Robbie Gray eventually retire.
Naughton began his career at the Western Bulldogs as an intercept defender and impressed, ranking top five amongst rookies for contested marks, intercepts and one-percenters. However, a position change up the ground in 2019 saw Naughton shoot into prominence, with a five-goal, 14-mark performance against Richmond in round seven highlighting the successful move.
The 19-year-old's finished with 32 goals, but it was his marking ability which had the footy world talking. Naughton finished with an astounding 53 contested marks, leaving him second in the competition for the stat behind only Richmond's Tom Lynch who had 56 with two extra games. Naughton earned a spot at full-forward in the 22under22 side for his efforts and should form a strong tandem alongside new Bulldog recruit Josh Bruce.
When James Worpel was crowned Hawthorn's best first-year player in 2018, they knew he was destined for stardom but maybe they didn't expect him to reach it so quickly. In 2019 he led the club in disposals with 26.6 per game and was a commanding force at stoppages, finishing fifth in the league for clearance stoppages.
The "Worpedo" was dominant in midfield, tallying 30+ disposals on six occasions throughout the year and leading the Hawks in contested possessions with 12 per game. Following his breakout year, Worpel was rewarded with the club's best-and-fairest award, the youngest Hawk to win it since Leigh Matthews in 1971. With Tom Mitchell set to return and Worpel continues to develop his game, Hawthorn's midfield could be one of the league's toughest in 2020.
The only other premiership player on this list, Josh Dunkley has improved out of sight since the Bulldogs' 2016 flag. Despite operating in a midfield boasting Marcus Bontempelli, Jack Macrae and Lachie Hunter, Dunkley was able to find the ball with ease, racking up 28 disposals a game and over five clearances. The youngest member of the Bulldogs 2016 triumph is not just a ball magnet however, the 22-year-old also finished sixth in the league for tackles, tallying 141 from his 23 games.
Dunkley's unbelievable round 17 performance against Melbourne, which saw him accumulate 39 disposals, 15 tackles and two goals, was the highlight of a season which saw him earn the vice-captaincy of the 22under22 side as well as a second-place finish in the club's best-and-fairest award behind Marcus Bontempelli. After a disappointing 2017 and 2018, the Bulldogs look to be back on the up and ready to challenge for another premiership next season.
After arguably one of the greatest rookie seasons in AFL history, it was impossible to keep Carlton's Sam Walsh out of the top five. The 19-year-old was taken with the number one pick in the 2018 Draft and gave the Blues all they could have wanted, and more, for the prized pick. Walsh played all 22 games in 2019 and formed an intimidating midfield duo alongside his captain Patrick Cripps.
Walsh averaged over 25 disposals, five tackles and three clearances for the season and finished behind only Marc Murphy for uncontested possessions at the club, with 15.8 per game. Walsh racked up 25+ disposals on 13 occasions, including a match-winning 32 and six clearances in Carlton's comeback victory against Brisbane in round 12. The big-bodied midfielder took home the Rising Star award after his superb year and more individual accolades are expected to follow in the coming years.
Andrews is the only player on this list that currently holds a leadership position at his club, highlighting his maturity the trust his teammates have in him. The Brisbane vice-captain could become one of the best draft steals in recent history, taken at pick 61 by the Lions back in 2014. Since then, the Brisbane local has been a mainstay in the Lions' defence, playing 97 games for the club and helping them to rocket up the ladder last season.
Andrews has made his name as a spoil machine and his 2019 season was no different, leading the competition for one-percenters per game. But he's not just a puncher, finishing top 20 last season in contested marks and intercept possessions. With the Lions making their first finals appearance since 2009, Andrews was duly rewarded for his role in their success, earning his first All-Australian selection.
Much like his GWS counterpart Jacob Hopper, Taranto has been overshadowed by his bigger profile teammates in the past. However, following an exception 2019 season, the former number two pick has become a crucial member of the Giants' midfield. Taranto played all 26 games of GWS' Grand Final campaign and led the club in tackles with 6.4 per game.
The Sandringham product collected 30 or more disposals 12 times in 2019, including a career-best 38 against Carlton in round nine. After playing such a vital role in GWS' run to the Grand Final, Taranto was rewarded with his first best-and-fairest award and a berth in the 22under22 squad. With eight games of finals experience under his belt at just 21 years of age, Taranto will be vital in the Giants' search for retribution in 2020.
One of the most decorated youngsters on this list, Clayton Oliver has already cemented himself as one of the league's top contested midfielders just four years into his career. The 22-year-old was drafted by Melbourne with pick four in the 2015 Draft and has played 82 games for the red and blue so far. Oliver dazzled the competition in 2017, averaging almost 30 disposals and earning his first best-and-fairest award, before winning an All-Australian jacket the year after.
In 2019, Oliver averaged 30.1 disposals per game, along with 7.1 clearances and 6.3 tackles, and he was Melbourne's brightest performer in an otherwise poor year. The midfielder was rewarded for his efforts with his second best-and-fairest award and also found himself in the 22under22 side for the third straight year. While many players on this list are stars in the making, Oliver is already at that level and if his club can turn their performances around, he could be thrust into Brownlow contention.