The AFL Players' Association named its inaugural 22Under22 side in 2013, with the game's brightest young stars making up the side.
Gold Coast, who were in their third season in the competition, had the most players selected with five, with fellow AFL newcomers GWS managing just the sole selection.
Nine of the 22 selected are still listed in the AFL, with five of those with the same club that drafted them.
12 years on, the players featured have gone on to win premierships, Brownlow Medals, Norm Smith Medals, Coleman Medals and plenty of All-Australian selections.
Here are players selected in the first-ever 22Under22 side and what they're up to now.
BP: Brandon Ellis
In his second season with Richmond at the time, Ellis' 2013 selection would be the first of three in a row for the young midfielder.
Ellis would enjoy a breakout campaign the year after to finish second in the club's best and fairest and would feature in the Tigers' drought-breaking 2017 flag win as well as their run to the 2019 premiership.
The now-31-year-old called time on his career last year after finishing his spell in the top flight after five seasons with the Suns, tallying 75 of his 251 career games with the Queensland side.
In 2025, Ellis has remained in the Sunshine State, playing with South Cairns Football Club in the AFL Cairns competition.
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FB: Rory Thompson
The Queenslander had a career-best season in 2013 as a 22-year-old, playing 21 games under coach Guy McKenna.
Since retiring from Gold Coast in 2022 as the club's longest-serving player at the time, Thompson has remained with the Suns in a coaching capacity.
Thompson took on a VFL/AFLW specialist coach in his first year after playing and is currently an assistant with Gold Coast's Women's program.
BP: Daniel Talia
Fresh off a Rising Star-winning season with the Crows, Talia picked up his second of three consecutive 22Under22 selections in 2013.
A staple in Adelaide's backline as an imposing key defender, Talia claimed All-Australian honours in 2014 and 2016 as well as a Malcolm Blight Medal in 2014.
He was surprisingly delisted by the Crows at the end of 2021 and announced his retirement the same year after an injury-hit end to his career.
Talia is currently the general manager of South Australian real estate company Haume.
HB: Steele Sidebottom
Still a key cog at Collingwood, Sidebottom is enjoying one of the best seasons of his 17-year career.
The two-time premiership Magpie was in his fifth season in black and white and already had a flag to his CV, while he would also be retrospectively named in the 2012 22Under22 team.
By 2015, Sidebottom held the role as a co-vice-captain at Collingwood and in the following three years he'd claim two best and fairests, an All-Australian blazer, a Gary Ayres Award and an Anzac Day Medal.
He added another best-afield game on Anzac Day in 2025, with Sidebottom having 341 games to his name, the second most at the club behind teammate Scott Pendlebury.
CHB: Jake Carlisle
Still playing football at the local level, Carlisle is currently suiting up for Riddell District Football Netball League outfit Wallan, and has also held a role with junior side Craigieburn as well.
He brings 151 games to the local level, having played for both Essendon and St Kilda across his 12-year run in the AFL.
He played at both ends of the ground for the Bombers, who drafted the 200cm talent in 2009, before he sought a move to the Saints ahead of the 2016 season.
The Essendon supplements saga meant Carlisle was suspended for his first year at Moorabbin, with a club debut delayed until Round 1 the next year.
He would mostly play in defence for the Saints, with injuries derailing the end of the year, which ended in 2021.
HB: Trent McKenzie
The long-kicking key defender was in his third season at the Suns when he claimed his first of two successive 22Under22 selections.
He was a key contributor with Gold Coast as an inaugural member of the club, playing at least 16 games in his first five seasons prior to injuries taking their toll.
He would be delisted by the Suns at the end of 2017 and found a lifeline at Port Adelaide, with injuries and form again limiting his impact.
He would play 59 games over seven years with the Power, bringing his career tally to 165 matches before retiring last year.
Instead of remaining with football, McKenzie has since pursued a potential career in gridiron as a punter.
W: Nat Fyfe
The same year as Fyfe's maiden and only 22Under22 selection, the Dockers great helped lead Fremantle to their first and only grand final appearance.
He claimed his first of three Doig Medals the same year, and by the end of 2015 had two AFLPA MVPs, a Brownlow Medal, two All-Australian selections and his second best and fairest.
The star midfielder would go on to claim another Brownlow in 2019 and looks set to end his career as arguably Fremantle's greatest ever player.
The Dockers veteran is still pushing for a return to football in 2025 as he continues to recover from a hamstring injury.
C: Dyson Heppell
Named captain of the 22Under22 side, Heppell would go on to captain the Bombers for six years from 2017.
One of the young stars of the competition, the Bombers ace was again named skipper of the representative side the following year in a campaign that also saw him collect an All-Australian selection and best and fairest, adding to his 2011 Rising Star Award.
Heppell retired last year after 253 games, leading the club through and in the wake of a difficult period for the Bombers.
He has since moved to VFL outfit Port Melbourne, playing alongside ex-Essendon teammates Kaine Baldwin, Tex Wanganeen, Jayden Davey and Tom Hird, and playing under director of coaching and old Bombers coach James Hird.
W: Dan Hannebery
The former Swans star had a dominant start to his AFL career, taking out the Rising Star Award in 2010 and playing a large role in Sydney's premiership two years later.
His 2013 22Under22 selection was the second of his career and would come the same year as his first of three All-Australian selections.
Hannebery took out the AFLCA Champion Player of the Year title in 2015 to add to a decorated spell with the Swans.
He moved to St Kilda at the end of 2018 and spent four years with the Saints, with injuries keeping him to 18 games.
Hannebery is currently an executive with Jones Real Estate in Melbourne, which he joined in 2023.
HF: Dustin Martin
A headline act in this team, Martin's long list of career accolades began with multiple 22Under22 selections.
Martin was a livewire for the Tigers in the first half of his career before he exploded onto the scene as one of the competition's best, with All-Australian and best and fairest honours flowing from 2016.
He had an unparalleled season in 2017, winning the Brownlow, Norm Smith Medal, AFL MVP, AFLCA Champion Player of the Year title, Gary Ayres Award and the second of four All-Australian selections on his way to leading the Tigers to the 2017 flag.
Martin called time on his decorated career in 2024, retiring as a three-time premiership player and triple Norm Smith medallist.
As expected, Martin has laid low since leaving the AFL, making small cameos in promotional ads for Kayo.
CHF: Jack Darling
Currently with North Melbourne after making the move east over the off-season, Darling will always be known as a West Coast icon.
Darling left the Eagles with the second-most goals in the club's all-time leading goalkicker column with 532 majors from 298 games.
He would feature in West Coast's 2018 premiership win and led the Eagles' goalkicking in four separate seasons to add to his three 22Under22 selections and 2019 All-Australian blazer.
Now with the Kangaroos in season 15 in the AFL, Darling is looking to pass on his expertise to a younger group.
HF: Chad Wingard
In just his second year in the AFL, Wingard made a name for himself as one of the competition's most exciting players.
He claimed an All-Australian nod, a best and fairest and a Showdown Medal the same year as the Power managed a semi-final finish.
Port Adelaide would go a step further in 2014, falling three points short of a grand final berth under Ken Hinkley.
Wingard sought a move to Hawthorn at the end of 2018 and struggled to find the same form that quickly saw his name up in lights, with injuries plaguing the final years of his time in the brown and gold.
After 218 games in the top flight, Wingard announced his retirement at the end of last year and has since stepped into a role in the media with AFL.com.au, ABC and Channel 7.
FP: Luke Breust
Breust is one of the eight 2013 selections who were also retrospectively named in the 22Under22 side for the prior season.
The 2013 season saw Breust win his first of three consecutive flags with the Hawks, booting 40 goals in 25 games.
Breust managed at least 30 goals in his first nine seasons, winning All-Australian honours in 2014 and 2018.
The small forward led the Hawks' goalkicking five times, his most recent being in 2013.
Still a key piece of Hawthorn's push for a premiership, Breust has 305 games and 552 goals to his name.
FF: Jeremy Cameron
Alongside Wingard and Hannebery, Cameron also shared spots in the 2013 All-Australian side as well as the 22Under 22 team.
After a 29-goal debut season, Cameron took a major leap in 2023 to end the year with 62 goals to his name from 21 games, with the key forward leading the Giants' goalkicking for every season he spent with the New South Wales club.
He departed GWS for Geelong as a free agent at the end of 2020 and has since won a maiden premiership with the Cats, playing a major part in the club's successful 2022 season.
The 265-gamer has 11 club leading goalkicking titles to his name, two best and fairests, four All-Australian selections and won a Coleman Medal in 2019.
FP: Steven Motlop
2013 was arguably Motlop's best season across a 13-year career, with the former Cats small forward booting 44 goals for the season.
The year prior saw Motlop enjoy a breakout campaign and earn a retrospective 22Under22 selection, with the lively attacker quickly becoming a dangerous asset under Chris Scott.
After nine years with Geelong, Motlop moved to Port Adelaide, playing 82 games in five years to continue his career.
Since leaving the AFL in 2022, Motlop has played football across multiple states, most recently in Queensland with the Cairns City Lions.
R: Tom Nicholls
Nicholls was one of two ruckmen able to be selected in 2013, with current Geelong tall Mark Blicavs the other.
The Suns big man won the vote after a career-best season, averaging 13 disposals and 23.38 hitouts per game, both career highs.
Nicholls retired from the AFL after 45 games with the Suns, turning his career toward investment banking.
He is now at Oaklins DeSilva+Phillips as an associate.
RO: Jaeger O'Meara
The only first-year name on this list, O'Meara looked destined for the top in his open years with Gold Coast.
The Perth junior debuted in 2013 after a year in the Suns' system, however was ineligible to play after being picked up in the 2011 Mini Draft.
He played 22 games that year, taking out the Rising Star Award and his first and only 22Under22 selection, playing a large role in the Suns' midfield alongside Gary Ablett.
Moving to the Hawks at the end of 2016 and again seeking a trade to join Fremantle three years ago, injuries have impacted O'Meara's career, which sits at 191 games.
RR: Tom Liberatore
One of the most iconic sons of the west, Liberatore is still at the top of his game at the age of 33.
The hard-nosed midfielder now has 245 games to his name, collecting a premiership, best and fairest (as well as three second places) and added another 22Under22 selection in 2014.
The same year he claimed his first of two All-Australian squad nods, with Liberatore overcoming an ACL in the middle of his career to become one of the greats of the club.
The last five seasons have seen Liberatore average at least 23.78 disposals per game, with 2025 currently on track for a career-best mean at 29.00.
I/C: Aaron Mullett
A 2013 22Under22 selection would be among the few highlights of Mullett's career, which ended at the end of 2018.
Mullett was drafted to North Melbourne in 2010 and played 85 games in the blue and white for a return of 31 goals.
He would be delisted by the Roos at the end of 2017 and would have a second chance with Carlton, who he was with for one year and 13 games.
Mullett is now with Victorian Outer East Football Netball League side Wandin and has booted 44 goals in five games this year, including hauls of 12, 10, nine, seven and six.
I/C: Dion Prestia
Prestia earned 22Under22 selections in 2013 and 2014, having emerged as an exciting talent with the Suns.
He would be a vice-captain of the club in 2014, but would seek a move to his home state of Victoria at the end of 2016, which would prove to be fruitful.
He landed at Richmond and would play a significant role in the Tigers' drought-breaking 2017 flag win, as well as further premierships in 2019 and 2020 - winning a Jack Dyer Medal in the former campaign.
Injuries have limited Prestia in recent years, playing 20 games in a single year just once since the end of 2019.
I/C: Jack Ziebell
The former North Melbourne captain was another from the 2008 AFL Draft to earn a 22Under22 selection in their fifth season.
That year, Ziebell averaged 21.06 disposals, 5.39 tackles, 5.28 clearances per game and booted 20 goals from 18 matches.
Ziebell went on to captain the Roos for five seasons from 2017, with the utility ending his career in 2023 after 280 games in the blue and white.
The 34-year-old has since stepped into the coaching space, taking on a development role with Richmond.
I/C: Michael Walters
Like Fyfe, Walters remains with the Dockers and is one the club's most iconic players, however has his own injury battles.
The electric small forward is yet to play this year due to a knee issue, capping the 34-year-old at 239 games for the time being.
In 2013, Walters played 21 games for Fremantle after just as many in his four prior seasons, booting 46 goals to lead the Dockers' goalkicking.
Walters took out the same title four more times and was named in the All-Australian side of 2019 as well as the Fremantle 25 since '95 side.
