Young guns Sam Docherty and Patrick Cripps have been named in the 2015 AFL Players’ Association 22Under22 squad.

The 22Under22 concept was introduced in 2013 to recognise the best young talent in the competition, as decided by the fans. To be eligible for this year’s team, players must be aged 22 or younger on Grand Final Day this year.

Docherty and Cripps have been picked in the initial 47-man squad selected by the AFL Players’ Association Board.

The final 22Under22 team will be decided by fans, with the AFL Players’ Association calling on all footy fans to cast their votes by liking the AFL Players’ Facebook page and selecting a 22Under22 team from the 47-man squad.

Melbourne forward Chris Dawes, one of the AFL Players’ board-members given the task of selecting the initial squad, says he’s amazed by the quality of young talent he comes up against each weekend.

“It takes time to find your feet at AFL level, so it’s really astounding what these guys have been able to do – not just to get games but come in and perform well in games.

“A lot of the guys in this squad are fast becoming their team’s most important player.”

This year’s 22Under22 squad has at least one nominee from each AFL club, with Docherty and Cripps selected from Carlton.

Cripps came to the Blues with huge wraps and has exceeded all expectations in 2015. The hard-working midfielder who relishes contested situations was a shining light in a difficult year for Carlton’s midfield. Regularly showing a propensity to gather large amounts of the ball, Cripps finished the Round 4 clash with St Kilda with 33 disposals, 23 contested possessions, 11 tackles and eight clearances. The future is bright for the 20-year-old.

Docherty announced himself as one of his club’s better players, and one of the competition’s premier defensive rebounders, in 2015. The long kicking, 21-year-old defender collected 27 disposals, six rebound 50s and kicked a goal in the club’s loss to Fremantle in Round 16 and will be a key figure in Carlton’s rebuild in coming years.

The final 22Under22 team will be announced at the AFL Players’ MVP Awards on Tuesday, September 15.

You can vote for Docherty and Cripps by submitting your 22Under22 team via the AFL Players’ Facebook page before Wednesday, September 9. Everyone who enters a team will have a chance to win the ultimate 22Under22 prize pack.



Click here to create your team and vote now!

 Find out more about 22Under22 at aflplayers.com.au