THE AFLPA’s 22Under22 initial squad of 40 has been released, with two Carlton players featuring in the line-up. 

Sam Walsh (midfield) has received the nod for the 40-person squad for the fourth year in a row, while Adam Cerra (midfield/wing) has also been named in the extended squad for the third consecutive year.

Walsh has been voted into the final 22Under22 team all three times he’s been nominated, as well as receiving the honour of captain in 2021. 

Averaging 32 disposals a game and ranked second in the league for effective disposals, Walsh’s position looks likely for the 22-person side in a year where he has once again shone for the Blues. His best performance came in Round 15 against the Dockers, where he picked up a career-high 40 disposals.

Should he be selected in the final team, Walsh will take an equal-second position alongside Andrew McGrath totalling four selections in four years (Marcus Bontempelli leads with five).

Looking for his second appearance in the side after featuring while at Fremantle in 2020, Cerra has been a key cog for the Blues in a midfield group which was the foundation for the team's early-season success. 

Cerra burst onto the scene for the Blues in his first game for the Club, contributing 30 disposals, a season-high nine score involvements and a telling final-quarter goal in the season-opening win over the Tigers.

The competition is fan voted, so jump onto the website here and cast your vote to see Walsh and Cerra feature in the team. 

The final team will be announced on Tuesday 23 August.