Brisbane’s premiership celebrations just got a little sweeter, with the Lions the equal-most represented club in the AFL Players’ Association’s AFLW 22Under22 side, proudly supported by Torrens University Australia.
Three Lions were named in the final team, as chosen by the fans, alongside three Collingwood and Western Bulldogs players.
Brisbane flag-winners Natalie Grider, Courtney Hodder and Dakota Davidson were selected alongside Collingwood’s Jordyn Allen, Chloe Molloy and Mikala Cann and the Western Bulldogs’ Eleanor Brown, Isabel Huntington and Jess Fitzgerald in the 2021 iteration.
22Under22, proudly supported by Torrens University and prizes presented by Jagger Watches, is a fan-voted concept that recognises the best 22 players aged 22 and under for the entirety of the AFLW season (including Grand Final day – April 18).
AFLPA Board member and GWS Giants player, Annalyse Lister, congratulated the players selected in the 2021 team.
“This team represents the future of AFLW and these players have already had a significant impact on the competition,” Lister said.
“To be selected in the initial squad is an achievement in itself, let alone to be selected into the best 22 by AFLW fans. I look forward to seeing these girls continue to develop into stars of the competition and trying to keep up with them on the field.”
Nine players were selected for the second time – Molloy, Huntington, Georgia Patrikios, Alyce Parker, Monique Conti, Georgia Gee, Sabreena Duffy, Madison Prespakis and Eden Zanker.
Last year’s captain, Molloy, and vice-captain, Prespakis, were again named the side’s leaders and Molloy thanked the fans for supporting the players and the competition.
“Firstly, thank you to all those that took the time to vote me into the team, as well as being named captain, and your support for the league has been nothing short of extraordinary,” Molloy said.
“22Under22 is a great initiative by the AFLPA so I don’t take the honour lightly. These players are stars on the rise and you only have to look as far as what someone like Courtney Hodder did in the AFLW Grand Final to see what they can do.
“There are massive things ahead for this 22Under22 team, even those that missed out. I have no doubt the voting will only become more difficult as the years go on.”
For a player to be eligible for the squad of 40, they were required to play more than 50 per cent of season games, equating to five matches.
The AFL Players’ Association, supported by Champion Data, has selected the squad. Fans then had the opportunity to decide the final 22 by voting on the 22Under22 platform (22under22.com.au)
The fan whose team best resembles the final 22Under22 team wins a signed jumper by the side’s captain and vice-captain and a Jagger watch.
