A trio of young GIANTS have been recognised as amongst the best young talent in the AFL with Tom Green, Finn Callaghan and Lachie Ash all named in the 44-man squad for this year’s 22Under22 side.

Introduced in 2013, the 22Under22 side aims to reward and recognise the best young talent in the AFL by comprising a squad of 44 rising stars before allowing the fans to vote for the best 22 players aged 22 and under across the 2023 AFL season.

Three GIANTS have been rewarded with selection in this year’s squad, with Green earning his third nomination in the squad while emerging teammates Callaghan and Ash have been chosen in the squad for the first time in their young careers.

Green, Callaghan and Ash were chosen by an internal selection panel at the AFL Players Association, headed by Chair of Selectors Michael Barlow, along with the support of Champion Data.

While Green has previously been selected in a 22Under22 squad, the midfield bull is looking for his first selection in the final team this season after missing out through the fan vote previously.

Green’s selection comes in the midst of a career-best season, with the young gun elevating his game to another level in 2023 to firmly stamp himself into All Australian contention.

The strong-bodied inside midfielder is ranked first in the AFL for disposals per game this season, averaging 31.6 an outing to go along with 5.8 clearances and 5.5 tackles per game.

In his most recent outing, Green returned to the field after three weeks out with a hamstring injury to collect an equal career-high 38 disposals to earn six Coaches votes in the loss to the Swans on Saturday at GIANTS Stadium. 

Meanwhile rising stars Callaghan and Ash, who both re-signed at the GIANTS for a further two years this season, have been recognised for their emergence with their first selections in the 22Under22 squad.

After a foot injury limited his debut season to just five games, Callaghan has showcased exactly why the GIANTS took him at pick three in the 2021 draft with a breakout 2023 season.

Combining time on the wing with a new role as an inside midfielder, the 20-year-old has blossomed under new coach Adam Kingsley in his second season, averaging 21.2 disposals across 18 games to establish himself as one of the competition’s brightest young stars.

Likewise, Ash, the No. 4 pick in the 2019 AFL Draft, is quickly establishing himself as an integral piece of the GIANTS’ future and one of the competition’s rising stars.

The 22-year-old, a former Vic Country co-captain, had been trialled in several roles throughout his first three seasons but has blossomed under new coach Adam Kingsley in a more permanent role in defence this season to emerge as one of the AFL’s most lethal running defenders.

The move has catapulted Ash into the conversation as one of the AFL’s most improved players, upping last year’s season average of 16.1 touches per game to 24.2 per game in 2023 - ranking him elite among his position across the competition.

The dashing half-back flanker also ranks ‘above average’ across the AFL in kicks (15.9 per game), handballs (8.4 per game), meters gained (425.9m per game), and marks (5.4 per game).

To Vote Green, Callaghan and Ash into the final 22Under22 side, vote now at 22Under22 platform.

Voting is open for seven days from August 10 to August 17, with the final team announced on August 23rd via the AFL Players’ Association’s social media channels.