Several young stars are taking the AFL by storm in 2022, but which players 21 and under are impressing for your club?
From Hawthorn to Western Bulldogs.....
The Sporting News takes a look at your team's future talent.
Hawthorn
Will Day
A first round draft pick in 2019, Will Day debuted for the Hawks in 2020 and quickly proved he was up to the task of AFL footy. Sidelined for most of 2021 with an ankle injury, Day is trying to find his feet under new instruction from Sam Mitchell. Rated highly by onlookers, the rebounding defender is looking to cement a spot in the senior side in 2022 as a new look Hawthorn is among us. Internally, Day is listed as a future leader of the club and will hope to stay on the park for a while.
Jai Newcombe
Picked up through the mid-season draft in 2021, Newcombe was quick to debut for the Hawks, as his childhood dream became a reality. Finishing his debut season off strongly, Newcombe has developed into a reliable midfielder alongside Tom Mitchell and Jaeger O’Meara. The bullocking on-baller averages 21 touches a game, as his spread and toughness around the ball notes as key features of his game. Newcombe continues to grow, including receiving a Rising Star nomination in round 5 for his efforts against Geelong.
Notable mentions
Josh Ward, Connor MacDonald, Tyler Brockman, Denver Grainger-Barras, Josh Morris, Emerson Jeka, Jacob Koschitzke and Finn Maginness.
Melbourne
Jake Bowey
Bowey is seen as Melbourne’s lucky charm, given his incredible start to his AFL career. The young star has played in 15 games, including a Grand Final victory that saw the Demons’ end its long draught. Bowey is still yet to play in a defeat; with some tipping he’ll break the record, which currently sits at 18 wins without a loss. Despite his uncanny fortune, the small defender hasn’t found it hard at AFL, playing at an elite level in the best side of the competition.
Luke Jackson
Marked as the Demons' next no.1 ruckman, Luke Jackson has exceeded all expectations as the young star has contributed to Melbourne’s rise to the top. Winning the 2021 Rising Star, Jackson continues to be the perfect partner-in-crime to a dominant Max Gawn, who gets better and better each game. Jackson has all the makings to become one of the league’s best and he’s currently at the right club to do so.
Notable mentions
Trent Rivers, James Jordan, Kysaiah Pickett and Tom Sparrow.
North Melbourne
Jason Horne-Francis
Touted as one of the best number 1 picks in recent history, Jason Horne-Francis was born to play AFL. Receiving his first Rising Star nomination in round 7, Horne-Francis has set a standard since arriving at the club. Marked as a tough on-baller who’s clean with his ball use, the 18-year-old looks to be a future leader of the Kangaroos as his commitment and desire to take this bottom side back into finals contention.
Bailey Scott
Father-son recruit Bailey Scott first debuted in 2019 and managed four games that year. Since then, he’s been a regular in the senior side having not missed since round 10 last year. Scott has been used across the halfback line and as a defensive forward but we’ve seen him tag opposition star players, such as Bradley Hill. Now having played 41 games, the soon to be 22-year-old is finding his feet at AFL level and continues to grow in front of coach David Noble and the rest of his teammates.
Notable mentions
Will Phillips, Charlie Lazzaro, Tom Powell, Jack Mahony, Flynn Perez, Atu Bosenavulagi and Paul Curtis
Port Adelaide
Zak Butters
Butters has intrigue written all over him, with the crafty small being able to play in the forward line and on-ball. Initially seen as a livewire in the front half, coach Ken Hinkley is starting to entrust Butters with more midfield minutes in a bid to gain some speed and creativity. With Travis Boak nearing retirement and the workload too much for Brownlow Medallist Ollie Wines, Butters poses as a solid replacement to step into the void that needs filling in the Port Adelaide side. The 21-year-old has played 55 games and is now ready to explode as an elite player in the competition.
Xavier Duursma
Famously known for his bow-and-arrow celebration, Xavier Duursma’s footballing ability is up there with some of the young guns of the competition. Standing at 186cm, Duursma has the capability of playing all over the ground and being damaging by foot and pace on the outside. Despite his lowly form as of late, the Power need the youngster to start stringing impressive games together like they know he can. Hinkley needs to give more minutes to the next wave of kids as a shift from old to young occurs at Port Adelaide.
Notable mentions
Lachlan Jones, Miles Bergman, Mitch Georgiades and Michael Frederick
Richmond
Josh Gibcus
Bursting onto the scene as a top 10 draft pick, Josh Gibcus has slotted effortlessly into the Richmond backline. Listed as a key defender, Gibcus has played in an undermanned Tiger outfit so far this season and has been fortunate to play on the game’s best forwards. Having played only six games, the young star looks comfortable at the level, with his intercept marking and strong defensive game key features of his craft that will only get better with experience. Gibcus will be a key pillar for Richmond in the future and could be a leader of the club.
Jack Ross
Playing in all games thus far (started as medi-sub in two), Jack Ross is set to become one of Richmond’s premier midfielders. With the inevitability of club legends Trent Cotchin, Shane Edwards and Dustin Martin all retiring in the near future, players like Ross are looked upon to take responsibility and drive the future of the club forward. Playing in 36 games to date, the promising midfielder sees this year as a way to kick-start the rest of his career. With much development and growth to go, Ross looks like a viable option to replace the veterans at the club.
Notable mentions
Maurice Rioli, Hugo Ralphsmith, Thomson Dow and Rhyan Mansell
St Kilda
Max King
On track as the next big thing, Max King is certainly starting to turn heads if hasn’t already. Unable to debut until 2020, King has been super-impressive in his 45-game span, kicking 79 goals and looking almost unstoppable in the forward line. In line for his best season so far, the number 12 has kicked 19 goals in 2022 at an average of 2.7 per game, however also averages the same amount of behinds. King has no problem getting the ball, but once he starts kicking straighter, teams will have no answer for the young star.
Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera
Nephew of Brownlow Medallist Gavin Wanganeen and son of Saint Terry Milera, Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera came into the Saints with high expectations, especially after being selected at pick 11 in 2021. Used as the medi-sub in round 1, Wanganeen-Milera has since started in every game and proved to be up to the level of AFL football. The silky-skilled winger has already shown glimpses of what he can do with ball in hand, with penetration behind his effective kicks. Allowing Bradley Hill to go forward, Wanganeen-Milera has tremendous speed and smarts that belong at the highest level, and is one of the reasons the Saints are playing a good brand of footy.
Notable mentions
Ryan Byrnes, Marcus Windhager, Leo Connolly and Cooper Sharman
Sydney
James Rowbottom
Moulded like a Sydney midfielder with toughness and blonde hair, to say James Rowbottom fits in at the Swans is an understatement. The young midfielder was a regular in his first two years before fully grasping the opportunity of playing at AFL level. Since the beginning of 2021, Rowbottom has missed only six games and has cemented a role in the Sydney line-up. A similar to player like Josh Kennedy, Rowbottom is tough in congestion, with his ability to extract the ball and lay tackles being key aspects to his game. A consistent performer for the Swans, the 21-year-old has tremendous upside and has the potential to lead this team to a flag, despite his young age.
Logan McDonald
If history has taught us anything, it’s that big key players take longer to develop. Despite his skill and obvious football talent, Logan McDonald is one of these players, being drafted for the future once AFL immortal ‘Buddy’ Franklin hangs up the boots. Seen as part of the new wave coming through Sydney, the young forward has shown enough at the level to suggest he will be quite a player and could be a massive part of the new-look Swans in the future.
Notable mentions
Errol Gulden, Braeden Campbell, Chad Warner, Dylan Stephens and Justin McInerney
West Coast
Xavier O’Neill
On the list since 2018, Xavier O’Neill has struggled to find a consistent spot in the West Coast side. With a total of 18 games in four seasons, O’Neill seems to be one of the promising 21-year-olds at the Eagles, with their youth in low stock. The young defender/midfielder has played five out of seven games this year and is looking to cement a role in a decimated team. Despite decent form in the seniors, O’Neill might have to make way for star players like Luke Shuey and Elliot Yeo as they return from injuries.
Harry Edwards
Constantly in and out of the side the past season, Harry Edwards was keen to lock down more minutes in the Eagles’ backline. With Tom Barrass and Jeremy McGovern both sidelined for various reasons, Edwards was relied upon West Coast’s woes continued on and off the field. Played in five games so far in 2022, the tall defender is looking to continue his role down back and gain more experience at the level, provided it’s time for the Eagles to rebuild.
Notable mentions
Luke Edwards and Brady Hough
Western Bulldogs
Bailey Smith
One of the most consistent young stars in the game, Bailey Smith literally hasn’t missed a beat since walking into Whitten Oval. Only missing one game in four seasons, Smith has now played 73 matches and is one of the premier Bulldogs’ midfielders. The mullet-wearing youngster is playing well above what is expected at his age, rating at an elite level in 2022 amongst the league’s best. Averaging 33 touches a game, Smith is crucial to Luke Beveridge’s hopes in returning to finals, given he was so influential in September last year.
Cody Weightman
Criticised for his on-field antics and known as a ‘rascal’ among the league, Cody Weightman is still an up-and-comer in the AFL. However, the crafty forward is starting to play some consistent footy, kicking goals and applying forward pressure. The young star has kicked 12 goals so far this year, and looks dangerous every time the ball goes near him. Whether it’s in the air or on the ground, Weightman is developing as an impressive small forward and is pivotal to the Bulldogs’ chances in 2022.
Notable mentions
Jamarra Ugle-Hagan, Lachlan McNeil, Riley Garcia and Rhylee West
