Three of the Sydney Swans finest young players have been acknowledged for their outstanding season with selection in the AFLPA 22under 22 team.
Isaac Heeney, Callum Mills and Tom Papley were selected in the side acknowledging the best young talent from across the competition to have achieved consistently throughout the season.
It is Heeney’s second consecutive 22under22 team having averaged 21 disposals a game this season playing across half forward and through the midfield.
Mills, a fellow product of the QBE Sydney Swans Academy, has become an integral part of Sydney's defence (the AFL's best) in what's been a strong second season in the system.
After coming off the rookie list last season Papley has continued to shine booting 29 goals from 19 games this season.
To be eligible, players must be aged 22 years and under for the entirety of the 2017 season, including the finals series.
Now in its fifth year, 22Under22 is the industry’s only recognised fan-voted award and provides the footy public with the authority to select the final team.
Superstar forward Lance Franklin finished fifth in the voting for the Leigh Matthews Trophy for the AFL Players Most Valuable Player of the season.
Franklin finished behind Dustin Martin (winner), Patrick Dangerfield, Josh Kelly and Rory Sloane on the final leader board.
Will Hayward was voted the fourth best first year player in the competition with 35 votes, Rising Star winner Andrew McGrath taking the top honours.
Swans skipper Josh Kennedy (125 votes) narrowly missed being voted as the Best Captain in the competition with Taylor Walker (140 votes) gaining the majority vote from the players.
See below a full list of award winners from the night.
Most Valuable Player - Leigh Matthews Trophy
1. Dustin Martin (Rich) – 1333 votes
2. Patrick Dangerfield (Geel) – 776
3. Josh Kelly (GWS) – 416
4. Rory Sloane (Adel) – 267
5. Lance Franklin (Syd) – 215
Most Courageous
1. Rory Sloane (Adel) – 188 votes
2. Joel Selwood (Geel) – 133
3. Callan Ward (GWS) – 89
4. Luke Hodge (Haw) – 77
5. Dale Morris (WB) – 71
Best First-Year Player
1. Andrew McGrath (Ess) – 274 votes
2. Sam Powell-Pepper (PA) – 250
3. Sam Petrevski-Seton (Carl) – 48
4. Will Hayward (Syd) – 35
5. Tom Stewart (Geel) – 25
Best Captain
1. Taylor Walker (Adel) – 140 votes
2. Josh Kennedy (Syd) – 125
3. Joel Selwood (Geel) – 100
4. Jarryd Roughead (Haw) – 87
5. Robert Murphy (WB) – 46
22under22 Team
B: Andrew McGrath (Ess). Harris Andrews (Bris). Callum Mills (Syd)
HB: Jayden Hunt (Mel). Jake Lever (Adel). Ryan Burton (Haw)
C: Marcus Bontempelli (WB). Clayton Oliver (Mel). Josh Kelly (GWS)
HF: Jack Billing (St K). Charlie Curnow (Carl). Jack Martin (GC)
F: Orazio Fantasia (Ess). Eric Hipwood (Bris). Tom Papley (Syd)
FOLL: Peter Wright (GC), Zach Merrett (Ess). Matt Crouch (Adel)
I/C: James Sicily (Haw), Isaac Heeney (Syd), Ollie Wines (PA), Daniel Rioli (Rich)
