Sydney Swans young gun Montana Ham has been named in the AFL Players’ Association AFLW 22Under22 squad in 2022.

The recognition in the squad is a big achievement for Ham, being the lone Sydney Swan selected in the 40-player squad, which is a fan-voted concept that recognises the best 22 players aged 22 and under for the entirety of the season.

In her first year in the AFLW,  the 18-year old number one draft pick featured strongly in seven games in the Swans inaugural season. She missed two games after sustaining a knee injury in Round 1 and also missed the final fixture due to completing her Year 12 exams.

Ham had an average of 14.1 disposals, 5.1 tackles and 2.9 clearances per game, and also kicked her first AFLW goal in the Round 9 match against Fremantle at Henson Park.

Ham also earned an AFLW Rising Star nomination in Round Four where she was a standout performer for the Swans in their match against Port Adelaide, topping the disposals with 20 in just her second AFLW game, looking energetic and classy at every contest.

Ham was taken with the first pick in the 2022 NAB AFLW Draft from the Western Jets. The 180cm midfielder received All-Australian honours and was named Vic Metro MVP in the NAB League earlier this year.She was also judged MVP for the National AFLW Academy side in their game against the U23 All-Stars.

Click here to cast your vote for Montana Ham in the 22Under22 side.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 22: Montana Ham of the Swans controls the ball during the round nine AFLW match between the Sydney Swans and the Fremantle Dockers at Henson Park on October 22, 2022 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images via AFL Photos)

For a player to be eligible for the squad of 44, they were required to play 50 per cent of season games, equating to five matches. Whilst there is a games minimum, players are rewarded for their consistency across the season.

The concept was first introduced in 2013 in the men’s competition to reward the young players who make an impact on their club and the competition so early in their careers. This is the fourth iteration of the AFLW 22Under22.

The final team will be decided by fans, with voting open for seven days from November 9 to November 16 on the 22Under22 site. We encourage all Swans members and fans to cast their vote for Ham today!

The final team will be announced on November 22 via the AFL Players/ Associations social media channels.

If your team matches the final fan-voted AFLW #22Under22, you could WIN an AFLW #22Under22 guernsey signed by the Captain and Vice-Captain, PLUS your choice of Apple AirPods Pro OR Samsung Galaxy Bud Pros, thanks to Snaffle!