ON TUESDAY night, the AFL Players’ Association announced its 22under22 squad, with five Melbourne players featuring.

In the 40-player squad, Melbourne and Gold Coast both had five players named, the most of any team in the competition.

Currently in a break-out AFL season, Luke Jackson is among the five Melbourne players in the squad.

Jackson who is in contention for the NAB AFL Rising Star Award, has continued to develop week by week, particularly demonstrating his strength in the last two rounds, kicking a career-high four goals in Round 20 and following up with a 21-disposal game in Round 21. 

Kysaiah Pickett, James Jordon, Trent Rivers and Harrison Petty also feature in the 40-man squad. 

The squad is decided based on the top players in the league aged 22 or under and is restricted to those who have played a minimum of 12 games in the 2021 campaign.

You have the opportunity to decide on the final team by voting here, with voting open until August 18. The final team will be announced on August 24.

You can check out the full squad below.

The 2021 AFL Players Association 22under22 squad

DEFENDERS
Jordon Butts (Adel), Brandon Starcevich (BL), Isaac Quaynor (Coll), Jordan Ridley (Ess), Charlie Ballard (GC), Wil Powell (GC), Sam Taylor (GWS), Changkuoth Jiath (Haw), Harrison Petty (Melb), Trent Rivers (Melb), Tom McCartin (Syd)

MIDFIELDERS
Sam Walsh (Carl), Josh Daicos (Coll), Adam Cerra (Frem), Andrew Brayshaw (Frem), Caleb Serong (Frem), Jack Lukosius (GC), Noah Anderson (GC), Tom Green (GWS), James Worpel (Haw), James Jordon (Melb), Luke Davies-Uniacke (NM), Willem Drew (PA), Shai Bolton (Rich), James Rowbottom (Syd), Justin McInerney (Syd), Bailey Smith (WB)

FORWARDS 
Harry Schoenberg (Adel), Zac Bailey (BL), Ben King (GC), Dylan Moore (Haw), Kysaiah Pickett (Melb), Jaidyn Stephenson (NM), Tarryn Thomas (NM), Mitchell Georgiades (PA), Max King (StK), Errol Gulden (Syd), Aaron Naughton (WB)

RUCKS
Luke Jackson (Melb), Oscar Allen (WC)