Sydney Swans young guns Isaac Heeney, Will Hayward and Ben Ronke have made telling impacts in the early days of their careers – and the trio has on Tuesday received a rubber stamp.
Heeney, Hayward and Ronke have all been named in the AFL Players’ Association’s 22under22 40-man squad, a pool of talent boasting the competition’s brightest young stars.
While Heeney burst on to the scene in 2015 as a highly promising small forward, the QBE Sydney Swans Academy product has since blossomed into an outstanding midfielder.
He is thriving under the guidance of battle-hardened on-ballers Josh Kennedy, Luke Parker, Dan Hannebery and Kieren Jack, as well as the coaching of midfield mentors Brett Kirk and Dean Cox.
Hayward has piled up 37 games of AFL experience and is firing in Sydney’s forward 50, while Ronke has enjoyed a breakout season in his second year in red and white.
The 20-year-old booted seven goals and laid 10 tackles to earn the AFL’s Round 8 Rising Star Award.
Now in its sixth year, 22under22 is the AFL’s only recognised fan-voted award and provides the footy public with the power to select the final 22.
Fans can now visit 22under22.com.au to cast their vote, before the final team is revealed at the AFL Players’ MVP Awards on Thursday, August 30.
Fans who submit a team that matches the final 22under22 team will automatically go into the draw to win an AFL Players’ prize pack.
Voting closes on Tuesday, August 28, 2018.
22under22 40-man squad:
Defenders: Tom Doedee (Adelaide), Wayne Milera (Adelaide), Harris Andrews (Brisbane), Alex Witherden (Brisbane), Andrew McGrath (Essendon), Conor McKenna (Essendon), Ed Langdon (Fremantle), Lachie Weller (Gold Coast), Dougal Howard (Port Adelaide), Jayden Short (Richmond), Bailey Williams (Western Bulldogs).
Forwards: Eric Hipwood (Brisbane), Charlie Curnow (Carlton), Jordan De Goey (Collingwood), Jaidyn Stephenson (Collingwood), Bayley Fritsch (Melbourne), Alex Neal-Bullen (Melbourne), Dan Butler (Richmond), Jade Gresham (St Kilda), Ben Ronke (Sydney), Will Hayward (Sydney), Billy Gowers (Western Bulldogs).
Midfielders: Hugh McCluggage (Brisbane), Zac Fisher (Carlton), Tom Phillips (Collingwood), Zach Merrett (Essendon), Touk Miller (Gold Coast), Tim Taranto (GWS Giants), Jacob Hopper (GWS Giants), Angus Brayshaw (Melbourne), James Harmes (Melbourne), Clayton Oliver (Melbourne), Christian Petracca (Melbourne), Sam Powell-Pepper (Port Adelaide), Jack Steele (St Kilda), Isaac Heeney (Sydney), Marcus Bontempelli (Western Bulldogs), Toby McLean (Western Bulldogs).
Ruckmen: Sean Darcy (Fremantle), Tim English (Western Bulldogs).
