PORT ADELAIDE duo Zak Butters and Connor Rozee have each been recognised with selection in the AFL Players' Association 2022 22under22 squad of 40 players.
The AFL Players’ Association Board selected the squad of 40 players with the support from Champion Data, with fans to vote to select the final 22.
Vote for Zak and Connor: Have your say and vote our young guns into the final team
The concept was introduced in 2013 to reward young players for having an impact at their club in the early stages of their careers.
Players are rewarded for their consistency throughout the 2022 season and must have played at least 11 games to be eligible.
Butters has returned strongly in 2022 following an injury-interrupted year last year.
Sharing his time across the forward line and midfield, the 21-year-old is averaging a career high 22 disposals and three clearances per game.
The Darley product was picked up by Port Adelaide with the 12th selection in the 2018 AFL National Draft and has played 66 AFL games so far.
It’s the second time he has been selected in the 22under22 squad after being named in 2020 and he is one of 15 players, along with Rozee, to have previously made the team.
Rozee was part of the final side in his debut year in 2019, when he also finished as the club’s leading goal kicker.
The 22-year-old has played all 20 matches so far this season and a move to the midfield in Round 5 has seen him achieving career-best numbers in disposals (22.4 per game), tackles (3.5 per game) and clearances (3.2) among other statistics.
Taken at pick five in the same draft as Butters, Rozee continues to excite supporters with his speed, agility and class on the ball.
Sydney has more players than any other club nominated in the 40-man squad with six while Fremantle has five.
Butters was the last Port Adelaide player to make the final 22 when he was picked in 2020. Willem Drew and Mitch Georgiades were overlooked for last year’s final side after being named as part of the 40-man squad.
Fans are now asked to vote for the final team before August 17.
The fan whose team is best matched by the final team will be awarded a prize from the AFL Players’ Association.
The final 22 will be announced on Tuesday 23 August.
