AFL’s brightest young stars picked in the AFL Players’ Association’s 22Under22 squad
ZACH Merrett wants to send Jobe Watson out with a fairytale flag as he backs Andy McGrath to win the Rising Star. See Sam Landsberger’s 22Under22 team.
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ESSENDON vice-captain Zach Merrett wants to send Jobe Watson out with a fairytale flag, saying the Bombers can replicate the Western Bulldogs’ stunning triumph last season.
Merrett revealed he and Joe Daniher plotted a swift return to the finals when the young superstars marched into club headquarters after the WADA wipe-out and pledged their commitment to the Dons.
SEE SAM LANDSBERGER’S 22Under22 TEAM AND THE FULL SQUAD BELOW. DO YOU AGREE? HAVE YOUR SAY IN THE COMMENTS
“That’s what me and Joe talked about when they did get suspended — it would be great to send Jobe and Stants (Brent Stanton), or those older players, off with a flag or at least a final,” Merrett told the Herald Sun.
“Essendon hasn’t won a final in (13 years) so it’s something we’d love to do for them.
“I feel like we’ve got a lot of improvement in us. Obviously we want to win it (the premiership) this year, but we’re preparing for next year and the year after that as well.”
The Bombers should become the fourth team in 20 years to convert a wooden spoon into finals by defeating Fremantle at Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
Merrett - one of three Dons selected in the AFL Players’ Association’s 22-Under-22 squad - said Tullamarine was buzzing.
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“To be in the hunt for a finals campaign is super exciting for the whole club — players and staff. But the fans and members are probably more excited than us,” he said.
“It’s really strong to have the VFL going well as well. I think they’re a game out of the top four, so I think obviously with the Bulldogs last year if you have a goof VFL side it pushes the AFL players to keep improving.
“It is a funny one, sometimes it does take someone else to do it for you (Dogs winning the premiership form seventh last season) to realise you can too.”
Teammates Orazio Fantasia and Andy McGrath also made the squad, which was selected by the AFLPA board.
Merrett, 21, backed No.1 pick McGrath to deliver Essendon its first Rising Star since captain Dyson Heppell (2012) when votes are cast next Friday.
One of McGrath’s main Rising Star rivals, Sam Powell-Pepper (Port Adelaide), was not selected in the 40-man squad.
“(McGrath’s) played on some really good and mature forwards,” Merrett said.
“It’s hard to be judged on, but his leadership internally from Monday-Friday has been super.”
Geelong was the only club without a player selected. Luke McDonald was wooden spoon favourite North Melbourne’s only selection after the Kangaroos had no players picked last year.
Josh Kelly was Greater Western Sydney’s sole inclusion in a sign the baby club’s talent-laden list has matured into premiership mode.
Western Bulldogs premiership star Marcus Bontempelli made the grade for the fourth consecutive season and was named 22-Under-22 captain last year.
While the Bombers have faltered against Carlton and Brisbane Lions, Merrett said they would draw confidence from their form against the best.
The Dons have beaten Geelong (17 points), Port Adelaide (70 points) and led Sydney by 19 points before falling to a dramatic one-point loss.
“And (against) the Giants we were in the game until the end, Richmond as well we were there with five minutes to go and got done,” Merrett said.
“So against top teams we’ve been quite consistent and our best footy has matched it with them.”
AFLPA’S 40-MAN 22Under22 SQUAD
ADELAIDE: Jake Lever, Matt Crouch
BRISBANE: Harris Andrews, Lewis Taylor, Eric Hipwood
CARLTON: Charlie Curnow, Patrick Cripps
COLLINGWOOD: Darcy Moore
ESSENDON: Andy McGrath, Orazio Fantasia, Zach Merrett
FREMANTLE: Connor Blakely, Cam McCarthy, Sean Darcy
GEELONG: Nil
GOLD COAST: Jack Martin, Peter Wright
GWS GIANTS: Josh Kelly
HAWTHORN: Ryan Burton, James Sicily
MELBOURNE: Oscar McDonald, Jayden Hunt, Christian Petracca, Clayton Oliver
NORTH MELBOURNE: Luke McDonald
PORT ADELAIDE: Ollie Wines
RICHMOND: Dan Butler, Daniel Rioli
ST KILDA: Jack Billings, Jack Sinclair, Jack Steele
SYDNEY: Callum Mills, Tom Papley, Isaac Heeney, Zak Jones
WEST COAST: Tom Barrass, Dom Sheed
WESTERN BULLDOGS: Marcus Bontempelli, Caleb Daniel, Lachie Hunter, Toby McLean
* To be eligible players must be 22 or under for the entire 2017 season
Originally published as AFL’s brightest young stars picked in the AFL Players’ Association’s 22Under22 squad
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