Young defenders show the way for Adelaide and Port Adelaide in best under-22 squad

CROWS Tom Doedee and Wayne Milera and Port Adelaide’s Sam Powell Pepper and Dougal Howard have been named in this year’s AFL Players’ Association under-22 squad.

FLYING HIGH: Port Adelaide defender Dougal Howard takes a strong mark against West Coast last week. Picture: David Mariuz (AAP).

TWO Crows and two Power players have been named in this year’s AFL Players’ Association under-22 squad.

Defenders Tom Doedee — a genuine Rising Star contender — and the exciting Wayne Milera are Adelaide’s representatives while backman Dougal Howard and tough midfielder Sam Powell-Pepper are the Port Adelaide players picked in the 40-man squad, which is to be trimmed to a final 22-player team.

Doedee has enjoyed a breakout season in his third year on the Crows’ list.

After debuting in round one against Essendon, the intercept marking defender has played 19 of a possible 20 games and seamlessly filled the backline void left by Jake Lever’s controversial move to Melbourne.

Doedee, 21, has averaged 18 disposals and leads Adelaide for intercept marks with 38.

He also ranks second at the club for intercept possessions (115) and spoils (83).

Milera, 20, has excelled since moving to half-back in the absence of long-term injured defender Brodie Smith.

He has played 17 games this season and averaged a career-high 19 disposals with a career-high 33 against Gold Coast in round six.

Milera’s sidestep and ability to break tackles and dance out of traffic has been a highlight of the Crows’ disappointing season.

Howard, 22, has played 18 games for Port this year and in his fourth season on the list has finally consolidated himself in its best team as a key defender.

Adelaide’s Tom Doedee celebrates a goal in the Showdown. Picture: Sarah Reed

He leads the league for one-percenters and holds the record for most spoils in a game with 22.

Powell-Pepper, 20, hasn’t quite reached the heights of his 2017 rookie season when he was third in the Rising Star award.

He was dropped for last week’s clash with West Coast but has still averaged 20 in 15 games and set a club record for tackles in a game when he laid 17 against Melbourne in round 14.

The SA-based quartet join guns like Western Bulldog Marcus Bontempelli, who will make the team for the fifth consecutive year, Essendon's Zach Merrett, Sydney’s Isaac Heeney, Melbourne’s Clayton Oliver and Carlton’s Charlie Curnow in being selected by the AFLPA Board for their performances this season.

To be eligible for selection, players must be aged 22 years or under for the entire season, including finals.

“Despite their tender age, all players in this squad have had a significant impact on their teams this season, which makes the task of selecting the final 22 players all the more difficult,’’ AFLPA president Patrick Dangerfield said.

The final team will be voted on by fans (visit 22under22.com.au), with voting closing on August 30.

The squad is:

Defenders: Tom Doedee, Wayne Milera (Adel); Harris Andrews, Alex Witherden (Bris); Andrew McGrath, Conor McKenna (Ess); Ed Langdon (Frem); Lachie Weller (GC); Dougal Howard (Port); Jayden Short (Rich); Bailey Williams (WB).

Forwards: Eric Hipwood (Bris); Charlie Curnow (Carl); Jordan De Goey, Jaidyn Stephenson (Coll); Bailey Fritsch, Alex Neal-Bullen (Melb); Dan Butler (Rich); Jade Gresham (SK); Ben Ronke, Will Hayward (Syd); Billy Gowers (WB).

Midfielders: Hugh McCluggage (Bris), Zac Fisher (Carl); Tom Phillips (Coll); Zach Merrett (Ess); Touk Miller (GC); Tim Taranto, Jacob Hopper (GWS); Angus Brayshaw, James Harmes, Clayton Oliver, Christian Petracca (Melb); Sam Powell-Pepper (Port); Jack Steele (SK); Isaac Heeney (Syd); Marcus Bontempelli, Toby McLean (WB).

Rucks: Sean Darcy (Frem); Tim English (WB).