AFL 2022: Every club’s predicted best 22

Jake Kelly was a low-profile free agent signing but he could transform Essendon’s backline. Our experts name the best 22 for every team.

AFL Round 9. 16/05/2021 . Melbourne vs Carlton at the MCG, Melbourne. James Jordon of the Demons clears . Pic: Michael Klein

The countdown to the AFL season is on, but how will your team line up in Round 1?

Every coach knows the best possible line-up on paper and who runs out in the season opener can be very different things, but if the planets aligned what would your team’s best 22 look like?

Who makes the cut, who misses out and who is ready for a new role this season?

Scroll down for our expert verdict for every club.

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ADELAIDE

B: Luke Brown, Jordon Butts, Andrew McPherson

HB: Will Hamill, Tom Doedee, Brodie Smith

C: Paul Seedsman, Ben Keays, Jordan Dawson

HF: Wayne Milera, Riley Thilthorpe, Harry Schoenberg

F: Ned McHenry, Taylor Walker*, Josh Rachele

Foll: Reilly O’Brien, Rory Laird, Rory Sloane

Int: Lachlan Sholl, Darcy Fogarty, Matt Crouch, Chayce Jones

Sub: Sam Berry

EMG: Shane McAdam, Jackson Hately, Nick Murray, Lachlan Murphy

* suspended for first three rounds of 2022

Crows star Rory Laird will continue in the midfield in 2022. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos

BRISBANE LIONS

B: Brandon Starcevich, Darcy Gardiner, Marcus Adams

HB: Daniel Rich, Harris Andrews, Ryan Lester

C: Hugh McCluggage, Dayne Zorko, Mitch Robinson

HF: Zac Bailey, Dan McStay, Cameron Rayner

F: Lincoln McCarthy, Joe Daniher, Charlie Cameron

Foll: Oscar McInerney, Lachie Neale, Jarryd Lyons

I/C: Darcy Fort, Callum Ah Chee, Jarrod Berry, Jax Prior

Sub: Keidan Coleman

EMG: Jack Payne, Deven Robertson, Darcy Wilmot, James Madden

Unavailable due to long-term injury: Eric Hipwood

Cam Rayner will be a welcome addition to the Lions side this year. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

CARLTON

B: Liam Stocker, Jacob Weitering, Nic Newman

HB: Adam Saad, Mitch McGovern, Zac Williams

C: George Hewett, Sam Walsh, Paddy Dow

HF: Jack Martin, Charlie Curnow, Zac Fisher

F: Jack Silvagni, Harry McKay, Ed Curnow

Foll: Marc Pittonet, Patrick Cripps, Adam Cerra

I/C: Tom De Koning, Lewis Young, Will Setterfield, Sam Docherty

Sub: Jack Newnes

EMG: Brodie Kemp, Lachie Plowman, Jesse Motlop, Matt Owies, Josh Honey

COLLINGWOOD

B: Jeremy Howe, Jordan Roughead, Brayden Maynard

HB: Scott Pendlebury, Darcy Moore, Isaac Quaynor

C: Josh Daicos, Jack Crisp, John Noble

HF: Oliver Henry, Brody Mihocek, Patrick Lipinski

F: Steele Sidebottom, Darcy Cameron, Jamie Elliott

FOLL: Brodie Grundy, Jordan De Goey, Taylor Adams

I/C: Nick Daicos, Trent Bianco, Finlay Macrae, Will Hoskin-Elliott

Sub: Caleb Poulter

EMG: Will Kelly, Jack Ginnivan, Callum Brown, Tyler Brown, Mason Cox

Will Nick Daicos slot straight in at Collingwood? Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos

ESSENDON

B: Jake Kelly, Jayden Laverde, Mason Redman

FB: Dyson Heppell, Jordan Ridley, Nick Hind

C: Cox, Merrett, McGrath

HF: Will Snelling, Harrison Jones, Kyle Langford

F: Devon Smith, Peter Wright, Jake Stringer

Foll: Sam Draper, Darcy Parish, Jye Caldwell

I/C: Dylan Shiel, Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti, Archie Perkins, James Stewart

Sub: Alec Waterman

Emg: Matt Guelfi, Michael Hurley, Ben Hobbs, Garrett McDonagh

The arrival of former Crow Jake Kelly could free up Jordan Ridley this season. Picture: Michael Klein

FREMANTLE

B: Griffin Logue, Alex Pearce, Luke Ryan

HB: Jordan Clark, Brennan Cox, Hayden Young

C: Michael Frederick, Andrew Brayshaw, James Aish

HF: Neil Erasmus, Matt Taberner, Michael Walters

F: Lachie Schultz, Rory Lobb, Jye Amiss

Foll: Sean Darcy, Nat Fyfe, Caleb Serong

I/C: David Mundy, Heath Chapman, Will Brodie, Sam Sturt

Sub: Liam Henry

EMG: Josh Treacy, Blake Acres, Nathan Wilson, Darcy Tucker

GEELONG

B: Jed Bews, Mark Blicavs, Jake Kolodjashnij

HB: Tom Stewart, Jack Henry, Mark O’Connor

C: Isaac Smith, Cam Guthrie, Mitch Duncan

HF: Jeremy Cameron, Esava Ratugolea, Sam Menegola

F: Gary Rohan, Tom Hawkins, Brad Close

Foll: Rhys Stanley, Patrick Dangerfield, Joel Selwood

I/C: Brandan Parfitt, Quinton Narkle, Zach Tuohy, Gryan Miers

Sub: Tom Atkins

EMG: Jon Ceglar, Max Holmes, Cooper Stephens, Shaun Higgins

GOLD COAST

B: Wil Powell, Sam Collins, Sean Lemmens

HB: Jack Lukosius, Charlie Ballard, Jack Bowes

C: Oleg Markov, Touk Miller, Brandon Ellis

HF: David Swallow, Mabior Chol, Lachie Weller

F: Izak Rankine, Ben King, Malcolm Rosas Jnr

Foll: Jarrod Witts, Matt Rowell, Noah Anderson

I/C: Levi Casboult, Elijah Hollands, Connor Budarick, Nick Holman

Sub: Sam Flanders

EMG: Brayden Fiorini, Alex Davies, Charlie Constable, Mac Andrew

Callan Ward is part of a strong GWS midfield. Picture: Michael Klein

GWS GIANTS

B: Phil Davis, Sam Taylor, Connor Idun

HB: Lachie Whitfield, Nick Haynes, Isaac Cumming

C: Harry Perryman, Jacob Hopper, Josh Kelly

HF: Toby Greene*, Harry Himmelberg, Daniel Lloyd

F: Brent Daniels, Jesse Hogan, Bobby Hill

R: Braydon Preuss, Tim Taranto, Stephen Coniglio

Inter: Callan Ward, Matt Flynn, Tom Green, Lachie Ash

Sub: Matt de Boer

EMG: Jarrod Brander, Adam Kennedy, Tanner Bruhn, Jake Riccardi

* suspended for first five matches of 2022

HAWTHORN

B: Jarman Impey, Kyle Hartigan, Blake Hardwick

HB: Jack Scrimshaw, Sam Frost, James Sicily

C: Tom Phillips, James Worpel, Will Day

HF: Luke Breust, Jacob Koschitzke, Liam Shiels

F: Dylan Moore, Mitchell Lewis, Chad Wingard

Foll: Ben McEvoy, Jaeger O’Meara, Tom Mitchell

I/C: Changkuoth Jiath, Jack Gunston, Jai Newcombe, Dan Howe

Sub: Denver Grainger-Barras

EMG: Max Lynch, Tyler Brockman, Lachie Bramble, Conor Nash

Changkuoth Jiath was one of the surprise packets of 2021. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos

MELBOURNE

B: Michael Hibberd, Steven May, Jake Lever

HB: Trent Rivers, Harrison Petty, Christian Salem

C: Angus Brayshaw, Christan Petracca, Zac Langdon

HF: Alex Neal-Bullen, Tom McDonald, Tom Sparrow

F: Charlie Spargo, Ben Brown, Bayley Fritsch

Foll: Max Gawn, Clayton Oliver, Jack Viney

I/C: James Harmes, Luke Jackson, Jake Bowey, Kysaiah Pickett

Sub: James Jordon

Emg: Adam Tomlinson, Jayden Hunt, Sam Weideman, Luke Dunstan

NORTH MELBOURNE

B: Jack Ziebell, Ben McKay, Kayne Turner

HB: Aaron Hall, Aidan Corr, Aiden Bonar

C: Jaidyn Stephenson, Jy Simpkin, Hugh Greenwood

HF: Jason Horne-Francis, Nick Larkey, Tarryn Thomas

F: Cam Zurhaar, Callum Coleman-Jones, Curtis Taylor

Foll: Todd Goldstein, Ben Cunnington, Luke Davies-Uniacke

I/C: Luke McDonald, Tom Powell, Jed Anderson*, Will Phillips

Sub: Bailey Scott

EMG: Josh Walker, Atu Bosenavulagi, Phoenix Spicer, Flynn Perez

*if eligible

No. 1 draft pick Jason Horne-Francis is ready to go. Picture: James Elsby/AFL Photos

PORT ADELAIDE

B: Tom Jonas, Tom Clurey, Darcy Byrne-Jones

HB: Dan Houston, Aliir Aliir, Ryan Burton

C: Xavier Duursma, Ollie Wines, Karl Amon

HF: Connor Rozee, Mitch Georgiades, Robbie Gray

F: Orazio Fantasia, Charlie Dixon, Steven Motlop

Foll: Scott Lycett, Travis Boak, Zak Butters

IC: Willem Drew, Lachie Jones, Miles Bergman, Riley Bonner

Sub: Todd Marshall

EMG: Martin Frederick, Sam Mayes

Unavailable due to long-term injury: Kane Farrell

RICHMOND

B: Dylan Grimes, Noah Balta, Nick Vlastuin

HB: Dan Rioli, Robbie Tarrant, Jayden Short

C: Jack Graham, Dustin Martin, Kamdyn McIntosh

HF: Kane Lambert, Tom Lynch, Shai Bolton

F: Shane Edwards, Jack Riewoldt, Liam Baker

Foll: Toby Nankervis, Dion Prestia, Trent Cotchin

I/C: Nathan Broad, Sydney Stack, Jack Ross, Ivan Soldo

Sub: Marlion Pickett

EMG: Riley Collier-Dawkins, Jake Aarts, Matthew Parker, Jason Castagna

Will Dustin Martin be back to his best? Picture: Michael Klein.

ST KILDA

B: Callum Wilkie, Dougal Howard, Jimmy Webster

HB: Jack Sinclair, Tom Highmore, Hunter Clark

C: Bradley Hill, Brad Crouch, Jack Billings

HF: Jade Gresham, Rohan Marshall, Tim Membrey

F: Dan Butler, Max King, Jack Higgins

Foll: Paddy Ryder, Jack Steele, Zak Jones

I/C: Seb Ross, Ben Paton, Dan Hannebery, Cooper Sharman

Sub: Nick Coffield

Emerg: Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera, Daniel McKenzie, Jack Bytel, Jarryn Geary

SYDNEY

B: Harry Cunningham, Lewis Melican, Dane Rampe

HB: Jake Lloyd, Tom McCartin, Nick Blakey

C: Justin McInerney, Callum Mills, Ollie Florent

HF: Tom Papley, Peter Ladhams, Errol Gulden

F: Sam Wicks, Lance Franklin, Isaac Heeney

Foll: Tom Hickey, Luke Parker, Josh Kennedy

Inter: Chad Warner, Hayden McLean, James Rowbottom, Braeden Campbell

Sub: Will Hayward

EMG: Dylan Stephens, Logan McDonald, Sam Reid, Will Gould

WESTERN BULLDOGS

B: Taylor Duryea, Zaine Cordy, Bailey Williams

HB: Bailey Dale, Alex Keath, Caleb Daniel

C: Bailey Smith, Tom Liberatore, Lachie Hunter

HF: Adam Treloar, Aaron Naughton, Josh Dunkley

F: Cody Weightman, Tim English, Jamarra Ugle-Hagan

R: Stef Martin, Marcus Bontempelli, Jack Macrae

I/C: Laitham Vandermeer, Tim O’Brien, Jason Johannisen, Mitch Hannan

Sub: Anthony Scott

EMG: Lachlan McNeil, Josh Schache, Sam Darcy, Hayden Crozier

Unavailable due to long-term injury: Josh Bruce

Bulldog Jamarra Ugle-Hagan could be ready to have an impact. Picture: Michael Klein

WEST COAST

B: Josh Rotham, Tom Barrass, Tom Cole

HB: Liam Duggan, Jeremy McGovern, Shannon Hurn

C: Andrew Gaff, Luke Shuey, Dom Sheed

HF: Tim Kelly, Jack Darling*, Liam Ryan

F: Oscar Allen, Josh Kennedy, Jamie Cripps

Foll: Nic Naitanui, Elliot Yeo, Jack Redden

I/C: Jackson Nelson, Willie Rioli, Sam Petrevski-Seton, Bailey Williams

Sub: Zac Langdon

Emerg: Alex Witherden, Jake Waterman, Harry Edwards, Jack Petruccelle

*if eligible

Originally published as AFL 2022: Every club’s predicted best 22