The Melbourne Football Club is heralding a new era of talent, with six of its young guns featuring in the 2026 AFL Players’ Associations’ 22Under22 squad, presented by Intrepid Travel.
Jordyn Allen, Mia Austin, Tahlia Gillard, Molly O’Hehir, Maggie Mahony and Ryleigh Wotherspoon have all been selected in the initial squad of 44, with the Demons the most-represented club in 2026.
Gillard will be vying for her third appearance in the final team, Austin for her second, and the remaining four Demons are gunning for their debut.
The three most represented clubs in this year’s 22Under22 squad are 2026 finalists, with five Western Bulldogs players selected and four Gold Coast Suns receiving a nod.
Hawk Jasmine Fleming, Eagle Ella Roberts and Port’s Matilda Scholz are all chasing their fourth 22Under22 jumper, as they tail the records set by superstars Georgie Prespakis and Charlie Rowbottom, who were selected for the fifth time each in 2025.
This year could also mark the second time Scholz siblings, Matilda and Poppy, have appeared together.
29 of the 44 players selected in the squad are 22Under22 first-timers, with 10 of those first-year players.
The 44-person squad was assembled by inaugural AFLW player and respected commentator Kate McCarthy as Chair of Selectors, with support from the AFLPA.
McCarthy has been impressed by the young talent on show all season.
“This squad is the next generation of stars and we have been lucky to see them break through and shine in 2026,” she said.
“There’s a changing of the guard taking place, with plenty of debut appearances as well as a group of players a couple of years into their careers, and that’s incredibly exciting for the game’s future.
“I can’t wait to watch these players continue to develop and impact the competition in the upcoming finals series and for years to come.”
For a player to be eligible for selection in the squad, they must be 22 and under for the entirety of the season (including Grand Final day – 27 November) and have played at least six matches throughout the 2026 season.
The final 22Under22 team is now in the hands of fans, with voting now open at vote.22under22.com.au until 11.59pm on Thursday, 12 November.
This year’s 22Under22 final line-up will be announced on Thursday, 19 November via the AFLPA’s social media channels and website.
The AFLPA is proud to partner with Intrepid Travel as the major partner of the 22Under22 competition.
Intrepid Travel has been a world leader in responsible travel for 35 years. The company’s mission is to create positive change through the joy of travel, which comes to life on more than 900 trips all designed to truly experience local culture. With its own network of country offices in 35 countries, Intrepid has unique local expertise and perspectives. Globally recognised for their commitment to transparency and ethical travel, they became B-Corp certified in 2018. Intrepid Travel is also the first tour operator with near-term science-based climate targets through the Science Based Targets Initiative, and its not-for-profit, The Intrepid Foundation, has disbursed more than $20 million to more than 160 partners. For more information, download the company’s 2025 Integrated Annual Report and follow Intrepid on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or LinkedIn.