GIANTS star Tom Green has been rewarded for his stellar season with selection in the AFL Players’ Association 22Under22 team.

Introduced in 2013, the 22Under22 side recognises the brightest young talent in the AFL by comprising a team of the best 22 players aged 22 and under each season.

After an initial squad is chosen by an AFL selection panel, the public are then given the power to vote for each year’s final 22 - with the 2023 side announced on Wednesday.

While three GIANTS made the initial squad - with emerging stars Finn Callaghan and Lachie Ash recognised - it was their big-bodied teammate Green who made the final cut after the public vote.

Despite previously being selected in two 22Under22 squads, it is the first time Green has made the final team.

The recognition comes during a career-best season for the 22-year-old, with the inside bull leading the entire competition in disposals, averaging 31.9 per game, to go along with 5.9 clearances and 5.3 tackles a game.

Further enhancing what is already an All-Australian calibre season, Green’s selection comes following a new career-high 39 disposal performance in the GIANTS’ record-breaking 126-point win over Essendon on Saturday.

After tying his previous career-high of 38 touches just a fortnight ago, Green eclipsed the mark with another standout performance in the huge win over the Bombers.

While not voted into the final 22, Callaghan and Ash’s inclusion in the initial 44-man squad was just reward for the emerging duo’s best seasons to date.

Ash, the number four pick in the 2019 national draft, is averaging 24 disposals and 432.4m gained per game to become one of the AFL’s most lethal running defenders and an integral piece of the GIANTS’ future.

Likewise, Callaghan has shown he’s a star on the rise, with the 20-year-old former number three pick having a breakout season.

Combining time on the wing with a new role as an inside midfielder, and in just his second season, the silky smooth midfielder is averaging 21.2 disposals across 18 games to establish himself as one of the competition’s brightest young stars.

22Under22 2023 Team

Captain: Nick Daicos

Vice Captain: Jai Newcombe