GIANTS duo Tom Green and Sam Taylor have both been recognised with selection in the AFL Players' Association 2021 22under22 squad of 40 players.
The AFL Players’ Association Board selected the squad of 40 players with the support from Champion Data, with fans to vote to select the final 22.
The concept was introduced in 2013 to reward young players for having an impact at their club in the early stages of their career.
To be eligible players must have played at least 12 games in 2021.
Tom Green has continued to develop into one of the best young midfielders in the AFL, with the 20-year-old favourite to take out the NAB AFL Rising Star Award later this year.
Green became a member of the GIANTS Academy when he was 12 and arrived at the club via pick No.10 in the 2019 NAB AFL Draft.
The contested ball-winning bull played has played 23 games since his debut in 2020 and received his second NAB AFL Rising Star nomination after racking up 24 disposals and a goal against Richmond in round nine.
In 2021, the Canberra product has averaged 20.5 disposals and 4.4 clearances per game, ranking him as elite against others in the same position.
Selected at pick 28 in the 2017 NAB AFL Draft, Sam Taylor played 22 games in his breakout second season in 2019, and featured in the GIANTS' grand final loss to Richmond that year.
But he managed just four games last season as a rare infection left him unable to walk properly for three months and caused him to lose 11kg.
Since returning to the field earlier this year, the 22-year-old has re-established himself as one of the competition's best young defenders. He produced a career-best performance in round 21 against Geelong with 21 disposals, 10 rebound 50s and 17 intercept possessions.
Voting is open now until August 18, with the final team to be announced on August 24.
The fan whose team is best matched by the final team will be awarded a prize from the AFL Players’ Association.
