Three young Hawks are in contention of landing a spot in the 2021 AFL Players' Association 22Under22 side after being named in the 40-man squad.
Midfielder James Worpel, defender Changkuoth Jiath and small forward Dylan Moore are all eyeing a selection in the final team.
The fan-voted concept recognises the league’s best young players under the age of 22.
The announcement comes off the back of a continuing impressive year for both Worpel and Moore, while Jiath had a break-out season prior to getting injured in Round 17.
For Worpel, it is the second time he could be selected in the final team, after earning a spot on the interchange in 2019.
Hawthorn is one of six teams to have three or more players represented in the extended squad.
Vote for Worpel, Jiath and Moore here
The Hawks in the mix:
James Worpel
Worpel has continued to develop as one of the club’s key figures of the future in 2021.
Now in his fourth year in the brown and gold, the 22-year-old was initially drafted by Hawthorn with pick number 45 in the 2017 National Draft.
In 2019 he was voted the best player for Hawthorn for the season, collecting the Peter Crimmins Medal, becoming the youngest winner of that record since Leigh Matthews won it in 1971.
Worpel has since established himself as a fierce competitor that goes in to win hard ball, averaging the fourth-most tackles, disposals and inside 50s of any Hawk this season, second-best for centre clearances and third for contested possessions.
Changkuoth Jiath
The young defender produced a break-out season in 2021 following the 16 games he played before getting injured.
The 16 outings added to his five senior games in 2020, after featuring twice at AFL level in 2019.
He first arrived at Hawthorn in 2017 after the club selected him as a Category B rookie.
Prior to his PCL injury in Round 17 that ruled him out for the remaining of the season, the 21-year-old appeared to grow in confidence with every outing, as his game sense at the elite level improved.
He had a stunning start to the season, having received coaches' votes and back-to-back MVP plaudits in the first few of his outings.
In his 16 appearances this year, he averaged 20.3 disposals per game, and produced a career-best performance in Round 13 against Sydney with 28 touches and recording 553 metres gained.
Dylan Moore
Moore came to the club after being selected as pick 67 in the 2017 National Draft and has flourished in his third year at the Hawks.
It has been quite the turnaround for the 22-year-old who struggled to break into the senior line-up for most of the 2020 season.
Now, he's played every game this year, and recorded an impressive 27 goals, in what has become his break-out season.
He currently sits as his side's second-highest goal kicker for 2021, falling just behind Breust (33), and has kicked multiple goals on seven occasions this season from 20 appearances for the Hawks.
One of his strongest performances came in Round 19 against Adelaide where he collected an equal career-high 25 disposals, alongside a team-high nine score involvements including two goal assists and a goal.
The full 40-man 22Under22 squad:
Defenders: Jordon Butts (Adelaide), Brandon Starcevich (Brisbane), Isaac Quaynor (Collingwood), Jordan Ridley (Essendon), Charlie Ballard (Gold Coast), Wil Powell (Gold Coast), Sam Taylor (Greater Western Sydney), Changkuoth Jiath (Hawthorn), Harrison Petty (Melbourne), Trent Rivers (Melbourne) and Tom McCartin (Sydney)
Midfielders: Sam Walsh (Carlton), Josh Daicos (Collingwood), Adam Cerra (Fremantle), Andrew Brayshaw (Fremantle), James Worpel (Hawthorn), Caleb Serong (Fremantle), Jack Lukosius (Gold Coast), Noah Anderson (Gold Coast), Tom Green (Greater Western Sydney), James Jordon (Melbourne), Luke Davis-Uniacke (North Melbourne), William Drew (Port Adelaide), Shai Bolton (Richmond), James Rowbottom (Sydney), Justin McInerney (Sydney) and Bailey Smith (Western Bulldogs)
Forward: Harry Schoenberg (Adelaide), Zac Bailey (Brisbane), Ben King (Gold Coast), Dylan Moore (Hawthorn), Kysaiah Pickett (Melbourne), Jaidyn Stephenson (North Melbourne), Tarryn Thomas (North Melbourne), Mitchell Georgiades (Port Adelaide), Max King (St Kilda), Errol Gulden (Sydney) and Aaron Naughton (Western Bulldogs)
Rucks: Luke Jackson (Melbourne) and Oscar Allen (West Coast).
Fans can now visit 22under22.com.au to cast their vote, before the final team is revealed on August 24 via the AFL Players’ Association’s social media channels.
Fans who submit a team that matches the final 22Under22 team will automatically go into the draw to win a limited edition 22Under22 jumper signed by the captain and vice-captain.
Voting closes on August 18.
