Three Brisbane Lions players – Ryan Lester, James Aish, and Lewy Taylor – are among a squad of 45 young guns vying for a place in the AFL Players Associations’ prestigious 22Under22 team.

The 22Under22 concept was launched in 2013 to recognise the AFL’s best young talent. To be eligible for selection, players must be aged 22 or younger for the entire AFL season (including finals).

The AFL Players’ Association Board, led by President Luke Ball, picked the preliminary squad of 45 players, from which the footy public will decide the final team by voting on the AFL Players’ Facebook page.

Lester, who has played 51 games in four seasons with the Club, has listed among the potential defenders, and is the most experienced Lions player named in the squad.

Aish (midfield) and Taylor (forward), meanwhile, both earned a nod for their standout debut seasons.

Although you can’t argue with the quality of the 45-man squad, there were a handful of other Lions players who could consider themselves desperately unlucky to miss out – namely Justin Clarke, Josh Green, and Sam Mayes.

All AFL clubs are represented in this year’s 22Under22 squad, with at least one player from each team selected in the group of 45. Gold Coast have the most players represented, with eight Suns selected in the squad.

The final 22Under22 team will be announced at the 2014 AFL Players’ MVP Awards on Tuesday 9 September. Players named in the team will receive a specially designed, limited edition New Era cap.

Lions fans are encouraged to vote for Lester, Aish, and Taylor now by selecting their 22Under22 team through the AFL Players Facebook page – entries close on Thursday 4 September.

Fans who submit a team that matches the final 22Under22 team will automatically go into the draw to win the ultimate 22Under22 prize pack.

The 22Under22 squad of 45 can be found below:

Defenders (12)
Brodie Smith (ADE)
Daniel Talia (ADE)
Jack Hombsch (POR)
Shaun Atley (NOR)
Ryan Lester (BRI)
Tom Langdon (COL)
Steven May (GC)
Trent McKenzie (GC)
Kade Kolodjashnij (GC)
Luke McDonald (NM)
Jack Newnes (STK)
Jarman Impey (PA)

Midfielders (18)
Adam Treloar (GWS)
Dyson Heppell (ESS)
Dion Prestia (GC)
Jaeger O’Meara (GC)
David Swallow (GC)
Jackson Macrae (WB)
Brandon Ellis (RIC)
Ollie Wines (PA)
Luke Parker (SYD)
Tom Liberatore (WB)
Dom Tyson (MEL)
Luke Dahlhaus (WB)
Lachie Neale (FRE)
Brad Hill (HAW)
Jared Polec (PA)
Cam Guthrie (GEE)
James Aish (BRI)
Harry Cunningham (SYD)

Forwards (13)
Chad Wingard (PA)
Jack Gunston (HAW)
Harley Bennell (GC)
Jamie Elliott (COL)
Jake Carlisle (ESS)
Jack Darling (WC)
Devon Smith (GWS)
Tom Lynch (GC)
Jack Billings (STK)
Marcus Bontempelli (WB)
Jeremy Cameron (GWS)
Lewis Taylor (BRI)
Troy Menzel (CAR)

Rucks (2)
Billy Longer (STK)
Jarrod Witts (COL)