A dynamic duo in Collingwood’s young brigade of rising stars have received league-wide recognition by being selected in the AFL Players Associations’ 22under22 team.
Brodie Grundy (22) and Darcy Moore (19) were chosen by the AFLPA and then selected by fans to be part of a team representing the best young talent in the game.
Grundy is the sole ruckman in the side, while Moore sits in a forward pocket alongside Essendon’s Joe Daniher and Jake Stringer from the Western Bulldogs.
The rise of the Collingwood ruckman is one that has come in leaps and bounds in 2016.
After missing round one, Grundy played every game for the remainder of the season and recorded career-high averages in possessions, goals-per-game, hit-outs and clearances.
He kicked a remarkable match-winning goal against Richmond in round two, before demanding greater external attention with an impressive run of form late in the season.
“Brodie Grundy became one of the game’s top ruckman in his third season,” Jay Clark of the Herald Sun wrote on September 2.
The accolade marks the second time the South Australian has made the 22under22 team. Interestingly, a Collingwood player has held done the ruck position for three-straight years, with Jarrod Witts named in the team in 2013.
Meanwhile, Moore’s position in the 22 cements his place as one of the most impressive young forwards in the AFL.
After playing nine games in his debut year, the former Oakleigh Charger increased his output to 15 appearances in 2016.
He kicked 24 goals, including three bags of three in rounds seven, 19 and 21.
The second of which against West Coast showed the greatest taste of what could be in store in years to come.
Moore was outstanding throughout the first half at the MCG. He took six marks and kicked just short of half of Collingwood’s score at the main break.
The downside of which was a hamstring injury, which quickly ended the breakout game. However Moore did enough to win a Rising Star nomination and cement his place among the game’s best young players.
He does so with Grundy, a close friend and fellow shining light of the future of Collingwood.
2016 AFLPA 22under22 TEAM
B: Rory Laird (Adel), Jacob Weitering (Carl), Sam Docherty (Carl)
HB: Callum Mills (Syd), Jake Lever (Adel), Zac Williams (GWS)
C: Zach Merrett (Ess), Patrick Cripps (Carl), Stephen Coniglio (GWS)
HF: Isaac Heeney (Syd), Jesse Hogan (Melb), Christian Petracca (Melb)
F: Jack Stringer (WB), Joe Daniher (Ess), Darcy Moore (Coll)
Foll: Brodie Grundy (Coll), Marcus Bontempelli (WB), Jack Viney (Melb)
Int: Jack Martin (GC), Tim Membrey (St K), Ollie Wines (Port), Lachie Hunter (WB)
Magpies in the 22under22 team
2012: Steele Sidebottom, Dayne Beams
2013: Steele Sidebottom
2014: Tom Langdon, Jamie Elliott, Jarrod Witts
2015: Brodie Grundy, Tom Langdon
2016: Darcy Moore, Brodie Grundy
Pies duo in AFL's best young stars
Two of Collingwood's rising stars have been named in the AFL Players Association 22under22 team.
