This virus has tipped the world on its head in countless ways, causing untold grief for so many.

From an AFL perspective, the 2020 season disruption has caused enormous turmoil too, with thousands of job losses and heartache, while simultaneously ripping away the very heart and soul of Australian sport.

A very specific outcome of the season’s halt is taking away potentially a full season of prime football from so many of the game’s established greats. 

However a knock-on effect for the sports’s youngest and brightest is that they’ll be looked upon to carry the torch over the next 5-10 years as the league navigates its way through one of its most vulnerable and unpredictable periods in history.

With that in mind, we at Stats Insider thought we’d put together a best-22 of under 23 talent based on our recently launched AFL Player Ratings. 

These are the same ratings we proudly introduced just prior to the season’s start, and which we feel can contribute profoundly to the way our game's analysed. They’re also the same ratings we’re presently using for our ‘Teams of the Decade’ series which we hope you’re enjoying.

A short note on this team: Players who are still 23 years old by the end of June remain eligible for selection which is bad news for the likes of Sydney’s emerging superstar Isaac Heeney, but a wonderful outcome for Bulldog, Caleb Daniel, who qualifies by just eight days.

Without further ado, let’s get to the team.

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BACKLINE

TOM DOEDEE - ADELAIDE

While injury meant the 2018 Rising Star Runner-Up played just 1 game last season, Doedee’s rookie year was outstanding enough to warrant selection in this team. Doedee dominated his first year at AFL level finishing top 10 for the Crows in contested marks, intercept possessions and time spent on ground and will likely be anchoring Adelaide’s defence for the next ten years.

HARRIS ANDREWS - BRISBANE

We’re already ranking the reigning All-Australian full back as our premier key defender with Andrews playing a pivotal role in Brisbane's 2019 resurrection. He's also the only active player in the league averaging at least 8 spoils and 1 contested mark per game. 

SYDNEY STACK - RICHMOND

While injury prevented the Tiger rookie from being apart of their premiership team, Stack’s first 17 games were so profound that he finished third in Rising Star voting. His 91 intercept possessions in 2019 were ranked third among all rookies, behind only the Giant’s Sam Taylor (123) and Saint, Josh Battle (94). 

CALEB DANIEL - BULLDOGS

What Daniel has achieved in his first 91 games at AFL level is both real and spectacular. A premiership player in just his second season, the South Australian has emerged as a crucial cog in the Bulldog’s defensive structure. Daniel is one of just ten active players in the league averaging at least 20 disposals per match, while executing with at least 76.5% efficiency.

JACOB WEITERING - CARLTON

The former #1 pick is slowly emerging as a league force, and who seems perfectly equipped to lead the Blue’s backline for the next ten years. An illustration of Weitering’s emergence was him being named in our inaugural 'Team of the Week’ in Round One off the back of a ridiculous 10 one percenters, 8 intercept possessions, 9 spoils and round-high, 8 defensive one-on-ones.

JORDAN DAWSON - SYDNEY

The young Swan played 20 games last year and nabbed himself a top-10 spot in the Sydney Best and Fairest. He was also top-ten for the Swans in both disposal efficiency (76.6%) and score involvements (81). It was an ultimately underwhelming 2019 for the Swans, however Dawson’s emergence was a huge positive.

RELATED: Stats Insider's AFL Player Ratings: Top 10 Defenders

MIDFIELDERS

TIM ENGLISH - BULLDOGS

Bulldog fans have so much faith in the young WA Ruckman, along with a whole heap of patience. Last season the Dogs ranked dead last for total hitouts, and 17th in contested mark differential as the Dog’s, and English, struggled to impose their physicality on games.

With that said, no one is questioning English’s work rate, with the young pup registering 101 one percenters last year which ranked third at the Bulldogs, while his 104 score involvements was a number bettered by only four ruckmen in the league; Brodie Grundy (154), Todd Goldstein (128), Stefan Martin (120) and Max Gawn (120). 

CLAYTON OLIVER - MELBOURNE

Along with Harris Andrews, Oliver is the only player in this team to have also earned All-Australian selection. In fact, Oliver’s immense talent is very much evident placing fourth last season in total clearances and third in per game contested disposals. Incredibly, Oliver is still just 22 years old, and while his inside tenacity is widely respected, his 157 score involvements in 2019 ranked 11th in the league and was indicative of his increasing creativity.

ALSO READ: Melbourne Demons: Team of the Decade (2010-2019)

JOSH DUNKLEY - BULLDOGS

Josh Dunkley made the leap from a a very good 22 touches per season player to a 28 per game beast in 2019 finishing second only to Marcus Bontempelli in the Bulldog’s Best and Fairest. He led the Dogs in tackles and contested disposals, playing a crucial role in the Bulldogs’ second half resurgence.

HUGH MCCLUGGAGE - BRISBANE

McCluggage’s perpetual improvement was last season rewarded with a 3rd place finish at the Lion’s Best and Fairest behind All-Australian’s Lachie Neale and Dayne Zorko. In 2019, McCluggage was one of only 6 players to register at least 500 possessions and 20 goals, putting him in the elite company of Patrick Dangerfield, Dustin Martin, Tim Kelly, Dayne Zorko and Mitch Duncan. 

JAMES WORPEL - HAWTHORN

At just 20 years old, James Worpel became the fourth youngest player to win a Hawthorn Best and Fairest, producing a monster 2019 campaign, leading the proud club in both possessions and clearances. In fact, Worpel’s 98 centre clearances placed him fifth in the entire league behind only Clayton Oliver (101), Patrick Cripps (102), Luke Shuey (104) and Lachie Neale (118).

SAM WALSH - CARLTON

Few players in recent seasons have won the Rising Star in such commanding fashion with the 2018 #1 pick producing a dominant 2019 season, amassing no less than 146 more touches than the next best rookie. He’s a future superstar.

RELATED: Stats Insider's AFL Player Ratings: Top 10 Midfielders

FORWARDS

CONNOR ROZEE - PORT POWER

Few rookies looked as brilliant as Port’s Connor Rozee in 2019, with the South Australian possessing a deep bag of tricks. He topped the Power goalkicking with 29, while only Travis Boak (128) registered more than his 126 score involvements. Port plans to transition him more into a midfield role in 2020 and beyond which will only make the young star even more potent. 

CHARLIE CURNOW - CARLTON

Already 77 goals in just 58 games, the adaptable Blue can be deployed in so many ways for a Carlton team desperate to break their 6-season Finals drought. While he managed just 11 games with injury in 2019, a fit and firing Curnow is an extremely dangerous proposition.

JADE GRESHAM - ST KILDA

The young star from South Morang was recognised with a State of Origin call-up in the pre-season, slotting 2 goals for Victoria. While Gresham has already established himself as a goal-a-game kind of player registering 91 over his first 82, he’s now being used more in the midfield by St Kilda, averaging 22.6 touches in 2019, which was a number bettered by only 3 Saints. 

JAIDYN STEPHENSON - COLLINGWOOD

Few would bet against the young Magpie star developing into one of the game’s most dangerous players. In just 40 games, the former #6 pick has won himself a Rising Star, played in a Grand Final and kicked 62 goals. His importance to the Magpies is illustrated by the fact they’re 18-2 when he kicks at least 2 goals. 9-11 when he doesn’t.

AARON NAUGHTON - BULLDOGS

Aaron Naughton’s transition to the forward line was one of the league’s most riveting stories in 2019 as the young Western Australian’s game electrified the Bulldog’s faithful. Only Richmond’s Tom Lynch (56) took more than Naughton’s 53 contested marks, with Naughton also slotting 34 goals.

TOM PAPLEY - SYDNEY

Tom Papley’s 5 goal haul in the pre-season’s State of Origin match stole the show and was a fitting return for a player who’s emerged as one of the games’s very best small forwards. Papley’s already tallied up 121 gaols while showcasing a solid defensive game registering 60 tackles and 18 tackles inside 50 in 2019 which were both top-5 contributions for the Swans.

ALSO READ: Stats Insider's AFL Player Ratings: Top 10 Forwards

INTERCHANGE

TIM TARANTO - GWS GIANTS

2019 functioned as Taranto’s definitive introduction to the AFL, registering a team-high 720 disposals for the Grand Finalists, while playing each and every game. Taranto was the only player in the league to dial up at least 400 uncontested possessions (422) and at least 150 tackles (164) in a brilliant demonstration of being able to get the ball on the outside whilst also contributing strongly in the clinches.

BRAYDEN FIORINI - GOLD COAST

Fresh off making Stats Insider’s team of the decade for the Gold Coast Suns, Fiorini also finds himself a place in the under 23 team. He finished 5th in the GC best and fairest in 2019, leading the club with 25.4 touches per game. 

ERIC HIPWOOD - BRISBANE

Hipwood made the Stats Insider‘Team of the Week’ in Round One producing a monster display in a Lions’ loss. His future is enormously bright, though Brisbane would love a greater level of consistency.

JACOB HOPPER- GWS GIANTS

Two straight seasons of at least 90 tackles, however 2019 was the young Giant's breakout averaging 25.2 touches and adding a team-high 143 clearances. He has the potential to become one of the game's very best over the next few years. 

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