Three Fremantle players have been selected in the AFL Players’ 22under22 team after impressive seasons in 2020.
Sean Darcy has been named in the ruck for a second time while 20-year-olds Andrew Brayshaw and Adam Cerra have earnt their first 22under22 gongs, named on the bench.
Four Fremantle players were nominated in the extended squad, with 19-year-old Caleb Serong the only player to miss out after the round of fan voting.
Darcy’s fourth AFL season was clearly his best, playing a career-high 14 games and rating sixth out of first-string rucks for hitout win percentage and fifth for hitout to advantage win percentage.
Brayshaw played every game in 2020, averaging 20 disposals per game, more than three disposals per game higher than his average in 2019 despite the shorter game time.
The young midfielder has polled 34 coaches votes in 2020, leading all Fremantle players up until the most recent update after round 16.
He significantly increased his kicking efficiency to 62.8 per cent in 2020 from 43.1 in 2019, rating 10th for inside midfielders in the AFL who played 10 games or more.
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Classified as a wingman by Champion Data, Cerra’s kicking efficiency of 67.8 per cent also rated highly, ranking sixth among wingers who played 10 games or more.
Cerra’s skill by foot provided a number of exciting moments through 2020 with his ability to hit targets and do what most others couldn’t, highlighted by his check-side snap against Melbourne.
Both Brayshaw and Cerra provided the bulk of Freo’s midfield pressure in 2020, with Brayshaw leading all teammates with 83 tackles and Cerra second with 64.
While Serong didn’t earn the nomination from the fans, he also rated highly among Freo’s midfielders, leading the club for inside 50s with 46 in his debut season and ranking fourth for clearances and fourth for tackles.