For the third straight year, Shai Bolton has been named in the AFL Players' Association's 22Under22 squad, following another standout season.

The 40-man squad, selected by the AFL Players’ Board, recognises the league’s most exciting young talent.

To be eligible for selection, players must be aged 22 years or under for the entirety of the season, including the finals series, and must have played a minimum of 12 games. 

Having entrenched himself as one of the league’s most promising players, Bolton has yet again been an important cog in the Tigers’ line-up in 2021. 

In his fifth AFL season, the midfield talent has averaged 20.1 disposals, 8.5 contested possessions, 3.7 clearances, 6.1 score involvements and 364.9 metres gained across 18 games. 

His most dazzling display came in Richmond's Round 7 win over the Western Bulldogs, where he received the maximum 10 votes from the coaches with 22 disposals, a game-high 10 inside-50s, seven marks, three goals, 10 score involvements and 529 metres gained. 

Bolton has booted 19 goals so far in 2021, the most the 22-year-old has kicked in a season.

The two-time premiership Tiger last week re-signed with Richmond for a further two years.

While he was named in the 22Under22 squad in both 2019 and 2020, Bolton is yet to feature in the final 22.

Fans can now visit 22under22.com.au to cast their vote, before the final team is officially unveiled on August 24.

If your team matches the final fan-voted 22Under22, you could win a 22Under22 guernsey signed by the Captain and Vice-Captain, plus automatically go in the running to win one of 20 prizes from Snaffle. 

Voting closes on Wednesday, August 18.

The 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)

Forwards: 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).