It would simply be the strangest Rising Star season ever.
Because the AFL prepares to award the Ron Evans medal for the sport’s most promising younger gun as soon as extra at Thursday night’s AFL Awards night time, the 2 extensively seen because the cream of the crop – No.1 draft decide Harley Reid and Western Bulldogs man mountain Sam Darcy – discover themselves ineligible resulting from suspensions obtained simply 24 hours aside again in Spherical 12.
Had they each been within the operating, the competitors between them would possible have been intense; however regardless of the setback, there are nonetheless greater than sufficient future footy superstars that crowning one as one of the best of the remaining guarantees to be a tough activity.
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Geelong wingman Ollie Dempsey is a deserving favorite, having entrenched himself in a powerful Cats outfit and producing some dazzling video games in his third season of soccer. However North Melbourne wrecking ball George Wardlaw, St Kilda first-year winger Darcy Wilson and Hawthorn pleasure machine Nick Watson are properly and actually within the hunt as properly.
It’s a Rising Star crop so deep it requires Energy Rankings: listed below are all of the nominees for the 2024 season, ranked from 1st right down to twenty fifth.
25. Harley Reid (West Coast)
Reid’s one-match suspension for his harmful deal with on fellow Rising Star candidate Wilson means he can’t be a part of an extended listing of No.1 draft picks to win the Ron Evans Medal.
However the Eagles jet doesn’t want an award for everybody to know simply how spectacular his profession forward looms – anybody who has watched him play this season is already properly and actually conscious of how particular the 19-year outdated is.
Along with his explosive tempo, ferocious power and eye for spectacle, Reid has produced a number of the most dazzling spotlight’s we’ve ever seen from a first-year participant. The long run couldn’t be brighter – and whereas he can’t win the Rising Star award, being suspended doesn’t rule you ineligible to assert the Purpose of the 12 months.
24. Sam Darcy (Western Bulldogs)
For all Reid has achieved in his debut season, there’s the occasional detractor on the market claiming he’s not well worth the hype – however nobody’s saying that about Darcy.
The Bulldogs man mountain exploded in his third season to type a vital a part of a ahead line that now appears to be like essentially the most imposing within the AFL. Along with his formidable peak and even greater attain, he was merely unspoilable for a lot of an opposition defender, and with 45 contested marks for the season – equal third within the AFL – the 21-year outdated son of a gun goes to be terrorising the remainder of the league for a decade or extra.
23. Jake Rogers (Gold Coast)
With 9 video games for the season, two of them because the sub, Academy prodigy Rogers didn’t get as many probabilities to shine at AFL degree as a lot of his fellow Rising Star nominees.
However he confirmed sufficient in a 22-disposal, one-goal efficiency in opposition to West Coast in Spherical 7 to get the nod for that week, and whether or not it’s as a crumbing small ahead or a silky midfield ball-winner, a vivid profession forward looms.
22. Harvey Harrison (Collingwood)
The heartbreak story of this 12 months’s draft crop, a severe knee harm suffered within the VFL late within the season will possible sideline the small ahead for a lot of 2025.
Confirmed massively promising indicators, nonetheless, in an prolonged run within the seniors mid-year because the Magpies battled accidents, the spotlight a three-goal, nine-tackle effort within the Pies’ draw in opposition to Fremantle.
21. Harvey Gallagher (Western Bulldogs)
The second-year Bulldog performed a powerful 19 of 23 home-and-away video games in 2024, and having damaged again into the staff late within the season, appears to be like sure to expire for his first ultimate in opposition to Hawthorn subsequent Friday night time.
Different Rising Star nominees have been extra eye-catching, however having been trusted by Luke Beveridge to attend common centre bounces this 12 months and with a crop of spectacular objectives already underneath his belt, the teenager’s versatility has allowed him to play various key roles all through 2024.
20. Will Graham (Gold Coast)
A bona fide tackling machine, Graham laid 14 of them in simply his second AFL sport and has hardly seemed again.
Deceptively expert for a participant who has accomplished a lot of the grunt work round stoppages for the Suns in his debut season, the 19-year outdated looms as a key participant in the way forward for the success-starved membership.
19. Logan Evans (Port Adelaide)
Simply ten video games means Evans can’t crack a better spot on this listing, however the mid-season recruit’s arrival into the Energy’s senior staff has neatly coincided with their stirring finish to the season.
Having debuted as a shining gentle of their notorious loss to Brisbane, Evans has performed in only one extra loss, whereas his rebounding work and poise in defence has been an important addition to the Energy’s oft-criticised backline.
Now that each Dan Houston and Kane Farrell are out for the remainder of the season, it’s not an exaggeration to say the 18-year outdated simply turned September’s most essential Rising Star nominee.
If he can proceed to do what he did in opposition to Fremantle in Spherical 24 after Farrell’s season-ending hamstring harm, his will turn out to be one of many AFL’s biggest ever tales.
18. Luke Nankervis (Adelaide)
Having been taken within the 2022 pre-season draft, the extremely rated teenager lastly established himself as a daily within the Crows’ senior staff in 2024, taking part in 20 video games and impressing immensely throughout half-back and on a wing.
In a job that requires selfless operating and self-discipline, the 21-year outdated has taken to the duty with aplomb; and it’s notable that a lot of his finest performances, together with a 28-disposal effort of their loss to Richmond mid-season, have come within the Crows’ worst.
17. Nate Caddy (Essendon)
Maybe boasting the largest upside of anybody within the 2024 Rising Star crop, Caddy was a transparent shining gentle within the Bombers’ disappointing finish to the season.
With sticky fingers and spectacular mobility, the 193-centimetre younger gun looms because the Dons’ subsequent massive factor – although whether or not it will likely be as a focus spearhead, a roaming key ahead and even as a prototype big-bodied midfielder, who can say. He positively has the expertise to turn out to be any of them.
16. Jackson Archer (North Melbourne)
There haven’t been too many father-son recruits bear a stronger resemblance to their fathers than Jackson Archer to his iconic dad Glenn.
A no-nonsense medium-sized defender with bravery to spare, Archer has not often lowered his colors in a backline constantly underneath siege, along with his intercept marking work in opposition to Richmond to earn his nomination displaying he may be greater than only a stopper.
It’s notable that his harm within the opening minutes within the Roos’ dire loss to Hawthorn to finish their season allowed the Hawks’ small forwards to run amok.
15. Harvey Thomas (GWS)
Having performed 22 of 23 home-and-away matches in his debut season, Thomas looms as a finals heartbreak story for the Giants, being subbed off in Rounds 22 and 24 and being omitted for Spherical 23.
The stress small had already accomplished greater than sufficient for a excessive putting on this listing, although; tackling fiercely, busting a intestine all day in a thankless function and displaying greater than sufficient talent to recommend he may be one other Brent Daniels within the years to come back, don’t depend the 19-year outdated out of getting a decisive second or two in September.
14. Calsher Expensive (Hawthorn)
The son of late Hawks legend and 1991 Norm Smith Medallist Paul, no person might have predicted Expensive the youthful’s rise in his debut season.
Taken as a father-son with decide 56 in final 12 months’s draft as a long-term venture participant, accidents to Mitch Lewis and the poor type of Mabior Chol noticed Expensive thrust into the highlight in Spherical 8 – and because it occurs, the Hawks’ win over the Bulldogs that day sparked a rare mid-season turnaround that now has them finals certain.
With 21 objectives in 15 matches since, together with eight in his final three, the 19-year outdated is now an integral a part of a menacing Hawks ahead line. Paul could be proud as punch.
13. Matt Roberts (Sydney)
Now a key member of the Swans’ finest staff throughout half-back, Roberts is now entrusted with kick-in duties – a powerful present of religion from John Longmire within the 21-year outdated.
A key if understated member of the Swans’ backline to begin the season, Roberts has turn out to be prolific within the final six weeks after being dropped mid-year, averaging 26 disposals a sport from Spherical 18 onwards, together with a whopping 36 in opposition to the Western Bulldogs.
A secure, wise ball-user, he’s properly on the way in which to being Jake Lloyd Mark II.
12. Lawson Humphries (Geelong)
It takes some doing to be as spectacular in 9 video games of senior footy as Humphries has been in 2024.
Maybe one of the best story of this 12 months’s Rising Star crop, the 21-year outdated, a late-draft bolter with decide 63 final 12 months, hasn’t seemed again since an ultra-impressive debut in Spherical 16, along with his composure, evasive abilities and skill to hit targets making him one other traditional Geelong success story.
Solely 9 video games means we are able to in all probability rule Humphries out as a Ron Evans Medal contender – however don’t be stunned if one of many judges offers him a sneaky vote.
11. Logan Morris (Brisbane)
Since making one of many weirdest debuts in AFL historical past, referred to as into the Lions’ staff on the eleventh hour resulting from a warm-up harm having already performed a VFL match that day after which being subbed on early because of Lincoln McCarthy’s knee harm, Morris is an ideal instance of profiting from any probability.
The mid-sized ahead has missed only one sport since that unlikely call-up, and with 18 objectives has added one other dimension to an already deadly Lions ahead line.
With McCarthy injured, Brisbane wanted to discover a answer in assault – in Morris and fellow Rising Star candidate Kai Lohmann (extra on him later), they’ve unearthed two absolute jets.
10. Darcy Jones (GWS)
Like Humphries, simply 12 video games for the season means Jones certainly can’t win the Rising Star Award – however the helmeted 20-year outdated has been merely excellent within the Giants’ late-season surge into the highest 4.
Eye-catching because of his GWS-themed headgear, Jones’ ahead stress and aim nous make him nearly the perfect small ahead; attributes that by no means shone extra brightly than in his match-winning flip within the ultimate quarter of the Giants’ well-known win over Brisbane on the Gabba.
9. Josh Draper (Fremantle)
Maybe essentially the most understated, unsung Rising Star nominee this 12 months, it may be stunning to study that the Dockers defender performed 20 of 23 video games in his debut season.
As soon as a Class B rookie, the lanky backman has entrenched himself as a no-nonsense member of the Freo defence, and with 11 spoils – together with some game-saving moments on the final line – within the Dockers’ gorgeous upset of Sydney on the SCG, the 20-year outdated has some profession forward of him.
8. Bodhi Uwland (Gold Coast)
Touted in some corners as a possible Rising Star darkish horse, the power of this 12 months’s crop means the Suns Academy gun slips to eighth on this listing.
Getting higher because the season wore on, Uwland goes to be a cornerstone of the Suns’ again six for greater than a decade to come back, and along with his potential to each cease an opposition small or mid-sized ahead whereas additionally intercepting properly, the 24-gamer is one more piece in Damien Hardwick’s premiership puzzle.
7. Caleb Windsor (Melbourne)
Taking to AFL footy like a duck to water, Windsor’s significance to the Demons so early in his profession was emphasised of their horror final month with out his providers resulting from an ankle harm.
Up till then, {the teenager}’s countless operating, ball-winning abilities and occasional artful objectives made him the perfect reverse wingman to Ed Langdon; and it’s a job he can count on to fulfil for lots of the subsequent 15 years.
6. Kai Lohmann (Brisbane)
In his third season, the 21-year outdated bought his probability to embed himself within the senior staff when Lincoln McCarthy’s knee gave out within the 12 months’s first QClash – and Lohmann hasn’t let the Lions down.
With 27 objectives, solely Joe Daniher, Charlie Cameron and Eric Hipwood have extra for the Lions this 12 months, and given his most spectacular show but arguably got here in Spherical 24 in opposition to Essendon with three majors, he’s one other younger star set to play a vital function for his staff in September.
5. Colby McKercher (North Melbourne)
In an identical function to Harry Sheezel’s in his Rising Star-winning debut season, McKercher didn’t fairly have the identical impression off half-back as his famous person teammate… however he wasn’t far off.
With elite foot abilities and explosive tempo, no nominee this 12 months averaged greater than the Roo’s 23.8 disposals per match, and as soon as a transfer up the bottom occurs within the subsequent few seasons, we are able to count on to see that raking left boot start to lace out targets inside 50 frequently.
McKercher’s 37-disposal outing in a shock win over Gold Coast might be his standout, however particularly within the second half of the season, was constantly wonderful in a poor staff.
4. Nick Watson (Hawthorn)
Throughout the primary month of the season, the Hawks younger gun’s inaccuracy in entrance of aim made him nearly a laughing inventory across the footy world.
However nobody’s laughing now.
Already a top-line goalsneak simply 16 years into his AFL profession, the ‘Wizard’s’ elite crumbing abilities, nostril for a aim and vastly improved stress sport has made him indispensable to Sam Mitchell’s finest staff.
With a persona and an X-factor made for the September stage, it’s going to be mighty robust for the Bulldogs, or certainly anybody the Hawks face, to have the ability to preserve Watson down this finals collection.
3. Darcy Wilson (St Kilda)
Loads of his fellow nominees have obtained extra acclaim, however Wilson has a key level of distinction: he’s one in all simply two gamers on this 12 months’s Rising Star crop to have performed each sport in 2024.
One other excellent younger wingman, Wilson’s potential to hit the scoreboard units him aside from a lot of the different younger weapons within the sport, kicking 15 objectives together with two very important ones within the Saints’ late-season upset of Geelong.
Had his peaks and troughs, however the 19-year outdated has a key think about his favour for when the Rising Star judges hand out their votes: his two finest video games for the season, with 25 disposals and two objectives in opposition to the Cats and 22 in opposition to Carlton, got here within the ultimate two home-and-away rounds. He’ll be contemporary of their reminiscence.
2. Ollie Dempsey (Geelong)
The favorite to take out this award – and for good motive.
In a Rising Star pool dominated by wingmen, Dempsey has clearly been essentially the most influential. Like Wilson, the Cat has performed each sport, and with 21 objectives together with three luggage of three, his scoreboard impression is manifest.
A robust overhead mark regardless of his dimension, a beautiful set shot and simply typically stylish, it could shock nobody if Dempsey turns into one of the best participant of this 12 months’s crop – and sure, that features Reid and Darcy.
So why is he not my primary? Effectively, it was extraordinarily shut, however I simply couldn’t go previous…
1. George Wardlaw (North Melbourne)
Has there ever been a youngster play like Wardlaw?
Many grown males don’t assault the footy half as laborious as North Melbourne’s battering ram – the one draw back is the common concussions he has copped as a consequence of his brutal method.
If Sheezel, final 12 months’s winner, is already the Kangaroos’ finest participant, then after simply 26 video games Wardlaw is clearly their most inspirational. Seen by many as a future captain of the membership, he may be characterised for his toughness, however when the ball is in his fingers he’s each bit as damaging and skilful as any of this 12 months’s Rising Star crop.
With only one win in his first 25 AFL matches, you’d have forgiven Wardlaw for shedding a few of his ardour in the direction of the top of the season; but with 20 disposals and 6 tackles within the Roos’ Launceston humiliation by the hands of Hawthorn, he was one of many few capable of head again throughout Bass Strait with head held excessive.
The ‘Warlord’ goes to be a star of the sport for the subsequent 15 years; and for all Dempsey, Wilson, Watson and the remainder of this season’s excellent batch of future champions have achieved, the North Melbourne No.6 is a transparent standout.
At the very least, that’s how I see it.
